Richford Rockets v. Leland and Gray Rebels (Girls) 3/6/13

TOWNSHEND - The Leland and Gray Rebels lost the first round of the 2013 Vermont girls Division III basketball playoffs to the Richford Rockets on Wednesday, March 6.  The lead teetered throughout the game with a fluctuation of under four points, but the Rockets blasted out of Townshend with the W towards Hazen where they will play the first seeded Wildcats in the quarterfinal round. 

The Rebel girls, who have failed to make it past the playdown round since 2001, were en route to making history with a win against the Rockets.  After a slow, 7-4 trail by the first quarter, the Rebels rallied in the second to get the lead back.  The offense was led by senior captain Alex Morrow who scored eight of the Rebels' ten points that quarter.  By halftime, the Rebels led 14-13.

By the third quarter, things started to fall apart noticeably.  Although the Rockets could not produce the points they needed to run away with the game, they did put up great numbers on defense by forcing Rebel turnovers.  Senior captain Ashley Goddard was the only one to put up any points for the Rebels that quarter.  The Rockets came back to tie it 19-19.

The last and final quarter seemed to take the longest.  Points were scarce but the tension and closeness was still prevalent.  Two quick baskets by senior captain Chelby Nystrom and sophomore Haley Buffum gave the Rebels the early 23-19 lead but the Rockets rallied right back.  Junior Johanna Sherrer hit a three followed by a basket by sophomore Hannah Gleason and a foul shot by sophomore Gabby Coons to give the Rockets with a 25-23 lead with under two minutes to go.  After Buffum tied the game up with a jumper at 25, Coons made a basket within the final minute of the game.

With just fifteen seconds to go, the Rebels had one more opportunity to tie the game.  The ball was passed in and the Rebels took their time setting up on offense.  It was clear that this would be the final play of the game.  The ball was successfully passed around to Buffum, the hero of the senior night win against Bellows Falls.  The difficult jumper from about fifteen feet bounced over the rim and into the hospitable arms of the Rockets who held on dearly through the final buzzer to get the 27-25 win. 

The player of the game was sophomore Coons who led the team with eleven points and had the final go-ahead shot for the Rockets.  For the Rebels, the player of the game was Morrow who led the team in scoring with ten points.  Alex and senior captain Ashley Goddard acquired 76% of the teams total points.

Morrow examined the game, "It just wasn't our night. Our shooting was off . . . and I do give them credit for coming such a long way and how they handled the pressure at the end. They kept their composure when we didn't and I think that's why they held on in the end."  On her final season of Leland and Gray basketball, Morrow said, "This was it.  Knowing that it was my last game gave me extra motivation to give our fans something to cheer about and give ourselves something to be proud of - a win in the playoffs, a dream I have had for four years on varsity. The other years you always think 'next year we'll get them!' But for me this was the year we were going to win.  The game could have gone to either team but unfortunately it didn't end in our favor.  I'm still proud of the team and of the girls. They left everything on the court and never gave up."