VERGENNES — The No. 5 Vergennes Union High School boys’ basketball team rode a big second half past visiting No. 12 Hartford, 68-53, in a Tuesday first-round Division II playoff game.
The 14-7 Commodores will next visit No. 4 Otter Valley on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a quarterfinal matchup, with the winner earning a date in a Monday night semifinal in Barre, probably against undefeated No. 1 Woodstock, which will host No. 8 Mill River in a Friday quarterfinal.
OV and VUHS did not meet this fall, but have two common opponents. Both handily defeated Mount Abraham twice, while both lost to Middlebury. OV fell at MUHS by 19, while VUHS lost at MUHS by 20 and at home to the Tigers by seven in what was a one-point game in the final two minutes.
The Otters and Commodores finished tied in the D-II standings, but OV earned the higher seed and Saturday’s home quarterfinal by virtue of its better record (2-1 vs. 2-2) against MUHS and Mount Abe.
On this past Tuesday, the 6-15 Hurricanes led at the half by four before VUHS rolled after the break.
Four Commodores reached double figures in the victory: Dylan Raymond scored 17; Liam Hayes, 16; and Josh Dam and Adam Gill, 10 apiece.