TSA Boys Regroup

To Win Two

By Laurie-Jean B. Gauthier

There’s good news and there’s bad news for first-year coach Tom Vashel and his TSA Phoenix squad. First the bad news. Last year, leading scorer (11.3 points per game) Luke Battey missed 10 games with a torn ACL. This year a new injury has forced Battey back onto the bench for the remainder of the season, this time with a torn meniscus in his left knee. And, that’s not all. Team injuries have Vashel short-suited at the moment and barely able to provide enough man power on the court.

Now for the good news. Short-suited and all didn’t stop the Phoenix from squeaking by the Concord Wildcats Monday, Jan. 21 with a one-point victory, 44-43 in Sharon.

Sophomore Michael Young-Ward scored nine points in the game and junior Evan Frank had a 17-point evening, to power TSA.

TSA followed that contest with a trip to neighboring South Royalton Wednesday, Jan. 23 and were the recipients of a 23-point deficit, 62-39. Despite the loss, TSA once again saw Frank and Young-Ward leading Sharon with 9 points and 14 points respectively.

On the road against the Mid-Vermont Christian Eagles last Monday, TSA got a 64-41 win, but M-VC did some celebrating of their own as their senior, Luke Wemple scored his 1000^th career point.

Entering the game needing just three points to reach the milestone, it only took three minutes to reach the pinnacle. The game was interrupted for a few moments, as Wemple was recognized with a plaque, a basketball with 1000 chocolate pieces of candy given to Wemple by the family of teammate Taylor Scully, of Randolph.

After the short break, it was back to business and the game. TSA led at halftime 29-24, before running away with it in the second half, when the Phoenix outscored the Eagles by 18, nabbing 35 points while M-VC scored just 17.

Phoenix Sam Wood led all scorers with a game-high 21 points, followed by Wemple with 17 points. Otto Pierce finished with 12 points for TSA and teammate Even Frank tallied 11 points. Sharon now stands at 7-7.

Sharon hosted the Whitcomb Hornets last night, and travels to Plainfield tomorrow night to face the Twinfield Trojans at 7 p.m.

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