WILTON — The Wilton-Lyndeborough boys basketball team needed a statement win.

The kind of win a team can hang its hat on.

Entering Friday’s home game with Sunapee, the Warriors were a respectable 7-3 and in a tie for sixth place in Class S. But even though five of those wins came against teams that would be in the playoffs if they started at the conclusion of last week, all were against squads in 12th place or lower.

And in three games against top eight teams, the Warriors were 0-3. They had lost by an average of 14 points per contest, with one of the losses coming by 18 to the same Lakers team on Dec. 18.

But in the first match-up, the Warriors were not at full strength and it was just the second game of the season.

“We’re healthy, but also we’re playing with a lot more confidence,” said coach Sean Young. “We have guys that are now used to the position they’re playing. We’re starting to get the team cohesion. We’re getting used to playing together.”

So Friday’s 50-39 win not only was sweet revenge for the first loss, but it gives the young Warriors’ team confidence going into the final seven games of the regular season.

“That’s the first big win we’ve had in a year and a half versus a quality team,” Young said. “We’ve been just trying to get over the hump and get that quality win. That’s a great first step for us.”

WLC had some experience playing in closer games, but not against a top opponent like Sunapee. In an earlier loss to Pittsfield, the Warriors couldn’t hang on to a nine-point halftime lead and not only lost the game by 10, but also their composure.

The Warriors have struggled with one bad defensive quarter this season and it happened in the first. They allowed the Lakers to put in 15, but trailed by just three after scoring the final three points.

Aaron Davis began the second with a three to tie it and then a pair of free throws by Kyle Jennings gave WLC the lead, 17-15. Davis followed with a spinning lay-up that pushed the Warriors’ advantage to three.

Sunapee didn’t collect its first point until the 3:57 mark, on a free throw by Brian Brewster, and didn’t score a field goal until there was 2:12 left in the quarter.

“Our team defense is getting a lot better,” Young said. “We’re starting to understand the rotations a lot better now, but more importantly our rebounding has improved.”

The Warriors outscored Sunapee 14-6 in the second to take a 26-21 edge into the locker room.

The strong defensive effort continued into the second half, as WLC went on an 8-2 run to start the third, extending the lead to 11. The margin grew as large as 15 on two different occasions, as the Warriors won the quarter 16-9 and went into the fourth up by 12.

“Our bench keeps us in the games all the time,” Adam Edmunds said. “When our bench isn’t really in it, we’re not really in it.”

While the offense struggled to begin the fourth, not scoring until there was 3:03 left, the defense continued to give the Lakers all kinds of problems.

Sunapee never got any closer than seven, and the Warriors registered their third straight quarter of keeping the Lakers to single digits.

“The nice part is that we keep getting better from game to game,” Young said. “It might not look it when you look at the scoreboard, but when you watch what we do on the basketball court, we are getting better.”

And if the free throw shooting was more consistent — the team shot 10 for 23 — it could have been an even bigger win.

“This is one of the main games where we actually played good, at least for three quarters, and for the future, this is the start of it,” said Edmunds.

Edmunds led all scorers with 15, while Davis added 11 and Tory Rysnik chipped in 10.

Sunapee was led by Brewster’s 14 and Leo Kontoes’ 10.

On Wednesday, the Warriors defeated Portsmouth Christian 61-48. WLC trailed by four, 32-28, at the half, but outscored the Eagles 23-8 in the third.

Rysnik scored 24 with Davis adding 18 and Steven Heck contributing 13.

The Warriors travel to face undefeated Derryfield tonight.

“This really pumps us up for that game,” Edmunds said of Friday’s win.