By DAN BARILE
Eagle Times Correspondent
BELMONT, N.H. — After battling Belmont in the opening round of last season’s NHIAA Division 3 playoffs, Fall Mountain found itself matched up with the Red Raiders in the postseason again on Friday night.
Belmont got the best of Fall Mountain on its home floor a season ago, but the Wildcats were eager for a rematch with the Red Raiders after opening the playoffs with a victory against Raymond.
With a trip to the semifinals on the line, eighth-seeded Fall Mountain gave top-seeded Belmont all it could handle in the early going before the hosts took control and claimed a 72-50 victory.
Featuring a couple of 6’6″ standouts in Keegan Martinez and Anakin Underhill, Belmont played into Fall Mountain’s hand by settling for several unsuccessful three-point attempts in the opening minutes. The Wildcats scored the first six points of the game before Martinez finally put Belmont on the board with 3:44 remaining in the first quarter.
Fall Mountain held a 12-7 advantage by the end of the first quarter, but it was all Belmont in the second. The Red Raiders began to attack the basket and forced several fouls on Fall Mountain’s key players. Belmont’s big three of Martinez, Underhill and Treshawn Ray combined for 17 points during the period to lead the hosts to a 31-21 edge at halftime.
Fall Mountain’s leading scorer Ledger Willett picked up his fourth foul less than 30 seconds into the second half. The Wildcats fought valiantly without Willett, cutting the deficit to as little as six points before Belmont regained control. The hosts proceeded to claim a commanding 52-35 lead entering the final frame.
The Wildcats continued to fight during the fourth quarter, but Belmont’s lead was too much to overcome.
Luke St. Pierre led Fall Mountain with 16 points, Ledger Willett followed with 11 and Evan Parker added seven. Treshawn Ray scored a game-high 18 points and Keegan Martinez had 17.
Fall Mountain finished the season with a 12-6 record. Belmont (18-1) will face fifth-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas (15-3) in the semifinals on Wednesday at Bow High School.
