Staff Report
The 2021-2022 basketball season was a remarkable winter for so many of our local teams players, coaches, and fans. With crowds back in the gymnasiums and having so many of our teams we cover make the playoffs has been a reward and at a time when it was needed so much.
Our staff covered many games and tried our best to bring you as much as we could. The submissions and help from the athletic directors, coaches, and fans make this a true community newspaper.
With so many wonderful memories and performances the following student athletes have been chosen as our Eagle Times players and teams of the year.
Reese Perry
Windsor Yellow Jackets
Reese Perry averaged double figures in points and double digits rebound for the season. Reese helped guide her team to the Vermont Division III state championship and her team finished with a 22-2 record. There is not a better post up player anywhere in the state of Vermont, Reese just beats you up and wears you down.
“A true back to the basket throwback player,” said Yellow Jackets coach Kabray Rockwood. “Simply a game changer with her basketball IQ coupled with her relentless pursuit of the basketball on the glass on both ends of the floor.”
Avery Stewart
Fall Mountain Wildcats
Avery Stewart was second team All-State as a freshman and first team as a sophomore, junior, and senior and finished her four-year varsity career with 1,108 points and a record of 61-15 including reg. season and playoffs.
Avery’s coach, Matt Baird-Torney, had much to say about the dominant player.
“Avery’s talent is only matched by her work ethic and dedication to the sport and her teammates. Avery always faced our opponents best defender and often saw entire defensive schemes designed to slow her down and try to frustrate her. Through it all, she was an unselfish leader who represented Fall Mountain with class.”
Jon Terry
Bellows Falls Terriers
“[Jon Terry is a] great leader, worked incredibly hard even through injuries and led by quiet example,” said his coach Evan Chadwick. “He truly was a special player and young man, and personifies what Bellows Falls basketball should always be about.”
Reeve Wilkinson
Stevens Cardinals
“Reeve was the heart and soul of our team. He brought it every game and, more importantly, every practice. In a season where there was a lot of inconsistency in scheduling, COVID protocols, injuries, you name it, Reeve was there leading us every day. We would certainly not have been where we were without him. Reeve not only led our team in taking charges, but he owned that stat, so much so that others tried to mimic him as the season went along, but couldn’t quite do it,” said Stevens boys basketball head coach Ray Curren. “Reeve wasn’t one of our top scorers, but when we needed a big basket, he always wanted the ball. He hit the biggest shot of our season with his game-winner at Campbell, but he had huge shots in wins over Mascenic, Belmont, and Winnisquam as well. He was under-sized — as was our whole team — but you knew you were going to get his best effort every night.”
All-Eagle Times girls team
Guards: Holly Putnam and Peyton Richardson, Windsor; Macie Stagner, Springfield; Kiley Bund, Stevens; Kim Cummings, Green Mountain; Tanya Sanchez, Newport; Julia Nystrom, Bellows Falls.
Forwards: Riley Skarin, Newport; Zahna Rice and Stella Lavertue, Stevens; Karen Kapuscinski and Elliot Rupp, Windsor; Makenna Grillone and Nora Dunnigan, Fall Mountain; Meg Stagner, Springfield; Liz Tschudin, Sunapee.
Centers: Sydney McAllister, Fall Mountain; Alyssa Paquette and Tara Sullivan, Stevens.
All-Eagle Times boys team
Guards: Dylan Chambers and Hunter LaRocquel, Stevens; Kaleb Swett and Maison Fortin, Windsor; Jack Cravinho, Bellows Falls.
Forwards: Jackson Goodell, Bellows Falls; Devyn Heino, Newport; Caleb Buchanan, Windsor; Kayden LaClair and Trystan Lane, Stevens; Sam Presch, Springfield; Brady Elliott, Fall Mountain; Drew Clifford, Sunapee; Jackson Goodell, Bellows Falls.
Centers: Austin Jones, Stevens; Dalton Clifford, Windsor; Owen LaRoss, Bellows Falls.
Coaches of the Year
Stevens High School boys basketball coach Ray Curren and Newport High School girls basketball coach Ross Dole are our picks for New Hampshire coaches of the year. Curren led the Cardinals this season to their first playoff appearance in five years while finishing 9-7 while Dole took a group of very young players and won 3 of their last 5 games to qualify for tournament play.
Bellows Falls Union High School boys basketball coach Evan Chadwick and Windsor High School girls basketball coach Kabray Rockwood are our picks for Vermont coaches of the year. Chadwick stepped into the head role position at Bellows Falls this season and molded a team that went 16-6 in the regular season while losing only two games in the month of February. Rockwood guided the Yellow Jackets to a 22-2 regular season record. The Jacks outscored their playoff opponents by an average point margin of 60-30. State champions.
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