BURLINGTON – The Twinfield-Cabot summer hoop team made the trip up 89 two weeks ago to scrimmage Division I champion Burlington earlier this month, before turning their attention to Division II Lyndon Institute last week, as head coach Kris Bador continued his quest to test his talented squad out of division this summer.
Third-year head coach and former Seahorse star B.J. Robertson returned his alma mater to championship glory this past March, beating arch-rival Rice Memorial 64-60 at a packed Patrick Gymnasium, earning him Division I Coach of the Year honors. Robertson took over a three-win Burlington team just over two years ago and after a Final Four appearance in 2024, added a state leading 22nd Division I state championship banner to the program’s rich history. Twinfield-Cabot head coach Kris Bador is looking for the same kind of fortune in his third season on the sidelines this coming winter after leading the Trojans back to the Barre Auditorium for the first time in nearly a decade this past March. A floater in the final seconds by Danville’s Kohl Guinard was the only difference in a heartbreaking one-point loss in the semifinals for Twinfield-Cabot as they were forced to watch the Pride go on to upset top ranked West Rutland to claim the Division IV state title. Bador will return his entire roster this winter that includes three-time Vermont Outstanding Underclassmen selection Tej Stewart, along with last year’s leading scorer Eli Russell, and soon to be super sophomore Omar Miksic-Knibb. The reining Division IV and Mountain League Coach of the Year has developed a relationship with Robertson and took the opportunity to test his talented club against some of the Queen City’s best in a pair of scrimmages.
“The boys played a great style of game up in Burlington against some great players and coaches before battling against a physical Lyndon team that had really good size. B.J. has done an excellent job and has rebuilt a very determined team and program. The speed, how they were coached and prepared, and the way their players communicated in unison on the floor was the biggest difference we saw in competing against a Division I team like that. It was a great opportunity and experience for both us as coaches and players,” said Bador.
Bador and assistant coach and former Trojan standout Connor Spencer also had the opportunity to make the trip to Vegas to experience NBA Summer League recently. They met scouts from all over the world at many different levels and interaccted with top notch professionals in the industry on how players and coaches watch film, handle practice, approach the weight room and manage their diet to perform their best.
“The experience to witness their preparation and process was even better than we expected. We were just blessed to experience this opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business. We have some great challenges coming up against Lyndon, Spaulding, and a championship Woodsville team from New Hampshire. We’re continuing to grow as a team, the kids are getting healthier this summer, and remain hungry and humble,” said Bador.
