PROCTOR — The Otter Valley Union High School girls’ basketball team on Monday avenged an earlier home loss and dealt local rival Proctor its first setback, 32-30.
Sophie Bloomer snapped a 30-30 tie with two free throws with 14 seconds to go to give OV the win. Proctor’s Abby McKearin, who had scored four straight points to erase OV’s 30-26 lead, then saw a game-tying attempt roll off the rim at the buzzer. McKearin scored a game-high 12 as Proctor dropped to 4-1.
Lexi Hedding scored nine to lead OV, while Amy Jones scored six and came up big with 16 rebounds as OV improved to 2-3. Proctor had defeated the Otters, 36-22, in Brandon in the season opener for both squads.
The game was the third straight for the Otters to be decided in the final seconds. After losing to Middlebury by two on two free throws with 1.1 seconds to go on Dec. 14, the Otters edged Mount Abraham by two on Dec. 17, holding the Eagles without a shot on their final possession.
The Otters will next travel to Brattleboro on Dec. 30, the first of three straight games vs. Division I competition — games against Burr & Burton and Rutland follow.