LEBANON — In a game notable for big swings in momentum and scoring runs by both teams, the Lebanon High Raiders fell just short in their season opener, losing 63-60 to the Kingswood Knights at Lang Metcalf Gym on Friday night.
With about two and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter, each team had notched just seven points each, and the score was deadlocked at 40-40.
However, the Knights went on an 11-0 run to close out the period on the back of some clutch rebounding and lights-out shooting from senior Brady Moulton. Kingswood took a 51-40 lead into the fourth quarter and staved off a late Lebanon comeback attempt to pick up the victory.
Tyler Ranney, of Lebanon, right, makes a move for the basket around Colton Sargent, of Kingswood, in Lebanon, N.H., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. Kingswood won 63-60. JAMES M. PATTERSON / Valley News
“We gave up some offensive rebounds, gave them some second chances, and we just didn’t capitalize on some baskets,” said Raiders’ Head Coach Blendon Salls about his squad’s late third-quarter struggles. “We had some pretty good opportunities to score, some fastbreaks that we just didn’t capitalize on that we did in the first half.”
Despite the loss, Salls said his team gave a good effort for their first game of the season.
“I think there were some growing pains, kind of just getting out there and getting used to playing with each other, but I thought the kids fought really hard,” Salls said. “I was really proud of the way they played.”
Senior Nehemiah Billings led the way offensively for the Raiders, dropping 11 points. Junior Liam Sullivan was the only other Raider to put up double figures with 10 points, in what was a balanced Lebanon attack.
Early on, things did not look good for the Raiders, as they could not get the ball to drop for about the first half of the first quarter.
Chris Mascean, center, and his teammates anticipate a three pointer on the bench during the team’s game with Kingswood in Lebanon, N.H., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. Kingswood won 63-60. JAMES M. PATTERSON / Valley News
The Knights rode out to a 10-0 lead with just under four minutes played in the game. But timely defense and deadly transition offense allowed the Raiders to go on a 9-0 run to cut their deficit to one.
Lebanon was not done there. As both teams traded buckets, the game was tied at 13-13, and the Raiders went on another run, this time an 8-0 run, to take a 21-13 lead into the second quarter.
The Raiders held a sizable lead for most of the second quarter, but down 31-21, the Knights would not retreat.
In the final minutes of the first half, the Knights went on a 12-0 run to take a 33-31 lead. Sullivan converted a layup in the final seconds to tie the game 33-33 going into halftime.
After Kingswood’s run late in the third quarter, they spent most of the fourth quarter holding off the Raiders comeback effort.
With under three minutes to play, Senior Chris Mascean knocked down a three to cut Kingswood’s lead to eight, and then a few possessions later, senior Tyler Ranney laced a three, and with about 1:40 left, the Raiders were down 60-55.
The teams traded buckets, and with under a minute left, the game was 62-57, Knights. With a chance to cut their deficit to one possession out of a timeout, the Raiders turned the ball over on the inbounds, effectively ending their comeback.
The Knights hit a free throw, and Billings would hit a three as the buzzer sounded to seal the game’s final margin.
Salls said that he was happy with the looks his team was able to get offensively and their patience.
“We just scored 60 points and didn’t play our best offense,” he said.
The Raiders will attempt to pick up their first win of the season when they travel to Laconia on Tuesday.
