BULLETS COME UP CLUTCH IN FOURTH TO BEAT STOWE
By LANDON POTVIN
FAIRFAX – The BFA-Fairfax Bullets made 14 free-throws in the fourth quarter to beat the visiting Stowe Raiders, 46-37, on Wednesday. Evan Fletcher and Riley Greene combined for 11/14 while the team shot 21 total.
Fletcher took until the second quarter to make his first basket but got into a rhythm after the first one fell. Stowe (0-9) gave the Bullets (3-5) a run for their money. Less than a minute in the fourth quarter, the Bullets had the game within five points. Two consecutive threes by Jordan Goodwin and Dawson Jackson to make it a 39-32 game.
“We worked as a team and really wanted to put the game away in the fourth,” said Fletcher. “Hitting the shot in the second helps my confidence. You hit one shot, and you feel better about yourself, and it works for most people.”
“The Stowe coach coached the end of the game pretty well,” said BFA-Fairfax head coach Dave Demar. “Making us go to the line, and them making their threes. After I got the subs in, I questioned my decision a little bit, but I went with it and stuck with it.”
The defense was the story of the game asoth teams shot less than 30 percent from the field by the final buzzer. The Raiders came in, made every shot a challenge, and wanted to shoot the outside shot. Fairfax made five threes, and most of their attempts came in the first half. But what stood out to coach Demar was the ten offensive rebounds they gave up before the intermission.
“Our defense was good, but it does not matter if they’re getting all the offensive rebounds,” said coach Demar. “The team that rebounds the most usually wins, and if we cut it down to seven instead of 14 total offensive rebounds, we win the game easily, and that’s going to be the message at every game, every practice.”
After the first quarter, Stowe held a 7-5 lead over the Bullets. An 18-point second quarter led by four threes gave a 23-15 lead at halftime. The second quarter began with a quick three by Fletcher, which happened to be his only one. Reed Stygles anticipated a pass in the following defensive possession, got a steal and finished for two points. Later in the quarter, Stygles worked the post for a nice hook shot at the rim for two more. He scored five more points to finish with nine while piling on 11 rebounds. Greene knocked down the third three of the quarter to extend the BFA lead to nine points, 20-11. Bryce Fontaine hit his second three of the game and finished with six points on six attempts to end the quarter. Luca Chayer and Jackson Wimette chipped in five points.
“The kids sparked the second-quarter run,” said coach Demar. “They dug deep, and of course, I yelled and coached, but half the time they can’t hear me. They get all the credit for their hard work and tough shot-making. Most importantly, they played as a team.”
Stowe hung around all game and fought until the very end. They grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and had all-around scoring from the whole team. The Raiders held the advantage over the turnover battle too.
Fairfax returns to action Monday at Missisquoi.
