WILMINGTON- The Twin Valley girls’ basketball team has paid their dues. This season, they beat Windsor and West Rutland and last Friday, they swept the two-game series against Green Mountain, another top team in division III. Coach Buddy Hayford said the second Twin Valley-Green Mountain showdown would be “the game of the year.” The Wildcats believed that, too, and they played as if it were the division III championship.

Green Mountain came out early with a full-court press. Their two guards double-teamed Twin Valley co-captain Devon Spirka and did well in containing her. But whenever Green Mountain tried to rally, they could not find a way to put the ball in the basket. The Wildcats, on the other hand, were hot on the boards, taking the open shots, and making them.

Bryer-lyn Crawford took the ball down the right side and dished it to Sam Bernard. Bernard, who was tripled-teamed, went hard to the hoop. Her shot hit the backboard, rolled around the rim, and bounced in for the bunny. Kylie-blu Crawford came next with a clutch three-fer and Spirka added a deuce to make it 9-0, Wildcats.

Green Mountain’s scoring drought came to an end when Julie Comstock stole a Twin Valley pass, drove straight to the basket, and put them on the board. But then the Chieftains fouled Bryer-lyn Crawford and sent her to the free-throw line. Crawford made the second of two free throws and the Wildcats closed the first quarter with a 10-4 lead.

Twin Valley started the second quarter with a quick 5-0 run. Spirka stripped the ball from Green Mountain’s Carley Stauffer and set up a play. The ball moved around the key and worked its way to Bryer-lyn Crawford. Crawford shot from the outside and nailed the three-pointer. Then Spirka stole the ball, drove to the basket, and scored on an easy layup to make it 14-4, Wildcats.

The Wildcats encountered minor trouble when Bernard received her third foul. Hayford put in Abbi Molner, who took over Bernard’s duties as power forward. The Chieftains’ Emma Lisle scored four points to cut the deficit to a six-point Wildcats’ lead, but Molner got things going with a 9-0 Wildcat run. The run began when Molner was fouled on a play and sank two free throws. Then Spirka scored another deuce, Crawford made a strong drive to the hoop and scored, and Spirka came up big again with a huge three to make it 23-8, Wildcats. Green Mountain struggled from the field, scoring only one basket in the final minutes, and they trailed the Wildcats by 16 points at the half, 26-10.

The Wildcats’ momentum continued as they went on a 7-0 run in the third quarter. Spirka found fellow co-captain Alicia Laughney underneath for the basket, Bernard came back in and made an easy layup, and Kylie-blu Crawford nailed another three, forcing Green Mountain coach Terry Farrell to call a time out. The Chieftains’ Bailey Stauffer broke up the Wildcats’ streak with a two-fer, but the Wildcats still held Green Mountain to four points in the quarter. They led the Chieftains, 33-14, after three and did not let up.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the game took place in the fourth quarter. Spirka called the play “City” and dribbled the ball up the right flank. She heaved the ball to Kylie-blu Crawford who was heading to the basket. Crawford snuck behind two Green Mountain defenders who weren’t watching and she laid it up and in before the Chieftain defenders realized what had happened. The Wildcats ran out the clock and won with authority by a score of 43-25.

“I was very pleased with that win. We had (Green Mountain) out of their element, played tremendous defense, and held them to only 10 points in the first half. It was a grand success,” said Hayford.

Spirka led the team with 18 points, eight rebounds, six steals, and four assists. Bernard scored eight points and made 10 rebounds and four steals; Bryer-lyn Crawford scored seven points and made six assists and four steals; Kylie-blu Crawford scored six points and made three rebounds and two assists; Laughney scored two points and made seven rebounds and two steals; and Molner scored two points and made three rebounds.

The Wildcats had 17 steals in the game and out-rebounded Green Mountain 35-25. Lisle led the Chieftains in scoring with eight points.

TV 55, Proctor 34

PROCTOR- The Wildcats went on the road in their second-to-last game of the season and they had little trouble disposing of Proctor, 55-34. The Wildcats picked up where they left off against Green Mountain and dominated from the floor. Twin Valley led 30-10 at halftime and then coasted for much of the second half. Proctor kept the second half competitive, scoring 24 second-half points, but the Wildcats maintained control and never let the Phantoms get back in the game. “ It was a big road win. It solidifies us with a top-four seed in the playdowns and two home games. That means we don’t have to travel anywhere until Barre, knock on wood,” laughed Hayford.

Bernard led the team with 21 points, eight rebounds, and five steals. Spirka scored 13 points and made eight assists and five steals; Kylie-blu Crawford scored nine points and made two steals; Molner scored six points and made three rebounds; Bryer-lyn Crawford scored two points and made four steals and three assists; and Shannon Lozito scored two points.

The Wildcats are 16-3 and they finish the regular season on Friday at Black River. Tipoff is at 7 pm.

The Division III girls’ basketball playdown schedule will be announced Monday morning. For more information on the Wildcats’ first game visit www.deerfieldvalleysports.blogspot.com.