ADDISON COUNTY — It was Middlebury’s year around here in high school boys’ basketball. The Tigers went 16-5, including a 5-0 collective record against Otter Valley, Mount Abraham and Vergennes.
Unsurprisingly, four of first-year Coach John Howe’s Tigers earned berths on the 2019 Addison Independent Boys’ Basketball All-Star Team. And one of those four, Parker Beatty, put together a terrific senior campaign and is the 2019 Independent Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, Coach Greg Hughes’ Otters enjoyed another winning campaign, the program’s third straight. Two senior guards who contributed to OV’s 11 victories are honored here.
Coach Martin Clark’s balanced Eagles posted eight wins, the program’s best mark in more than a decade. A high-scoring junior forward and senior guard made this team.
Coach Josh Carter’s Commodores dealt with adversity right from the start — Carter was promoted to the post days before the opener when Coach Peter Quinn died unexpectedly, and then a starter suffered a serious injury in the team’s opener. But the Commodores were competitive in most games and won five times. Two frontcourt players, a junior and a senior, are recognized here.
Selections were made based on observation, statistics, and consultation with the coaches.
Congratulations to the following:
FIRST TEAM
PARKER BEATTY, MUHS SENIOR, PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Notes: After showing signs as a junior, broke out this year in all aspects of the game at both ends of the court … Dominated the boards with a local high of 13.3 rebounds per game and blocked a local-best 3.9 shots per game, while also being an excellent one-on-one and team defender … Had a decent shooting range, but picked up most of his 13.9-point average, second-best on the team, by using his ballhandling skills and athletic ability to attack the basket … Unselfish player who averaged 3.7 assists.
Howe’s Quotes: “His rebounding, shot blocking, and floor vision were a huge part of our team’s makeup this season … Parker has a great nose for the ball … He has a calming effect on his teammates that really makes a huge difference … We played a few games without him and really felt it while he was out … Not only is he an excellent athlete, but a great student as well … I regret that I only got to coach him for one year.”
TYLER BUXTON, MUHS JUNIOR. Notes: Tireless, fast two-way player who made the leap this year at the offensive end to lead the Tigers with 14.2 points per game … Could hit from behind the arc, but was especially effective in transition or taking the ball to the hoop … Tough defender on the ball who also read passing lanes and stole the ball 4.1 times per game … Tough on the boards for a perimeter player and averaged 6.2 rebounds, and also moved the ball well, averaging 3.1 assists.
Howe’s Quotes: “Tyler is pure energy on the floor … His ability to be productive at both ends of the floor is outstanding … A phenomenal defender, he was often our go-to guy if we needed to shut someone down. However it never slowed down his offensive production … Tyler never hung his head. If he made a mistake he ran back down court to make up for as quickly as he could … I’m really excited for his senior year.”
DYLAN MACKIE, OV SENIOR. Notes: Shifty guard with three-point shooting range, excellent ballhandling ability and floor vision, and an explosive first step … Averaged 15.1 points per game despite being a marked man on a team that at times struggled to score … Creative passer, determined defender with quick hands, and team leader who was a three-year starter. 
Hughes’ Quotes: “Dylan was easily our main scorer … Dylan was our go-to guy this year. At times he was able to take the team on his back and get things going offensively … No one could stay in front of him, and when they tried he would make beautiful passes to the open guy … When he was on, we were on.”
KEVIN JACKSON, VUHS JUNIOR. Notes: Clever scorer inside with a nice touch, a variety of moves, and decent shooting range … Led VUHS with 14.6 points per game, topping 20 points three times, and held his own on the boards vs. bigger players, using smart positioning as well as athleticism to grab 6.0 boards per game … Strong one-on-one and help defender.
Carter’s Quotes: Kevin was undersized as a power forward but his cerebral footwork allowed him to consistently score over taller defenders … He has a high basketball IQ … He is an excellent passer out of the post and great at reading zone defenses and making the right play … He had a good understanding on how to guard players individually and was good at reading passing lanes … He stepped up in big games.”
