ADDISON COUNTY — Middlebury edged Otter Valley to highlight recent local high school girls’ basketball play, which also included two big wins for Vergennes and a big night for an Eagle junior forward.
TIGERS-OTTERS
On Dec. 23, the Tiger girls’ outlasted host Otter Valley, 48-42, as Payton Buxton tossed in 19 points, including five three-pointers. The Tigers led after one period, 11-9. OV tied the score on a Sophie Markowski hoop, but one of Buxton’s threes gave the Tigers the lead for good.
The Tigers, who hit eight three-pointers in all, three in the second quarter and six in the first half, led at the break, 23-17, and stretched their advantage to 40-29 early in the fourth. Ally Larocque andLily Smith added seven apiece for the Tigers.
Gabriela Poalino led the Otters with 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Julia Lee (10 points) and Sophie Bloomer (nine) also contributed to the OV attack. OV, 0-2 after two close losses, plays at 0-3 Proctor on Thursday.
On Tuesday, the Tigers came up short, as visiting Mill River (3-0) played strong defense in a 40-20 victory over MUHS. Rylee Nichols scored 15 to lead the Minutemen, and Larocque scored eight to pace the 2-2 Tigers.
COMMODORES
On Dec. 21, the Commodores avenged a home defeat to Winooski by defeating the Spartans on their court, 41-27. VUHS closed the first half with a 30-4 run to lead by 30-10 at the break.
Coach Billy Waller said Caroline Johnston keyed a strong defensive effort by holding the Spartan leading scorer to two points; Johnston also chipped in eight points and four assists. Ciara McClay led VUHS with 12 points, Xzavia Berry recorded six points and 11 rebounds, and Shay Pouliot racked up five steals.
On Dec. 23, VUHS had another big half, bolting to a 29-6 halftime lead on the way to a 50-12 victory over visiting Harwood. Berry (10 points), McClay (nine points, six rebounds) and Morgan Lynk (nine points) sparked the rout.
The Commodores improved to 4-1. They are idle until they host Mount Abe on Friday, Jan. 6.
EAGLES
On Dec. 23, host Fair Haven defeated the Eagles, 37-23, in the first round of the Slaters’ annual holiday tournament. Junior Emma Carter scored a game-high 16 for the Eagles, while Halle Coloutti (14) and Sarina Plank (12) combined for 26 points for the Slaters. On Monday, Fair Haven won its tournament by defeating Proctor, 40-22, as Coloutti scored 11 and Kaleigh Brown added 10.
Also on Monday, Carter erupted for 34 points as the Eagles topped Burr & Burton in the tournament’s consolation game, 61-51. Included in her performance was a three-pointer that gave Mount Abe a 52-49 fourth-quarter lead after the Bulldogs entered the period ahead, 45-39. Hoops by Olivia Young andJalen Cook (11 points) tied the game. Vanessa Dykstra chipped in eight points as the Eagles improved to 3-2. Carter was named to the all-tournament team.