Rebels Put Terriers on a Leash

Robert H. Litchfield III

TOWNSHEND – The Leland and Gray Boys Basketball team beat Bellows Falls last Monday, February 13th.  After gaining three consecutive wins, (including a sentimental victory over the Proctor Phantoms who held a 15 year-old winning streak against us) the Rebels entered the game with much tenacity.

In the first half, the game went back and forth between both teams with many turnovers, resulting in a 28-24 Terrier lead.  By the second half, the level at which both teams were playing on showed a phenomenal improvement; the Rebels played avid defense making plenty of down low put-backs whereas the Terriers held onto an astonishing rampage of three pointers.  By the end of the third, the Terriers established a 40-35 lead over the Rebels.

The final quarter was the most intense.  Both teams’ starters were in and were playing like madmen, fiercely penetrating to the hoop and making exceptional plays.  The entire Rebels fan base came alive and the stands shook violently from tapping feet with every opposing foul shot. Loud, clashing noises were reverberating off of the metal the team was on offense or defense.  The Rebels used the fans to their advantage and got back in the game, tying it up with minutes to go.  Finally, with the assured put-back by junior Michael Bergeron, the game was theirs and they had won their fourth straight victory.

Notable players of the game include: Senior captain Brandon Reilly who drained two threes, (one to open the game and one to close it)
with a few nice lay ups, and solid defense. Senior captain Bobby Culver who played absolutely phenomenally on offense, making both of his foul shots, driving the ball to the rack and accumulating twelve points over all.  Junior Zach Wilkins who played well when subbed in, and drained a three of his own. Junior Billy Nupp, who made both of his foul shots at the start of the game, totaled an overall eight points and played well overall with no turnovers and great defense.  And last, but certainly not the least, junior
Michael Bergeron who made a variety of nice put-backs, doing well behind the foul line (where he seemed to be most of the time) and accumulated fourteen points, becoming the top scorer for the Rebels.

The Rebels currently stand at number three in the state with a 12-4 record, just behind number two Rivendell Academy (15-1) and number one Enosburg Falls (15-2) and followed by number four Williamstown (10-4) and our dreaded playoff nemesis, number five Winooski (10-7).  Therefore, the Rebels look to be in relatively good shape for the post season…at least, statistically speaking.  I hope the Rebels can keep what they’ve started going for them and I feel that there is no reason, if they continue to play with the passion they played in last quarter of their last game, why they shouldn’t make it to Barre.