LIVINGSTON MANOR — Both the Wildcats and Bears started their season on Friday, with Livingston Manor competing in the Deposit/Hancock tournament and Tri-Valley hosting the Class D State Champion Runner-Up Chapel Field. The two Sullivan County squads met Monday night in Livingston Manor and the Bears were able to hold on for a 36-30 victory.

The game was the epitome of early-season hoops, with low shooting percentages and high turnovers on both sides. Empty possessions plagued both sides throughout the contest, but each team had glimpses of the great brand of basketball that fans will be treated to as the season continues and the players start to get settled in.

Tri-Valley won the opening tip and immediately netted a 3-pointer to get things started, but by the end of the first quarter it was only 9-4 as neither team was really able to get anything going offensively.

A strong second quarter by the Wildcats gave Livingston Manor their first lead after an 11-4 run made it 15-13, but TV ended the quarter on a 3-1 run to tie it at 16 apiece at the break.

Tri-Valley came out of the locker room swinging in the third quarter, scoring the first eight points of the frame and taking a 24-16 lead. That run ended up being the difference-maker, as the Wildcats attempted to answer by the end of the third but still trailed 28-24.

In the final quarter, the Bears scored the first two baskets to increase their lead back to eight. The Wildcats ended on a 6-4 run, but with an inability to score from the floor, the final whistle sounded with Tri-Valley taking home the win, and a 2-0 start to the season.

Josh Fanslau led all scorers with 10 points, eight of which were scored in the second half. Austin Swett and Matt Fanslau had nine and eight points respectively.

Aiden Johnston led Livingston Manor with nine points, with Logan Park adding seven.

“We had a lot of looks but weren’t able to convert,” LM Coach Charlie Hicks said. “The quick spurt in the third quarter put us down a few, but I’m happy with what I saw. It gives us something to build on.”

“It was early season basketball at its finest,” TV Coach Kevin Delaney said. “We’re a work in progress. We’re low on numbers and getting new players up to speed. Our goal right now is to take good shots and limit our opponents good shot opportunities, and I think we did a good job of that tonight.”

The Bears will be back in action tonight as they compete in the Ellenville Tip-Off Tourney, while the Wildcats will be in action on Monday as they take on Eldred in a league contest.