WINOOSKI-The Bellows Falls Terriers were unable to endure a late game push by the Winooski Spartans after seizing the lead with 5 minutes to play in the contest, dropping their first round playoff matchup 58-46 on Wednesday evening at Spartan gym.

“We battled, we clawed, we gave ourselves a chance to win,” said Coach Evan Chadwick. “Can’t ask for anything more than that from these men.”

The Terriers opened the game on a 5-0 run after Cole Moore hit a 3-pointer 2 minutes in.

The Spartans responded with a 7-0 run and were able to stretch their lead to as many as 8 in the second quarter. The Purple and White would not fold, as Jaxon Clark, battling an ankle injury, stepped in to hit an elbow three to bring the Terriers to within 3.

Winooski would stretch the lead to 6 with 3 free throws just before the halftime buzzer.

BF narrowed the gap to three, the product of a 16-13 third quarter. Blake Bertrand, and Colby Dearborn hit consecutive treys and Moore added two baseline drives to keep the contest a one possession match with 8 minutes to play, leading to the late game heroics in front of a rowdy fan base from both towns.

Dearborn and More led the Terriers with 15 points, while Will Hallock contributed 6 points and 9 rebounds.

The Terriers finish the season at 6-15 and will loose 6 seniors in Moore, Dearborn, Clark, Jesse Darrell, Walker James and Ben Perry.

“These guys came to work day in and out,” said Chadwick. “Their commitment to Bellows Falls and each other has left a permanent mark on this program.”

HARTFORD- There is little question that the Hurricanes of Hartford are one of the strongest teams in the State. With a 15-1 record, the only loss being an early road contest to Division 1 Rutland, it was a tall task for the Terriers to travel to Hartford on their senior night.

BF battled, they fought for boards, attacked the glass and did all the little things that will pay big dividends come playoff time. And, although the 84-34 loss may have reflected a non-competitive contest, it was anything but that for much of the game.

“Guys were great,” said Coach Evan Chadwick. ”It is not easy to play at their place and it’s especially hard this year with how talented and deep they are.” Credit my guys though, they fought hard, got home late, and then were all right back in the gym at 8am on Saturday ready to get better.”

Colby Dearborn led the Terriers with 16 points and Jesse Darrell added 12.

The 6-12 Terriers finish off the regular season this week, starting with a 7pm tip at Windsor against the Yellow Jackets. Both teams are fighting for a top 10 seed as they currently sit at 13 and 12 respectably. 

“Just another great test for us,” said Chadwick. ”Its going to come down to effort.”

WESTMINSTER-Each time adversity has struck for this year’s Terrier’s squad the team has responded. Each response has illustrated just how much potential this squad has to make a deep playoff run. And, although BF came up just short again in their 61-56 loss to Brattleboro in front of a packed house at Holland Gym on Tuesday night, it is clear that this team continues to improve as the regular season morphs into a win or go home scenario.

“We absorbed so many hits tonight and responded,” said Coach Evan Chadwick. ”Our guys deserved to win this game, but it didn’t happen, that’s what makes this game so special.”

The Bears would take as much as a 10 point lead in the first half, but the Terriers were able to claw back into it with a buzzer beating layup by Colby Dearborn that brought them to within 7 at the break.

The third quarter turned into a transition fest that, in the last minute, saw the Terriers take a 3 point lead heading to the final 8. Andrew Dunbar secured a loose ball and fed it to Dearborn for a layup, Dearborn off a Cole Moore assist, finished a 3 point play and Moore capped the 8-2 run with a three pointer.

Brattleboro rallied to start the fourth with a 10-2 run and were able to hold on despite BF’s frantic efforts in the last minute that produced several opportunities to to turn the contest into a single possession game.

BF now stands at 6-11 on the season and sits in the 13 seed for the upcoming D-3 State tournament. A road matchup with Hartford is next on the schedule set for Friday at 7pm.

WESTMINSTER- The Terriers, fresh off an 8-2 run took their first lead of the contest with Mount Anthony with 4 minutes to play in the third quarter. MAU responded with 4 threes in the next two minutes to retake a lead that they would no relinquish on their way to a 62-50 win on Tuesday night at Holland Gym.

