Raymond’s girls’ and boys’ basketball team’s skills improving

By Matt Pascarella

Raymond’s Jordan-Small Middle School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams showed they are getting better each and every game when they played Sacopee Valley, at JSMS, on Thursday, Dec. 9.

Raymond eighth-grader Gavin Lawler soars into the air to take
a shot during Jordan-Small Middle School's home game against
Sacopee Valley on Thursday, Dec. 9.
PHOTO BY MATT PSCARELLA  

The Raymond girls team wasted little time and were soon an unstoppable force that could not be caught. Raymond walked off the court with a 24-6 win over the Hawks.

The Raymond boys squad continues to improve all the time and they worked hard and took several shots at the basket, but not as many as they would have liked were dropping in. After four quarters, Sacopee Valley posted a 42-13 win.

Girls

Raymond was aggressive right away and put the ball up multiple times in the first quarter. Raymond seventh-grader Isabella Vassoler scored first. After that Raymond added point after point to the scoreboard.

“We did a lot more teamwork,” said Vassoler. “We were passing more ... we stayed with our opponent.”

She added everybody did well and they’ve improved a lot since their last home game.

Raymond got rebounds and kept up the intensity. Raymond eighth-grader Briella Beers got a layup. Raymond continued going after the ball and took many shots at basket. Halfway in, Raymond led 14-2.

Raymond eighth grader Audrey Getchell scored early in the second half. Raymond kept up the intensity and continued to work hard. Raymond eighth-graders Jada Stewart and Corey Brackett scored. Raymond kept the hustle up until the final buzzer.

“They played together a lot more and were looking for each other,” said Raymond girls’ basketball coach Jim Beers. “Also better on defense ... now they know how to protect and help out when their teammate gets burned.”

Boys

Sacopee Valley managed to get several turnovers, which gave them a lead early on, but Raymond kept their heads up. They had several shots at basket, with many good attempts that just weren’t falling.

Eighth-grader Ethan Swett put Raymond on the scoreboard. Raymond eighth-grader Braedyn Elwell sunk two three-pointers before the end of the first half.

Sacopee pulled away, but Raymond stayed with the ball. At the half, the Hawks led 25-8.

Raymond boys’ basketball coach Andrew Wing told the team after the game, the scoreboard was only half the story.

“Every game of the season has been more competitive,” said Wing. “I’m seeing they are working harder; they are staying together. The team is getting better, they are getting shots and they’re going to fall at some point.”

In the second half, Raymond moved the ball well and took advantage of several rebound opportunities. Raymond seventh grader Nick Allen sunk two foul shots toward the end of the game to help close the gap.

Raymond worked hard as a team up until the final buzzer.

“We need to work on our defense a little bit more; like boxing out or getting rebounds,” said Allen.

Allen said that he thinks they’ll do better in upcoming games. <