BETHEL – Travis and Zach Fergola combined to score 24 points. Including 20 in the second half as the Falcons overcame a slow start to defeat Telstar 51-41 Wednesday night.

Telstar led the first 20 minutes, behind the strong play of Josh Longway and Ryan Savage. The Rebels raced out to a 14-5 lead behind some clutch free throw shooting.

Class B Mountain Valley started out slow, missing several h-gh percentage shots. The team finally found its groove in the third quarter.

“We came out flat,” said Travis Fergola. “In our last game against Livermore Falls we shot the lights out. I think we were cocky tonight. Everybody needed to settle down and we did that and worked hard in the second half.”

Korey Stairs tied the game at 34 and the Falcons’ defense took over after that.

“We tried to slow it down,” Telstar coach Alec Newell said. “But, it hurt our fast break because we like to run. We also wanted to be patient with the ball, but they took advantage of every mistake. Then, our shots weren’t falling.”

Telstar was 10 of 15 from the line, but committed 24 turnovers in the game. The Rebels missed nine of their last 10 shots.

“We had contained Sean Caddigan”Zach Fergola said. “But everyone else scored. In the second half, we picked it up. Plus, we were rotating toward the basket.” The Falcons shot 36 percent from the floor, six of 14 from the free throw line, but just seven turnovers in the final three quarters.