Sports

Cosmos unified celebrates senior class

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – The Cosmos unified basketball team honored its six seniors on Monday evening in a 34-27 home loss to the Middlebury Union Tigers.

Hannah Anderson, Rachel Campbell, Morgan Fontaine, Gavin Glidden, Falisha Maly, and Catherine Parsons have all kept a positive attitude in their final year wearing the Cosmos’ green and white.

“The seniors have been amazing,” said Springfield coach Margaret Gultekin. “Catherine has come a long way… the way she has been passing the ball successfully. And, I can’t say enough about Gavin with the way he plays. He has shined this year in his rebounding and short jumpers, and has learned to use his height.

“Falisha has grown in so many ways… four years ago she was timid on the court. Her perseverance over the years has shown in her ability to both drive to the basket and know where teammates are.

“Morgan is a four-year veteran who is committed to the team… she helps the coaches keep score and helps with team tasks.

“Hannah has improved in her confidence on the court and Rachel, in her second year, does well in shooting short jumpers.”

Trailing 9-6 after the first quarter on Monday, Glidden scored the first three Springfield points in the second frame on a driving layup and a foul shot. Then, sophomore Jason Supry scored on back-to-back hoops, but the Cosmos still trailed 18-13 at the half due to the outside shooting of Middlebury.

“We have to do a better job on getting out and defending their shots from the three-point line,” said coach Gultekin.

Springfield played an impressive third quarter. After another basket from Supry, Maly worked hard for a hoop as she grabbed her own miss and finished. With two minutes left in the third quarter, Glidden found Alex Sanborn for a layup to cut the lead to 23-19.

But, in the fourth, the Tigers made a couple more long balls to put the game away and gave Springfield their first loss of the season. They have three more games before playoffs start.

For the Cosmos, Glidden had 9 points and 12 rebounds, Maly had 6 points and 6 rebounds, Luke Machafo had 4 rebounds, Brandon Edwards had 4 rebounds, Tiffany Gordon had 2 rebounds, Alex Sanborn had 2 points, and Supry had 6 points. Parsons had two nice inbound passes to partner Haley Gibbons.

Springfield will travel to Otter Valley on Thursday.

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