Cosmos bid comes up short

The Proctor girls basketball team experienced a third-period funk and had to beat back an athletic Springfield team to post a victory Saturday.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20121216/SPORTS02/712169945

Proctor’s Victoria Dominguez is chased down the court by Springfield’s Jill Rushton during Saturday’s game at Almo Buggiani Gym in Proctor. Photo: Photo by Anthony Edwards Published December 16, 2012 in the Rutland Herald Cosmosbid comesup short By CHUCK CLARINO CORRESPONDENT Rutland Herald PROCTOR – The Proctor girls basketball team started its season like it finished last season, which was crowned with a Division IV state championship. But the Phantoms experienced a third-period funk and had to beat back an athletic Springfield team to post a 58-37 victory Saturday at Almo Buggiani Gymnasium. The Phantoms were sitting pretty atop a 32-18 halftime lead. But five straight turnovers led to a 6-0 Springfield run and got the Division II Cosmos untracked. Springfield zoomed back into the fray by playing a physical and relentless man-to-man defense that fed a dynamic offense. At 1:41 of the third after a Jill Rushton inside hoop, the Cosmos sliced the deficit to single digits at 39-30 and were poised to draw closer. But Proctor got a run-killing 3-pointer from Carissa Elrick to close out the period with a 44-30 lead and regained some breathing room. “We talked at halftime about the first four minutes (of the third) being key and we didn’t do well,” Proctor coach Chris Hughes said. “This is a new group of girls and we’re getting used to each other and that’s where our leaders have to step up. Everyone’s gunning for us. We weathered it pretty well … but we can’t have those lapses.” On the other bench second-year Cosmo coach Joe Brown watched his girls self-destruct in the first half by committing 20 turnovers, and too many fouls, while failing to run the offense. But the mercurial Brown loved what he saw in the third period. “In that third quarter you saw how my girls can play basketball,” he said. “Until we start executing, making good decisions and taking care of the ball, we’re going to have 30 to 40 turnovers. It’s plain and simple and it all goes to work ethic.” While Springfield played much better in the second half – cutting down on their turnovers and getting good scoring contributions from Rushton, Chelsea McAllister and Abigail Cox – the Cosmos had dug a huge hole and it’s tough to sustain the kind of run needed to eclipse the Phantoms. Feeding off the momentum gained from Elrick’s shot, Proctor opened the fourth period with an 8-0 run triggered by Nicole Valach’s baseline jumper and capped by Megan Carter’s fast-break layup. The run bumped the lead to 52-30 and ratcheted up the odds of a comeback to an astronomic percentage given the time left. What paved the way to the victory was Proctor’s start. The Phantoms ran off the first six points of the game, surrendered a hoop to McAllister and answered with a 7-0 run. The 13-2 start was keyed by Proctor’s defense forcing Springfield into 12 turnovers and poor shot selection. Elrick and Alyssa Valerio keyed the defense, while Carter and Elrick hit the boards. Elrick, Valach and Carly Trombley were responsible for the points. Springfield found its offense in the second period as Cox and McAllister heated up, while Amanda Battiste and Jenn Stein worked the glass. But turnovers continued to haunt Springfield and fouls factored in. Proctor was in the 1-and-1 early in the second period and in the double bonus by the midway mark. Proctor meshed 8 of 13 foul shots in the first half to build the 32-18 halftime lead and set up the exciting third period. “The best thing (about playing Springfield) is that a team like this is not going to quit,” said Hughes. “We have to learn to play four quarters, which we did not. When you play the Springfields, the Randolphs, the Rices and the Rivendell’s you’ve got to play four quarters. That’s not even taking into account Arlington and West Rutland because if you don’t play four quarters you’ve got big problems.” Elrick showed the way for the Phantoms with 19 points and eight rebounds, and added two steals and two blocks. Valach chipped in 12, while Carter added six points and nine rebounds as eight Phantoms scored. McAllister was the lone Cosmo player in doubledigits with 13, while Cox added nine and Rushton six. McAllister also snared six rebounds and had four thefts for 1-1 Springfield. The 1-0 Phantoms host MSJ Thursday, while Springfield hosts Arlington Thursday.