WESTMINSTER- A raucous crowd filled Holland Gym on Friday night and were instantly treated to a grit match between the Rebels of Leland and Gray and the Terriers. In the end, the home team prevailed, running off 10 straight points in the fourth quarter to earn a 61-45 victory.
“Got the job done.”, said Assistant Coach Josh Hanson, who particularly praised the efforts off the bench. “Doug Sterling gave us a huge defensive boost tonight,” said Hanson.
The game was mired in fouls, as the Terriers struggled to find the defensive line. The Rebels shot a total of 30 free throws throughout the contest, hitting 18.
After the Rebels jumped out to a five point lead midway through the first, the Terriers started to find an offensive rythum. Colby Dearborn scored 8 straight, Cole Moore hit a 3 and Andrew Dunbar scored on a drive from the high post to take an 16-11 lead after one.
Leland and Gray hung tough throughout the Terrier run and, entering the break, BF was nursing a 31-26 lead.
The Purple and White jumped out to as much as an 11 point 3rd quarter lead, capped by a Cole Moore baseline drive. The Townshend crew fought back, going on a 5-0 run in response and hanging in at 44-37 entering the final frame.
BF took care of business in the fourth, outscoring Leland and Gray 17-8 to close out the W. Jackson Clark hit a straight away 3, then stepped in for an elbow J. Tristain Boylan deep 2 was pure that capped off the Terriers’ scoring allowing BF to jump to 1-0 on the early season.
Colby Dearborn led all scorers with 27. Cole Moore added 8 points and 7 blocks and Clark added a 12 spot.
BF travels to Green Mountain on Tuesday for a 4:30 tip against defending GM Holiday Tournament Champion MSJ.
Bellows Falls Basketball 