WINDSOR — Owen Abrahamsen had 20 points to help the VPA Division III Windsor High boys basketball team stun previously unbeaten D-I Rutland, 55-50, on Saturday afternoon.
The Yellowjackets took command in the second quarter with a 17-2 run to build a 29-17 lead at halftime. Rutland chipped away from there, rallying to tie the game at 50-50 with 51 seconds left in the fourth.
Windsor made the key plays in the final minute to secure the win. Jordan Place hit a pair of clutch free throws with 13.8 seconds to play to give the hosts a 53-50 lead. After Rutland had to foul again soon after, John Cook stepped to the line to make two of his own to give the hosts an insurmountable 55-50 lead.
Abrahamsen had control in the first half for Windsor, scoring 15 of his 20 points to key the opening surge. Cook finished 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Place, Maison Fortin and Ethan Lawyer each had seven points.
Windsor (5-3) has now won three straight to close the regular season.
ORFORD — The Panthers opened the game on a 22-4 run and never looked back in a dominant showing to end the regular season.
“The girls came out ready to play and followed the game plan. It’s a very good step leading up to the playoffs. I’m very pleased with everything today,” Thetford coach Eric Ward said.
Kelsey Smith led a balanced Panthers attack with 15 points. Addie Cadwell, Namya Benjamin and Becca Wells had eight points each. Thetford (5-3) ended any doubt by outscoring Rivendell, 19-5, in the third quarter.
Alex McFate had nine points to pace the Raptors (5-3). Adele Tilden added eight points.
MORRISTOWN, Vt. — The Olympians lost a heartbreaker at Peoples to conclude the regular season.
Arianna Bolles made a pair of 3-pointers for Oxbow (6-3) on her way to 12 points. Emma DeGoosh added eight points and Emma Parkin had seven. The Olympians had a 12-7 lead after the first quarter but Peoples answered with a 14-5 run in the second to take the lead.
WEST RUTLAND, Vt. — A sloppy fourth quarter spelled doom for the Eagles at the Golden Horde.
Mid Vermont Christian (7-2) rallied from a 13-2 deficit early to lead, 29-23, at halftime. West Rutland earned the win by outscoring the Eagles, 19-6, in the fourth quarter in large part thanks to eight MVCS turnovers in the fourth alone.
“We had three possessions in a row with opportunities to go up by eight but never converted. Then the turnovers happened, and they made us pay at the other end,” Eagles coach Chris Goodwin said.
Hayley Goodwin (19 points) and Sydney Goodwin (16) led MVCS, which will likely be the No. 3 seed in the VPA Division IV playoffs.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hurricanes saw their season come to a close with a tough matchup to open the VPA Division II playoffs.
Connor Tierney and Blaine Gour scored for Hartford. Joseph Barwood had an assist. Goaltenders Davey Bradley and Sean Keliher combined to make 21 saves for the Canes.
Hartford finishes the season at 3-6-0.