The Brattleboro Colonels girls’ basketball team ended a frustrating week with a 43-33 win over the Monadnock Huskies on Jan. 7 at the BUHS gym.
It took a strong finish by the Colonels, who scored 24 points in the final quarter, to defeat the visitors from Swanzey, New Hampshire. Ninth-grade guard Reese Croutworst led Brattleboro with 11 points while junior forwards Mallory Newton and Montana Frehsee added eight points each.
Bailee Soucia led Monadnock with a game-high 18 points.
The win helped ease the pain of two losses earlier in the week. A free throw in the final minute by Kamryn Brower was the difference as the Hartford Hurricanes eked out a 41-40 victory over the visiting Colonels on Jan. 3.
Croutworst led the Colonels with 13 points and ninth-grade guard Abby Henry added nine points in a game that was close all the way, but Brattleboro was ultimately undone by an 11-for-23 performance at the free throw line.
On the road against Windsor on Jan. 6, the Colonels lost, 60-25. Sydney Perry had 17 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks to lead Windsor. Henry scored six points and Croutworst added five for Brattleboro. The Colonels ended the week with a 3-5 record.
Girls’ basketball
• Leland & Gray continues to roll. On Jan. 5, the visiting Rebels took care of Bellows Falls with a 54-42 win. The Rebels’ big three of Maggie Parker (17 points), Mary Sanderson (12 points), and Hannah Greenwood (10 points) led the way. Eryn Ross scored eight points to lead BF while Delaney Lockerby added six.
• Twin Valley tried hard, but the Poultney Blue Devils dominated from start to finish in a 66-6 rout of the visiting Wildcats on Jan. 4.
Boys’ basketball
• South Burlington scored 25 points in the first quarter and led 38-24 at the half on the way to a 62-37 win over Brattleboro on Jan. 3. Tyler Bergmans had 23 points and eight rebounds to lead South Burlington, while senior center Paul McGillion led the Colonels with 14 points.
The Colonels bounced back from that loss with a 49-37 win over Mount St. Joseph at the BUHS gym on Jan. 5.
Brattleboro opened the game with an 11-2 run, but MSJ came back and tied the game at 17-17 by halftime. Better defense in the second half, and a strong finish on offense nailed down the win for the Colonels. Senior forward Tate Chamberlin had 15 points to lead Brattleboro, while senior guard Cam Frost and senior forward Tristan Evans scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. Owen Traynor led MSJ with 13 points.
On Jan. 7 in St. Johnsbury, the Colonels lost a low-scoring affair to the Hilltoppers. McGillion led Brattlebor0 with 10 points, while Frost scored seven points. Harry Geng and Aiden Brody each scored 11 points as St. Johnsbury eked out a 36-27 win. The Colonels finished a tough week with a 5-3 record.
• After eight days off, Bellows Falls pulled off a 48-45 win over White River Valley at Holland Gymnasium on Jan. 7 to improve their record to 3-4. Colby Dearborn and Jamison Nystrom each scored 11 points to lead the Terriers. Walker James chipped in eight points, while Jake Moore added seven points and eight rebounds.
• Leland & Gray defeated Arlington, 52-49, in Townshend on Jan. 4, while Twin Valley lost to Long Trail, 63-31, on Jan. 6.
Girls’ hockey
• Brattleboro has a new head coach, Connor Little, but the team is still struggling to score goals and win games.
On Jan. 2, the Colonels were shut out by the Spaulding Crimson Tide, 8-0, at Withington Rink. The Tide took a 7-0 lead after two periods and limited Brattleboro to just two shots on goal. Goalie Angela Jobin made 47 saves for Brattleboro, while Spaulding’s Rayna Long recorded two saves to earn the victory.
Brattleboro then got shut out by Kingdom Blades in a 12-0 road loss on Jan. 7. Six different players scored, led by Isabela Butler with three goals and two assists and Ella Blaise with two goals and three assists. Blades goalie Taylor Blaise stopped all 15 shots she faced. The Colonels finished the week at 1-5, with four shutout losses so far this season.
Boys’ hockey
• After a 3-3 tie with Missisquoi in Swanton on Jan. 2, Brattleboro was blown away by the Hartford Hurricanes, 9-0, on Jan. 4 as the visiting Colonels managed on eight shots on goal in the loss. Hartford goalies Frankie Cushing and Nick Facto combined for eight saves in the shutout victory. Nolan Norlock led the Hurricanes with two goals.
