Windsor holds off Springfield

Through three quarters of play it looked as though Windsor was going to waltz to an easy victory over Springfield. The Cosmos did not make it easy in the fourth, cutting a 17-point deficit down to four with about two minutes to play.

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http://www.eagletimes.com/news/2015-12-31/Front_Page/Windsor_holds_off_Springfield.html Windsor holds off Springfield Woodstock downs Bellows Falls By CHRIS DOHERTY cdoherty Windsor’s Katey Comstock drives for a lay-up against Springfield’s Lizzie Mackenzie in Wednesday’s game. — CHRIS DOHERTY Windsor’s Katey Comstock drives for a lay-up against Springfield’s Lizzie Mackenzie in Wednesday’s game. — CHRIS DOHERTY SPRINGFIELD — Through three quarters of play it looked as though Windsor was going to waltz to an easy victory over Springfield. The Cosmos did not make it easy in the fourth, cutting a 17-point deficit down to four with about two minutes to play. In the end though, it was the Yellow Jackets scoring the final six points of the game to win it 44-34. “I thought we worked hard. I thought we did what we had to at the end,” Windsor head coach Bruce Mackay said. “We withstood their pressure, they got it down to four, then we made a couple good looks at the basket and made a couple of good passes,” Mackay continued. Springfield scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter before Windsor scored its first point of the frame with 2:37 to go in regulation. The Cosmos used a full-court trap defense that worked numerous times to cut into the lead. “It was something I have to admit I was nervous about going into,” Springfield head coach Joe Costello said about the press. “Windsor has some strong guard play.” Mackay said that his team was attacking the press the wrong way and it led to easy opportunities for Springfield. “You can’t beat that press with the dribble. We tried to do it too many times and they took advantage of it,” he said. Before fouling out, Diamond Bruso scored six consecutive points to bring the lead under double digits for the first time since early on in the second quarter. Bruso and Cassidy Otis each had seven points, leading the way for Springfield.Bellows Falls’ Emma Lawrence works the ball against Woodstock during Wednesday’s game. — CHRIS DOHERTY Bellows Falls’ Emma Lawrence works the ball against Woodstock during Wednesday’s game. — CHRIS DOHERTY Maddie Morse scored the last four points for the Yellow Jackets to seal the victory. Morse played through flu-like symptoms and Mackay thought she might not play. Morse finished the game with 10 points, but as Costello pointed out, she made a lot of plays that may not show up on the box score. “She does things even when she’s not having the greatest of nights that put any opposing team on its’ heals,” he said. “She got it with deflections, with tips underneath that maybe she doesn’t come away with the putback or the rebound, but her team does because of it.” “Maddie is always going to work. Maddie is a gamer,” said Mackay. Katey Comstock led the way for Windsor, scoring 11, six in the first quarter to help outscore Springfield 14-7. Windsor was able to extend the lead to 13 going into the half. “We were more patient and we moved the ball around pretty well, we rebounded fairly well and we finished,” said Mackay. Anika Abrahamsen killed Springfield on the boards, collecting 15 rebounds in the game, five of them on the offensive end. It was a balanced effort for both teams, with seven players scoring on each side. Hannah Crosby hit a free-throw line jumper cut the lead to four, but it was the last basket the Cosmos could get. Crosby is a player that has improved throughout the season, and according to Costello, has a very high ceiling as a freshman. “She’s a young kid who’s very skilled, who’s got great physical qualities and parts of the mental aspect of her game we’re working on every day,” he said. “I like the strides she’s making and I think (Crosby) and myself both believe she can make further strides and she’s never going to be satisfied with where she’s at.”Springfield’s Cassidy Otis looks for a lane around Windsor’s Katey Comstock. — CHRIS DOHERTY Springfield’s Cassidy Otis looks for a lane around Windsor’s Katey Comstock. — CHRIS DOHERTY In a game that ended with a loss, the amount of positives that came out of it for Springfield is what Costello will remember, and hopes his team does too. “That’s what I’m taking away from this,” he said. “If my kids can’t find something that they can be proud of in that effort, frankly I’d be disappointed.” Both teams will be back in action Saturday in Springfield. The Cosmos will play Bellows Falls while Windsor will face Woodstock.