ADDISON COUNTY — The Division II girls’ basketball playoffs got under way Tuesday, when 11th-seeded Vergennes bowed out with a loss at No. 6 Lake Region, 81-41.
When the Vermont Principals’ Association released pairings on Monday, Mount Abraham (15-4) was, as expected, awarded the No. 1 seed.
But the Eagles were idle on Tuesday because two teams, including No. 16 Middlebury (1-19) elected not to participate in the postseason.
The Eagles will host a quarterfinal on Friday against the winner of a Wednesday game between the fourth local team, Otter Valley, and Mill River; that contest was played after the deadline for this edition of the Independent. The Eagles are undefeated against D-II competition this winter as they seek to defend their 2013 title.
The Otters won four straight games to conclude their regular season, finish at 9-10 and earn the No. 8 seed. They had defeated No. 9 Mill River twice heading into their clash on Wednesday night.
Mount Abe has defeated both teams this winter, winning at Otter Valley in the opener for both teams on Dec. 17, 42-31, and wiping out MRU on the road, 46-17.
On Tuesday, Lake Region’s Tyrah Urie scored 18 of her 22 points in the first half as the host Rangers (12-9) coasted past the Commodores, who finished at 7-14. Nikki Salley tossed in 16 points to lead VUHS.