The Twin Valley Wildcats secured a dominant 54-39 victory over Leland & Gray in the playdown round of the 2025 Vermont Principals’ Association Division 4 Boys Basketball Championship on Wednesday night. Despite missing their star player Brayden Brown due to illness, Twin Valley (15-6) relied on a team effort and strong rebounding to advance to the next round.

Junior Steven Oyer led the charge with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Sophomore Niko Gerding also added 12 points, while junior Carson McHale contributed another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats dominated the offensive glass, giving themselves plenty of second-chance opportunities that helped them build an early lead.

“We rebounded really well as a team, and that was key for us,” said Twin Valley head coach Chris Brown. “We’ve been focusing on that all season, and tonight it paid off.”

Leland & Gray (2-19) fought hard but struggled to convert their shots. Senior Ely White led the Rebels with 10 points, while senior Cody Hescock and sophomore Spencer Claussen each scored eight. Junior Logan Plimpton added seven points. Despite the loss, Rebels head coach Bob Culver praised his team’s effort and resilience.

“We played hard and got some good looks, but the shots just didn’t fall,” Culver said. “I’m proud of how we fought until the end.”

The game started with both teams trading baskets in a close first quarter. Twin Valley jumped ahead early with a three-pointer from Oyer and a layup from freshman Benny Gerding. Leland & Gray responded with a three from White and some free throws to keep it close. At the end of the first quarter, Twin Valley held a slim 13-11 lead.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats began to pull away. McHale hit a three-pointer to spark a 9-2 run that gave Twin Valley a 27-18 lead at halftime. Their aggressive rebounding and defensive pressure kept the Rebels from closing the gap.

The Rebels tried to fight back in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to seven at one point thanks to key baskets from Claussen and Plimpton. However, Twin Valley quickly regained control with a three from Niko Gerding and a jumper by sophomore Cash Garno. Heading into the final quarter, Twin Valley led 37-28.

In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats put the game out of reach with an 8-0 run, fueled by Niko Gerding’s strong play. The Rebels made a late push with a three from White and some tough defense, but Twin Valley stayed composed and finished strong.

Coach Brown praised his team’s defense and ball movement after the win. “We played great defense, moved the ball well, and did enough offensively to win,” he said.

Despite their season coming to an end, Coach Culver commended his senior leaders—Hescock, White, and Jax Meister—for keeping the team motivated even when things weren’t going their way.

“If they weren’t such great leaders, things could’ve gone differently,” Culver said. “Their positivity kept us in it, and I hope the younger players learn from that.”

Leland & Gray finished their season with a 2-19 record, picking up wins against Rivendell on January 8 and February 8. Meanwhile, Twin Valley advances to the Division 4 State Quarterfinals, where they will face fourth-seeded Williamstown on Friday at 7 p.m.