Whitcomb Boys Plugging Away

By Laurie-Jean B. Gauthier

The Whitcomb Hornet boys basketball team has yet to make it into the win column, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying as they welcomed in both the new year and the TSA Phoenix to the Hornet’s Nest on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

In a contest that had TSA in control from start to finish, the Hornets made a valiant attempt to come from behind for the victory, but it was just not to be. A very slow start, trailing 12-4 after one, and 34-10 at the break, had Whitcomb down, but not all the way out.

The Hornets returned to the game in the second half as "hot-handed" Damian Russo took it to the hoop for the first five points of the third. First he sunk a hoop, then got fouled seconds later for a trip to the line, where he added one-of-two and then immediately nabbed two more points off a mid-court steal in less than a minute and a half of play.

Eleven more points followed as the Hornets surpassed their first half score with a strong third quarter, before finishing out the game even stronger by nabbing 12 of the 19 points scored in the first six minutes of the finale and then adding six more points to cap their best quarter tally of the game with 18 points, just one less than TSA in that quarter. Unfortunately, it was "too little, too late" as TSA deposited 21 points in the third and 19 in the fourth for 30 points and the advantage over Whitcomb at the buzzer for the victory.

Russo led the Hornets with 13 points including a three-pointer followed by Deven Hill with 11 points and Matt Durfee with seven.

Whitcomb travels to South Royalton Wednesday, Jan. 16 and returns home Friday, Jan. 18 to host the Craftsbury Chargers. The South Royalton game is at 7 p.m., while the Craftsbury game is at 6 p.m.

Wildcats Win

Last Friday, the Concord Wildcats came to town and mauled their way to victory with outstanding outside shooting which included nine three-pointers in their 79-38 rout over their Hornet hosts.

A Russo basket started the game, but that was it for a couple of minutes, as Concord went right to town with a three-point deposit by Brandon Bolton followed by two free tosses from Will Covey, and then back-to-back treys by Mike Blakslee and Covey for a quick 11-2 Wildcat assault. Three Hornet hoops by Hill, Tyler Killian and Durfee plus a Durfee freebie were matched by Wildcats George Berry (four points) and Cory McCarty (three points) keeping Whitcomb behind and it only got worse as Bolton roared to the finish with double hoops and double triples putting the Wildcats up by 19 points.

Every shot Whitcomb made was matched by Concord as the Wildcats held the Hornets in check in the second quarter. Two additional Berry baskets completed the Wildcats’ scoring as they held a commanding lead , 41-18, at the half.

Whitcomb scored 11 points during the third with Hill nabbing six points, Durfee swishing three from the line and Joel Wright getting on board with a hoop. Unfortunately for the Hornets, Concord continued to score as well, with five baskets and another Bolton three-pointer for a 13-point period.

The Wildcats held Whitcomb scoreless until 4:12 of the fourth before freshman Matt Prucha went to the line for two shots. The first toss missed the strings, but the second toss cleared them, giving Prucha his first varsity point. It also erased the Wildcats’ fourth quarter shutout bid. The Hornets finished the game with two more Hill baskets and by nabbing five-of-eight from the line.

Bolton led all scorers with 24 points, McCarty and Blakslee both had 15 points and George Berry finished with 12 points for Concord.

Hill was the Hornet high scorer with 14 points followed by Durfee and Russo with eight points and seven points respectively.

WBCS Wins

A road trip to Spaulding High School in Barre was the final stop for the Hornet boys last week as they suited up against the Websterville Baptist Christian School Warriors for the first time this season. The contest was the best Hornet effort so far this season, although it was another loss for Whitcomb, 51-34. Hill tossed in one-of-two to put the Hornets on the board, and scored the next basket of the game off a mid-court steal for a three, before Websterville’s Isaac Ransom matched the opening deposits for the tie. WBCS went on to deposit 10 additional points.

Hill cut the Warrior lead to six with two hoops at the start of the second period, and Clemens Garve cut the score by two more, before Websterville scored again. Garve made the last Hornet basket of the second period on the next possession. Websterville held a 22-11 halftime score.

During the third quarter, Websterville netted 14 points, with Steve Davis scoring half of the team tally, while "big guy" (6’6") Andrew Shurman made double dunks for the Warriors.

Hill and Garve added two baskets apiece, and Durfee sunk a trey for an 11-point third quarter Whitcomb total. Hill scored the first six Hornet points of the fourth, which included a triple, but Websterville matched the deposits.

With 4:33 remaining on the clock, Isaac Ransom went down and didn’t get back up with a game-, and possible season-ending injury. Ransom left the game on a stretcher to a standing ovation. When the game resumed, a second Durfee three and a basket followed, but once again Websterville matched the effort. Prucha finished the Hornet scoring with a single free toss.

Burbank was high scorer with 14 points for the Warriors, Town finished with 13 points, and Davis had 11 points. Hill led the Hornets with 17 points, Garve and Durfee followed with eight points each.

Whitcomb travels to Williamstown tomorrow after being idle all week, to face the Blue Devils. The game starts at 7 p.m.

_____________