By CHRISTOPHER LaCLAIR
Eagle Times Sports Editor
WINDSOR, VT — If you want to find the greatest show on Earth, look no further than Kabray Rockwood’s Windsor Yellow Jackets girls’ varsity program. On the opening tipoff on Tuesday night, Dec. 19, the game started off with a lot of whistles as Windsor picked up 3 fouls in the first two minutes including 2 for Sophia Rockwood that sent her to the bench early. They didn’t let the touch fouls bother them though as Audrey Rupp and Sydney Perry went to work early with baskets including a beautiful 3 from Rupp.
The final score was 58-40.
Bellows Falls would struggle to get anything going on early until a fluke shot hit the top of the backboard and bounced in for Nola Sciacca. Windsor’s Cassie Clark came off the bench to set the tone early with a steal and a layup. A few trips later, she swatted an NBA range 3-point attempt from Bellows Falls’ freshman phenom Abby Nystrom. Sophia Rockwood would slash to the hoop for two textbook layups to help Windsor end the quarter with a 17-7 advantage.
The second quarter started off with what appeared to be a perfectly executed half-court trap for Bellows Falls against Rupp that she somehow escaped for a clear path for a layup. Windsor’s full court trap defense was also very effective for them as it disrupted Nystrom’s ability to cross half court.
Nystrom executed one of the nicest hezis (hesitation dribble) that you will see from a freshman guard to get to the line. If you followed the Bellows Falls middle school team, this would come as no surprise to you. She helped dominate the middle school circuit with her teammate Meg Allbee who ended up going to prep school with Vermont Academy.
“Abby is tremendous and will only get better,” said Rockwood, head coach for Windsor. “Her and Meg would be a problem. Glad I get work with them in the spring and summer.”
Rupp would answer with another layup and then dished to Clark for a big 3 to extend the lead to 30-10. Delaney Lockerby would stop the bleeding for Bellows Falls with a basket to send the Terriers to the locker room at halftime down 36-14.
The second half started off with more unselfish play from Windsor as Rupp could have driven to the basket for 2, but made a great pass to Perry for a trip to the line. Nystrom would hit back-to-back 3’s for Bellows Falls to give them some life and confidence as they headed into the final frame down 46-24.
Rupp would drill a 3 from the left side as she kept her hand up watching her work of art splash through the net. Perry would come back down the court on the next possession and collect 3 offensive rebounds before putting in the tip as the BF defenders had no answer for her size.
Windsor would clear the bench to give their second-string team some valuable minutes on their way to a 58-40 victory.
“We were a little out of sorts at times tonight but glad we got the win,” Kabray said.
Rupp and Sophia Rockwood led Windsor in scoring with 17 points each. Lockerby led Bellows Falls in scoring with 15 points and Nystrom had 9 points.
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