Craftsbury Academy’s Evan Lamare (right) heads up the court followed by Ethan Davis (No. 1) of Oxbow in the World War II gymnasium January 17. At back (center) is Charger Sterling Blodgett (No. 2). Oxbow defeated Craftsbury 67-32.
CRAFTSBURY – First year head coach Brandon Berry and his Craftsbury Academy (CA) boys’ basketball team were at Christ Covenant to earn their first win of the season, before falling to Oxbow and Danville to end their week.
Senior Dylan Washer poured in a season-high 30 points to lead the Chargers to a 67-58 home win over Christ Covenant last Monday.
Fellow senior Sterling Blodgett and sophomore Landon Miller added 11 points in the win to help CA improve to 1-8 on the season.
Berry has had an uphill battle in his first season coaching the program, navigating his team through the rigors of a Division III rich Mountain League with only one bench player at his disposal on most nights. After a handful of lopsided losses to start the season, Washer and the Chargers have shown improvement the last two weeks, and Berry was happy to see his shorthanded squad finally get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
“We were pumped! The guys were locked in from the beginning and never took their foot off the gas. The guys are really starting to buy in that when we play to our strengths and put together four quarters of consistent fundamental basketball, we can compete with anybody,” said Berry
Craftsbury Charger Landon Miller (center) looks to pass over Jayden Huntoon of Oxbow as referee Dan Lehmann watches the action in Craftsbury January 17. Oxbow won 67-32.
Ethan Davis led the offense as Division III Oxbow raced past the Chargers 67-32 on the road last Wednesday. The Olympians earned their second road win of the season to improve to 4-9.
Andrew Joncas pumped in 20 points, including the 1,000th of his career to lead Danville to a dominant 80-37 home win over CA Friday night. The junior sharpshooter is averaging 25 points per game this season and torched Northfield earlier this year for 52 points, the second most in program history.
Cooper Calkins punished the Chargers inside with 17 points and 11 rebounds, with Vincent Palmieri chipping in with eight. It was the seventh straight win for Joncas and the 10-2 Bears, who vaulted up to the top spot in the current Division IV standings.
Washer kept the upstart Chargers close in the first half with another 20-point performance, but a 23-4 Danville run to start the second half put the game out of reach. Washer has led CA’s offense as a double-digit scorer since he stepped on the court as a freshman and now joins the 1,000-career point watch list with 11 games remaining on the schedule. If the talented senior reaches the coveted milestone, he will join his grandfather Allen Reed on the same banner hanging in the Charger gymnasium.
Craftsbury is scheduled to host Twinfield-Cabot on Wednesday and will hit the road for match-ups against Stowe and Christ Covenant on Friday and Saturday.
