Sports

BF Fairytale Ends in Final Four: Terriers Fall to #1 Seed Winooski 71-51

By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
BARRE, VT — If anyone thought the powerful, undefeated Winooski Spartans were going to rollover Bellows Falls March 9, they couldn’t have been more wrong. The Terriers brought their “A game” to the dual.

The Terriers had a huge crowd in the stands for the Vermont Division 3 semi-final matchup. The heavily underdog Terriers went toe-to-toe with #1 seed Winooski before injuries and fatigue caught up with the team. The Terriers fell 71-51 as the Purple Gang wore down in the second half.

“These parents raised this group right,” Terriers coach Evan Chadwick said. “Just an incredible effort tonight. They just didn’t quit.”

“This place was breathtaking when we walked in – all the history and the thought that we are the first team to come here in 22 years was just incredible,” senior forward Caden Haskell said.

But, the venue didn’t phase this team one bit as it outplayed and out-hustled the top seed and grabbed a 16-14 lead when junior forward Cole Moore’s buzzer-beater hit nothing but net as the first quarter ended.

The Spartans had the height and were super quick at the guard position, but the Terriers countered with muscle and heart.

“We are a small town and a football school going against the cream of the division – we were ready,” senior forward Jake Moore said.

The smooth, quick play of the Spartans came out in full force as the team ran off with an 8-0 run to open the second quarter. Winooski led 26-18 before the Terriers would answer.

Junior guard Walker James would drop in a hoop then, when a loose ball appeared, the Terriers’ Haskell ran over Spartan senior Hassan Hassan as the slick Winooski guard took the worst of it against the big linebacker.

Senior guard Jamison Nystrom would drop-in four quick points, then when James ripped away a rebound for a put back, suddenly the once big lead was only two points, 26-24, with the Spartans’ crown looking a bit shaky.

As the Terriers were looking for the last shot before the half, Nystrom got tangled up along the sidelines and went down hard with an ankle and was assisted off the court.

After a turnover, Winooski hit a buzzer-beater of their own to take a 28-25 lead into the locker room while Nystrom sat on the bench getting taped by the Bellows Falls’ trainers. He hobbled all over the court in the second half with a heavily taped ankle for a gutsy performance.

Bellows Falls would score nine points in the third quarter while the Spartans’ lead grew to 46-34 as both teams entered the final quarter for one of them.

J. Moore and James were beasts on the glass, throwing elbows and grabbing the pumpkin as the Terriers desperately tried to cut into the lead. The Spartans were just too deep as the Terriers season came to a close with a 71-51 loss.

Chadwick then brought his seniors off the court together to a standing ovation from the fans.

“I wanted this so badly for our seniors,” Walker said. “We had a chance tonight and I know we gave it 100 %.”

Bellows Falls was led by J. Moore with 10 points, while Nystrom, C. Moore and James each ended with nine points each. Junior guard Colby Dearbron closed out the night with six points, while junior guard Jesse Darell, Haskell, senior center Peter Kamel and sophomore guard Eli Albee all finished with two points each.

The Spartans were led by 6’5” senior forward Daniel Surma with 16 points.

“You can’t beat what this team has brought to the school and community,” Bellows Falls Principal John Broadly said. “The energy in school was phenomenal this week – the whole community felt the excitement.”

“We’ve played together since we were five-years-old,” Nystrom said. “This hurts so bad, but to represent our town the way we did, makes me proud. I love this community and all they have done for us.”

“All I can ask for is that we play hard and I know we did,” Haskell said. “I am so thankful for the support to help us get here tonight.”

Bellows Falls finishes the year with a 17-6 record while #1 Winooski stands at 21-0 and will face #2 seed Hazen (20-3) for all the marbles in Division 3 on March 11.

“The last time I was here was when I played for Rochester in 1998,” Chadwick said. “I can’t wait until we return next year.”

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