ADDISON COUNTY — The Middlebury boys’ basketball team won its third straight game, this one at the expense of rival Vergennes, to highlight high school sports action late last week.
Other winners included the Eagle boys’ and Otter Valley and Tiger girls’ basketball teams.
Meanwhile COVID protocols limited last week’s local hockey schedule to one game, a setback for the MUHS girls, as the sport’s postseason looms.
BOYS’ HOOP
On Thursday host the MUHS boys overcame a slow start and defeated the visiting Commodores, 60-47. The Tigers got back in the game with a 16-0 run in the second quarter and iced the win with a 14-0 surge in the fourth period.
Gabe Dunn led three Tigers in double figures with 17 points, Karic Riche scored 14, and Max Alberts chipped in 11. MUHS improved to 4-3 with its third straight victory.
VUHS freshman Tyler Bergmans tied Dunn for game honors with 17 as the Commodores dropped to 1-4.
Also on Thursday the Eagle boys used balanced scoring and a third-period surge to overcome visiting Mill River, 47-33. Minuteman Johnny Verdon scored a game-high 15, including three first-half threes, as MRU trailed by just 20-19 at the break.
The Eagles then went on a decisive 18-4 third-quarter run. Seven Eagles scored at least four points as they improved to 3-4, led by Henry Cogswell (nine), and Quincy Cook and Griffin Paradee (seven apiece).
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
The Tiger girls on Friday moved to 3-3 by defeating visiting Missisquoi, 54-40. The Tigers trailed at the break, 23-20, but outscored the T-Birds in the second half by 33-17. Four Tigers reached double figures: Ele Sellers scored 13 points; Sophie Larocque, 12; and Ivy Doran and Hannah Turner, 10 apiece.
Visiting Division I Burlington on Friday dealt the VUHS girls their first loss, 59-38. The score was tied at 10-10 after one period, but the Seahorses outscored the Commodores, 20-3, in the pivotal second quarter. Kale Torwini tossed in 22 points for BHS.
Kyra Bradford scored seven to lead VUHS, which dropped to 6-1 and fell into third place in D-III in a tight race for the top four seeds.
The OV girls erupted for 48 first-half points on Friday on the way to a 70-33 victory at Mill River. Eleven Otters scored, led by Alice Keith (13 points), Mallory Lufkin and Anna Lee (12 each), Ryleigh LaPorte (nine) and Marissa Connors (seven). The Otters improved to 2-5 heading into a Monday game at MUHS.
HOCKEY
On Saturday visiting North Country/Lyndon remained unbeaten by defeating the Tiger girls’ hockey team, 5-1. Four Falcons scored, led by Clara Andre with two goals, and goalie Courtney Lewis blocked 19 Tiger shots. Channing Brush found the net for the 3-3 Tigers, and goalies Lydia Deppman and Abby Hodsden combined for 31 saves.
The Tiger girls’ hockey game scheduled for this past Wednesday and the Tiger boys’ hockey games set for both Wednesday and Saturday last week were called off due to COVID-19 protocols.
Officials said the Tiger boys will to return to the ice on Wednesday, when they were scheduled to visit Burlington as the regular season concludes. However, Burlington had to quarantine players because of a recent game vs. U-32, which experienced COVID issues. Instead, the Tigers will visit Harwood at 7 p.m.
Also on this coming Wednesday, the Tiger girls are set to host South Burlington at 4:30 p.m. in their regular season finale.
The Vermont Principals’ Association will release playoff pairings for both teams on Thursday.