http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120214/SPORTS/702149899
Published February 14, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Mill River boys roll to 72-39 win over Springfield
Mill River boys roll to 72-39 victory over Springfield
By POODY WALSH
Correspondent
SPRINGFIELD — With the regular season winding down, the ideal situation for teams is to begin peaking in preparation for the postseason. If Mill River’s 72-39 Division II win over Springfield Monday night at Dressel Gym is a guidepost, the Minutemen are just about fine tuned as they can get.
“It’s the most complete 32 minutes we’ve played all year,” Mill River coach Jason Smith said.
Mill River has now won 13 times against four losses. Of those losses, two came against Division I teams Rutland and Mount Anthony. The Minutemen have also lost divisional games to Burr and Burton and Mount St. Joseph. None of those losses is shameful. In fact, Springfield coach Pete Peck thinks that Mill River and MSJ are the two top teams in the division.
Smith said he was very nervous coming into the game, well aware the Cosmos has been playing much better, downing Windsor and Burr and Burton in one-point contests last week.
“We knew Springfield was getting things together,” Smith added.
However, on this night it was all Minutemen as they used their speed, overall height and depth to open an early lead and were never threatened. Ten different players scored.
“They get after it, they’re really quick, can shoot, play physical and controlled both boards,” Peck said. “That’s a tough combination.”
It is also the time of year that the standings come into play. Springfield is 6-11 and came into the game in 14th spot, with the top 16 qualifying. At 14-4, Mill River was in fourth and would like to stay in the top four where provide a chance to have two home playoff games.
Mill River was dominant right from the start. Six minutes into the game the Minutemen led 16-3, had seven different players score and Springfield had called two timeouts. The Cosmos showed some early spark in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 10 at 21-11, but Mill River began getting points off the offensive board and settled in nicely at the half at 36-19. Even at this early stage, Mill River had gone deep into the bench and nine had scored.
They just keep running this 6-2, 6-3 guys in there,” Peck said. “It must be nice.”
“We try to use as many players as we can,” Smith said. “This was really a complete game for us tonight.”
Despite the defeat, Peck was OK with what happened.
“We’re still a good team ,” he said. “We just didn‘t play well tonight.”
Mill River senior Guard Nate Salgo was a real problem for the Cosmos as he not only had a trio of 3 pointers, but was quick and athletic enough to score from the inside as well. He finished with 21 points. Junior Jay Carleton added 11 while seniors Zack Fuller and Tanner Mellen each had eight.
Miles Muther with 13 and Aaron Wallace with 11 paced Springfield.
On Thursday, Mill River has a chance to get even with Burr and Burton as the Bulldogs come to Houghton Gym. Springfield is at Fair Haven that same night.
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