ADDISON COUNTY — Middlebury posted its first win to highlight local boys’ basketball play late last week. In other action, Vergennes, Otter Valley and Mount Abraham all came up short.
TIGERS
MUHS broke into the win column and avenged an earlier defeat by topping visiting Burr & Burton on Thursday, 62-47. The victory was the first of new coach Kyle Lussier’s varsity career.
The Bulldogs led at the half, but the Tigers took charge after the break, when Jonathan Fitzcharles tallied 12 of his 17 points and MUHS sank 20 of 28 free throws to seal the win. Jack Hounchell (13 points), Ryan Miller (11), and Nick Holmes (10) also scored in double figures as MUHS improved to 1-4 heading into a layoff — the Tigers’ next game comes on Dec. 29 at St. Albans.  
COMMODORES
On Friday, host Mill River (3-2) outscored the Commodores, 23-17, in the fourth quarter to claim a 55-50 victory. VUHS took its biggest lead of the game late in the third, 33-29, but could not hang on as the Minutemen made 13 of 15 free throws in the final eight minutes. Mike Morgan (23) and Dylan Shelvey (19) combined for 42 MRU points.
Adam Gill scored 22 for VUHS, and Josh Dam chipped in 11. The Commodores dropped to 1-5 heading into a Monday home game vs. Burr & Burton.
OTTERS
On Thursday, the Otters fell to Mount St. Joseph, 72-70, in a see-saw game in the opening round of Proctor’s four-team holiday tournament. OV led after one, 27-12; MSJ roared back to lead at the half, 42-39; OV led after three, 58-53, and still led midway through the fourth, 64-60, before the Mounties fought back for the win. 
 Jelani Williams led four Mounties in double figures with 21 points, and Barryn Shark stole an OV inbounds pass with 11 seconds to go and OV down by 71-70.
Derek Aines sank six three-pointers and scored 28 points, while Dylan Mackie added 12, followed by Kai Norwood with nine and Tyler Peterson with eight.     
In Friday’s consolation game, Twin Valley improved to 3-2 by using strong defense in a 42-33 win over the Otters. Aines scored seven for OV, which fell to 2-3. MSJ edged Proctor for the tourney title.
EAGLES
On Thursday, visiting Randolph topped the Eagles for the second time this winter, this time by 53-33. Nathan Gray scored a game-high 14 for the 3-3 Ghosts, while Jack Willis led the 0-6 Eagles with 11 points.