Sports

Windsor Ladies begin march to Barre with win

By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
WINDSOR, Vt. — Kabray Rockwood’s Lady Jacks opened up the playoffs facing a team from Mill River that started two eighth-graders and have had four coaches in the last four years. And as expected the Yellow Jackets ripped open a big lead and then let the younger players get plenty of playoff experience.

Whether it’s the same breakfast meal the day of a game that is served in the Richardson house or a certain good luck charm worn in Sophia Rockwood’s hair for each game, it’s working.

After a lopsided first quarter, the next wave of Jacks were a glimpse of what next years team will look like and they impressed. With freshman Audrey Rupp, S. Rockwood, Gabby Gilbert, Brianna Barton plus sophomore Sydney Perry, the future looks bright in Windsor as the first quarter lead just kept growing.

“We all take turns running point,” S. Rockwood said. “We are all pretty athletic and flexible so it doesn’t matter who is on top when we run our offense.”

Sprinkle in the likes of Skylar Thibodeau and Amber Simonds and the Jacks just kept playing hard and led by more than 50 points at the break.

“Our chemistry is great. We go against the seniors every practice and I know it only helps us get better,” Gilbert said. “Practice is unbelievable. We are all super competitive but when we walk off the court we are all friends.”

Along the way coach Rockwood had opportunities to play with his defenses and at one time had a 2-3 zone in operation with twin towers Karen Kapuscinski and Reese Perry on top.

“They are very athletic and they were active while sliding from wing to wing,” Rockwood said. “I liked what I saw tonight. I think it gives us some options as we head deeper into the playoffs. We had a very balanced effort tonight from everyone.”

Windsor would have 10 players get into the scoring column on Tuesday as the ‘Fab five” would end the night with limited action: R. Perry 20 points, nine rebounds; Elliot Rupp 15 points; Holly Putnam 10 points; Peyton Richardson nine points; and Kapuscinski nine points.

“Windsor is where we want to be. It was a learning game for us,” said Mill River coach Jake Tanner. “They are a class act and the best team we have faced all season. They didn’t run up the score, they just played hard.”

With limited numbers, the Minuteman team is rebuilding and looking towards the future with only two seniors.

Eighth-grader Chloe Kennedy led Mill River with five points while seniors Malori Carlson and Susan Benini dropped in three points each.

The young Jacket group was led by A. Rupp who would toss in seven points while S. Perry, S. Rockwood, and Barton would all drop in six points and Thibodeau would round out the scoring with two points as Windsor won 89-15.

The No. 1 seeded Yellow Jackets will host No. 9 seeded Vergennes who knocked off No. 8 seeded BFA 54-34 on the road. The next game is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. in Windsor in quarterfinal action, weather permitting.

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