RUMFORD — Mountain Valley knew it had to stay focused or things could get out of control in a girls’ basketball game.

And that’s just what the Falcons did Friday night.

The Falcons jump-started things in the second quarter, led by sophomore Karen Flaherty who scored 11 of her game-high 15 points, and the entire team contributed in a 48-22 triumph over Telstar at Puiia Gymnasium.

Mountain Valley (5-10) is playing well, but it still needs a signature win to qualify for a preliminary playoff game. On Tuesday, the Falcons had rallied back from a double-digit deficit, led by Sydney Petrie who scored a game-high 14 points and was in position to pull off an upset, but Monmouth Academy held on for a 56-55 win, when a last-second shot by Ashley Russell was immediately waved off.

Telstar (2-11) trailed 29-11 before Savanna Patenaude (eight points) scored with 1:32 remaining in the second quarter. The Rebels made just two of 14 shots in the second quarter.

”We had started out well,” said Telstar coach Brian Mills, who coached the Mountain Valley softball team for several years. ”But then Mountain Valley started chipping away and we got discombobulated. We are a young team, and when teams pressure us, we can’t handle it.”

The shot of the game was by freshman Emily Laubauskas who launched a shot from half court that swished at the buzzer to give the Falcons a 34-13 lead at halftime.

Telstar didn’t quit and was able to get going with Casey Blaszczak (six points, nine rebounds) and Becca Howard (six points), but a lack of depth was its Waterloo. The Rebels turned the ball over 34 times and shot 18 percent from the floor.

Mountain Valley increased its lead in the third quarter on baskets by Petrie and White. Katie Puiia added four rebounds and five steals.

”Our bench really gave us a spark,” Flaherty said.

Mountain Valley displayed good ball movement committed 17 turnovers through three quarters, shot 37 percent from the floor.

”We need to be disciplined and be patient when we have the ball,”MV freshman Ashley Russell said.

Telstar scored the first basket of the second half, but missed nine shots before Patenaude scored on a runner with 4:55 left to play.

Meanwhile, the Falcons cleared their bench and each player received ample playing time.

”I’m proud of the way the girls are playing,” Mountain Valley coach Ryan Casey said. “The wins might not be there, but they have grown as a team. They can all come in and fill different roles, like rebounding, defense and other things that will help us.”

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