Both teams took a moment to settle into the game and struggled to find their first points through the opening trips up and down the floor. That changed when Abby Nystrom broke the seal for the Terriers with a tough finish through contact in the lane.

Burr and Burton Academy Bulldogs responded with a three to take the lead, marking the first of several lead changes throughout the opening period. Both teams showed plenty of grit early, with Bellows Falls setting the tone defensively by forcing a handful of turnovers, while the Bulldogs created extra possessions with their work on the offensive glass.

The teams traded baskets through the remainder of the quarter, with the Terriers holding the largest lead at 9–5. The defensive effort was emphasized by Nystrom rising to meet the opposition in the lane and swatting a shot out of bounds. Bellows Falls carried a 13–11 lead into the second.

That defensive intensity stuck for the Terriers throughout the second quarter, anchored by Veronica Moore swiping the ball away for two steals on her way to six on the night. Offense slowed for both sides, but Burr & Burton found its footing first, shifting momentum and using its size and rebounding to build a seven-point lead partway through the quarter. Basketball is a game of runs, and Bellows Falls went on one of its own late in the half, with Nystrom, Olivia Hallock, and Avery Maxfield all chipping in offensively, but the Terriers went into the break trailing 23–21.

After a slow second quarter, Bellows Falls came out with renewed energy after the break. Coach James Pecsok pointed to the Terriers losing some momentum in the middle of the first half before regrouping late.

“We got a little stagnant in the second quarter, but once we refocused and committed to moving the ball and attacking the basket, it really helped us,” Pecsok said.

The adjustment was needed against a quality opponent, as the Bulldogs presented challenges the Terriers hadn’t seen much of this season.

“Burr & Burton is a tough team — they move the ball well and their post players are big and physical,” Pecsok said. “But when we committed to helping each other defensively, rotating to shooters, and limiting those post players, it changed the game for us.”

Moore reignited that momentum to open the third quarter, knocking down a three on the opening possession and sparking a 6–1 run. The Bulldogs briefly brought the game back into check with a three of their own to tie the game, but Maxfield responded, drilling a three to regain the lead for the Terriers.

Bellows Falls continued to rally, scoring 12 points in the first half of the third quarter through a well-rounded team effort. The excitement in the gym was palpable, highlighted by a Moore steal in the open floor and a fast-break finish, prompting Coach James Pecsok to yell “Let’s go!” as Burr & Burton called a timeout with the Terriers up 35–29. The Bulldogs weathered the storm to close the period, with Bellows Falls holding a 38–33 advantage.

As the teams battled early in the fourth quarter, a Nystrom-to-Maxfield three pushed the margin to 10 in favor of the Terriers. Burr & Burton then called a timeout and applied full-court pressure, cutting the lead to five and briefly making the game feel up for grabs again. Bellows Falls eventually found its composure against the press, closing the night on an 8–2 run to secure a grind-it-out statement win.

The victory marked the Terriers’ third straight, one earned through effort and execution on both ends. Maxfield led the way with 18 points, followed by Nystrom with 16 and Hallock with 9. Nystrom and Maxfield also led on the glass with eight rebounds apiece.

Bellows Falls will travel to Rivendell on Thursday, Feb. 8, for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.