Cosmos win ugly over BF

The film of this game should not be used for training purposes.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120203/SPORTS/702039861

Published February 3, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Cosmos win ugly over BF

By POODY WALSH
CORRESPONDENT

WESTMINSTER — The film of this game should not be used for training purposes.

While Springfield was a 64-47 winner over Bellows Falls in a girls Division II game Thursday night at Holland Gym, the way the game was played seemed more significant than the results.

Springfield coach Joe Brown used the word “chaotic” and Bellows Falls coach Joe Goodhue called it “chippy.” That pretty well summed up a night that saw 43 personals and one technical foul called. Then there were the collisions and bodies on the floor and the fans got into it as the BF faithful kept yelling “40-0” to the Springfield gathering in reference to the football score between the two teams last fall.

The Terriers got their 47 points on just 11 field goals. They were 24of36 from the line. Emily Dufault was 10of13 and Chelsea Wilder 7of8.

Both teams were dealing with personnel issues. Bellows Falls was without coach Justin Aube as he was home with pneumonia.

“We’re sick,” said assistant coach Joe Goodhue, who filled in for Aube. The coughing from the Bellows Falls bench backed up that statement.

Springfield again had to go without Morgan Johnson. She’d missed a bunch of games with a wrist ailment and when she came back for the Monday game with Twin Valley she broke a finger. Now she has both the wrist and finger wrapped up. The Cosmos did get the ailing Jill Rushton back, but her playing time was limited.

Both teams have been going though a tough spell as Bellows Falls has now lost five straight and is 4-8 on the year. Springfield came into the game losing four of its last five and now is 8-4.

It is also the time of the year that the teams have to look at the Division II state-wide standings and the Terriers are now in the danger zone. They were in 15th place at game time with 16 playoff spots available.

Springfield freshman Chelsea McAllister was coming off a double-double game against Twin Valley and pumped in 16 more points to lead the Cosmos.

“The game is just so natural to her,” said Brown.

Bellows Falls got into foul trouble early and it wasn’t something the Terriers needed as their depth was limited by the sickness going through the team. But there were other reasons the Terriers had trouble keeping pace and Goodhue said that “Sometimes we try to make the perfect pass rather that just react. We’re still working on the skill level and don’t always take the good shot,” he said.“We rush things.”

Those early BF fouls and the lack of depth caused the Terriers to trail 18-9 after one period and 35-19 at the half.

When the third period began ailing Terrier center Enny Mustapha had to be scratched, but that didn’t seem to affect the Terriers as they went on a 9-0 runto make it a 35-28 game.

However, the Cosmos, who also got nice games from Sarah Locke and Liza Fontaine, were back in control bythe end of the third period, 52-34.