Good Morning! With the Border Country Sports Blog, I'm Keith Harrington.
Bennington Martens Looking to Pack the House on Thanksgiving Weekend
Local sports fans! Are you feeling a little bored these days? The fall high school and college sports season is in the books and high school hoops doesn't tip off until the middle of December. Are you looking for something to do to wet your sports fan appetite? Well, I may just have the answer for you. How about taking in a Bennington Martens game?
The Martens are a new local semi-pro basketball team that plays in the American Basketball Association (ABA). On Thanksgiving weekend the new team is hoping to pack the house at their current home, Rutland’s Heritage Family Field House, formerly the College of Saint Joseph's Athletic Center.
At their home game on Sunday, November 28th the Martens will host the Providence Pirates. The team will be hosting a Meet & Greet where fans can come out and get to know the team and get autographs. There will also be plenty of fan games and raffles throughout the the contest.
If you would like to sit close to the exciting action, courtside seats are now available. Sideline courtside seats are $15 a person and include a $5 discount off a meal at Medusa. Baseline courtside seats are also $15 and come with 1/2 price off a drink at Medusa.
One player for the Martens will be familiar to local high school basketball fans, especially those from Poultney. Former Poultney Blue Devil's standout Heith Mason is a member of the Martens. Mason helped lead Poultney to the 2019 Vermont Division IV State Championship game at the Barre Auditorium against Danville. He was named a Marble Valley League D Division First Team All-Star that season.
The Martens are co-owned by Shawn Pratt and Christopher Kidd who also coach the team and serve as Directors of Basketball Operations.
Bennington is 2-3 on the season entering this weekend. They will continue to play their home games in Rutland until their new permenent home at the Old Bennington High School is ready.
The ABA is a men’s professional basketball league. The league has grown to become the largest professional sports league in the world! After merging with the NBA in 1976, the ABA was reformed in 2000 in partnership with the NBA and has been operating in harmony for the past 16 years.
So after the turkey is polished off and the Black Friday shopping is done, head to Rutland next Sunday to catch some professional basketball action to close out the holiday weekend. Tip off between the Bennington Martens and Providence Pirates is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
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With the Border Country Sports Blog, I'm Keith Harrington.
Photo Credit-Regina Mason
