ADDISON COUNTY — Otter Valley defeated Mount Abraham to highlight recent high school boys’ basketball action. In other play, Vergennes split two games, breaking into the win column in the process; and Middlebury dropped three contests.
OTTERS-EAGLES
On Dec. 22 the Otters spoiled the Eagles’ home opener and their debut on Mount Abe’s new gym floor with a 68-54 victory. The Eagles took a 19-15 first-quarter lead, but the Otters — who earlier in the week had rallied past MUHS — outscored Mount Abe by 22-10 in the second quarter to take charge.
Derek Aines (20) points and Sawyer Heath (18 points) each sank four three-pointers for the Otters, andJosh Letourneau also tossed in 18 points. The Otters clinched their win from the free throw line, making 21 of 29 overall.
The Otters, who won four times a year ago, improved to 3-1 and were set to play at Division I Mount Anthony on Wednesday after the deadline for this edition of the Independent.
Mount Abe (2-2) once again got balanced scoring, with three Eagles in double figures: Jackson Counter (15), and Jack Willis andChris Wood (10 apiece).
The Eagles were looking to move back over .500 when they hosted Randolph on Tuesday; see story on Page 1B.
COMMODORES
On Dec. 22, host Fairfax defeated the VUHS boys, 60-53, in double overtime. The Commodores played good defense in the first half and led at the break, 24-12, but the Bullets outscored them in the third quarter, 18-4. VUHS went back on top early in the fourth, 36-32, but the Bullets answered and regulation ended at 42-42. Each team scored four points in the first OT, and then Fairfax sank 10 of 13 free throws in the second OT to win going away.
Adam Gill scored 21 to lead VUHS and all scorers, and Dylan Bradford added 15. Ben Keough led three Bullets in double figures with 17 points.
On Tuesday, four players reached double figures, including Eli Wilson with 21, as visiting Division IV foe Twinfield (2-0) defeated the Commodores, 69-50.
The Commodores dropped to 0-5 despite 16 points from Gill and 12 from Lance Bergmans.
TIGERS
On Dec. 21, visiting BFA-St. Albans defeated the Tigers, 73-58. Jens Ulrich-Verderber (23 points) and Brady Green (20) led the Bobwhites, and Trey Kaufmann paced the Tigers with 15 points.
On Dec. 23, J. D. Goettelmann led the Tigers with nine points in a 58-32 setback at Mount Anthony. Ryan O’Neill scored 19 for the 2-3 Patriots.
On Tuesday, host South Burlington improved to 4-1 by defeating the Tigers, 69-48. Goettelmann tossed in a game-high 18 points, and Cody Pomainville chipped in 10 for the 0-6 Tigers.