Rangers continue their winning ways

by Joseph Gresser

The Lake Region Union High School Rangers continued their winning ways Tuesday night.  They’ve lost just one game this season even with floor leader Kylie Atwood out of the game because of an injury.

No one would have known she was out by looking at the game’s final score on Tuesday.

The Rangers out-hustled and out-muscled the visiting Bullets from Bellows Free Academy in Fairfax to come away with a 52-31 victory.

The contest got off to a slow start with both teams playing aggressive defense, producing frequent turnovers and minimal scoring opportunities.  The Lake Region players appeared a bit uncertain, and the Bullets took full advantage of their lack of leadership.

Gradually the Rangers gathered their forces and senior Carly Perron stepped up to assume Atwood’s customary role dealing passes and controlling the game’s flow.  After their slow start in the first quarter, which ended with Lake Region ahead by two points 8-6, the Ranger train began to roll.

In the second quarter, they thoroughly outscored the Bullets to wind up with a 19-10 lead at the half.  Danika Gallup and Paige Wells put many of the points up on the board with Gallup posting five points in an effort that included a three-pointer.  Wells helped the team with six points from three field goals.

The Bullets came into the second half looking determined and the Rangers’ attempts to shut down BFA’s offense were wild enough to quickly land Lake Region in serious foul.

Fortunately for the home team, Fairfax was unable to capitalize on the Lake Region’s errant play and they fell further behind, ending the third quarter behind by 20 points at 39-19.

Cailyn Gallup and Carly Perron each scored seven points in the quarter to help spark the Ranger offense.  Emily Comins pitched in with another five points to advance the cause and her hard-charging play created scoring opportunities for Lake Region throughout the game.

The Rangers’ foul problems showed most in the fourth quarter when Lake Region had to hold back on defense and allow the Bullets shots that a team with fewer fouls would have contested.  As a result, the Hornets posted 12 points to the Rangers’ 13 in the final period.

The only thing in doubt by that time, though,  was the margin of the Rangers’ victory.  At the end of the quarter, the Hornets were behind 52-31.

It was the Rangers’ tenth win of the season to only one loss, a 43-35 defeat at the hands of Enosburg Falls High School on January 21.

Rangers’ Coach Mark Tinker said after the game that he was pleased to see players step forward to fill the gaps left by the absence of their teammate.  He said he expects Atwood to remain off the floor with the knee injury that has sidelined her for a few more games.  He said he hopes to see his players continue to develop in response to her absence.

Mr. Tinker said that once she returns to play, the team will be that much stronger.

 Students from Lake Region Union High School and other schools in the Orleans Central Supervisory Union showed off their musical talents at a pair of concerts on December 6 and December 4, respectively.  Chronicle photographer Peter Cocoros was there to capture the action.  This gallery presents photos that appeared in the December 8 edition of the Chronicle and some we couldn't fit in the paper.

Anyone who wants copies of the photographs should contact Mr. Cocoros at 525-4470.

Here are some of the fine entries of the 2010 Great Jack-o-lantern Contest held, as always, at the Municipal Building in Barton.