ADDISON COUNTY — In recent high school girls’ basketball action, Otter Valley won to reach .500, Vergennes broke into the win column by taking two out of three games, Mount Abraham dropped a pair of games at Fair Haven’s holiday tournament, and Middlebury lost on the road.
OTTERS
On Dec. 23, the Otters defeated visiting Hartford, 34-26, as Laura Beth Roberts (12 points) and Sophie Bloomer (11) combined for 23 points.
The win pushed OV’s record to 3-3 heading into a tough road game played after the early deadline for this issue of the Independent: the Otters were set to visit Mount Anthony on Tuesday. They will next visit Leland & Gray on Friday.
COMMODORES
The Commodores used ball movement and a big third quarter on Saturday to defeat visiting Harwood, 56-28, for their first win. VUHS outscored the Highlanders, 17-3, in the third period and recorded 16 assists on their 25 baskets.
Sarah Poirier-Thayer filled the stat sheet with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks, and Nikki Salley contributed 14 points and nine rebounds. Brianna Gebo chipped in four points and five steals off the bench, and Tamara Aunchman hauled down eight rebounds.
VUHS followed that result up with a 50-22 win over visiting Montpelier on Monday. The Commodores coasted to a 29-8 halftime lead, and Coach Billy Waller said all 12 members of the team contributed as they improved to 3-2.
Salley led the way with 10 points and seven boards; Poirier-Thayer scored 10 and added two steals; Gebo recorded five points, nine boards and three steals; Caroline Johnston chipped in eight points, three assists and three steals; Shay Pouliot had five points, five boards and two steals; K.C. Ambrose had six points, four rebounds and four steals; and Natalie Salley hauled in seven rebounds and blocked three shots.
Back on Dec. 23, host Winooski pulled away from VUHS down the stretch to win, 42-32. Nikki Salley and Ambrose led the Commodores with seven points each in that setback. VUHS (1-3) next plays Friday night at Mount Abe.
EAGLES
On Dec. 23, host Fair Haven edged the Eagles, 32-26, in the opener of the Slaters’ annual holiday tournament. The Slaters took an 11-2 first-quarter lead, and although the Eagles cut the deficit to 16-12 at the half they could not cut the advantage to fewer than four points after the break. The Eagles’ Emma Carter led all scorers with nine points, whileLexi Quenneville (eight) andLindsey Marcy (six) topped the Slaters.
 On Friday, Burr & Burton burst to a 26-15 lead at the break on the way to a 48-36 victory over Mount Abe. The Eagles closed to within four twice in the second half on key hoops by Jen Gordon,Emma LaRose andKeegan Jackman and what Coach Connie LaRose called strong defense from Stacie Sabourin, LaRose and Isabel Brennan, but came no closer.
Carter scored six vs. the Bulldogs and was named to the all-tournament team. LaRose said Brennan might have had the best tournament for the Eagles, playing good defense for all 64 minutes and totaling 18 rebounds, 16 points and five steals.
The 2-4 Eagles on Tuesday played at Division I South Burlington, and then VUHS visits on Friday.
TIGERS
On Dec. 23, host Mill River coasted past the Tigers, 68-21. MRU improved to 5-1 as 10 Minutemen scored. Lejla Mahmuljin led the Tigers with eight points.
The Tigers are scheduled to travel to South Burlington on Friday, and Missisquoi is set to visit MUHS on Monday at 7 p.m.