Tonight marks the sixth straight appearance for the Twinfield girls basketball team at the Barre Auditorium.
The Trojans are hoping the fourth time is the charm, however, as they've been knocked out of the Division IV state tournament in the semifinals each of the last three years.
Twinfield, seed No. 1, brings a 20-2 record into tonight's semifinal against No. 5 Chelsea, which stands at 16-6. The two teams did not meet in the regular season. Twinfield is on a seven-game win streak, losing only to Division III Rivendell and Winooski, while Chelsea lost three of its last five regular-season games.
Twinfield has posted back-to-back blowouts so far, ousting Cabot 91-17 and Canaan 49-16, thereby outscoring opponents 140-33. Chelsea eliminated Concord and Craftsbury on its way to tonight's game.
The winner of tonight's game will play the winner of Proctor and West Rutland in Saturday's final at noon at the Barre Auditorium. West Rutland has been a nemesis of the Red Devils at the Aud, though Chelsea did beat the Golden Horde in 2009, 47-41, and in 2005, 41-34, for two of its seven state championships. Twinfield will be aiming for its seventh title, having one three each in Division III and IV. Its last title came in 2008 against Danville with a 51-50 win thanks in large part to the dominance of Camille duPont. duPont's younger sister, Bryanna, is one of many stars leading this year's Twinfield team.
Twinfield has knocked Chelsea out of the tournament in 2006 and 2001, while Chelsea has eliminated the Trojans in 2009 and 2004. Tonight is the first semifinal appearance for the Red Devils since 2009.
Both teams feature a slew of multi-sport athletes, which to me is why both programs are so strong. These small schools have kids that not only play every sport together, they've literally all been together since they were very young. They just know where each other is at all times, because it's always been that way. Chelsea is a girls lacrosse powerhouse for this very reason. Twinfield had a great run in girls soccer this fall. The bonds are clearly strong, which will make tonight that much louder, that much more emotional, that much more competitive.
Tonight's game tips at 6:30 p.m. Proctor and West Rutland play on Wednesday night, also at 6:30 p.m.
Good luck to both the Trojans and the Red Devils!
-Anna Grearson
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