ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT
B Section
THURSDAY, Â DECEMBER Â 31, Â 2015
MATT DICKERSON
SPORTS
ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
t 4DIPPM /FXT t -FHBM /PUJDFT
t $MBTTJĂŤFET t 3FBM &TUBUF
My  biggest  wish  for  the  new  year It  seems  that  we  live  in  a  time  of  extremes.  Looking  out  our  window  this  morning  at  several  inches  of  fresh  VQRZ , KDG P\ ÂżUVW KRSH RI VRPH cross-Âcountry  skiing.  Then  I  got  to  the  breakfast  table  and  looked  out  the  big  window.  The  precipitation  had  changed  to  an  ugly  mix  of  sleet  and  rain.  The  weather  re- port  on  VPR  was  even  less  hope- ful.  And  I’m  not  speaking  only  of  the  local  forecast  and  the  prospects  of  Nordic  ski- ing.  The  meteo- rologist  spoke  of  extreme  weather  all  over  the  country.  While  a  shot  of  cold  momentarily  slapped  the  North- east,  some  places  in  the  country  were  experiencing  record-Âsetting  heat,  and  still  elsewhere  unusually  strong  and  damaging  storms.  This  is  a  Super  El  Nino  year.  We  have  the  strongest  El  Nino  condi- WLRQV LQ WKH 3DFLÂżF 2FHDQ LQ KDOI D century,  with  the  effects  perhaps  in- WHQVLÂżHG E\ FOLPDWH FKDQJH ([WUHPH weather  is  the  theme. And  that,  it  seems,  is  also  the  met- aphor  for  so  many  other  things  in  the  country.  We  are  growing  increasingly  polarized.  I  read  a  recent  report  about  the  current  front-Ârunners  in  both  ma- jor  political  parties.  Being  “front- runnersâ€?  means  the  polls  show  the  highest  percentage  of  expected  votes  cast  in  their  favor.  But  the  same  two  candidates  also  have  the  highest  dis- approval  ratings.  People  either  love  these  candidates  or  hate  them.  There  doesn’t  appear  to  be  much  modera- tion.  Which  is  to  say,  candidates  and  positions  of  moderation  don’t  seem  to  do  well  in  the  world  today.  Just  how  far-Âreaching  this  po- larization  —  and,  some  would  say,  hostility  —  is,  and  how  deeply  it  has  permeated  our  culture,  struck  home  for  me  in  a  new  way  this  summer.  I  avoid  political  discussions  on  social  media.  They  tend  to  be  venues  for  ranting  and  abusive  language,  with  little  listening  or  reasoned  discourse.  The  occasional  thoughtful  voices  get  shouted  down  and  drowned  out.  (See  Dickerson,  Page  1B)
ScoreBOARD
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Boys’ Hockey 12/23  MUHS  vs.  Rutland  .........................5-Â0 Girls’ Hockey 12/29  MUHS  vs.  Saranac  ........................1-Â0 Boys’ Basketball 12/22  Winooski  vs.  Mt.  Abe  .................86-Â32 12/23  VUHS  vs.  Fairfax  .......................61-Â56 12/23  Brattleboro  vs.  OV  .....................89-Â25 12/28  Proctor  vs.  OV  ...........................51-Â36 Girls’ Basketball 12/22  Mill  River  vs.  MUHS  ...................46-Â39 12/23  VUHS  vs.  Montpelier  .................63-Â20 12/23  Fair  Haven  vs.  Mt.  Abe  ..............53-Â41 12/26  Burr  &  Burton  vs.  Mt.  Abe  ..........50-Â44 12/28  VUHS  vs.  Harwood  ....................55-Â23
Schedule
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Girls’ Hockey 12/30  Spaulding  at  MUHS  ..................5  p.m. 1RUWKÂżHOG DW 08+6  ..............3:30  p.m. 1/2  S.  Burlington  at  MUHS  .................5  p.m. 1/5  Essex  at  MUHS  ............................7  p.m. 1/9  MUHS  at  Spaulding  .................5:30  p.m. Boys’ Hockey 12/30  NCCS  at  MUHS  ........................7  p.m. 12/31  Lake  Placid  at  MUHS  ..........5:30  p.m. 1/2  Burlington  at  MUHS  ......................7  p.m. 1/6  MUHS  at  Burr  &  Burton  ................5  p.m. 1/9  MUHS  at  U-Â32  ..............................5  p.m. Boys’ Basketball 12/30  OV  at  Woodstock  .....................  7  p.m. 12/30  Mt.  Abe  at  Mill  River  ..................7  p.m. 1/4  Mill  River  at  Mt.  Abe  ......................7  p.m. 1/4  OV  at  VUHS  .................................7  p.m. 1/5  MUHS  at  OV  .................................7  p.m. 1/6  VUHS  at  Mt.  Abe  ..........................7  p.m. 1/8  Windsor  at  OV  ..............................7  p.m. 1/9  Montpelier  at  VUHS  ...............11:30  a.m. Girls’ Basketball 12/30  OV  at  Brattleboro  .................6:30  p.m. 1/2  Colchester  at  MUHS  ..............12:30  p.m. 1/2  N.  Country  at  Mt.  Abe  ..............2:30  p.m. 1/4  Burr  &  Burton  at  OV  ......................7  p.m. 1/4  MUHS  at  Winooski  ..................6:30  p.m. 1/5  Milton  at  VUHS  .............................7  p.m. 1/8  VUHS  at  N.  Country  ................6:30  p.m. 0W $EH DW 0W 0DQVÂżHOG  ...............7  p.m. 1/8  OV  at  Rutland  ...............................7  p.m. 1/8  Milton  at  MUHS  ............................7  p.m.
