BRADFORD, Vt. — The ways things are developing, the Rivendell Academy girls basketball team will give someone a stomach ache in the VPA Division IV state tournament. Saturday’s foe can be glad it won’t be the one.
Senior Adele Tilden went 6-for-7 from the line in the fourth quarter and scored a career-high 21 points as the Raptors outlasted Oxbow, 40-31, at Mona Garone Gym. The Raptors (5-1) pulled off their most impressive win of the season, topping an Olympian team that was a D-III semifinalist last winter and has been among the top teams in that division this season.
The O’s (5-2) lurked behind Rivendell most of the afternoon, trailing by three points after the second and third quarters. Tilden hit three field goals and added her free-throw input in a 16-10 final period to clinched the win. Cora Day and Alex McFate both had six points for the Raptors.
Arianna Bolles led Oxbow with nine points. Rachel Spear went 6-for-8 from the line in the fourth as part of an eight-point afternoon for the O’s.
WOODSTOCK — Isabel Konijnenberg’s power-play goal in overtime gave the Wasps the win in a thriller on senior day.
The game-winner came on Woodstock’s first and only power play in the game, giving the Wasps a chance to implement some of the skills honed in practice during the last week.
“We spent our practice this week putting in the time and working on the things we knew we needed to be better at. We spent some time with our power-play unit working on patience, moving the puck, stepping off the wall for a better angle and better shot. To see them execute that, especially in OT, proves their hard work pays off,” Woodstock coach Ian Coates said.
Maggie Mello set up the first Woodstock goal, feeding a pass from the right wing to Emily Dean in perfect position to put home a one-timer in the second period. Wasps goaltender Ava Dodson had a strong showing in the pipes, making 26 saves.
“All of our players executed well, and our forecheck was strong. They took what we learned in practice and put it to work each and every shift. Hard work pays off, and they got to see the results of their hard work tonight,” Coates added.
Woodstock (5-1-0) visits Stowe on Wednesday.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hurricanes (3-4-0) continue to shown signs of improvement with perhaps one of their strongest games of the season.
“This was another hard-fought battle. The scoreboard couldn’t show the amount of heart every player put in. We continue to improve every game and that’s what we are here to do,” Hartford coach Kylie Young said.
The Canes trailed, 2-1, through two periods and were undone when Rice scored three goals early in the third. Grace Bazin scored Hartford’s goal on a Madelyn Durkee pass midway through the second period with the Canes’ goalie pulled during a delayed penalty. Goalie Zoe Pfeiffer made 18 saves for Hartford.
Hartford closes the regular season at home against Burr & Burton on Wednesday.
RUTLAND — The Wasps (3-3-1) couldn’t take advantage of a 32-10 edge in shots on goal, settling for a VPA Division I draw with the Raiders at Spartan Arena.
Ethan Mello made eight saves for the Wasps, who got goals from Riley Shepherd and Tom Bissaillon. Woodstock closes its regular season at Rice on Wednesday.
BURLINGTON — The Hurricanes (2-5-0) came up short in a last-second matchup with the Lakers while playing for the first time in 27 years without coach Todd Bebeau on the bench.
Bebeau is in COVID quarantine after a potential exposure at Hanover High. Assistant Kevin Guilbault took the reins for this one, a game at Leddy Park that came together after the day’s original date with U-32 was cancelled due to a COVID positive test there.
Joseph Barwood scored for Hartford with an assist to Connor Tierney. Ozzie DeFelice added the second goal, assisted by James McReynolds. Goalie Davey Bradley made 23 saves.
The Canes tie a bow on the regular season when they host St. Johnsbury on Wednesday.
CLAREMONT — The Cardinals blitzed Keene in a best-of-five Baker match at Maple Lanes to make Sunday’s final four.
After the Blackbirds eliminated Hillsboro-Deering in the first round, Stevens used a 168-140, 223-189, 214-207 sweep in the quarterfinals to advance. The semifinals and finals, both best-of-seven Baker affairs, are scheduled for Sunday at Merrimack Ten Pin.