LIAM KELLIHER, MT. ABE JUNIOR. Notes: Forward who led all local scorers with 16.6 points per game … Put the ball through the hoop with a mix of three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, moves to the basket, and transition buckets … Chipped in with averages of 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals … Used his quickness and long arms effectively in the Eagles’ 1-2-2 press …Team leader and coachable player who was elected captain as a junior.
Clark’s Quotes: “Offensively he was the force for us … He would just find the open space … He certainly showed us he wasn’t just a catch-and-shoot shooter. He was able to do a lot off the dribble. He ran the court for us well, too … Liam as a junior was a very vocal piece of the team … He encouraged guys at practice to work hard. He’d always come in with a positive attitude … He’s a great kid and I expect some wonderful things out of him next year.”
SECOND TEAM
ZACH DUNN, MUHS SENIOR. Notes: Quick and skilled point guard who saw the floor well in the half-court and transition and recorded a local high of 4.9 assists per game … Chipped in 7.9 points with a variety of jumpers and layups, many on the break … Determined rebounder and defender who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals. 
Howe’s Quotes: Zach’s on-court maturity and leadership really enhanced his role as a captain … He is a completely unselfish player, understanding that a great player knows who has the best shot no matter who it is … He made passes to his teammates when they were in position to score, always looking to set them up for success.”
EZEKIEL PALMER, VUHS SENIOR. Notes: Tough rebounder and defender in the paint whose 9.1 rebounding average might be a local high in many winters … Typically guarded opponents’ top scoring forwards, and also anticipated well to average 2.8 steals … Captain who added 5.5 points and 2.1 assists per game and notched 15 points and 15 rebounds vs. MUHS.
Carter’s Quotes: “His heart and hustle anchored our defense and kept plays alive … Off the ball he was excellent at reading the passing lanes and creating havoc in our press … His time spent on the soccer field translated to him being a good passer and having the vision see plays develop … He was a real team player and didn’t care about stats, just went out there and left it all on the floor.”
SPENCER CADORET, MUHS SENIOR. Notes: Streaky scorer who could put up points in bunches, often late in games, and averaged 9.9 points … Known for his three-point shot — he made 47 this winter — he developed the ability to attack the paint when defenders overplayed him outside … Hard-working defender who contributed 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 rebounds per game.
Howe’s Quotes: “If he heats up all bets are off … He is an excellent shooter who had the green light to put shots up this year … He showed the maturity to alter his game midseason when coaches thought they had him all figured out … He worked hard on adding a nice drive to the basket to his skillset … Spencer is an excellent athlete and fierce competitor.”
DELSHON NORWOOD, OV SENIOR. Notes: Excellent defender and skilled point guard who helped run OV’s offense … Showed three-point shooting range and strong moves to the hoop as well as floor vision … Averaged 7.6 points per game while taking tough defensive assignments.
Hughes’ Quotes: “Delshon was our best defender by far on the ball, and he brought that every game as well as controlling the pace of the game … His leadership and knowledge helped our team when we were in tough spots … If we turned the ball over and he was the only one back on defense I would say 75 percent of the time he would get the stop.”
LOGAN WILLEY, MT. ABE SENIOR. Notes: Showed defense, ballhandling and leadership that helped keep the Eagles competitive … Led the Eagles with 3.0 steals and 2.9 assists per game while taking good care of the ball, averaging just over two turnovers as the primary ballhandler … Thrived as a one-on-one defender and, even at less than six feet, as the center in the Eagles’ 2-1-2 zone … Added 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 points per game.
Clark’s Quotes: “Logan Willey was the steady constant for us … He generally drew the toughest offensive player to guard and was up to the task every time … I put in the middle of the zone and he thrived there … He actually was one of our better rebounders … He’s a very athletic kid … He helped everybody else step up their defense because of his attitude … He was very even-tempered and intense at the same time.”
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].