GRAHAMSVILLE – In a physical, hard-nosed matchup Wednesday night, the Tri-Valley Bears came up short, falling 40–33 to the Sullivan West Bulldogs inside a packed Tri-Valley gymnasium.

Offense wasn’t at a premium from the opening tip, but the intensity never dipped. Blocked shots, loose balls, and timely steals fueled a game that remained tight deep into the second half, keeping the crowd engaged until the final buzzer.

Defense dictated the pace all night, with both teams battling through contact and contesting nearly every possession. When the horn finally sounded, it was Sullivan West who walked off the floor with a gritty road victory.

Bulldogs’ Head Coach Donovan summed up the night succinctly afterwards.

“It was a scrappy game, a lot of defense. The second half was much better than the first,” he said. “It’s always a battle playing Coach Closs and Tri-Valley, so getting a win here at their place is a good win. We’re 14–3, heading into sectionals, and we’ve got O’Neill on Monday. We’re excited for that game.”

In a low-scoring contest, with a score 15-14 at the half–Ella Herbert led all scorers with 15 points for Sullivan West. She was supported by a balanced effort, as Kaitlyn Razukas, Meghan Kelly, and Roz Passante each added six.

Tri-Valley was led by Allyson Chevalier with nine points, followed by Avery Carrier with eight and Paityn Closs with seven.

Despite the loss and a challenging season overall, Tri-Valley Head Coach Closs took pride in his team’s effort—particularly his young contributors.

“Both teams get after it, so I anticipated a physical game,” Closs said. “We took a one-point lead into halftime, but Sullivan West came out, made some shots, and swung the momentum their way. They put the game away.”

Closs also highlighted the growth of his younger players, noting that two eighth graders—Addison Dymond and Paityn Closs—are starting at the varsity level.

“I’m proud of their efforts tonight,” he added.

In a game where toughness outweighed scoring, both teams showed why defense and effort still set the tone in February basketball—especially with sectionals looming just ahead.