Patriots topple Springfield from long distance

Boys Basketball at Springfield.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20130119/SPORTS02/701199891

Published January 19, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Patriots topple Springfield from long distance Patriots topple Springfield from long distance By POODY WALSH Correspondent SPRINGFIELD — In recent games Mount Anthony started to show that while the team was winless, things were improving. Springfield found out just how much the Patriots have come together Friday night at Dressel Gym as Mount Anthony bombed in 10 3-pointers en route to a 72-44 rout of the Cosmos. “We’re not an 0-9 team,” declared MAU coach Dan Sleeman after the game. “The start to this season has been very frustrating for our players and coaches, but now we’re going to start focusing on making the playoffs.” To Springfield fans the Patriots looked like so many other MAU teams that have come into the Dressel Gym over the years as the Patriots played pressure defense, moved the ball around and were able to get numerous uncontested 3-point shots off. “We’ve lost seven games by seven points or less,” said Sleeman. “We’ve got some players here.” One of those players is senior Aryngston Bibens, a slender 6-foot-3 leaper, who had a 24-point night. He got 18-point support from junior James Levin who knocked in a trio of 3-pointers in the first half. Springfield has been in kind of a funk recently and despite the loss coach Pete Peck said that his team played better than it had in recent games against Bellows Falls and Windsor. “Sure we’ve got some work to do, but Mount Anthony was bigger and faster and one of the reasons I think they were taking so many 3s was because our defense was pushing them out,” said Peck. After Mount Anthony took just a two-point lead after one period the whole complexion of the game changed when Springfield was shut out 16-0 in the second quarter. “That was the game right there,” said Peck. ‘We played pretty well in the other three periods, but that second quarter told the story.” Mount Anthony had four 3s in that second quarter, two by Levin in a 28-second span to close out the period. The start of the game was quiet as the score was just 4-3 Mount Anthony at the 3:12 mark. The pace then picked up a bit as the Patriot lead was 13-11 after one. Even though Springfield was shut out in the second quarter, Mount Anthony had a slow start and the Cosmos were still in the hunt at 23-11 with 1:52 to play. Then Levin hit those two 3s and the tenor of the game changed. Springfield’s last attempt to make a game of it came midway through the third quarter when the Cosmos went on a mini-run of five points to make it 40-26 as Mike Muther, who had a 15-point game, banged in a 3. Mount Anthony then scored the final 15 points of the period to relieve all doubt. “We’ll enjoy this for awhile, then we’ll get back to work,” said Sleeman. Jacob Therrien also had a double-digit game for the Cosmos with 11 points. Springfield goes to Brattleboro Monday while MAU hosts Mill River on Tuesday.