Windsor
“This was a big game and somebody has to step up,” the junior guard said. “I’m a shooter and I did what a shooter is supposed to do.”
The Olympians, who brought a huge group of fans, hung with the Yellowjackets through one period, but got blitzed 24-3 in the second quarter and were never in the game the rest of the night.
Oxbow coach Steve Carson said he knew what to expect and prepared for Windsor’s high-pressure defense as best he could.
“Still, you really can’t practice for something like this,” he said. “This is not the way I wanted our seniors to end their careers.”
Next for top-seeded Windsor is a Thursday semifinal game at the Barre Auditorium. The Yellowjackets will take a 19-3 record into that game. Oxbow, the ninth seed, closes out at 10-12.
Carson said he knew that his team would have to play the game of their lives and it just didn’t happen.
“We have had trouble rebounding all year and we had trouble rebounding here tonight as well,” he said.
Windsor coach Harry Ladue had nothing but praise for Slocum.
“You know he not only scores, but he gets all the loose balls,” he said.
Windsor’s fast-paced play was tough enough for the Olympians, but the Jacks also had depth as Windsor made multiple substitutions multiple times.
“We pretty much controlled the game after that second quarter,” Ladue said.
That second quarter was a nightmare for the Olympians. After hanging tough through the first eight minutes and trailing just 15-12, Windsor scored the first 13 points of the second period to lead 28-12, and it was 39-15 at the half.
“Not that it probably would have made big difference, but we did have a lot of layups roll out in that period,” Carson said.
Slocum had six field goals in the period and at one point had three from long range in less than two minutes. Oxbow was still in the game at 28-15 with 4:30 to go before Slocum scored the final 11 points of the period to end any mystery as to who was going to win this game.
“Windsor is a team that drives you crazy on defense and is unselfish with the ball.” Carson said. “I wish we could have done better.”
Slocum finished with 22 points, while Ben Meagher added 17 and Adam Stapleton 14 or the Jacks. Windsor, which had 14 3
Windsor as always brings a lot of folks to the game. and the gym was nearly full.
“I know the fans got me going,” Slocum said.
For Oxbow, Kyle Sweet and Bryce Ilsley had 11 points each and Ben Emerson 10.