-The Bellows Falls Terriers' girls' basketball team has had a great season so far, but they got tested on Jan. 30 when the Brattleboro Bears visited Holland Gymnasium.
The Bears' dynamic backcourt of juniors Reese Croutworst and Abigail Henry finished with 26 and 16 points, respectively, as the Bears rolled to a 57-18 victory over the Terriers. In the first quarter, Croutworst (16 points) and Henry (eight points) were particularly effective during a 26-0 run that gave Brattleboro a 26-4 lead heading into the second quarter.
BF never recovered from the first quarter blitz. Missing their top scorer, sophomore guard Abby Nystrom, the Terriers struggled to put up points. Laura Kamel was BF's top scorer with eight points.
At 10-2, the Terriers are still ranked fourth in Division III, so this loss was not a disaster for them. The Bears improved to 7-5 with the win, and are still on track to host a first-round Division I playoff game.
Nordic skiing
• The first day of the Southern Vermont League (SVL) Championships began on Jan. 28 with a classical race at Prospect Mountain in Woodford. Woodstock leads in both the boys' and girls' team scores, with Mount Anthony in second place in both. The Brattleboro boys are fourth, behind Rutland.
Woodstock's James Underwood won the boys' race, completing the course in 14 minutes, 31.9 seconds. Brattleboro's Nico Conathan-Leach was fourth in 16:13.4, followed by teammates Adam Solar (17th in 19:34.1), Galen Fogarty (21st in 20:46.4), Max Becker (24th in 22:31.0), Liam Conathan-Leach (25th in 22:36.7), Walter Korb (28th in 23:59.0), Jonas Ackerman-Hovis (31st in 24:36.3), and Charlie Kiehle (32nd in 25:04.4).
Brattleboro coach Amanda Dixon said several team members were out due to illness, and that affected the boys' team score.
Woodstock's Priscilla Richardson was the girls' winner in 19 minutes, 17.4 seconds. There were only 19 racers, including Brattleboro's lone representative, Maayan Coleman, who was ninth in 23:01.0.
Day two of the SVL championships is set for Feb. 5 at 3 p.m.with a skate race at the Marlboro Outing Club.
Girls' basketball
• Twin Valley defeated Rivendell, 33-23, on Jan. 27 in Whitingham. Senior Alanna Bevilacqua led the way for the Wildcats with 14 points, 21 rebounds, and eight blocks. Sophomore Kate Oyer contributed nine points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.
The following night, in North Clarendon, the Wildcats eked out a 32-24 win over Mill River with another strong defensive effort.
Playing their third game in four nights, the Wildcats were due for a letdown, but they gave it a good try in a 36-29 road loss to Poultney on Jan. 30 to finish their week with a 5-8 record.
• Leland & Gray is still trying to get it together. On Jan. 27, the Rebels lost to Green Mountain, 54-25, as GM's Kyra Burbela had a game-high 16 points. Abigail Emerson led the 4-9 Rebels with seven points.
Boys' basketball
• Otter Valley took a 32-5 lead after one quarter and coasted to a 73-35 win over Brattleboro on Jan. 29 in Brandon. The Otters, the No. 2 ranked team in Division II, were led by Lucas Poltano, who made four three-pointers in the opening quarter on the way to finishing with a game-high 19 points.
• Sophomore guard Niko Gerding had a career night for Twin Valley in an 84-55 win over Leland & Gray in Whitingham on Jan. 28. Gerding scored 28 points, including seven three-pointers. Fellow sophomore Brayden Brown produced his usual great effort, with 28 points, seven assists, and six steals.
Other Wildcats who had a great night included junior Carson McHale, who had a career-high 13 points, and junior Steven Oyer, who had nine assists, six steals, three blocks, and five rebounds. It was a close game in the first quarter, but the Wildcats started to pull away in the second quarter and led 41-32 at the half. Twin Valley was never threatened after that.
The 1-12 Rebels were led by senior Cody Hescock, with 23 points, and fellow senior Ely White, who scored 18 points. Twin Valley ended the week at 9-4 and are ranked fourth in Division I.
• The undefeated White River Valley Wildcats clobbered Bellows Falls, 101-35, on Jan. 29 at Holland Gymnasium. The loss dropped the Terriers' record to 7-6.
Girls on the Run Vermont seeks volunteer coaches
• Girls on the Run Vermont (GOTRVT), a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that inspires students in grades 3-8 to be joyful, healthy, and confident, needs coaches for the 2025 season.
The 10-week program incorporates movement into its curriculum to empower participants to develop critical life skills, build confidence, cultivate positive connections with peers, manage their emotions, and stand up for themselves and others.
Volunteer coaches utilize a curriculum to engage teams of girls in fun, interactive lessons. More than 500 volunteer coaches will facilitate lessons for the spring season that begins the week of March 17 statewide. Teams meet twice a week for 90 minutes and the program culminates with all teams participating in one of two noncompetitive, celebratory 5K events in Essex and Manchester.
