South Royalton
She had missed school and couldn’t play, sending the Royals’ first-year head coach into scramble mode during warm-ups with all three of his point guards on the shelf.
Davis, who coached the Hartford High girls basketball team on an interim basis last season, gave the job to junior Iris Hudson, who scored nine points in South Royalton’s 38-34 double overtime victory over Sharon on Thursday. It was the Royals first win of the season and Davis’ first win in VPA Division IV.
“It’s been an adjustment for me,” Davis, who coached at D-II Hartford last season, said. “Division II and Division IV, it’s a different philosophy. I’ve really had to do some adjusting to my coaching style.
“She hadn’t practiced (playing point guard), she wasn’t prepared to do it. She did a great job,” he added.
“Iris stepped up big time. She got a big pat on the back after the game, being forced into that situation. She played well in all four quarters.”
Grace Pease led the South Royalton offense with 19 points. Kylie Hibbard, called up from the junior varsity squad on emergency basis, held Sharon’s top scorer, Mallory Lloyd, to 11 points in her first varsity game.
Jocelyn Johnson added five points for the Phoenix, who fell to 0-2.
“We had our chances,” Sharon’s first year head coach, Gregg Nalette, said. “We just couldn’t make a couple of key shots.”
The score was tied 28-28 after regulation and 30-30 after the first overtime period. South Royalton pulled away with eight points in the second OT for the victory.
The Royals (1-1) travel to Leland & Gray on Monday.
Wilmington, Vt.
“I think we’re still getting used to it,” Mid Vermont first-year head coach Chris Goodwin said. “I keep telling the girls we’ll be better in our 10th game than in our first game.”
Rachel Seale led the way with a game-high 22 points for Mid Vermont, including seven in the fourth quarter. Emily Jasmin, Sydney Goodwin and Danyelle Goodwin finished with three points each.
The Eagles (0-2) host South Royalton on Monday.
Sunapee
Matte started the game but couldn’t finish as Mount Royal fell to 1-2. Marylin LaRose led the Knights with 12 points and Sophie LaRose added six.
Mount Royal travels to Wilton-Lyndeborough on Tuesday.
South Burlington, Vt.
Josh King led the way offensively with 18 points. Jake Roberts had 13 points, Daniel Roberts had nine points and Nate Twarog scored seven for Mid Vermont.
The Eagles scored 19 points in the first quarter and never looked back. Mid Vermont (1-1) hosts South Royalton on Monday.
Sunapee
“We were a little hesitant in the first half,” McMenaman, his team 2-0, said. “I said to get a little bit more aggressive.”
Gus LaRose finished the game with 18 points, eight of which came in the third quarter. Alex Normandin scored 17 and hit crucial free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.
Mount Royal travels to Pittsfield today.
Hanover
The schools have committed to four more games, with the first scheduled to be played in Durham on Oct. 16, 2021, followed by a contest in Hanover the following October. After a one-year hiatus, the Wildcats will host Dartmouth on Sept. 28, 2024, and the Big Green will return the favor on Sept. 20, 2025, to conclude the contract.
This fall, Dartmouth opened its 2016 campaign by rallying for 15 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the 22nd-ranked Wildcats, 22-21. It was the first win for the Big Green in the series since 1976, as UNH had won 18 of the 20 games in between while tying the other two.