Montpelier — The Upper Valley’s four Vermont-based football-playing high schools won’t be changing divisions over the next two years. But they will be seeing some significant alterations as a result of action by the Vermont Interscholastic Football League.

At a meeting at the Vermont Principals Association’s Montpelier office on Tuesday, the VIFL approved a two-year plan that will shift several schools to new leagues. The resulting adjustments will increase membership in Divisions I and II — from 12 to 13 teams in the former, from nine to 11 in the latter — while reducing Division III from 11 to eight schools.

Defending D-I state champ Hartford will stay where it is. The same goes for D-III champ Windsor and divisional rivals Woodstock and Oxbow.

According to the VIFL’s Sean Farrell, the activities director at Middlebury Union High School, Rice successfully appealed to the league on Tuesday to stay in D-I. Petitions from Mount Mansfield and Burlington to remain in D-II instead of moving up didn’t get the two-thirds vote required for approval. That leaves a league of 13 schools, with Mount Anthony dropping to D-II.

Otter Valley, runner-up to Windsor in last month’s D-III state championship game, will move up to D-II to increase that league’s membership to 11. That leaves Windsor, Woodstock, Oxbow and five others to populate D-III for the next two seasons.

In an email, Farrell said the realignment plan still requires the approval of the VPA’s Activity Standards Committee, which would hear appeals of Tuesday’s decision if requested.

— Greg FennellGirls BasketballSunapee 64Wilton-Lyndeborough 9

Wilton, n.h. — Fortified by a preseason Connecticut road trip for a pair of scrimmages, the Lakers (1-0) began defense of their NHIAA Division IV state championship in solid fashion.

Kate Frederick controlled the inside for a game-high 14 points for Sunapee, while Faith Larpenter hit two of the Lakers’ four 3-pointers on a 12-point night. Mary Grzanna added eight points for Sunapee, which put 12 players on the scoresheet.

“We just got back from a trip to Connecticut where we played schools with more than 3,000 people in them and competed very well,” Sunapee coach Tim LaTorra said. “That propelled us into our season, had us feeling good about ourselves.”

The Lakers open home play against Lisbon on Friday, playing the back end of a boys-girls varsity doubleheader at Sherburne Gym.

Stevens 41, Hopkinton 36

Hopkinton, n.h. — A pattern is emerging through two games: If the Cardinals (2-0) are close in the fourth quarter, heaven help the opposition.

Stevens used a 17-point final period to pull past the Hawks, who held a 25-24 lead entering the last eight minutes of play. Freshman Syd Miller hit two free throws to put the Cards in front, junior Alexis Ford added two more for a further cushion, and freshman Alexis Aiken capped a game-high 15-point night with a layup with 2 seconds to go.

The Cards also used a big final period to rally past Mascoma in overtime on Friday night to start their campaign.

“We did a lot of good things, but we have a lot of work to do,” coach Ivy Condon said. “We’ll push the ball, turn on the switch, and that’s when we decide to score some points. We couldn’t make a basket or a layup going into the fourth quarter. But I’m not going to complain.”

Ford finished with eight points and Cami Cullison netted six for Stevens, which hosts Franklin on Friday.

Woodsville 37, Gorham 25

Gorham, n.h. — Lily Kinder scored 14 points, and Woodsville (2-0) defeated Gorham despite being held scoreless in the third quarter.

“We had good offense in the first quarter, good defense in the second quarter and neither in the third,” Woodsville coach Russ Wilcox said.

The Engineers outscored the Huskies 16-2 in the first quarter and led 27-13 at the half.

Woodsville visits Wilton-Lyndeborough on Friday.