The only thing worse than losing a playoff game and falling one game short of playing for a state championship is being a senior and tasting that bitter defeat in the last game you'll ever play for your school.
For the eight seniors on the Brattleboro Colonels boys' hockey team - Jimmy Podlaski, Romello Lindsey, Nik Rancourt, Ryan Cobb, Andy Harris, Philip Perkins, Adam Griffin, and Jason Molina - last Friday's 2-1 loss to the Burr & Burton Bulldogs in the Division II semifinals at Withington Rink was crushing.
For a long time after the final whistle, the Colonel seniors lingered on the ice or on the bench, the pain of this loss written all over their faces. And while the Colonels enjoyed one of their best seasons in years, finishing with a 17-3 regular season record and the second seed in the tournament, the disappointment of coming so close to a trip to the finals will take a long time to go away.
It was a night filled with emotion and passion at Withington. The rink was packed and the fans of both teams were into the action from the opening faceoff.
Unfortunately, it was the Colonels who were deflated before many fans had a chance to get inside the rink. With the game just 22 seconds old, Burr & Burton defenseman Nate Eisenman beat Colonels goalie Greg DiSilva with a slap shot to DiSilva's glove side that he never saw because he was screened on the play. Forward Chris Kornaros got the assist.
But Podlaski brought the Colonel fans to their feet when he streaked in from the right wing and wristed a shot to the top right corner past Bulldogs goalie Zack Stuart at 13:25 in the first period.
That was the only puck Brattleboro could get past Stuart as the Colonels fired 26 shots, half that number coming in a frantic third period where the Colonels desperately tried to force overtime with a tying goal.
DiSilva also faced 26 shots, but he never saw the two he couldn't stop. As was the case with the first goal, Burr & Burton's second goal came on another screen. This time, it was defenseman Elijah Brown who beat DiSilva on his glove side at 11:01 of the second period. Brock Pollard got the assist on what ended up being the winning goal.
Brattleboro coach Eric Libardoni had nothing but praise for his seniors. “They're the best,” he said. “They played hard for me for four years. They should be proud of everything they did. I couldn't ask for a better group of kids to coach.”
Burr & Burton, the third seed in the tournament, will face defending champion U-32 for the state title at UVM's Gutterson Rink on March 13.
Girls' basketball
• In a close but ragged first round Division III playoff game, the eighth-seeded Leland & Gray Rebels lost to the No. 9 Richford Rockets, 27-25 in Townshend on March 6.
It was close throughout, as neither team had more than a four-point lead. Turnovers and missed shots by both teams were the hallmark of this game.
The Rebels, who have failed to make it past the first round since 2001, were trying to make history against the Rockets. After trailing 7-4 at the end of the first quarter, the Rebels rallied in the second to earn back the lead. The offense was led by senior captain Alex Morrow, who scored eight of the Rebels' 10 points that quarter. By halftime, the Rebels led 14-13.
In the third quarter, things started to fall apart noticeably for both teams. Although the Rockets could not produce the points they needed to run away with the game, their great defense prevented the Rebels from taking control. Senior captain Ashley Goddard was the only Rebel to put up any points that quarter, as the Rockets came back to tie it 19-19.
The final quarter seemed to take the longest, as points continued to be scarce for both teams. Two quick baskets by senior captain Chelby Nystrom and sophomore Haley Buffum gave the Rebels the early 23-19 lead, but the Rockets rallied right back.
Richford junior guard Johanna Sherrer hit a three, followed by a basket by sophomore forward Hannah Gleason and a foul shot by sophomore center Gabby Coons to give the Rockets a 25-23 lead with less than two minutes remaining. After Buffum tied the game with a jumper, Coons sank what ultimately was the winning basket in the final minute.
With just 15 seconds to go, the Rebels had one more opportunity to tie the game. The ball was passed in and the Rebels took their time setting up on offense. It was clear that this would be the final play of the game. The ball was successfully passed around to Buffum, the heroine of the senior night win against Bellows Falls. The 15-foot jumper bounced over the rim and into the hospitable arms of the Rockets, who held on dearly through the final buzzer to get the 27-25 win.
Coons led the Rockets with 11 points and had the final go-ahead shot for the Rockets. For the Rebels, the player of the game was Morrow who led the team in scoring with 10 points. She and Goddard accounted for 76 percent of Leland & Gray's total points.
“It just wasn't our night,” said Morrow after the game. “Our shooting was off, and I do give them credit for coming such a long way and how they handled the pressure at the end. They kept their composure when we didn't, and I think that's why they held on in the end.”
• Tenth-seeded Brattleboro got an early exit from the Division I playoffs with a 31-20 road loss to No. 7 Rutland in a first-round game on March 5.
The Colonels had plenty of good looks at the basket, but the shots would not go in, and that spoiled a great defensive effort by Taylor Bird, Kayla Savage, and Abbie Lesure.
The Colonels finished with an 8-13 record. The good news is that Bird, Savage, and Lesure will be back next season, along with six other underclasswomen, including junior forward Ari Harrison, who for the second straight season was knocked out the lineup by injury. If Harrison stays healthy, and this year's sophomores and juniors step up, next season will be brighter.
• The second-seeded U-32 Raiders pummeled the 15th-seeded Bellows Falls Terriers, 72-29, in a first-round Division II playoff game in East Montpelier on March 6.
The Terriers fell behind early and never caught up. Madison Bennett led U-32 with 16 points, while Emily Dufault and Chelsea Wilder led Bellows Falls with 10 and seven points, respectively.
• The fifth-seeded Winooski Spartans cruised past the 12th-seeded Twin Valley Wildcats, 51-31, in a first-round Division III playoff game on March 6.
Abbi Molner led the 7-14 Wildcats with nine points, all of them coming in the opening half. Colton Butler and Hannah Swanson each added six, while Christina Moore added five.
Fallon Perrault had 15 points to lead the 15-6 Spartans, who built up a 26-19 lead at the half, and pulled away after that.
Softball meetings planned
• It's not too soon to think about softball season. The first organizational meeting of the Brattleboro Area Softball Association is Wednesday, March 13, at 7 p.m., at the Gibson-Aiken Center on Main Street. On the agenda: election of board members, an update on the summer season, and the status of the town's new West River Park.
A follow-up meeting Wednesday, March 27, at 7 p.m., at the Gibson-Aiken Center, will cover league rules and review of divisions. The final meeting is Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m., at the Gibson-Aiken Center, which will be the deadline for the submission of rosters and liability forms and the collection of fees. Distribution of game balls will also take place.
Weather-permitting, Monday, April 29, will be Opening Day with games at Living Memorial Park and West River Park.
Mount Snow discounts extended
• Mount Snow has extended its discount pricing to Brattleboro Area Middle Schoolers and their friends.
During the rest of the season on Sundays, tickets are $33 per youth and $38 per adult for a full-day lift ticket. Tickets must be purchased as a group, and at least 10 people must go each week in order to receive the special price.
To confirm your place, write [email protected] or call 802-254-2879 to leave a message before 6 p.m. the Saturday night prior. Tickets are distributed at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday inside the rental area.
Bowlers needed for Bowl for Kids' Sake
• Families, friends and teams from work are invited to celebrate the 32nd Annual Bowl for Kids' Sake to benefit Youth Services' Big Brothers Big Sisters program on Saturday, April 6.
The fundraising event is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with teams signing up for a one-hour time slot at Brattleboro Bowl on Putney Road.
Call Youth Services at 802-257-0361 for pledge sheets and to reserve a lane or for more information about becoming involved. To learn more or to sponsor your favorite bowlers with an online donation, visit www.youthservicesinc.org/bowling.