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It was Senior Night in Brattleboro, and the Bears made sure it was one to remember in the first Windham County Showdown of the season.

Before tipoff, seniors Reese Croutworst, Parker Thibault, Emma Frehsee, Destiny Thibault, and Myah Waite were honored in front of the home crowd. Waite, sidelined by injury, was given a moment to remember — standing under the basket at tipoff, she took the opening pass from Croutworst and laid it in for two. A thoughtful gesture that ensured she had her Senior Night memory despite being unable to fully suit up.

Once regular play resumed, Brattleboro wasted no time asserting control.

The Bears came out with their foot on the gas, getting everyone involved early. Seven different players notched a basket in the opening period — including Waite — and the scoring started with a Frehsee-to-Destiny Thibault connection inside. Brattleboro immediately followed with a full-court press designed to set the tone, and they never let up.

After traded opening baskets, the Bears rattled off a 19-0 run to seize command of the game. The defensive pressure was relentless — ball handlers were forced into tough decisions, passing lanes were disrupted, and drives were funneled toward Parker Thibault in the paint where multiple shots were sent back the other way. Bellows Falls was able to generate some decent half-court looks, but early conversions were hard to come by. Veronica Moore came up with a couple of steals as the Terriers tried to steady things, but Brattleboro carried a 21-2 lead into the second quarter.

Bellows Falls began to find a little rhythm in the second. Avery Maxfield got to the line and split a pair to break the seal, and Cadence James followed with a bucket inside. Abby Nystrom later found Maxfield behind the arc to trim the margin to 17, giving the Terriers a spark.

But Brattleboro extended its lead before halftime.

Reese Croutworst answered immediately with a deep three to halt the momentum. Juliette Pals continued to disrupt passing lanes, and the Bears converted defensive stops into quick offense. Late in the half, Bellows Falls executed one of its cleaner sets to free up Olivia Hallock for two, and Moore added a block on the defensive end to close the frame, but Brattleboro still took a firm 34-14 advantage into the break.

After absorbing Brattleboro’s early surge, the Terriers didn’t fold — they adjusted, slowed the tempo, and made the Bears execute deep into the second half.

The third quarter opened with the Bears again pushing first. Pals stripped the ball and connected with Frehsee for a layup to stretch the margin, and Brattleboro briefly looked ready to put the game out of reach. That’s when Bellows Falls made its strongest push of the night.

Maxfield continued to shoulder the offensive load, knocking down another three and finishing creatively at the rim. Nystrom added a coast-to-coast steal and bucket, then followed with four more unanswered points to bring the game to 38-23, chipping away at what had once been a 20-plus point deficit.

A well-timed Brattleboro timeout steadied things. Out of the break, Pals attacked downhill, drew contact, and split a pair at the line. Gracie Patterson answered with a strong take of her own and converted both free throws to keep trimming the margin. Hailey Bristol and Parker Thibault then connected on an over-the-top pass to push the lead back to 43-27, but Maxfield closed the quarter with a slick finish at the rim to make it 43-29 heading into the fourth.

Brattleboro felt in control, but the heroics from Maxfield and Nystrom left just enough tension in the building entering the final frame.

The Bears opened the fourth with purpose. Frehsee poked the ball free, found a streaking Croutworst, and got it back for the finish at the rim. Bellows Falls refused to go away. Patterson responded with two inside, and Hallock later connected from three to bring the deficit to 12. Patterson followed with another bucket to make it a 10-point game with just over three minutes to play.

That’s when Brattleboro’s composure showed. The Bears managed the clock, moved the ball, stretched the defense, and forced fouls, keeping the margin in a comfortable double-digit range for most of the quarter. Bellows Falls narrowed it to nine late, but Brattleboro never allowed it to get any closer.

When the final horn sounded, Brattleboro walked off with a 53-44 victory on its Senior Night — an evening that featured emotion before the tip, a first-quarter avalanche, and steady game management down the stretch to hold off a determined Terriers push in this year’s Windham County Showdown.

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