Cosmos thump Wasps

Woodstock used a diamond-and-one defense on Springfield's high scoring Brandon Boyle and it worked. Boyle got only one field goal and seven points.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100209/SPORTS/2090372       # # # # Cosmos thump Wasps 'Mac attack' lifts Springfield Rutland Herald By POODY WALSH Herald Correspondent - Published: February 9, 2010 SPRINGFIELD — Woodstock used a diamond-and-one defense on Springfield's high scoring Brandon Boyle and it worked. Boyle got only one field goal and seven points. However, the rest of the Springfield team, especially Ethan McAllister, got some mighty good looks and the Cosmos posted a convincing 51-32 win over the Wasps Monday night in a Marble Valley League clash. McAllister, a scrappy junior guard, has at times gotten overlooked as Boyle has been the go-to guy for the Cosmos. But this was McAllister's night as he broke the game open for the Cosmos when he hit three trifectas in 90 seconds of the second period. What was a 16-14 Springfield lead was quickly 25-14 and Woodstock never recovered. "That was real nice," McAllister said. "Sometimes you just feel it and can't wait to get the ball." The victory was important for Springfield as they are 9-9 and probably need to win their last two games to have a chance of a home game in the first round of the Division II playoffs. The Cosmos are off for awhile as they host Bellows Falls on Feb. 16 and close out the regular season at Windsor Feb. 19. Woodstock, which had beaten Springfield on Dec.. 3, 49-43, is at 10-7 and began the day in seventh place. "That McAllister kid really got hot," Woodstock coach Tom Doyle said. While the spotlight was on McAllister, what Springfield coach Pete Peck always preaches is defense and the Cosmos limited the Wasps to just 21 points over the last three periods. "That's the kind of defense we can play," Peck said. "You've got to shut down teams." Doyle tried a number of things to get the Wasps untracked, but nothing could give Woodstock an offensive run of a series of defensive stops. "We just didn't respond, " Doyle explained. "We couldn't get the transition game untracked and we couldn't get the shots to drop." Springfield led 27-18 at the half and even though the Cosmos had just one bucket in the first four minutes of the third quarter, Woodstock, despite playing hard all night, couldn't make a run at the Cosmos. Eventually Springfield got three baskets from Billy wheeler and two jumpers from Ryan Brady and took a comfortable 41-25 lead into the final eight minutes. It all seemed somewhat anti-climactic after the shooting exhibition by McAllister. Both teams were struggling at the time McAllister hit his first 3 and just over a minute later hit again and he got the ball back quickly and drained another. "This was a good team we beat tonight," Peck said. "Now we have to keep it going." While Boyle was hounded all night, he didn't force shots and assisted his friends. And the diamond-and-one really didn't surprise Peck. "Tommy (Doyle) is always trying something," he said. McAllister ended up with four 3s and a 14-point game. Wheeler added 12. Sam Stockwell was the top Woodstock scorer with 11 while Brendan Mayhew had eight and Colin Hagenbarth seven. Woodstock is at Fair Haven Thursday before closing out the regular season next week at home with Windsor and at Hartford.