“All about the little things now,” said Coach Evan Chadwick. ”We gave up four offensive rebounds that led to 12 points in 2 minutes. When you play the quality of opponents we do day in and out, thats all it takes to loose control.”

Mount Anthony started the contest in the same manner they finished the third quarter, hitting 4 three pointers in the first quarter to take a 10 point lead.

In response, BF switched to a high pressure man defense that slowed the Patriots down, while the Terriers began to find their footing offensivley.

Colby Dearborn took over for stretches, scoring 19 points in the first half, while Jaxon Clark and Cole Moore each added six to narrow the MAU lead to 3 at the break.

After absorbing the MAU 12-0 run in the third, the Terriers played the Patriots even the rest of the contest but could not get over the double digit hill as MAU managed the lead well in the fourth to close out their 6th win of the season.

Dearborn led all scorers on the evening with 27 points. Cole Moore added 13 and Clark 11.

BF drops to 6-9 on the season and will next be on the road in Brandon to face off with Otter Valley on Friday night. Tip time is 7pm.

FAIR HAVEN- 32 minutes of grit put the BF Terriers short on the scoreboard in their 75-63 loss on Saturday afternoon to the Slaters, but in nothing else.

“What can I say that you couldn’t see”, said Coach Evan Chadwick. ”My guys gave it everything they had.”

The Slaters would take a 10 point lead after the first due to a dominance on the offensive glass. Center Phil Bean scored 10 in the frame and 27 total in the first half. ”We just could not keep him off the offensive glass in the first half,” said Chadwick. ”Ultimately, that was the difference.” 

Colby Dearborn, Cole Moore and Jaxon Clark combined for 25 of the Terrier 30 first half points while Eli Allbee added a corner 3 to keep the Terriers within 15 at the break.

BF would narrow the deficit to as few as 9 in the third, starting the quarter on a 6-0 run. The Slaters were able to close the quarter on a 6-0 run of their own, allowing them to maintain a 14 point advantage heading into the final quarter.

The Terriers would mount several charges, the last capped by a deep 3 by Moore that had the Terriers call a timeout trailing by 10 with 90 seconds remaining. 

The Slaters would manage the clock effectively to close out the game and the fans thanked both teams for the show, with a loud applause that echoed through the cozy Slater gymnasium.

Clark led the BF scoring effort with 20 points, Moore added 15, Dearborn closed with 13 while Albee added 5.

“We gotta extract the many positives from this game and move on,” said Chadwick, whose squad drops to 6-8 on the season. ”I can’t wait to get back at it on Monday to prepare for our Mount Anthony matchup”. 

The MAU contest will be held at Holland Gym on Tuesday with a 7pm tip.

WESTMINSTER-Trailing by 10 midway through the third quarter, it appeared for a moment that the Yellow Jackets would seize control of the contest. The Dogs responded, narrowing the gap to 5 entering the fourth and closing out on a 12-2 run to to earn a 75-64 win on Tuesday night at Holland Gym.

“Can’t say enough about the energy,” said Coach Evan Chadwick. ”From the court, to the bench, to the crowd, it was everywhere and it was infectious.”

The defense prevailed for the Terriers, turning the Yellow Jackets over 7 times in the fourth quarter turning into transition points, including a a Cole Moore 3 that gave the Terriers their first lead since early in the second quarter that they would not surrender.

Colby Dearborn scored 19 points, including 15 in the second half, Moore added his own 19 including three 3 pointers and Clark dropped 17 despite fouling out early in the fourth.

BF climbs to 6-7 on the season. They will travel to Fair Haven for a Saturday matinee with the Slaters. Tip time is 1pm.

WESTMINSTER- The Hartford Hurricanes came to Holland Gym with a D-2 title contender label, and in 32 minutes they showed just why they have earned the distinction as they overwhelmed BF 83-33 at Holland Gym.

“It is what it is,” said Head Coach Evan Chadwick. ”Hartford has a good squad, its no surprise why they are at the top of D-2 this year.”

