WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Hartford High’s boys basketball uniforms don’t feature names on the back, which is fitting for a group of somewhat anonymous players.

The Hurricanes returned only three competitors from last season’s squad that advanced to the VPA Division II finals and lost to Montpelier, which claimed its fourth consecutive crown. A rebuild, or at least a restocking, seemed in order, but Hartford is a startling 14-3 after Tuesday’s 51-44 defeat of Fair Haven at Hanley Gymnasium.

“I’m having so much fun,” said third-year Hurricanes coach Mike Gaudette. “I knew we’d have talent, but this wasn’t expected.”

The Hurricanes have no seniors but seven juniors, including forward Noah Jenks, who led them with 19 points on Tuesday. Noah Danieli had 13 points and Ryan Murphy had 10 points as their team snapped the Slaters’ five-game winning streak and extended their own to six.

Hartford trailed by three points after a quarter and led by three points at halftime. The hosts outscored the Slaters, 16-10, during the third stanza and didn’t lead allow them to pull closer than five points the rest of the way.

“You have to guard all five of them,” said Fair Haven coach Luke Vandals, whose 11-5 team missed open shots on consecutive, late possessions while trailing by five points. “We played good defense and rebounded decently, considering how athletic they are. They made a few more shots. Sometimes it’s that simple.”

The result clinched a second consecutive Marble Valley League B Division title for Hartford, which will be moving to that circuit’s A level next winter. It also earned the Hurricanes a top-four finish in Division II, guaranteeing a pair of home playoff games if they can win their postseason opener in a few weeks.

Hartford, currently second in the division behind Montpelier (16-1), played strong, unified defense against Fair Haven, which was led in scoring by 6-foot-4 senior Phil Bean. The center had 12 points, but the Hurricanes limited his touches during the fourth quarter, denying him the ball and forcing him to beat multiple players to the rim.

“As long as I’m coach here, we’re going to push toughness and defense, and we really showed that tonight,” Gaudette said. “These guys have bought in and they’re mentally tough, and I really appreciate that.”

Gaudette began to get a good feeling about his team last summer when 42 players signed up to play in high school leagues based out of Lebanon and Rutland. This winter’s eighth graders are good enough that they’ve had to look well outside the Upper Valley for equal competition, and there’s a sense that interest in basketball is growing and pushing players to be better if they want significant game time.

“All five of our starters can and have scored in double figures this season, and we have another three or four who can come off the bench and score,” Gaudette said. “Our second unit has gotten better, practicing against those starters every day.”

A notable absence is senior Ayodele Lowe, who would have continued to be a basketball standout had he not opted to stop playing after last season. Lowe, whose older brother ran track at Brown University in Rhode Island, has similar aspirations and chose to focus on that sport during his final high school year.

“I was disappointed he didn’t come back, but we respect his decision,” Gaudette said, pointing out that without Lowe, young guards Rex Baning and Owen Jenks have gotten playing time they might not have otherwise.

Do these Hurricanes have it in them to capture the program’s first state title since 1929? Vadnais thinks it’s possible, and Gaudette is cautiously optimistic.

“It’s Montpelier vs. the field right now, but we’ve played them in the playoffs two years in a row and I think we’ve closed the gap on them,” the Hartford coach said “We were kind of in awe two years ago when they beat us in the quarterfinals. Last year they hit some key shots at the end, but we were with them all game.”

Hartford closes the regular season with a Friday visit to Bellows Falls (9-7) and home games next week against Rivendell (1-15) and Otter Valley (15-2).

Tris Wykes can be reached at ctwykes@aol.com.