Terriers Outlast Windsor In Overtime

WESTMINSTER - It took overtime to decide this match up between rival Bellows Falls and Windsor, but the Terriers clamped down on defense in the extra frame and held on for a 57-49 win over the Yellow Jackets at Holland Gym in Westminster.

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Photos by Joe Milliken 1. Bellows Falls' senior Michael Hall gets off a shot in the lane 2. Windsor junior Shawn Pinsonault looks to make a play 3. BF sophomore Kendrick Mills drives to the basket.

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Make no mistake, this was a tightly contested, hard-fought game from beginning to end, with both teams really playing a physical brand of basketball under the boards and in fact, it got a little heated at times. "Both teams were playing pretty physical under the boards," BF coach Evan Chadwick would say after the game. "But the referees did a good job of letting them play, while still keeping it under control."

The Yellow Jackets got 3-pointers in the first quarter from seniors Nate Marden, Kyle Cushing and Winnie Townsend and built a six-point lead after the first quarter, while BF spread the scoring around with early baskets from freshman sophomore Kendrick Mills, seniors Michael Hall and Drew Guild, and junior Trevor Wilson.

The second quarter was rough, with both teams committing several turnovers and simply missing a lot of open shots, although the overall defensive intensity played a role in the low shooting percentages. The Terriers'Wilson would hit a jumper with less than a minute left in the half, tying the score at 20 headed into the break.

In the third quarter the play started getting more physical, with BF's Michael Hall getting his offense going in the paint and clearing out some rebounding space on defense. Hall would also make a couple key blocks defensively as well. For Windsor, it was the senior Trevor Dana, who hit shots from all angles on the floor and after a 3-pointer at the end of the third, had Windsor up by five at 33-28.

After the teams exchanged hoops for the first three minutes of the quarter, the senior Hall hit three consecutive baskets in the paint and after a Bourne free throw, the Terriers had a 39-38 lead with just under four minutes left.

After a Windsor time out, the key moment of the game would ensue as a full-court, pressing BF defense caused a turnover on the in bounds pass which led to a lay up. Then on the next Windsor in bounds play, the pass was stolen again and fed to cutting Michael LaBeau for another lay up and a six point lead.

But Windsor fought back again in the final two minutes and after two clutch free throws from Kendrick Mills for a two point lead, the Yellow Jackets' Kyle Cushing tied it up with a lay up at the other end. The Terriers had the ball and nine seconds to win it in regulation, but a Bourne runner at the buzzer fell short to force overtime.

In the over time, it was all Hall and Wilson for BF, as the tandem each scored six points to essentially end the game. Hall's inside play, coupled with Wilson's mid-range shooting in the extra session appeared too much for a scrambling Windsor defense.The loss also avenged an earlier defeat this season in which the Yellow Jackets throttled BF by nearly 20 points.

"The difference between this game and the first time we faced them, was the play of Michael hall in the middle," coach Chadwick said after the game. "When he plays with his back to the basket and gets that little jump hook goin', he's tough to stop. But he also rebounded well, played some good defense and for the most part, stayed out of foul trouble."

Hall led the way with 15 points, nearly double-figures in rebounds and four blocks, while Wilson and Mills pitched in with 15 and 11 points respectively. Dana led the way for Windsor with 16 points, while junior Tanner Tibbits added 10.

"Trevor Wilson also played a great game today," Chadwick added. "He has matured a lot on the floor, shot the ball well and did a great job under the boards. Michael LaBeau also played a key role for us off the bench today. He does a lot of the little things you need to win games.

"He is fundamentally sound on both ends of the floor and does a good job boxing out under the boards. He also helped force two key turnovers and made a nice cut to the basket for a lay up at the end of regulation. The win improved Bellows Falls to 9-8 on the season, while Windsor dropped to 6-12.