USUALLY MY column goes on the sports page but because this one is about high school basketball I thought that the Williamstown page was the right place for it because of the super fan base that follows Blue Devil basketball.

Williamstown Boy's coach Jack Carrier (center) receives the Boy's Div. IV Coach of the Year award from Connie LaRose of the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association VCBA) last Saturday in Windsor as the VBCA president, Dave Fredrickson looks on. Jack led the Blue Devil Boys to a 22-1 record and the Div. IV state championship. Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield A trip that any fan of high school basketball should make at least once is to “All-Star Saturday” at Windsor High School. The Vermont Basketball Coaches Association really puts on a great show. It’s a long day. There are four All Star games featuring the best seniors in the state. Two Girl’s games and two Boy’s games. In between the games, things are kept moving by the presentation of awards for coach’s milestones such as 100 wins, the recognition of 1000 point scorers, The presentation of Awards to the various coaches of the year and the induction of Hall of Fame members.

Williamstown Girl's coach, Sid Sweet, (center) was the head coach for the Vermont Senior Div III-Div IV Girl's All-Star game at Windsor last Saturday. His assistant coach was Lori Shepard,(right) the Northfield Girl's coach. Five players from Northfield and Williamstown were on the team including Emma Lamson (far left), who listens intently during the time out. Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News There was a distinct local flavor to this year’s presentations of awards. Blue Devil boy’s coach, Jack Carrier was named as the Boy’s Div IV coach of the year and Lori Shepard, The Northfield Girl’s coach was honored as the Div. III Girl’s coach of the year.

But Most fans go to see the games and there was a local flavor there as well. Blue Devil’s Girl’s coach, Sid Sweet, was the head coach for the Girl’s North team in the Div. III-Div.IV game and his assistant was none other than Lori Shepard, the Lady Marauders mentor. Local players were in abundance as well. For Williamstown Bethany Carrier, Kristin Brown and Emma Lamson were on the North squad and Northfield was represented by Emily Martin and Jackie Susmann. On the Boy’s side of the ledger three Blue Devils, and one Marauder played in the Boy’s Div III – Div IV game. Steven Manwaring, Troy Laughlin and Ray Burgos Represented Williamstown while Adam Daly was the Northfield representative. All players get 6:40 in each half so everybody gets equal playing time. This can be a little disconcerting to the uninitiated. After 6:40 has elapsed the buzzer sounds, play stops and all the players change. (Talk about a play-by-play man’s nightmare!) Then, the game resumes. Each roster has 15 players so there are three “shifts” per half. This can make coaches tear their hair out. “ In a regular game if a player has a hot hand you leave her in but not here.

That also goes for possible foul trouble. You leave them out there , it’s their time,” said coach Sweet. Much like hockey and its’ line changes, the coaches analyze match-ups between the shifts. “We made some adjustments in the second half and changed our shift rotation.

That really helped us,” coach Sweet said. “We really played good defense. We owned the second half,” said coach Shepard. Although the coaches only have a couple of hours of practice time before game day both coaches felt the chance to interact with the different players was very valuable. “ You get to work with players that you have coached against but you really don’t know as people. For example Abby LaLime (Lake region), I only got to say good game or good luck in your next game to her after our games against her team but I found out that she is really an outstanding young lady,” coach Shepard said. The game also gave both coaches a chance to work with players that they have always wanted to have a chance to coach. “ I have always wanted to work with Emily Martin,” said coach Sweet, and I have always wanted to coach Kristin Brown,” said coach Shepard. Both coaches got their wish in this year’s allstar game. Both coaches have coached against each other for years and usually the games are very close. “Our programs are mirror images of each other. What Lori does is the right way to build a program and we have been trying to do that,” coach Sweet said. “I think that you are there,” coach Shepard said immediately.

Another little wrinkle in the “All-Star Saturday” experience that might be a bit confusing to the first time fan is that the Boy’s from a given school may be playing on the South squad while the Girl’s from the same school may play on the North squad in their game. That was exactly what happened to the Northfield/Williamstown contingents. The Girl’s played for the North while the Boy’s played for the South in their game. This happens when there is a preponderance of talent from one end of the state and the teams are balanced out.

While I was at “All-Star Saturday” I had a chance to interview Jack Carrier, the Williamstown Boy’s team after he received his coach of the year award. Because of space considerations I will write up that article next week so that I can do it justice.

Mac’s Sports Films, of Waterbury, was on hand to film the games and DVD’s are available by calling 244-8483. You can also get a DVD of the State Semi-Final and Championships at the Barre Auditorium from Mac .(Full disclosure- I did the play-by-play on those tapes.) So if you want to see Ray Burgos’ miracle 3 point shot that was only worth 2 points that’s the place to go!

Williamstown and Northfield fans can be very proud of the performances of all their representatives. Players and coaches alike.

All in all, “All-Star Saturday” is quite an experience. It is a veritable ‘Who’s who” of Vermont high school basketball and the play is exciting to watch. If you get a chance, pencil in next year’s event.

It’s easy to remember the date. It’s the next Saturday after the last tournament game in Barre.