The annual North-South All-Star games, presented by the Vermont Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA), were held March 19 at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg. It was the first time in two years that the games were played, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 editions.
There were seven local seniors chosen for the South's all-star teams. For the girls, Brattleboro's Kiki McNary and Chloe Givens played in the Division I-II girls' game, while Julia Nystrom of Bellows Falls and Hannah Landers of Leland & Gray played in the Division III-IV game.
Brattleboro's Sam Mattocks played in the boys' Division I-II game, and also took part in the three-point shooting contest. Jonathan Terry and Owen LaRoss of Bellows Falls played in the Division III-IV game.
The South won both of the Division III-IV games, while the North swept the Division I-II games.
In the girls' Division III-IV game, it took a last-second three-pointer by Proctor's Meghan Cole to secure a 70-67 win for the South. Windsor's Reese Perry led the South with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
The boys' Division III-IV game was just as close as White River Valley's Dominic Craven hit a three-pointer in the waning seconds to give the South an 88-86 win. Windsor's Kaleb Swett led the South with 15 points, while Green Mountain's Elliot Mosher scored all seven of his points in the second half.
There was much less suspense in the girls' Division I-II games as the North rolled to an 81-50 win. Givens scored six points for the South squad, which was led by Woodstock's Emma Tareleton, with eight points. Champlain Valley's Allison Bates led the North with 15 points, including four three-pointers.
In the Division I-II boys' game, the North opened with a 15-0 run and maintained control as they cruised to a 92-77 win. Colchester's Jackson Miller was the game's high scorer with 18 points.
The VBCA also selected two Bellows Falls players, Jamison Nystrom and Laura Kamel, to their respective “Dream Dozen” teams, which recognize the state's top 12 non-senior boys' and girls' players.
Leland & Gray girls' coach Terry Merrow was recognized for earning his 100th career victory this season, and Brattleboro's Zinabu McNeice was presented with the Stretch Giliam Award, which is a $750 scholarship that goes “to a player who has a passion for defense, loves the game, and is a good team player.”
Local players come up winners in Rotary Hockey Classic
• Brattleboro forwards Jenna Powers, Sophia Mikijaniec, and Julianna Miskovich and defender Grace Bazin of Bellows Falls, representing Hartford, helped the Austin Conference pull out a 1-0 win over the Harris Conference in the Rotary Key Bank All-Star Hockey Classic on March 19 at the Essex Skating Facility.
Brattleboro forward Will Taggard played for the Harris Conference team in the boys' game, and he too was on the winning side in a 4-3 victory over the Austin Conference squad.
This 36th edition of the showcase games for Vermont top senior girls and boys marked the first time it was held since 2019. The games were not played in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the girls' game, Sophie Zemianek of BFA-St. Albans scored the deciding goal on a power play with 40 seconds left in regulation. She was named the Most Valuable Player.
The boys' game saw Evan Kurash of Woodstock score two goals, including the winner at 11:50 of the second period, while Essex's Justin Prim and Burr & Burton's Matt Grabher had the other goals for the Harris squad. Kurash was selected as the MVP of the game.
Taggard named Player of the Year
• Brattleboro's Will Taggard was named the Division II boys' hockey Player of the Year as All-League selections were announced last week.
Taggard scored 24 goals this season and also had 23 assists to become the all-time career leader in assists at BUHS. He's headed to Tufts University this fall.
Brattleboro goalie Darek Harvey was an honorable mention selection on the Division II All-Star team.
SVL all-opponent teams announced
• The Southern Vermont League recently announced their all-opponent teams for the 2021-22 high school basketball season.
For the girls, Brattleboro's Chloe Givens was selected to the A Division First Team, with teammates Brenna Beebe and Kiki McNary earning honorable mention.
Leland & Gray's Maggie Parker was named to the C Division First Team, with Laura Kamel of Bellows Falls and Mary Sanderson of Leland & Gray earning honorable mention.
On the boys' side, Brattleboro's Sam Mattocks was selected to the A Division First Team, with teammates Cam Frost and Tate Chamberlin earning honorable mention.
Jamison Nystrom and Jon Terry of Bellows Falls were named to the C Division First Team, with teammate Owen LaRoss and Leland & Gray's Jeremy Graves, earning honorable mention.
SVL selects Nordic All-Star teams
• Twin Valley's Luke Rizio, the newly-crowned individual state champion, topped the boys' All-Southern Vermont League Nordic Team for the 2021-22 season.
Brattleboro's Tenzin Mathes joined Rizio on the SVL boys' first team, while his teammates Gabe Jepson-Bellici and Magnus von Krusenstiern received honorable mention.
There were three Brattleboro skiers on the all-SVL girls' team - Katherine and Sylvie Normandeau, and Ava Whitney.
Grace Cottage has full schedule of spring events
• Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital in Townshend invites everyone to join in the fun for the following spring fundraising events that bring together medical providers and patients, friends and neighbors, and parents and kids, while promoting health, wellness, and fellowship.
• The Grace Cottage Spring into Health 5K Run/Walk is set for Saturday, May 7, with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Virtual and in-person (they hope), it starts and ends at Townshend Common. Run, walk, roll, or stroll with family and friends.
• The Grace Cottage “Tee it Up for Health” Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, June 11 at Haystack Golf Course in Wilmington, with a shotgun start at noon. This is a friendly tournament to help raise funds for renovations to Grace Cottage Hospital's Emergency Department.
• And the Grace Cottage Tour de Grace Bicycle Rally is planned for Saturday, June 25. Start anytime between 8 and 10 a.m., ride from Stratton Base Lodge parking lot to Grace Cottage, and then bus back to Stratton. This is a scenic, mostly-downhill ride that raises money for patient care at Grace Cottage.
All these events are held rain or shine. For more information, contact the hospital at 802-365-9109 or sign-up at gracecottage.org/events.
Senior bowling roundup
• Week 11 of the winter/spring 2022 season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League at Brattleboro Bowl on March 17 saw first place Trash-O-Matic (40-15) extend their lead with a 4-1 week. Bowling Stones (31-24) had a 1-4 week but are still in second place, followed by Stayin' Alive (29-26), The 844s (27-28), A Rose/Tulips and Slow Movers (both 26-29), The Anythings (24-31, and Good Times (16-39).
Josie Rigby had the women's high handicap game (238) and series (681). Chuck Adams had the men's high handicap game (266) while Bruce Thielen had the high handicap series (648). Stayin' Alive had the high team handicap game (890), while Trash-O-Matic had the high handicap series (2,553).
In scratch scoring, Robert Rigby led the men with a 633 series that featured games of 228, 216, and 191. Chuck Adams had a 613 series with games of 266 and 193. Marty Adams had a 553 series with games of 201 and 199, while Warren Corriveau Sr. had a 523 series with games of 186 and 181. Gary Montgomery had a 508 series with a 210 game, and Duane Schillemat had a 502 series. Notable games included Fred Ashworth (190), Norm Oakes (185), and Stan Kolpa (184).
For the second straight week, Josie Rigby had the women's high scratch series (558), with games of 197 and 195. Nancy Dalzell rolled a 183 game.