The Terriers would hang around in the first half trailing by 23 after Colby Dearborn beat the buzzer for a layup.

The 21 deficit was extended to 30 early in the third when the Hurricanes hit 3 3’s and went on a 14-2 run. 

Both teams benches saw extended action for much of the second half.

“Was impressed with the effort from my bench guys,” said Chadwick. ”A guy like Cam Perry really stepped up to battle on the glass. His extended effort certainly caught our attention.”

BF drops to 5-7 on the season as they hit the home stretch. The Windsor Yellow Jackets are next on the agenda, with a 7pm tip on Tuesday at BFUHS.

Orford, NH – A long bus ride north on the tail end of final exams did not keep the Terriers from playing with energy and grit in their road contest against the Raptors of Rivendell. Although BF’s effort was inspiring, Rivendell was able to hold on for a 73-66 victory on Thursday night.

“Happy with the effort,” said Coach Evan Chadwick. ”We fought hard, dictated the tempo and hit some shots, we just didn’t quite get over that hill, but we are getting there.”

81 points were scored between the two teams in the first half, as buckets were plentiful in a high energy contest from both sides. 

Colby Dearborn and Jaxon Clark combined for 30 of BF’s 40 first half points that saw the Terriers enter the break down one.

BF would maintain a frantic pace in the second half, responding to several Raptor runs to keep the contest a one possession game to the final minute, when Rivendell hit a couple of free throws to stretch out the lead after a couple of near misses by the Purple and White offense.

“One of those shots go down in the final 90 seconds its a different ball game,” said Chadwick. ”These types of games are gearing us up for playoff time, we just have to stay the course.”

Colby Dearborn scored a career high 34 points on the night, while Jaxon Clark added 14. 

The 5-6 Terriers face off with Division 2 Hartford on Saturday at 1pm at Holland Gymnasium. 

SPRINGFIELD- Down 11 midway through the third quarter, the Terriers staged a frantic comeback against the Cosmos of Springfield on Saturday afternoon. In the end, BF came up just short, dropping the contest 60-56.

“Proud of the effort,” said Coach Evan Chadwick. ”We competed for 32 minutes.”

The Cosmos held a 2 point lead after the first quarter, outscoring BF 15-13. Jaxon Clark hit 3 mid range jumpers and Cole Moore added five, including a straight-away 3 to keep the contest close. After Springfield extended their lead to 7 in the second, the Terriers implemented a full court press that created a 10-2 run to finish the quarter and take a one point lead into the break.

Springfield came out of the break on fire, outscoring BF 19-13. However, despite stretching their advantage to double digits, the Terriers simply would not quit, narrowing the lead to 5 heading into the final 8 minutes.

The fourth was a frantic back and forth as the Terriers continued to press. Unfortunately, despite holding the Cosmos to 11 points in the fourth, the Terriers could not climb over the last hump, missing several inside buckets that allowed the Cosmos to hang on for a hard fought win.

Cole Moore led the Terriers with 19 points. Clark added 16.

BF (5-5) will continue their road trip as they travel to New Hampshire for a Wednesday contest with perennial power Rivendell. Tip is set for 7pm.

MANCHESTER- The Burr and Burton Bulldogs outscored the Terriers 30-5 in the second frame, seizing control of the contest and dealing the Terriers a 65-34 loss on Thursday night.

“Gotta shake things up,” said Coach Evan Chadwick. ”We are not sticking with the game plan and it shows. We have to find guys who are willing to commit executing the plan for 32 minutes.”

Blake Bertrand started the scoring for the Terriers with a 3-point play and the Terriers defense was sound in holding the Bulldogs to 12 first quarter points. 

In the second half, the Terriers got solid contributions from their bench. Ben Perry grabbed 4 rebounds in limited minutes and Aiden Weir scored on a floater that saw the Terriers play Burr and Burton close to even in the second half. 

“Saw a spark from some of our bench guys,” said Chadwick. 

The Terriers drop to 5-4 on the season. They travel to Springfield on Saturday for a 1pm tip with the Cosmos.