By DAN BARILE
Eagle Times Correspondent
In a small state like Vermont with less than 20 teams per division in high school basketball, a couple of talented players can realistically allow any school to compete for a state title in any given season.
We’ve seen it locally in Bellows Falls, when the Terriers were led by the Rayner twins. Dani and Jevy Rayner led the Terriers to three state titles in four seasons, including an undefeated championship in Division 1 during the 2002-2003 campaign. Despite the Terriers’ incredible run with the Rayners, they have advanced past the quarterfinals on only one occasion since the departure of their star duo.
Sustaining success requires more than just a couple of talented players. The Windsor girls’ basketball program has been a blueprint for sustained success with nine consecutive trips to the Division 3 semifinals and five state titles during that span. Only West Rutland possesses a longer streak with 14 straight semifinal appearances in Division 4.
Fifth-year Head Coach Kabray Rockwood emphasized the importance of the Windsor recreation program, the local AAU team, and summer workouts for helping in the development of his players, while also highlighting the importance of his team’s approach.
“We emphasize fundamentals, defense and conditioning,” Rockwood said. “We try to keep a lot of energy and positivity towards what we’re doing. The expectations are set high and kept high because I think once you’re at that level, it’s important to try to maintain that through positive self-talk and positive energy amongst everybody.”
Rockwood added, “That’s not to say we’re not hard on them and demanding, but [the incoming players] usually have some idea of how we operate so that we’re able to get them to a varsity level and continue to grow from there.”
Despite all of Windsor’s success, every year is a new challenge, particularly when tasked with filling the void left by All-State players like Reese Perry, Sydney Perry, Elliott Rupp and Olivia Rockwood.
“It’s a collective approach of trying to fill the holes from year-to-year,” Rockwood said.
Rockwood and his staff will be tasked with more holes to fill next year following the graduation of All-State players Sophia Rockwood and Audrey Rupp, and All-SVL forward Brianna Barton.
“We have some good freshmen, some good sophomores, and we have a couple of good juniors coming back who can elevate their roles,” Rockwood said. “They’re a big part of what we do now, and they’ll just have to be a bigger part next season. You take all of that and over the course of a 20-game season you have the chance to evolve, particularly with our schedule and how tough it is. They’re getting thrown to fire, so when they get to the playoffs, it’s not like they haven’t played a bunch of big minutes against good competition.”
As the team enters the offseason following its 10th state title in program history, the impact of the team’s success and its approach will continue to be felt in the weeks, months, and years ahead.
“I think it brings the community together and gives everybody a common thread,” Rockwood said. “Everybody is just so happy for the success and this town has had a lot of it. All the girls see people on the street, in the store, and in school, and everyone is so jacked up about what they’ve accomplished.”
Rockwood added, “Part of it is because of the way Windsor looks at their athletics as being something that is important, in terms of how it translates in the community, and for these kids as they get older and become bigger parts of the community themselves.”
Whether the team secures its 10th straight trip to the semifinals is uncertain, but something that is certain is that the community and the girls on Windsor’s basketball team will continue to benefit from the program.
“I think it’s important to reflect that people in this town and in surrounding towns give these kids a lot of support,” Rockwood said. “We thank the community and the community thanks us, and I think that’s important for both sides.”
2024-2025
Record: 19-4
Semifinals: Windsor 50, Hazen 34
Finals: Windsor 48, Oxbow 45
Windsor took a 31-18 lead into the half after Sophia Rockwood popped off for 20 points. Top-seeded Oxbow battled back after halftime, but the Yellow Jackets were able to hang on for their 10th state title in program history. Sophia Rockwood (23), Amelia Rockwood (9), Cassie Clark (7), and Audrey Rupp (6) were the top scorers for Windsor.
SVL First Team: Sophia Rockwood
SVL Honorable Mention: Brianna Barton, Audrey Rupp, Kemari Wildgoose
All-State: TBD
2023-2024
Record: 18-5
Semifinals: Windsor 46, Richford 33
Finals: Hazen 66, Windsor 56
Caitlin Davison scored 26 of her 34 points during the second half to lead Hazen to its first state title since 1991. Sydney Perry paced Windsor with 23 points and Brianna Barton added 14.
Second Team All-State: Sydney Perry
All-State Honorable Mention: Sophia Rockwood, Audrey Rupp
SVL First Team: Sydney Perry, Sophia Rockwood
SVL Honorable Mention: Brianna Barton, Audrey Rupp
SVL Coach of the Year: Kabray Rockwood
2022-2023
Record: 21-2
Semifinals: Windsor 54, Peoples 42
Finals: Windsor 44, Thetford 40
Behind 16 points and 20 rebounds from Sydney Perry, Windsor came from behind during the fourth quarter to secure back-to-back titles. Brianna Barton and Audrey Rupp scored eight points apiece for the Yellow Jackets.
Second Team All-State: Sydney Perry
All-State Honorable Mention: Sophia Rockwood, Audrey Rupp
SVL First Team: Sydney Perry, Sophia Rockwood
SVL Honorable Mention: Audrey Rupp
2021-2022
Record: 21-2
Semifinals: Windsor 46, White River Valley 26
Finals: Windsor 37, Lake Region 30
Windsor outscored Lake Region 24-12 in the second half to claim its first of three state titles under Kabray Rockwood. Reese Perry led Windsor with 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Peyton Richardson connected on a couple of three-pointers late in the fourth quarter to secure the title.
First Team All-State: Reese Perry
Second Team All-State: Elliott Rupp
SVL First Team: Reese Perry, Elliott Rupp
SVL Second Team: Karen Kapuscinski, Holly Putnam, Peyton Richardson
SVL Coach of the Year: Kabray Rockwood
2020-2021
Record: 9-1
Semifinals: Vergennes 38, Windsor 31
Windsor held an 18-17 lead at halftime but struggled to find the bottom of the net in the second half. Reese Perry led the Yellow Jackets with 11 points.
All-State: Elliott Rupp
SVL First Team: Ashley Grela, Adi Prior, Evelyn Page
2019-2020
Record: 19-3
The semifinals were cancelled due to COVID-19. Windsor, Thetford, Oxbow, Lake Region were named quad-champions.
Miss Basketball: Olivia Rockwood
First Team All-State: Olivia Rockwood
SVL First Team: Adi Prior, Olivia Rockwood
2018-2019
Record: 17-5
Semifinals: Thetford 55, Windsor 48
Windsor’s title defense came up short against a Thetford squad that went on to win its second title in three years. Olivia Rockwood tallied 14 points for Windsor and Adi Prior followed with 11.
First Team All-State: Olivia Rockwood
SVL First Team: Adi Prior, Olivia Rockwood
2017-2018
Record: 18-6
Semifinals: Windsor 50, Peoples 45
Finals: Windsor 51, Thetford 34
Windsor cruised to victory after racing out to a 34-16 lead at the half. Olivia Rockwood scored a game-high 29 points for the Yellow Jackets.
Second Team All-State: Olivia Rockwood
SVL First Team: Olivia Rockwood
SVL Honorable Mention: Evelyn Page
SVL Co-Coach of the Year: Bruce Mackay
2016-2017
Record: 20-4
Semifinals: Windsor 61, Winooski 47
Finals: Thetford 53, Windsor 52
Thetford overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter and scored the game winning basket in the final seconds to come away with a one-point victory. Olivia Rockwood connected on nine three-pointers and posted 30 points for Windsor.
All-State Honorable Mention: Olivia Rockwood
SVL First Team: Ashleay Wilcox
