Springfield Unified basketball opens season

The Springfield Unified basketball team opened the 2017 season where it left off in 2016 — facing Rutland. The Raiders won the VPA South division last year and went on to finish as state runner-up behind Champlain Valley. In Wednesday's opener, the visiting Cosmos jumped out to a 28-20 halftime lead before Rutland rallied for a 58-45 victory.

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2017-03-23 / Sports Springfield Unified basketball opens season Springfield defenders set up against Rutland in the season opener Wednesday. — COURTESY Springfield defenders set up against Rutland in the season opener Wednesday. — COURTESY RUTLAND — The Springfield Unified basketball team opened the 2017 season where it left off in 2016 — facing Rutland. The Raiders won the VPA South division last year and went on to finish as state runner-up behind Champlain Valley. In Wednesday's opener, the visiting Cosmos jumped out to a 28-20 halftime lead before Rutland rallied for a 58-45 victory. The Springfield squad “played a great game” and “had fun,” which is what returning co-coaches Derek Graham, Marc Thomas and Margaret Gultekin are stressing. “The three of us have been waiting for the season to start since we lost to Rutland in the semis last year,” Gultekin said. “We have been practicing for one full week.” The four returning athletes are Lance Robinson, Cameron Colon, Natalie Corliss and Falicia Maly. Colon led the Cosmos' charge with 19 points and Robinson pumped out 16 more. Maly contributed a pair of fast-break layups in the second quarter. “She played amazing defense,” Gultekin said, emphasizing Maly's hustle and the fast-break layups. Two of the five new athletes to the team added six more points total. Springfield's lone retuning partner is GJ Frenandez-Scherington. Rutland was led by Hawkins with 14 points, Brooking with 12 and Blanchard with 10 (no first names available). The Cosmos will play their home opener Wednesday at 4 p.m. against Hartford.