Local roundup: MVCS girls basketball wins playoff opener

QUECHEE — A surge for the ages turned an early deficit for the Mid Vermont Christian girls basketball team into a comfortable win, 59-41, over visiting Poultney on Tuesday night in the opening round of the VPA Division IV playoffs.

The No. 11 seed Blue Devils opened with a flourish, leading 12-6 at one point in the first quarter against the No. 6 seed Eagles. MVCS answered — to say the least — with a 36-4 run in what coach Chris Goodwin called, “the best 12 minute span of the season,” to lead, 42-16, at halftime.

“We kind of relaxed after that, which isn’t what we wanted to do,” Goodwin added. “Overall, I’m happy with our effort, but we’ll need to clean up our defense if we are going to compete with Blue Mountain on Saturday.”

The Eagles (12-8) now await a battle at the No. 3 seed Bucks in the quarterfinals in what will be the first matchup of the teams this season.

Hayley Goodwin led MVCS with 32 points, including five buckets from three-point land. Rachel Horner-Richardson added a pair of threes on her way to 15 points. Goodwin and Sarah Bascom (five points) each had 10 rebounds.

SOUTH ROYALTON — The fifth-seeded Wildcats asserted themselves on both ends of the floor to oust No. 12 seed Winooski to open the VPA Division III playoffs.

Tanner Drury drained five three-pointers on her way to 23 points for WRV (16-4). Ashlyn Rhoades added 18 points. Jillian Barry made a trio of threes and finished with 13 points. Ella Perrault added nine points and team-best 12 rebounds. The Wildcats built a 38-12 lead at halftime.

“We had a great team effort to start the playoffs. The girls moved the ball very well and defensively wore down Winooski,” coach Tim Perreault said.

Up next is a quarterfinal matchup at No. 4 seed Peoples on Friday.

WINDSOR — The top-seeded Yellowjackets (17-2) dispatched Mill River in an emphatic first-round game in the VPA Division III playoffs.

Windsor will host No. 9 seed Vergennes in the quarterfinals on Friday night.

BRISTOL, Vt. — The No. 11 seed Hurricanes couldn’t match up with No. 6 seed Mount Abraham in a first-round loss in the VPA Division II postseason.

The Canes led, 6-4, after a defensive battle in the first quarter. The Eagles opened things up in the second quarter to lead, 25-17, at the break before pulling away in the second half.

Hartford (8-12) graduates Elsie Davis, Beth Dobrich, Grace Gardner, Sarah Howe, Sophie Howe, Jenna Jasmin, Madison Withington and Emily Wright.

LYNDON CENTER, Vt. — The top-seeded Vikings proved their mettle by taking down No. 16 seed Woodstock in the opener of the VPA Division II playoffs.

“It’s self-explanatory. They’re a very tough, physical team that shoots very deep threes, like NBA land. The best team we’ve seen this year,” Woodstock coach Dennis Wood said.

Emma Tarleton had five points for Woodstock, which trailed, 27-5, at halftime. The Wasps (5-16) graduate Morgan Myers, Lara Tarleton, Emma Tarleton and Megan Tarleton.

NORTHFIELD, Vt. — Alex McFate had 12 points but the Raptors came up short in the first round of the VPA Division IV playoffs.

Rivendell (6-11) will lose McFate, Kylie Taylor and Savannah Gray to graduation.

Boys BasketballHartford 73, Mount St. Joseph 67 (OT)

RUTLAND — The Hurricanes (14-4) got some revenge for Monday’s loss at home against the Mounties by returning the favor in an overtime thriller as the visitor.

Jacob Seaver had 21 points to pace the Hartford attack. Tarin Prior scored eight of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to help the Canes draw equal and force overtime. Brody Tyburski also had 16 points, and Brandon Potter had 13.

The Canes had all the answers in overtime, outscoring MSJ, 10-4, to avenge Monday’s 74-55 loss. Hartford closes the regular season at Fair Haven on Thursday.

QUECHEE — The Eagles held on to beat Trinity and earn some revenge for an early-season loss.

MVCS opened on a 20-4 run before Trinity answered with four three-pointers in the second quarter to cut the lead to 23-20 at halftime. Trinity hit another four threes in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles were able to use Trinity foul trouble to help hold the lead.

Roman Goeppner had 13 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks for MVCS. Abel Goodwin added 15 points and nine boards. Joel Roberts also had 15 points.

The win makes it five in a row for the Eagles (12-8), who will now start to build for the VPA Division IV playoffs next week.

Girls HockeyHanover 9, Souhegan 0

WEST LEBANON — Nine different goal-scorers helped Hanover improve to 13-4-1 overall, 13-3-0 in NHIAA play.

Mackenzie Liu, Lily Seelig, Kali McDonnell, Julia Lawe, Danielle Rudd, Rory Seelig, Katie Smith, Nora Bradley and Greta Schutz all scored for Hanover. Gail Morse had a team-best three assists. Rudd, Kaye Lindsay and Maeve Lee had two assists each. Lawe, Schutz, Lily Seelig, Rachel Rockmore, Faith Lindsay and Hannah Gardner had one assist apiece.

Goalie Juliana Masland made her first varsity start in the net and made three saves for the shutout. Hanover visits Bishop Brady-Trinity on Friday.