By CHRISTOPHER LaCLAIR
Eagle Times Sports Editor
WINDSOR, VT — After being swept by the Stevens Cardinals in the 2022-2023 season by scores of 60-46 and 60-47, the Windsor Yellow Jackets turned the page under Larry Dougher’s second year as head coach. The Yellow Jackets overcame a first half deficit to pull out the narrow 46-42 win on Friday night, Dec. 15, in Windsor.
The Cardinals adjusted their starting lineup to go big with an all 6-foot-plus lineup against the undersized Yellow Jackets. It worked during the first half as Stevens used their size in the paint to end the first quarter with a 14-8 lead. Cullen Neathawk used his size to bang around for 6 points in the quarter on his way to a career high 11 total points scored in the contest.
“We went big because we wanted to control the glass,” said Matthew Dancosse, first year Stevens head coach. “We felt like that could be an advantage for us.”
“We don’t have a typical post presence so Stevens is a tough matchup for us, but we are long up front, so I think we negated their size advantage with our transition offense, our press, and then some zone,” said Larry Dougher.
Windsor chipped away at the lead in the second quarter behind the strong play of Corey Lockwood who drilled a 3 to start the run for the Yellow Jackets. Lockwood would drop another 6 points on three more baskets to score 9 of his team’s 13 points in the quarter to end the first half only down 23-21.
The Cardinals offense would sputter in the third quarter as they were only able to score two baskets, one each from Neathawk and Lucas Belisle, while adding 2 points at the line. Windsor’s star transfer, Brady Olmstead, who came over his senior season from Hartford, came alive in the third after being held scoreless in the first half. He scored 7 points including a big 3 to get the crowd hyped up and off their feet. Windsor took a 32-29 lead into the fourth quarter.
Dancosse changed his lineup in the fourth quarter to generate some possible turnovers while changing the pace of the game. Owen Wilkinson and Pat Prive came off the bench for a spark, but Windsor was able to maintain their lead as they outscored Stevens 14-13 in the final frame with the help of two late 3’s from Billy Blake.
“They still won the rebounding battle handily, but we attacked the rim smarter in the second half to give us a little cushion to carry us the rest of the way,” Dougher said. “Stevens is very lucky to have a great coach in Matt Dancosse. The Stevens players played excellent man to man defense which will serve them well for many years, not just this year.”
“At the end of the game we just had to speed up the tempo and try to force some turnovers,” Dancosse said.
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