EAST MONTPELIER – Peoples Academy’s Jack Lafayette was front and center on U-32’s scouting report before Thursday’s Capital Division game, but the sophomore sharpshooter still punished the Raiders in a variety of ways to trigger a 76-68 boys basketball victory.

Lafayette made the most of open looks, hit contested shots in traffic and from beyond the arc and took it hard to the hole in transition while piling up 25 points. Hudson Mace scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half for Peoples, which snapped a nine-game losing streak while handing the Raiders their eighth loss in a row. And Masson Wells added 13 points in the winning effort.

“Jack is a very good player and has all the skills,” U-32 coach John Medose said. “We knew he was going to be tough and was going to score. The kid works at his game and it shows. He provided an opportunity for some of our young kids to guard a high-level player. And the narrative has been all year for us is that we give up a lot on the rebounding, being undersized. However, these Raiders play hard.”

Andrew McKinstry paced U-32 with 13 points and teammate Carson DeForge scored all 11 of his points in the second half. Carlo Concessi also finished with 11 points for the hosts, while Cole Pittsley (eight points), Nolan Palmer (seven points) and Jackson Lamere (seven points) gave the Raiders plenty of offensive balance.

“There is nothing more I want for these boys than a win,” Medose said. “They show up and play hard every night at practice and games. This one got away from us. I needed to do a better job coaching down the stretch and I have to own this one.”

A basket by PA’s Quinn Kalp to start the scoring was followed by a 3-pointer by Concessi and a mid-range jumper by McKinstry. Wolves soccer standout Harrison Frazee went 2 of 2 from the foul line, McKinstry hit a long-range shot and then Frazee made a jumper and both Concessi and Pittsley countered by each going 2 of 2 from the foul line. A jumper from the top of the key by Mace was negated by a 3-pointer from Pittsley.

A Frazee putback and a 3-pointer from the right wing by Blair Whitney helped the Wolves even things up at 15-15. After an extended break, Pittsley lifted his team with a foul shot, a steal and a fast-break layup. But luckily for PA, Lafayette answered with a 3-pointer and a layup for a 20-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Seamus Burgess scored down low for PA early in the second quarter before U-32’s Edwin Johnson hit a 3-pointer. The Wolves stayed in the driver’s set with a Mace free throw and a Wells putback, but Palmer came through for U-32 with a 3-pointer. Lafayette beat a triple-team and made a layup for a 27-24 lead and then both Burgess and Lamere matched each other with foul shots.

Zack Brown assisted Johnson for an easy fast-break layup, but a few seconds later Lafayette banked in a 3-pointer. A Charlie Kalp foul shot and a layup in transition by Lafayette stretched the lead to 22-27 with 2:45 on the clock. McKinstry faked a shot, paused and then scored under the basket and then Lafayette and McKinstry traded 3-pointers. A Palmer foul shot, a wide-open Lafayette field goal and a Concessi 3-pointer led to a 40-36 Peoples Academy advantage entering halftime.

A 3-pointer and putback by Mace and an off-balance jumper by DeForge treated fans to more fast-paced action in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Wells scored in the paint and extended the lead to 47-38 before the Raiders called a timeout. Wells made a turnaround jumper after the short break and then DeForge scored again midway through the quarter.

A jumper and fast-break layup by Lafayette gave the Wolves a 13-point cushion, but a left-wing 3-pointer by McKinstry kept U-32 in contention. Mace and Wells answered with field goals, while Keagan Rossi scored four quick points for the Raiders. Rossi assisted Palmer for a weak-side 3-pointer at the end of the quarter, closing the gap to 57-50.

Lafayette scored off an inbounds play just a few seconds into the fourth quarter and then Mace padded the lead to 11 points. After a Wells free throw, DeForge knocked down a long-range shot and Mace went 1 of 2 from the foul line. A quick-release Lamere 3-pointer with 5:15 on the clock made it a 63-56 game prior to a timeout. A jumper through contact and a foul shot by Lafayette was countered by a field goal and two free throws from DeForge.

U-32 committed its fifth foul of the quarter with 4:18 remaining and Madson went 2 of 2 from the line. Mace and Concessi both hit 3-pointers and then Whitney and Deforge made offsetting foul shots. Lafayette threaded the needle to set up Mace for a bucket down low. Wells scored again for a 12-point lead and then a McKinstry 3-pointer and an Elliot Zeilenga free throw resulted in the final outcome.

