TSA Boys Add Two More Wins

TSA Boys Add Two More Wins By Laurie-Jean B. Gauthier

The Sharon boys welcomed the Websterville Baptist Christian School for their only contest of the season Monday evening. Coming off back-to-back wins over the weekend, the Phoenix were hoping to keep their momentum going, but the Warriors had other plans.

Colin Pope scored the opening basket off an offensive rebound that was matched shortly after by the Warriors. Michael Young-Ward got a hoop on the next possession, but Websterville’s Isaac Ransom nabbed his first three-pointer of the game before Pope got the final hoop of the period. TSA led, 6-5, after one.

Pope sunk a three at the start of the second frame. Websterville and Sharon continued to exchange hoops. Back-to-back three-pointers by Ransom and Leo Dutil had the Warriors up by four, 15-11, at the half.

Sam Wood opened the third with a basket, but a “hot-handed” Dutil deposited two treys and a basket in quick succession, putting the Warriors up 23-12 early on. Evan Frank erased one of the treys, but Websterville got it back after Shulman netted a hoop and Chas Burbank knocked in the eighth three-pointer of the game. The third ended with the Warriors ahead, 28-16.

Frank tossed in three freebies at the top of the fourth, and Wood and Otto Pierce both scored a basket as the Phoenix attempted to erase the deficit. Unfortunately, seven charity stripe deposits by Websterville went in unmatched until Pope finally hit two with a trip to the line. Two final hoops had Websterville on top, 41-26, at the buzzer.

Dutil was game-high scorer with 15 points, followed by Ransom with 13, and Pope with 9 points. Sharon played Rochester last night.

2 More Wins

The Phoenix hosted first the Twinfield Trojans on Friday, Jan. 30, and then the West Rutland Golden Horde on Saturday, to finish the month and earned back-to-back victories, to improve to 10-4.

Against the Trojans, it was close from start to finish, with Sharon leading by no more than one at the close of the first and third periods and tied after two. Sharon led 12-11 after one, and entered the break tied with their opponents at 29-all. They held another one-point advantage, 42-41, entering the final frame before they managed to secure a three-point victory, 60-57, in their only meeting of the season.

Young-Ward was high scorer with 16 points, followed by Wood with 14. Twinfield’s Shayne Flood had 12 points and Colin Pope finished with 11.

On Saturday, TSA faced a scrappy bunch of West Rutland Golden Horde players, but won, 54-35. They were speedy and quick to challenge the Phoenix team.

After Frank’s opening hoop, Young-Ward, Wood, Michael Landry and Otto Pierce all scored a basket or more as they amassed 14 points while limiting the Golden Horde to five.

Alex Rogers opened the second period with a beauty of a three for the first of three 3-pointers in the frame. A West Rutland basket was matched by Sharon, Tyler Harte nabbed his second three-pointer before Landry and Rogers each scored. Frank hit a trey, but West Rutland and Sharon ended the quarter with a hoop and two free throws. The score was 30-16, TSA, at the break.

Pope started the third with a basket and teammates Young-Ward, Wood, Pierce and Frank all added a basket of their own. Frank and Rogers finished with 10 of their team’s fourth quarter 14-point tally. West Rutland finished with 13 points for their best period in the outing.

Frank finished with 14 points, Wood added 10, and Rogers had 9.

The Phoenix host Craftsbury on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2:30 and Cabot on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 5:30 p.m. on Senior Night. Come out and wish Evan Frank, Colin Pope, Otto Pierce, and Sam Wood goodbye and good luck and wish them well in the future.