Watching a team struggle through a winless season, you try to look for any signs of hope that things will get better.
Against Fair Haven on Jan. 19 at the BUHS gym, the Brattleboro Colonels boys' basketball team showed flashes of potential. However, in the end, the Slaters showed why they are one of the top teams in Division II with a 59-52 win.
Cam Coloutti, the all-State quarterback who led the Slaters to the 2017 Division II state football championship, showed off his athleticism with a game-high 27 points. Whether it was shooting three-pointers or driving the lane, Coloutti was clearly the best player on the court.
Brattleboro tried to counter Fair Haven with three-point shooting as Adam Newton, Charlie Galanes and Tyler Millerick all knocked down two three-pointers apiece.
The game was close through the third quarter and Brattleboro even led for a brief time, but the Slaters took control with a 12-0 run to end the third to put Fair Haven ahead to stay.
“We still need to get more disciplined on the court, but that will only come with experience,” said Colonels head coach Jason Coplan.
Brattleboro had a balanced attack as Jack Price led with 14 points. Millerick and Newton each added 10 points, and Leif Bigelow and Galanes each added 8 points. Drew Eddy and Aubrey Ramey added 13 and 12 points, respectively for the 7-1 Slaters.
One thing that particularly disappointed Coplan was the discrepancy in free throws. Brattleboro got to the line only six times, and made four shots. Fair Haven had 21 trips to the line, and made 14.
“You usually win games with rebounding and making fewer turnovers, but free throws are the deciding factor,” Coplan said. “When the other guys make more of their free throws than your team has for attempts, that's not good.”
Earlier in the week, the Colonels lost at Burlington, 53-41, on Jan 16. Newton hit three three-pointers and finished the game with 12 points to lead Brattleboro. Galanes and Price added eight and seven points, respectively.
The Colonels ended the week at 0-9, and need to put together a winning streak soon to make it to the Division I playoffs.
“At this point, it's just one game at time and focus on what we do better,” Coplan said.
Big nights for Hoops for Hope
• The fourth annual Hoops for Hope benefit games for the Lexy Gialella Scholarship fund were held last week at Leland & Gray.
Founded by girls' basketball coach Terry Merrow and athletic director Marty Testo, the games have raised thousands of dollars for the scholarship, which is presented to a LGUHS graduating senior in memory of Gialella, who died of cancer in 2013.
Green Mountain was the opponent this year for both the boys' and girls' games and while the Chieftains won both games, they were generous with their support of the fund.
In the girls' game on Jan. 18, Paige Karl scored a game-high 17 points to lead GM to a 36-20 win. Turnovers and an 0-for-17 night at the free throw line doomed the Rebels' chances. Mariah Hazard led the 3-5 Rebels with six points.
The Chieftain boys won the following night, 48-26, as the Rebels' boys fell to 3-7 on the season. GM outcored Leland & Gray 15-3 in the second quarter and led 24-10 at the half.
Girls' basketball
• Brattleboro also did its part in fighting cancer with its annual “Coaches vs. Cancer” benefit for the American Cancer Society at the BUHS gym on Jan. 20.
The Colonels hosted Mount Mansfield, and came away with a 54-39 win. Rachael Rooney scored 12 to lead the Colonels, while Hailey Derosia finished with 10 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Alyssa Scherlin added 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The win improved Brattleboro's record to 6-6, and they are at least guaranteed a playoff game in Division I.
Earlier in the week, Burlington ended the second quarter with a 15-0 run, and held off visiting Brattleboro the rest of the way for a 62-47 win on Jan. 16.
Lily Mitchell led the way for the Seahorses with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Megyn Ayotte and Hailey Derosia led the Colonels with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
• Bellows Falls went on a 21-0 run to end the first half, and cruised to a 65-33 road win over Poultney on Jan. 15. Abbe Cravinho scored a team-high 11 points for BF, and six other Terriers finished with more than seven points.
The Terriers had a much-tougher time against Windsor on Jan. 19 as the Yellowjackets pulled out a 54-50 win. Taylor Goodell had 24 points and eight steals for the 8-2 Terriers.
• Tayler Courchesne scored 21 points to give Twin Valley a 41-36 win over Poultney. Sadie Boyd chipped in with six points and eight rebounds for the 1-6 Wildcats, while Tatyanna Bowman added four points and eight rebounds.
Boys' basketball
• Twin Valley could not hold onto a 16-point lead and ultimately lost to Poultney, 45-40, on Jan. 11. Dylan Howe scored 12 points to lead the Wildcats. Levi Allen led Poultney with 10 points.
The Wildcats rolled over West Rutland, 58-28, in Whitingham on Jan. 18, but lost 52-47 on the road in Arlington the following night.
Jack McHale scored 16 points to lead Twin Valley over West Rutland, while Logan Park was the Wildcats' top scorer against Arlington. Twin Valley finished the week at 3-5.
• Bellows Falls is stuck in a slump. On Jan. 16, the Terriers lost at Poultney, 68-49. Taylor Dunlap led Poultney with 20 points, while Ryan Kelly was BF's top scorer with 24 points.
Boys' ice hockey
• Hunter Wimble scored the game-winning goal with 18 seconds left to give host Harwood a dramatic 2-1 win over Brattleboro on Jan. 20.
Anthony Palomba got the first goal of the game for Brattleboro, with Mason Foard and Gabe Heiden earning assists. Jake Cantwell got the equalizer for the Highlanders in the second period.
Goalie Sam Griffith made 28 saves for 4-6-1 Brattleboro.
Go play in the snow at Grafton Ponds
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) will celebrate winter by hosting a Snow Day event at Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center, 783 Townshend Rd., Grafton, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Snow Days feature free access to cross-country skiing and/or snowshoeing trails, and free rentals on a first-come, first-served basis in an effort to encourage physical activity during the winter months. BCBSVT will also provide healthy snacks, hot cocoa and a campfire. The first 50 attendees at each location will receive a free Snow Days fleece hat.
Red Sox Foundation seeks Vermont scholars
• For the eighth consecutive year, the Boston Red Sox Foundation is seeking submissions from inspiring senior students, who are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities, for the New England Red Sox Service Scholarship.
The annual scholarship honors academically-inclined high school seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to community service. Those selected will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and recognition during a special pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park.
Submissions from Vermont seniors are due on Feb. 16. For more details and to apply, visit redsoxfoundation.org/service-scholarships.
Senior bowling roundup
• For the third straight week, Team 10 went undefeated in the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League.
At 15-0, they are in sole possession of first place.
Team 2, which started the first two weeks undefeated, went winless in week 3 and fell to third at 10-5. Jumping up into second were Team 4 and Team 7, both with 12-3 records. Team 5 (8-7) is now in fourth place, followed by Team 8 and Team 3 (both 6-9), Team 11 (6-4), Team 9 (5-10), Team 6 (3-12), and Team 1 (2-13).
Lorraine Taylor had the women's high handicap game (265) and series (696). Wayne Randall had the men's high handicap game (270) and Jerry Dunham had high handicap series (687). Team 8 had the high team handicap game (899) and series (2,628).
Robert Rigby (608), Fred Ashworth (603), and Dunham (618) all rolled 600-plus series. Ashworth had a 211 and 210 game, while Rigby had a 266 and a 207, and Dunham had a 211 and a 216.
Josie Rigby (570) and Donna Corliss (540) both had a 500-plus series to lead the women. while Peter Cross (500), Warren Corriveau Sr. (588), Marty Adams (567), Randall (510),and Charles Marchant (542) were the men with 500-plus series.