Peoples Academy (5-14) will close out the regular season against Lyndon. U-32 (2-17) will travel to play Mount Anthony at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

DUXBURY — A 20-point performance by Sabine Brueck propelled the Falcons to their 15th straight victory Thursday.

“North Country is the No. 1 seed in Division II now for a reason,” Harwood coach Tom Young said. “The only team they’ve lost to this year is Mount Mansfield, who’s considered one of the better top contenders for Division I. So you’ve got to tip your hat to what Sarah (Roy) and her coaching staff are doing and the way their players are executing what they want done.”

Ava Patten (16 points) and Addie Nelson (nine points) were also sharp for North Country, which established a 29-15 halftime advantage.

“It was a tough game for us,” Young said. “North Country used their speed, sharp shooting and all-around good fundamental basketball to just make it hard for us.”

Anna Longe scored six points for the Highlanders, while teammates Adelaide Chalmers, Maddie Grace Ryley and Cheyenne Keller each finished with four points.

“Maddie worked really hard at the point tonight,” Young said. “She did exactly what we asked her to do with pacing in the offense and trying to get people involved.”

Harwood (10-5) will travel to play U-32 at noon Saturday. North Country (17-1) will host Lake Region at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

PLAINFIELD — The Patriots snapped a 15-game losing streak by holding off the Trojans and Huskies during the final seconds Thursday.

Kendall Fowler (16 points) and Jorja (15 points) paced Twinfield-Cabot, which struggled offensively in the early stages of the game but still managed to keep things close.

“We started out slow and didn’t score 10 points in any of the first three quarters,” Trojans and Huskies coach Jack Whalen said. “And Mount Anthony had a big fourth quarter and scored 23 points. But we played great situational basketball at the end. And needing to foul, Kendall fouled out — which hurt. But Jorja stepped up big. Playing a D-I school was definitely intimidating. But once our girls saw they had a real shot, they dug in. Obviously we would like to win this game, but the girls should be very proud of how they came back and ended strong.”

Mount Anthony (2-16) will host Burr & Burton at 7 p.m. Monday, while Twinfield-Cabot (6-8) will host Danville at 3 p.m. Sunday.

STOWE — The Blue Devils snagged their sixth straight victory Thursday by turning things into a blowout quickly against the Raiders.

Williamstown’s top scorers were Julia French (14 points, five steals), Hannah Spencer (11 points, eight steals) and Natalie Beliveau (11 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, three steals). The Blue Devils nabbed 28 steals as a team.

“We played strong defense and everyone made a positive contribution to help us secure the win,” Blue Devils coach Thurman Wilder said.

Anna Juzek (six points) and Helena Devore (five points) paced Stowe, which trailed 14-5 after the first quarter. The Raiders faced a 27-5 halftime deficit and were behind 38-8 after three quarters.

Stowe (1-16) will host Winooski at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Williamstown (12-5) will host Blue Mountain at 7 p.m. Monday for Senior Night.

“We’re focused on finishing the season strong,” Wilder said. “And this game was a great opportunity to prepare for the upcoming competitive matchups.”

HARDWICK — Kelsie Rivard and Julia desGroseilliers each scored 19 points Thursday while guiding the Wildcats past the Bullets.

Leading the way for BFA were Adi See (eight points) and Anna Villeneuve (seven points). Hazen (16-1) will host Blue Mountain at noon Saturday, while BFA-Fairfax (5-13) will host Richford at 7 p.m. Monday.

MONTPELIER — The Solons struggled to contain a pick-your-poison Lancers offense Thursday and suffered their ninth straight loss.

Four-year varsity player Evie Pirie excelled again for Lamoille by recording 23 points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists. The Lancers’ well-rounded lineup also included a high-level effort from Alyssa Small, who finished with nine points, 20 rebounds, four steals, four assists and two blocks. Maddex Percy (12 points), Ava Clark (seven points, five steals, four rebounds) and Ava Baisley (10 rebounds) also stepped up for the Lancers, while Regan Walke (six points) and Veda Gahagan (four points) led the way for MHS..

Lamoille (13-3) will host Lyndon at 7 p.m. Monday, while Montpelier (3-13) will host Oxbow the same day.