By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter
An exciting season for the Woodstock boys basketball program finished on a bittersweet note this past week, with the Wasps advancing out of round one of the Vermont Principals Association Division III playoffs with a dominant win over Green Mountain before falling to Thetford Academy in the quarterfinals.
The Wasps had to face the Green Mountain Grizzlies while missing key player Elvis Lavallee for the first time all year after the junior fell to injury in the regular season finale. It took only about a quarter and a half to show they’d still be tough to beat without him.
Woodstock took an 18-12 lead into the second quarter, before the Grizzlies tied the score midway through the second. Then, Wasp senior Brody McGaffigan went on a solo 9-0 scoring run to push the home team ahead for good with a 33-21 halftime lead. “I challenged them,” said Woodstock head coach Scott Brooks. “I said, ‘You guys are playing not to lose instead of playing to win.’”
The challenge worked, as the Wasps dominated the second half, eventually taking the win by a score of 73-37. Leading the squad in scoring was an unsung hero of Woodstock’s late-season victories, sophomore Nathaniel Blanchard II in his first career start. “It was a little nerve-racking, but I persevered,” he said. “I just focused on getting my teammates the ball first, finding the rhythm of the game, and finding my rhythm early on.” He continued, “Once I found my rhythm, I kept shooting, and they went in.” Blanchard II finished the contest with a team-high 17 points.
The win set the Wasps up for a tough test against the sixth-seeded Thetford Academy Panthers in Saturday’s quarterfinal. Similar to the Wasps ‘ 16-game win streak, the Panthers came to town on a five-game streak of their own. In the end, it was Thetford moving on to the semifinals after a 46-37 win.
Woodstock got in trouble early, allowing a 10-0 Thetford run to start the game. “They’re a championship basketball program, and they came out acting like they belonged here,” said Brooks. “I think we’re new to the scene, so to speak. I think we just played with some nerves those first three or four minutes, and it showed.”
“I think really getting off to a good start, I think we were up 10-0 in the first quarter, which was huge,” said Thetford senior Xander Oshoniyi on what helped his team win. “ I think that’s always one of our big things, is starting up hot, and I think that honestly set the tone for a really great game.”
Wasp senior Aksel Oates (team-high 14 points, two assists) scored six straight to pull the score close before Thetford stretched their lead back out to end the first quarter, 18-9. Then, Woodstock’s defense took over, allowing just two points in the second frame to close the halftime gap to 20-16.
The wheels fell off the bus for Woodstock in the second half. Thetford started the half on a 6-0 run, as turnovers from the Wasps and poor shooting started to rear their ugly head. “We just needed to rebound more. We missed a lot of rebounds,” said Woodstock senior Rowan Larmie postgame. “We missed a lot of layups and just easy opportunities. And we just couldn’t hit our shots. We couldn’t score.”
Brooks agreed. “We just didn’t have enough firepower tonight,” he said. “You know, we did a lot of good things. We just couldn’t quite get over the hump. I think with Elvis, I don’t know if it’s a different game, but I think we have a much better shot.”
Thetford took a 32-22 advantage into the third quarter, and began to start wasting clock. Due to Vermont’s lack of a shot clock in high school basketball, the Panthers focused their offense on passes, not shots. This time-winding philosophy led to increased tension on the court and in the crowded bleachers.
Things boiled over two minutes into the final period when Oshoniyi was called for a foul after an attempt to block a shot, and then a technical foul, sending the gymnasium into a frenzy. “At that time, we’re on the spot, we have the upper hand,” explained the stellar senior, who led all scorers with 20 points and 17 rebounds on the afternoon. “I was trying to throw the ball to the ref who was on the opposite side, and then the kid stepped in front of me and ended up getting hit.”
The technical foul, in addition to the common foul, led to free throws for the Wasps that pulled them as close as they would get, down 32-25. During the foul line attempts, Thetford head coach Jason Gray attempted to calm down his team. “It’s hard,” he said on how to get a team to regain its composure in a tough setting. “It is definitely a challenge to keep them composed. And at that point, it’s just, like, emotions are gonna get high.”
The Panthers settled back in for the final six minutes, thanks in large part to three rim-rattling dunks from Oshoniyi.
Woodstock attempted some desperation three-pointers in the closing seconds, but they weren’t enough to close the gap, falling 46-37. As the teams gathered for their postgame handshake line, tears streamed down the faces of many Wasps, including Larmie. “I played with Elvis and Caleb, I’ve played with them since third grade,” he said, explaining the emotional weight of the final moments. “I mean, I’ve been with them for so long. And to see Elvis on the bench crying next to me, it just, it tears you apart.” He continued. “Yeah, I mean, it’s just been rough, been a rough couple weeks.”
With the win, Thetford advances to the VPA Division III semi-final contest on Thursday against the two-seed, Hazen. “Yeah, taking the momentum we have, I think we’re at six games now, so just taking that momentum, and knowing we have Hazen coming up, a big opponent, just really playing hard and playing to our strengths,” said Oshoniyi on what his team needs to do to advance to the championship game.
For Woodstock, the loss sees them end the season with a record of 18-4, the team’s best record since the 2014-2015 season. The Wasps will graduate five seniors: Asher Emery, Laramie, Calvin Lehouiller, McGaffigan, and Oates.
“The senior class is such a special class. Very special,” said Brooks through choked back tears. “ I will miss that tremendously.” He continued his praise, “This whole senior class has put this program back on the map, with some help around them, but they just compete. They’re fearless. And I can’t say enough good things about them. I love them to death.”
“We started when I was a freshman, and our varsity team wasn’t that good, and every year we got more wins, we just got better and better,” said Larmie. “I always want to thank my coaches. Playing for Woodstock is just amazing. I could not be thankful for a better opportunity.”
While Brooks was saddened by the end of the year, he said it wouldn’t take long before prep for next winter will begin. “You know, playing competitive sports, somebody’s gonna win, somebody’s gonna lose,” he said. “I’m looking forward to next year, though. Tomorrow, I’ll start thinking about next year.”
