The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School boys’ hockey team suffered two of its toughest losses of the season this week, losing 3-2 in the closing minutes Friday to old rival Han-over, and then losing 4-1 to a top Division I team from Framingham at home Saturday.

Coach Matt Mincone said his team actually played better in the more lopsided 4-0 loss to Framingham than they did against Hanover the night before.

The coach said the Vineyarders played flat and uninspired hockey against Hanover in a game they easily could have won.

“We didn’t do anything good,” he said. “We had our best game of the year Wednesday against Bridgewater Raynham, then we have our worst game of the year against Hanover two nights later. Maybe it was the roller-coaster effect, we were way up and then way down.”

The Vineyarders beat Hanover three times last year so the Indians took to the ice Friday looking for a measure of revenge and quickly gained a 2-0 advantage in the first period. And while the home team looked focused and determined, the Vineyarders looked flat and complacent, coach Mincone said.

“They beat us to pucks we should have gotten to, they out-skated us, they just out-played us. It seems our guys don’t understand what a rivalry is,” he said.

The Vineyarders did manage to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period, but then lost their spark. “Once we tied, the game, we went back into neutral. [Hanover] just wanted the win more then we did,” he said.

The game remained knotted at 2-2 until the Indians pushed the winning goal past goaltender Mike Capen at the 1:49 mark. Jock Cooperrider and Darren Gazaille each had goals in the loss.

The Vineyarders came out with more life on Saturday at home against Framingham, a top Division I program, but in the end couldn’t overcome the Flyers’ superior speed and shooting ability, losing by a final of 4-1. Coach Mincone said the Vineyarders were in the game well into the third period.

The Vineyarders out-shot the Flyers 26-24 in the game, but in the end it wasn’t enough.

“With a team like Framingham you have to play perfect. Once you make a mistake they make you pay. We kept up with them for most of the game, but when they got a lead they didn’t let up,” he said.

With the pair of losses, the Vineyarders fell to 6-3-1 on the season. They next play at home on Monday against Dennis-Yarmouth at 4:30 p.m.

Boys’ Basketball

In continuing a trend, the Vineyarders boys’ basketball team lost a pair of close games this past week, overcoming an early deficit before losing 76-71 to Old Rochester Friday, and then losing 59-54 in the final minutes against Somerset Monday at home after leading for most of the contest.

With the losses the Vineyarders’ record now stands at 3-7 on the season, with an astounding six of their seven losses coming by less than five points.

The Vineyarders rallied from a 16-point deficit at Old Rochester on Friday, led by Mark Reppert’s 24 points, and managed to tie the game 45-45 in the third quarter.

But the Bulldogs then reeled off a 9-1 run to finish the quarter, and the Vineyarders found themselves in catch-up mode once again. Although they pulled to within three in the third quarter, they could never get the equalizer, and lost by a final score of 76-71.

The Vineyarders led for most of the game against Somerset at home Monday, led by Steve Handy’s 24 points. But Somerset calmed down in the second half and used an efficient half-court attack to strip away the Vineyarders’ lead and pull ahead late to seal the win.

Girls’ Basketball

The girls’ basketball team rallied to beat Somerset on the road Monday, winning by a final of 54-40. The Vineyarders trailed 22-24 at the half but scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Katie Hines led the Vineyarders with 15 points; Kia Minor had 11 and Erin Morris had 9.

The Vineyarders record now stands at 2-7 on the season.