Sam McLane of Twinfield-Cabot looks to pass around Danville’s Anthoni Guinard during a quarterfinal match, held Feb. 23 , at Danville. Danville prevailed 61-40.
MARSHFIELD – First-year head coach Kris Bador and his shorthanded Twinfield-Cabot boys’ basketball team raced past Poultney last week in the first round of the Division IV playoffs before running into a buzzsaw against top-seeded Danville in the quarterfinals.
Sam McLane scored a game-high 16 points to power the Trojans past ninth seeded Poultney last Wednesday 56-29.
Senior Meles Gouge added 15 points and led the charge defensively for the home team, who jumped on the Blue Devils early with a 20-4 run to start the game.
Fellow seniors Dominick Hale and Sam Russell combined for 22 more points as Twinfield-Cabot took a 45-21 lead into the fourth quarter and never looked back.
Wyatt Gillett buried four three-pointers on his way to a 12-point night for Poultney as their season ended at 9-12.
“This was the first playoff win with this great group of young men and I believe when I look back on it, this first one will stick with me for sure. I was not only able to see them grow through ups and downs and injury on the basketball court this season, but in life as well. I also want to thank the parents of the booster club that don’t always get recognized for all the hard work they do behind the scenes. And a huge thank you to the community that came out and supported us, filling up this gym every home game along with the best student section in D4..thank you!!” said Bador.
Twinfield-Cabot’s Sam Russell brings the ball toward the basket past Andrew Joncas during quarterfinal play in Danville, Feb. 23. Danville won 61-40.
Danville beat the Trojans for a third time this season on Friday, drilling 11 three-pointers to advance to the Barre Auditorium with a 61-40 win. Andrew Joncas led the way with 15 points, followed by Cooper Calkins with 11. Sam Russell’s game-high 16 points kept the Trojans in the game, down just nine at the break, but the Bears answered every Twinfield-Cabot run with a back breaking three. Sam Eldred, Anthoni Guinard, and Anthony Raymond combined for 24 more points in the win, as Danville advanced to their second consecutive Final Four with their seventh straight win. McLane added eight in the loss for the Trojans as their season came to an end at 10-12. Bador’s squad won four of their last six games, despite their top scoring sophomore Tej Stewart being sidelined with a wrist injury.
“Our seniors Caiden Green, Sam Russell, Brayden Cushing, Dom Hale, and Meles Gouge are my Fab-5 and I was so impressed with how they handled themselves this season on a daily basis. A huge shout out to our assistant coaches and staff for all of the support and all the hard work they put in what was a very enjoyable season,” said Bador.
The Bears squared off against fourth seeded Williamstown on Monday night at the Barre Auditorium. Second seeded Grace Christian and third seeded West Rutland will match-up in the other semifinal on Wednesday night. The Division IV state title game is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m.
