Green Mountain Wrap Up
By MICHAEL MARTEL
VERMONT JOURNAL
THE SHOPPER
CHESTER- While the Green Mountain boy’s basketball team recently strung together a four-game win streak, over the past three games the Chieftains have struggled. After seeing its win streak broken up by Arlington two weeks ago, Green Mountain lost games this week to Leyland and Grey and Proctor, 56-39 and 57-21.
Green Mountain knew its week was going to be a challenge. Not only did the Chieftains have to face division powerhouses Leyland and Grey and Proctor, it had to do so on the road in backto back nights – no small task for the undermanned Chieftains.
In the week’s first game, against a Leyland and Grey team that had previously beaten the Chieftains 56-39, the Rebels, according to coach Stretch Gillam, simply “put it to us.” Although the just-returned Justin Veysey and junior Jason Albert scored eighteen and sixteen points, respectively, the rest of the Chieftains only accounted for four of the team’s thirty-nine points. While Leyland and Grey did play strong defense, Gillam chalks up Green Mountain’s stagnant offense to the simple fact that, “we just couldn’t put the ball in the basket.” On the other side of the ball, the Chieftains’ defense struggled against the Rebels’ starting five – all of whom scored in the double-digits, with John Fountaine racking up twenty-two points.
Twenty-four hours later the Chieftains travelled to Proctor, who beat Green Mountain 61-28 earlier in January. “We really went from the pan to the fire with Proctor,” commented Gillam. Proctor, who, according to Gillam, could make a strong Division II team, opened the game with a 17-2 first quarter in route to a 57-21 win. “Proctor was coming off blowout wins against Poultney and West Rutland, and they came out very strong,” noted Gillam. The Chieftain’s tired legs didn’t help matters, either. “I would have liked to play a cage defense,” remarked Gillam, “to really slow down Proctor’s offense.” Fatigue, unfortunately, lead Green Mountain to play an unsuccessful combination defense.
For now, the Chieftains hold a sixth-place 7-8 record. Yet, Green Mountain’s biggest problem – a lack of depth – could derail its push for a playoff home game. Right now, Gillam’s bench looks very thin. “With seven guys on any night, some of the starters have to play the entire game,” lamented Gillam. Although Green Mountain’s program only sports fourteen players between varsity and junior varsity, there is hope for relief over the season’s final weeks. According to Gillam, “some of the younger, J.V. guys are really coming along, and they could help get some of our starters a few minutes of rest down the stretch.”
None too soon, either. While next week the Chieftains face a pair of teams they have already beaten (West Rutland and Poultney), they do have to face arguably the three strongest teams in their division (Leyland and Grey, Proctor, and Twin Valley) to round out the season. “If we can win three of the next five games, we will move to 10- 10, which should be a good enough record for sixth place and a home playoff game,” noted Gillam. In the meantime, Gillam’s Chieftains will focus on “getting in as good of shape as we can and then taking care of our own business on the court.”
In contrast to the boys, the Green Mountain girls had an excellent week, albeit with only one game. Having their Monday game against Proctor postponed by the weather, the well-rested Chieftains rode to a defensedominant 42-29 win.
Typically, a thirteen point score differential denotes neither a tough game nor a strong opponent. Not so with West Rutland. “They are a very good team who plays very hard,” noted Green Mountain coach Terry Ferrell. Given West Rutland’s potent offense, the Chieftains defensive play was particularly assuring to Ferrell. “We defiantly played great defense – the best of the year,” Ferrell boasted. To neutralize West Rutland’s shooting prowess, Ferrell’s Chieftains played a zone defense designed to pressure West Rutland’s shooters and take away any draws. The defensive strategy worked, and in the second half Green Mountain stymied West Rutland, who scored only ten points. On offense, Green Mountain spread its scoring out. With eighteen points, McKala Benson was the only Chieftain in doubledigits.
The 12-3 Chieftains have a long week ahead of them. Beginning the week making up last week’s Proctor game, Green Mountain then plays Black River on Tuesday before finishing in Twin Valley on Friday. Green Mountain looks to pick up easy wins against both Proctor (whom the Chieftains have beaten 42-8 and 37-34) and Black River (previously beaten 68-22). Twin Valley, however, should challenge the Chieftains. The Wildcats inched out a 39-38 win over Green Mountain back in December.