Things didn’t get any better for the Colonels on Jan. 6 as they had another 9-0 loss, this time to South Burlington. Will Hershberg and Nick Kelly each scored a pair of goals for South Burlington as Matthew Gordon-Macey made 44 saves in goal for Brattleboro. The Colonels fell to 1-5-1 on the season.
Vermont State Parks seek public input for parks modernization study
• The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) is seeking public input and feedback about the park system, its infrastructure, programming, prices, and innovations as part of a modernization study that is currently underway.
This study will provide a comprehensive assessment of the state park system including park amenities, operations, maintenance, revenue, and program delivery. It will identify key challenges, and resources needed to maintain core services and enhance offerings to meet current and future demands.
“Throughout the years, with considerable public support and prudent management, Vermont State Parks have weathered societal changes and economic challenges of all sorts,” Director of State Parks Nate McKeen said in a news release. “Now, as we approach the 100th anniversary of Vermont state parks in 2024, and as park visitation continues to increase, this study will help us create a road map for the future of our state parks."
Input is being collected via a link on the state parks’ webpage at vtstateparks.com, and will consist of three ways to provide feedback — a community forum for open dialogue, a category-based ideas page, and a short survey. Additional information about the study and timeline is also available. Input will be collected through Feb. 15.
“The parks enrich the quality of life for Vermonters and visitors, and contribute significantly to community prosperity, tourism, and the outdoor recreation economy,” said McKeen. “Because of this vital role state parks play in Vermont; we really encourage everyone to share their thoughts and ideas with us as we help to build a better park system for all."
FPR staff is working collaboratively with park and recreation professionals from BerryDunn, a national consulting firm. The study is scheduled to be completed by early spring, with a final report being issued in May 2023.
VPA announces playoff schedule
• The Vermont Principals’ Association recently released the tentative state championship dates for high school basketball, hockey, and bowling.
On Monday, Feb. 27, the Division II, III and IV girls’ basketball semifinals are set to be held at Barre Auditorium. On the same day, the Division I semifinals are set to take place at the University of Vermont’s Patrick Gymnasium. The D-II, III and IV semifinals are usually broken into two days of action in Barre.
The D-I girls’ basketball championship game is scheduled for Friday, March 3 at UVM, while Saturday, March 4 will be a busy day with the Division II, III and IV girls’ basketball championships at Barre Auditorium, the bowling team state championships at Twin City Lanes in Barre, and the hockey semifinals hosted by the higher seed.
On Monday, March 6, the Division I boys’ basketball semifinals are set for UVM and the Division II, III and IV semifinals at Barre Auditorium.
The hockey championships are scheduled for Wednesday, March 8 and Thursday, March 9 at UVM’s Gutterson Fieldhouse.
The winter postseason ends on Saturday, March 11, with the D-I boys’ basketball championship scheduled to be held at UVM, and the D-II, III and IV championships at Barre Auditorium.
Senior bowling roundup
• The winter/spring season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League at Brattleboro Bowl began on Jan. 5 with eight teams that are nameless for now. Teams 1 and 3 opened Week 1 with 5-0 records, Team 7 is 4-0, Team 5 is 3-2, Team 6 is 1-4, and Teams 2 and 4 are 0-5.
Diane Cooke had the women’s high handicap game (261) and series (699). Skip Shine had the men’s high handicap game (298), while Stan Kolpa had the high handicap series (771). Team 1 had the high team handicap game (1,002) and series (2,709).
In scratch scoring, John Walker led the men with a 603 series that featured games of 245 and 186. Marty Adams had a 602 series with games of 237 and 234, while Chuck Adams had a 601 series with games of 234, 185, and 182.
Shine had a 592 series with a 257 game, while Jerry Dunham had a 552 series with games of 197 and 191. Gary Montgomery had a 545 series with a 191 game, Kolpa had a 534 series with a 186 game, and Fred Ashworth had a 528 series with games of 188 and 180. Warren Corriveau Sr. had a 198 game.
Carol Gloski had the women’s high scratch series (527) and Cooke had the high scratch game (190). Gloski also had a 171 game.