WINDSOR — Following two funky middle periods, Windsor used a 20-point fourth quarter to put away BFA-Fairfax in a Vermont girls Division III quarterfinal on Friday, 47-37.
Teams that have given Windsor trouble this year had found success by containing junior phenom Olivia Rockwood, and the Bullets had her somewhat under control until the fourth quarter, when she banged in 14 points as Windsor pulled away to advance to the semifinals on Thursday at Barre Auditorium, where the Yellowjackets captured the title last year. Windsor will face No. 2 Thetford for the third straight season.
“She just likes to win,” said her coach, Bruce Mackay.
It was not a one-woman show, as the Jacks got a nine-point first half from Evelyn Page and solid defense of the bench from Alyssa Slocum and hard board work by Brook McKeen, Reese Perry and Ashley Grela against the taller girls from BFA.
The win brought the third-seeded Jacks to 17-4, while BFA, whose school is located 25 miles north of Burlington, was the sixth seed and closes out the season at 10-11. The Bullets beat Stowe in its first-round game.
It was a strange game in that when Windsor took a 15-2 lead after the first period, it looked like the long bus ride had affected the Bullets. However, BFA turned the tables with a 12-3 edge in the second quarter and continued to battle and trailed just 27-26 after three quarters.
“We got out of our game plan,” Rockwood said. “We starter to rush things.”
Added Mackay: “She’s right. Those big girls down low we bothering us more than they should have. We kind of went a little off the track.”
While Windsor got contributions from many players, it is hard to ignore Rockwood’s contributions.
In the first quarter, she had three fast break passes to Page and was 9-for-10 from the free throw line. She also made four three-point baskets, two in the fourth quarter, one that looked as if it were launched from the parking lot.
Mackay was thankful for his depth as three Jacket starters had to sit for awhile.
Getting the first five points of the final quarter was a big boost for the Jacks, as the buckets gave them a little space before BFA’s Jaycee Douglas hit a 3-pointer to make it a 32-28 game. Rockwood then answered with a three of her own that led to a 7-2 run, and Windsor was on its way.