Coaches do not need to be runners. GOTRVT provides training so volunteers have all the tools needed to facilitate the season and to have a positive coaching experience. All volunteer coaches must complete a background check. GOTRVT welcomes high school students to volunteer as Junior Coaches. Visit gotrvt.org/coach for full details or email [email protected].
Locations in Windham County that are still in need of coaches include Academy School, Oak Grove School, and St. Michael School in Brattleboro, Brattleboro Community Team, Dummerston Elementary (Heart & Sole), Flood Brook Union in Londonderry, Grafton Elementary, Townshend Elementary, Vernon Elementary, Wardsboro Elementary, and Westminster Center School.
Participant registration opens on Wednesday, Feb. 26 for southern teams attending the Manchester 5K. More information about the program and registration can be found on the Girls on the Run Vermont's website at gotrvt.org.
Snow Golf fundraiser returns to Scott Farm on Feb. 23
• On Sunday, Feb. 23, from noon to 3 p.m., Landmark Trust USA invites the public to its third annual "Snow Golf: Chip, Drive & Putt for Preservation." The event will once again be held at Scott Farm, 707 Kipling Rd., Dummerston. Tickets for this fundraising event are $35 per person or $125 per foursome, and advance registration is strongly suggested. For more information and registration, visit landmarktrustusa.org/snow-golf.
Landmark Trust is a nonprofit historic preservation organization that has restored Naulakha, the 1892 Dummerston home of author Rudyard Kipling, and four other Southern Vermont properties, which it owns and operates as overnight vacation rentals. According to the U.S. Golf Association, Kipling invented Snow Golf at Naulakha following his introduction to the game by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame.
This year's event will also serve as the public kickoff for the Naulakha Campaign, a $1.25 million investment in a climate resilient future for Kipling's historic estate which will replace the main house's aging cedar roof in kind, develop a comprehensive drainage solution for the property, and rehabilitate the Naulakha Stable into a new overnight rental. Symbolic "shingles" will be available for purchase at the event in support of the Campaign.
This year's course will once again be designed in partnership with the Brattleboro Country Club and feature six skills challenges - including Chipping Skeeball, Tic-Tac-Toe, and Blindfolded Pick-A-Club - as well as one hole and a bonus "closest to the pin" shot. Players may register individually or as a foursome, and prizes will be awarded.
All tickets include an exclusive cocktail or cider drink from the Scott Farm pop up bar, light snacks, and drinks. The "kid-driven" food cart, Newton's Curveball Concessions, will be present as well, with all proceeds supporting the local community. The public is welcome throughout the event to eat, drink, provide rousing golf claps, and enjoy the Naulakha Campaign kickoff.
Second annual Grace Cottage 'Make Tracks for Health' set for March 1
• Enjoy the beauty and joy of winter, while helping Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital in its mission to provide vital healthcare to the West River Valley at their second annual "Make Tracks For Health" snowshoe/cross-country ski event at the Nordic Center at Stratton Mountain Resort in Winhall on Saturday, March 1, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Participants can choose to either snowshoe or cross-country ski on the Nordic Center's beautifully groomed trails. Rental equipment is available if you register in advance. Afterward, reward yourself with delicious treats and a warm beverage by the fire. To sign up, visit gracecottage.org/events. For information, email [email protected], or call 802-365-9109.
Senior bowling roundup
• Week 5 of the winter/spring season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League at Brattleboro Bowl on Jan. 29 saw Full Monty (19-6) remain in first place. Slo Movers (18-7) held on to second place, followed by Renegades (17-6), Charlie's Angels and Let 'Em Roll (both 14-11), Double Trouble (13-12), Niners (11-14), and Wayne's World and Sandbaggers (both 9-16).
(If you're wondering what happened to the Week 4 results, league secretary Nancy Dalzell wasn't feeling well that week and was unable to provide them. She says she's doing better now.)
Doris Lake had the women's high handicap game (242) and series (664), while Al Dascomb had the men's high handicap game (268) and Kevin Napaver had the men's high handicap series (700). Renegades had the high team handicap game (811) and Full Monty had the high team handicap series (2,599).
Napaver had the men's high scratch series (700) with games of 248, 233, and 219, while John Walker had a 593 series with games of 222 and 204, and Peter Deyo had a 591 series with a 239 game. Robert Rigby also had a 591 series with games of 215 and 197, while Warren Corriveau Sr. had a 576 series with games of 203 and 192, Mike Pavlovich had a 530 series with a 190 game, and Gary Montgomery had a 501 series. Dascomb had a 202 game and John Laamanen rolled a 195.
Vicki Butynski had the women's high scratch series (422) and game (159). Candida Walls had games of 146 and 143.
Randolph T. Holhut, deputy editor of this newspaper, has written this column since 2010 and has covered sports in Windham County since the 1980s. Readers can send him sports information at [email protected].
This Sports column by Randolph T. Holhut was written for The Commons.