Brattleboro wasted no time setting the tone in Saturday’s L&G Tip-Off Tournament championship, opening the game with relentless full-court pressure and racing out to a commanding 26–2 lead by the end of the first quarter.

The early surge was fueled by a balanced offensive attack and strong playmaking from Reese Croutworst, who dished out five assists in the opening period as the Bears consistently turned defense into easy scoring opportunities. Brattleboro closed the quarter on an uncontested 19-point run, overwhelming Arlington with pace, pressure, and depth.

After Brattleboro eased off the full-court pressure in the second quarter, Arlington was able to gain some footing, scoring nine points in the period. Still, the Bears remained firmly in control and carried a 35–11 advantage into halftime.

The second half followed a similar script. Brattleboro continued to share the ball and defend at a high level, holding Arlington to just five points in the third quarter to extend the lead to 42–16 heading into the final frame. The Bears ultimately closed out a decisive 65–29 victory.

Brattleboro’s unselfish approach stood out throughout the contest. Ten different players found the scoring column, with Croutworst the only Bear to reach double figures. Croutworst finished the game with eight assists, while Parker Thibault and Emma Frehsee led the team on the glass with nine and eight rebounds, respectively. Thibault also anchored the paint defensively with four blocks, and Frehsee added eight points to the balanced scoring effort. Defensively, Brattleboro finished with 16 steals and seven blocks overall. Offensively, the Bears shared the ball well, frequently passing up good shots in favor of better ones to keep everyone involved.

Following the game, Head Coach Sarah Landers reflected on the significance of both wins from the weekend early in the season.

“It’s really nice to come in and gain some confidence early. Starting the season with MAU is a little different, but getting a league and rivalry game out of the way helps set the tone and gives the team confidence early on.”

For their performances throughout the tournament, Reese Croutworst was named the L&G Tip-Off Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Parker Thibault earned a spot on the L&G Tip-Off Tournament All-Tournament Team.

Brattleboro will look to carry the momentum forward when it hosts Northampton on Wednesday night.