Rice's James Wells dunks the ball late in the fourth quarter during the Vermont State Division I Boys Basketball Championship between the Mount Mansfield cougars and the Rice Green Knights at Patrick Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon March 8, 2014 in Burlington, Vermont. (BRIAN JENKINS, for the Free Press)
On Saturday I photographed the Vermont State Division I Boys Basketball Championship between the Mount Mansfield Cougars and the Rice Green Knights at Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington, Vermont for the Burlington Free Press. The last two times these teams played each other in the regular season, the games were decided by only a few points...
MMU, played well in the playoffs, knocking off the two of the best teams St. Johnsbury and #1 Burr and Burton to reach the final game. Rice also played well to reach the final game for the second year in a row. (2013 Championship photos)
The Rice Green Knights huddle together before the start of the game.
This game was anything but close right from the start. After the tip off Rice threw up an alley-oop for the fist basket of the game. You don't see a dunk very often here in Vermont high school basketball, let alone an alley-oop. Rice played a flawless game and beat the Mount Mansfield Cougars 66-35 to win their second straight championship.
Rice head coach Paul Pecor and Mount Mansfield head coach Jeff Davis talk before the start of the game.
Mount Mansfield's Sean Springer takes the court during the starting line up introductions before the start of the game.
Rice's Kendrick Gray takes the court during the starting line up introductions before the start of the game.
A Rice Green knight fans holds up a fathead during the game.
Rice Green Knight fans cheer for the team.
Mount Mansfield Cougars fans cheer for the team.
Rice Green Knight head coach Paul Pecor yells plays to his team.
Rice Green Knight's Ben Shungu drives to the hoop past Mount Mansfield's Nick Bergeron.
Mount Mansfield Cougars' Kyle Adams celebrates after draining a three pointer.
Mount Mansfield Cougars' Alec Eschholz shoots a three pointer.
Rice Green knight fans cheer on the team.
Rice Green knight's James Wells takes a jump shot.
The Rice Green Knight's bench celebrates a three pointer.
Rice's Tommy Fitzgerald drives to the hoop past Mount Mansfield's Nick Bergeron.
Mount Mansfield's Tinga Adiang drives to the hoop past Rice's James Wells.
Rice's Ben Shungu takes a three pointer.
Mount Mansfield head coach Jeff Davis talks to the referee.
Mount Mansfield's Sam Kitsos takes a jump shot.
Rice fans cheer for the team.
Mount Mansfield's Tinga Adiang leaps for a lay up.
Rice head coach Paul Pecor talks to his team during a time out.
Mount Mansfield's Tinga Adiang leaps for a lay up.
Rice's head coach Paul Pecor watches the action on the court.
Mount Mansfield's Alec Eschholz dribbles the ball.
Mount Mansfield head coach Jeff Davis talks to Sean Springer during the game.
Rice's Ben Shungu loses the ball as he drives to the hoop.
Rice's Tommy Fitzgerald drives to the hoop.
Rice's Connor Stankevich dives for the loose ball.
The Rice bench cheers for the team.
Mount Mansfield's Nick Bergeron has words with Rice's
James Wells after making a three pointer.
Rice's Drum line performs for the crowd during half time.
Rice's Drum line performs for the crowd during half time.
Rice's Drum line performs for the crowd during half time.
Rice's Drum line performs for the crowd during half time.
Rice's Drum line performs for the crowd during half time.
Rice's Drum line performs for the crowd during half time.
Mount Mansfield head coach Jeff Davis yells to his players on the court.
Mount Mansfield's Kyle Adams leaps past Rice's
Connor Stankevich for a lay up.
Rice head coach Paul Pecor reacts to a play.
Mount Mansfield fans cheer for the team.
Rice's Kendrick Gray drives to the hoop.
Mount Mansfield's Jeff Estes dives to save the ball from going out of bounds.
Mount Mansfield head coach Jeff Davis reacts to a play.
Rice's James Wells takes a jump shot.
Rice's Ben Shungu leaps for a lay up.
Rice head coach Paul Pecor and the bench celebrate a basket.
Rice's James Wells dunks the ball.
Rice's Connor Stankevich leaps to take a shot.
Rice fans cheer for the team.
Rice's Kendrick Gray leaps between Mount Mansfield's
Kyle Adams and Tinga Adiang for a lay up.
Rice fans raise their hands during a free throw attempt.
Rice head coach Paul Pecor cheers for the team.
Mount Mansfield's Kyle Adams tries to block a shot by
Rice's Connor Stankevich.
Rice fans cheer for the team.
Rice's Tommy Fitzgerald leaps for a lay up.
The Rice bench reacts to a dunk by James Wells.
Rice's Noah Keogh shoots a free throw.
Mount Mansfield puts in the bench towards the end of the game.
The Rice bench waits for the clock to run out so they can storm the court.
Rice storms the court in celebration as the clock expires.
Rice celebrates their championship win on the court.
Rice's Noah Keogh celebrates the championship with the fans.
Rice's Kendrick Gray hugs Connor Stankevich in celebration of the state championship.
Mount Mansfield's Sean Springer, Kyle Simanskas, Marcello Mosca, and Alec Eschholz sit on the bench after losing to Rice 66-35 in the championship game.
Rice claps for Mount Mansfield.
Rice celebrates the championship.
Rice's Matt Maynard holds up the championship trophy in celebration for the crowd.
Rice's Kendrick Gray is interviewed by the TV stations at the conclusion of Rice's championship win.
Rice's Matt Maynard cuts down a piece of the net.
Rice head coach Paul Pecor cuts down the rest of the net.
Rice poses for a picture with the championship trophy.
You can view and purchase all of the photos from the championship game HERE.
