Leland & Gray came up just short in their season opener, falling to Mill River 37–34 in a tightly contested game that featured multiple lead changes and long scoring runs from both sides.

The Rebels struggled to find the bottom of the net in the opening frame, trailing 11–6 after the first quarter. The slow start wasn’t due to a lack of effort, as Spencer Claussen consistently attacked the paint, drew fouls, and helped generate high-percentage looks. However, Leland & Gray struggled to shake off the offseason rust early.

That rust began to fade in the second quarter. The Rebels outscored Mill River 15–6 in the period, taking a 21–17 lead into the break behind an eight-point quarter from Claussen. Mill River briefly swung momentum with a 6–0 run midway through the period, but a well-timed Rebels timeout settled things. Leland & Gray responded with a 6–0 run of their own to close the half up four.

Defense set the tone in the third quarter, as the Rebels held the Minutemen to just four points — all from Jack Boulger. Leland & Gray’s interior presence was a major factor, with Colin Dunleavy-Mercier controlling the glass throughout the night and finishing with a game-high 18 rebounds. Mill River struggled to keep the Rebels in front, sending Leland & Gray to the free-throw line six times in the period. The defensive intensity did come with some foul trouble, however, as Ryder Butynski — who added 10 rebounds of his own throughout the contest — picked up his fourth personal foul midway through the quarter.

Trailing 32–21 entering the fourth, Mill River made its move. The Minutemen sparked a comeback behind a balanced team effort that saw five different players score in the final frame. Leland & Gray was forced to adjust defensively after Butynski fouled out with just over three minutes remaining, and his absence was felt down the stretch. Despite the Rebels continuing to win the rebounding battle overall, second-chance points proved decisive, as Mill River repeatedly corralled offensive rebounds for close-range opportunities.

Offensively, Claussen filled the stat sheet for the Rebels, leading all scorers with 14 points while adding 11 rebounds and four steals. Dakota Shippee provided a strong two-way presence as well, finishing with 13 points while disrupting passing lanes with three steals and affecting shots at the rim with two blocks.

The game came down to the final moments. Late in the fourth quarter, Claussen picked off a pass in the open court and was fouled on his attempt at the rim, calmly converting both free throws to cut the deficit to three. Leland & Gray’s defensive pressure forced two more turnovers in the final 30 seconds, but the Rebels were ultimately unable to capitalize, sealing a narrow season-opening loss.

Leland & Gray will return to action Wednesday night at home as they take on West Rutland.

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