WILMINGTON- The division III girls’ basketball playdowns have started and the number four-seed Twin Valley took care of business against their old rivals Leland & Gray. Leland & Gray was the number 13 seed and they came to Twin Valley gymnasium with the hope of upsetting the Wildcats. The Rebels put up a fight, but in the end Twin Valley showed why they are one of the favorites to win the division III state title.

The Rebels went head-to-head with the Wildcats in the first quarter and they gave them all they could handle. Twin Valley held onto a five-point, 19-14, lead and the Rebels were tasting upset. But Wildcats’ coach Buddy Hayford switched strategies in the second quarter and it worked successfully. Twin Valley went from a zone press to a man-to-man full court press and the Rebels could not respond. They gave up several turnovers, Twin Valley converted them to points, and the Wildcats burst open the lead. They outscored the Rebels 27-4 and led 46-18 at the half.

The Wildcats played steady basketball in the second half and kept the Rebels at arms length. Scoring was distributed evenly among the Wildcats’ starters and Hayford also gave his bench critical playing time late in the second half. As Hayford said, “You will only go deep in the playdowns as far as your bench can take you.”

Bit Aekus, Abbi Molner, Shannon Lozito, Brittany Poulen, and Lexi Reinerstein, who was called up from junior varsity, all had a great second half. They held off the Rebels in the final minutes and won handily, 66-31.

Co-captain Devon Spirka scored 19 points and had 10 assists, six rebounds, and five steals; Sam Bernard scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds, five steals, and four assists; Bryer-lyn Crawford scored 15 points and made four rebounds and three steals; Kylie-blu Crawford scored nine points and had four steals and two assists; co-captain Alicia Laughney scored four points and had eight rebounds and two steals; Abbi Molner scored five points; and Bit Aekus scored a deuce.

Ashley Goddard and Beth Burdick led the Rebels in scoring with nine points each.

The Wildcats advance to the quarterfinals and will face familiar foe Green Mountain. The game will be played at the Twin Valley gymnasium on Saturday. Tipoff is at 2 pm. The winner will advance to the division III final four at the Barre Auditorium next Thursday. Tipoff is at 6:30 pm. For more information visit www.deerfieldvalleysports.blogspot.com.