Woodstock Wasps v. Leland and Gray Rebels (Boys) 2/1/13

TOWNSHEND - The Woodstock Wasps turned their game into a battle against the Leland and Gray Rebels Friday, February 1.  Following a slow start to the game, the Wasps rallied by the end of the first half to get the lead going into hlaftime.  However, the Rebels bounced back to dominate the rest of the game and ultimately take home the W.

Avellino bringing ball up

The game started off quick as senior captain Drew Barnum put up the first couple baskets with ease.  Both Barnum and senior captain Billy Nupp successfully drove the ball to the rim the rest of the quarter to give the Rebels the lead.  The Wasps played flat-footed and couldn't keep up with the Rebels' fast pace.  In the final seconds of the first quarter, junor Dougie Avellino hit a buzzer-beating three pointer to put the Wasps behind just 14-10.

Sherman with fast break

Everything was going the Rebels' way in the second quarter as they consistently executed their offensive plays led by junior Jake Sherman.  But once senior Reid Langona shot the first basket for the Wasps, things suddenly shifted in the opposite direction for the Rebels.  After going scoreless in the first five minutes, the Wasps started a rally that caught up to the Rebels real quick.  Avellino hit another pair of threes to help the cause and gave the Wasps their first lead of the game, 24-23.

Barnum with a three

Once the Rebels reemerged from halftime, they looked to put their embarrassing finish behind them.  Senior captain Michael Bergeron and Barnum led the Rebels offense by scoring a combined twenty-one points in the third quarter.  Barnum, who had thirteen of those points, hit back-to-back-to-back threes that riled up the crowd and the overall momentum.  The third quarter rally gave the Rebels a safe 47-33 lead.

By the final quarter, the Rebels showed no intent in stopping.  Bergeron broke out with nine points alone with some help from Sherman and Barnum.  Both Avellino and Langona hit threes, but to little avail.  Although they played hard and scored a sixteen points in the fourth quarter, the Wasps were too far behind to come back.

Bergeron with a putback

The notable players of the game were Bergeron, Sherman and Barnum.  Bergeron had seventeen points on the night with five defensive rebounds and seven offensive rebounds.  Sherman got thirteen points and led the team with seven steals.  Barnum led the team in scoring with twenty-two total points and eight blocks.  He also accumulated ten total rebounds.  For the Wasps, the most notable player of the game was Avellino, who hit four threes, went 2-2 at the free throw line and scored a total eighteen points.

The Rebels next game is against the Otter Valley Otters at home, Monday, February 4.