BUCKFIELD – The Buckfield girls’ basketball team doesn’t need to think about the fast break. The Bucks just do it instinctively.

When the defending Western D champs get a rebound or catch the defense napping, there’s no hesitation. They travel the length of the court in a matter of moments, often turning the opportunity into an easy layup. Between their experience, athleticism and aggressiveness, the Bucks’ transition game is relentless and tough to chase.

“I hate the whole slowing down the offense,” said Buckfield senior forward Lindsay Henderson. “We can do the fast break. We all have certain spots on the floor that we usually go to. It just comes naturally to us.”

Monday, the Bucks displayed their prowess in the open court, and for much of the first half, Sacopee Valley could only watch. Buckfield raced out to the early lead and barely looked back in a 47-31 victory.

“It was one of those where we started strong and then we lost a little momentum,” Buckfield coach Dan Jack said. “They played tough. They played aggressive.”

Henderson led the 5-0 Bucks with 17 points, while Tristen Newton added 12. Abby Jones dominated the post early, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds.

The Bucks have allowed just 27 points per game and rode the play of their defense early in building a 13-2 lead in the opening quarter. The Hawks committed 10 turnovers in each of the first two quarters. Sacopee had five in the first four minutes and turned the ball over on four of its first five possessions.

That kind of defensive effort just fuels the Bucks running game, and Buckfield quickly turned Sacopee mistakes into baskets in transition.

“They’ve been doing it for four years,” Jack said. “Lindsay’s got the speed to get out front. The other girls are working at that. For girls, I think, the diagonal pass is a tough pass, and we do that pretty well. I think that’s a weakness on some other teams to recognize it. They think we’re coming right down that side, and it goes across to the opposite side.”

The fast break wasn’t the only thing the Bucks did well against the Hawks. Sacopee hoped to slow Buckfield with a zone defense, but the Bucks did a nice job executing against the halfcourt zone, despite not hitting their outside shots. The Bucks didn’t hit a jumper until an Alicia Patrie shot midway through the third quarter. Newton added a pair of outside shots in the fourth.

The Bucks were aggressive against the zone and received some superb play in the paint from Jones, who scored five in the first and four in the second, all in the halfcourt.

“I’ve tried to preach that, to play outside the box,” Jack said. “We want to run the play, but all of a sudden, you can realize that you’ve got the shot right there. We’ll take it. Overall, I think we’ve done OK.”

Jones and Newton scored on rebounds right off the bat. After Sacopee Valley scored its only field goal of the quarter off a steal, the Bucks finished the quarter with nine straight points. Jones hit a free throw and scored on a rebound. Henderson followed with a steal. She then finished off a pass from Ashlee Hamann and hit a leaner at the buzzer.

“I have more confidence this year being a senior,” Henderson said. “Knowing that (colleges) are watching you for their school, I’m not really nervous anymore.”

The Bucks opened the second quarter with a rebound by Jones and a steal by Hamann. Jones, Newton and Henderson all scored to produce a 25-8 lead at the half.

“Our goal this year for our post players is to finish our shots,” Henderson said. “When we get it, we have to finish it.”

The Hawks got within 12 in the third quarter when Buckfield utilized its full roster. Sacopee handled the ball better and hit nine straight free throws during one stretch.

Buckfield padded the lead when Jones scored on a rebound and Newton hit a free throw to make it 34-21 after three quarters. Newton added seven points in the fourth, while Emily Eastman, Henderson and Hamann all chipped in.