Cosmos rebound to top Terriers

After a less than impressive first half, Springfield regrouped and went on to a 60-51 Marble Valley League win over Bellows Falls Friday night. The reason for the turnaround was simply a boosting up of the defense.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110122/SPORTS/701229882
http://www.reformer.com/ci_17163946

Published January 22, 2011 in the Rutland Herald

Cosmos rebound to top Terriers

By POODY WALSH
Herald Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD — After a less than impressive first half, Springfield regrouped and went on to a 60-51 Marble Valley League win over Bellows Falls Friday night.

The reason for the turnaround was simply a boosting up of the defense.

“I just told them at the half if we don’t play good defense we’re not going to win,” Springfield coach Pete Peck said.

Springfield trailed 22-15 at the break and couldn’t seem to find any combinations that would work.

“It sure looked bad for us,” Springfield’s Billy Wheeler said.

So what changes were made that brought the Cosmos from a 15-point first half to a 45-point second half?

“We just took away the passing lanes,” Peck said.

Wheeler added that, “We just moved up and went after the ball sooner.”

“If you notice most of our baskets in the second half came on layups and other shots close to the basket,” Peck said. “Our transition game was giving us some easy baskets. “

Still Springfield never secured this game for the win column until the closing minutes. With 3:21 to go, the Cosmos lead was just 48-47.

Springfield then got back-to-back baskets from Wheeler, who made the layups after steals and feeds from Ethan McAllister and Mike Muther. This brought the lead to 52-47. The Terriers answered with two free throws from Joe Aslin, but time was running out and the Terriers had to foul. Springfield was 8 for 8 from the line the rest of the way. Six of those free throws were made by Aaron Wallace.

“I don’t think we know how to win yet,” Bellows Falls coach Evan Chadwick said. “Some of the kids have left the team and we’re young. We panicked a little and made some critical mistakes.”

Both teams have been struggling a bit as Springfield is now 5-5 and Bellows Falls is 3-6.

“I like the team that I have,” Chadwick said. ”Did you see how they came off the bench and cheered for one another. I like that.”

Chadwick also likes freshmen Kendrick Mills, who had a trio of 3-pointers and 11 points on the night.

Maybe the tone of the first half was a result of the unpleasant end to the junior varsity contest that was halted with 17.1 seconds to go. Springfield was ahead 66-53, but the Bellows Falls jayvees would not stop committing intentional fouls. One Bellows Falls player was ejected and the bench warned before the officials called it a game when the Terriers continued to make hard intentional fouls.

At the 4:48 mark of the first quarter of the varsity game the score was 6-2. Springfield led 10-8 after one period only because Ethan McAllister made a very heads up 3-pointer. With time running out McAllister stole the ball in the Bellows Falls offensive end, drove across mid-court, looked at the clock, saw that time was running out, stopped a made a 3-pointer as the quarter ended.

However, that seemed to do little to provide a spark for the Cosmos, who had just a five-point second period and trailed 22-15 at the break.

Kirk Perham had a big offensive night for the Cosmos with 24 points. Wallace added 17 and Wheeler 12. Jeremy Kilburn and Joe Aslin had 12 apiece for Bellows Falls.

Both teams have Division I games on the road Tuesday. Springfield goes to Mount Anthony and Bellows Falls to Burr and Burton.