(See  Schedule,  Page  1B)
COMMODORE  FRESHMAN  CIARA  McClay,  far  left,  drives  to  the  lane  during  Monday’s  game  against  Harwood  in  Vergennes.  Above,  VUHS  senior  Tamara  Aunchman  puts  up  two  of  her  10  points  against  the  High- landers.  Vergennes  won  the  game,  55-Â23. Independent  photos/Trent  Campbell
Commodores  move  to  5-Â1 VUHS  girls  thump  Harwood;Íž  tougher  league  slate  next By  ANDY  KIRKALDY VERGENNES  —  The  Vergennes  Union  High  School  girls’  basketball  team  on  Monday  night  ended  their  non-Âleague  schedule  about  as  well  as  could  have  been  hoped  when  December  began  —  with  a  55-Â23  victory  over  visiting  Harwood  that  DOORZHG WKH &RPPRGRUHV WR ÂżQLVK 2015  at  5-Â1. But  Coach  Billy  Waller  said  the  Commodores  know  their  remaining  games  will  come  against  their  Lake  'LYLVLRQ IRHV ÂżYH RI ZKRP DUH 'L- vision  I  teams,  even  if  Middlebury  and  Missisquoi  have  yo-Âyoed  be- tween  D-ÂI  and  D-ÂII  in  recent  years.  And  the  other  two  are  D-ÂII  powers  Mount  Abraham  and  Milton,  who  have  losing  records  so  far  against  tough  schedules.  The  Commodores  also  know,  he  said,  four  of  their  wins  have  come  against  winless  Harwood  and  Montpelier. But,  Waller  added,  context  is  im- portant:  Those  wins  vs.  the  High- landers  and  Solons  have  come  by  an  average  of  36  points  and  have  allowed  him  to  develop  his  bench  players,  VUHS  is  just  one  win  shy  of  2015’s  total,  and  many  of  the  same  players  in  the  past  have  not  succeeded  against  the  same  teams.  The  Commodores  are  better,  he  VDLG ÂżUVW OLVWLQJ KLV IRXU VHQLRU IRU- wards.   “Just  two  years  ago  against  the  VERGENNES  UNION  HIGH  School  junior  Shay  Pouliot  pulls  down  a  same  group  of  teams  we  went  0-Â4  rebound  against  Harwood  Monday  night.  Pouliot  scored  a  game-Âhigh  15  with  many  of  these  kids.  So  what  points  in  the  55-Â23  Commodore  win. it  tells  me  is  that  many  of  these  Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
kids,  who  we  brought  up  when  they  “What  this  schedule  has  done  for  were  awfully  young  and  maybe  not  them  is  show  them,  OK,  if  I  work  ready,  is  they’ve  improved,â€?  Waller  really  hard  in  practice,  I  might  be  said.  “Tamara  (Aunchman),  Nikki  able  to  bring  some  of  that  into  the  (Salley),  Sarah  (Poirier-ÂThayer),  game,â€?  Waller  said. they’re  better  basketball  players  On  Monday,  nine  Commodores  as  seniors.  Bri  Gebo,  she’s  a  much  scored  in  their  55-Â23  win  over  the  better  basketball  player.â€? +LJKODQGHUV $OO ÂżYH VWDUWHUV ² Then  he  added  junior  guards  Salley,  Aunchman,  Poirier-ÂThayer,  Shay  Pouliot,  who  scored  a  game- McClay  and  Pouliot  —  scored  in  high  15  points  on  Monday  and  sank  WKH ÂżUVW TXDUWHU LQ ZKLFK WKH &RP- a  buzzer-Âbeater  vs.  Winooski  two  modores  forced  three  Harwood  weeks  before,  and  Caroline  John- WXUQRYHUV LQ WKH ÂżUVW VHFRQGV ston,  who  chipped  in  a  game-Âhigh  and  took  a  6-Â0  lead  on  hoops  by  ¿YH DVVLVWV YV +DU- Salley,  McClay  wood.  and  Aunchman.  “Just two years ago “Their  ballhan- Pouliot  scored  dling,  for  both  of  against the same seven  in  the  peri- them,  is  just  way  group of teams we od,  which  ended  better,â€?  he  said.  went 0-4 with many at  17-Â5,  VUHS,  “Shay’s  able  to  get  of these kids. So after  Harwood’s  to  the  basket.  Caro- what it tells me is Lauryn  Green  line’s  able  to  get  to  sank  an  improb- that many of these the  basket.â€? able  three  at  the  Freshman  guard  kids, who we brought buzzer. Ciara  McClay,  who  up when they were At  the  half,  it  has  rotated  in  the  awfully young and was  30-Â13.  The  backcourt  with  the  maybe not ready, is second  quarter  juniors,  has  also  highlight  came  they’ve improved.â€? played  well  and  on  back-Âto-Âback  — VUHS Coach fast-Âbreak  hoops  scored  nine  points  Billy Waller by  Aunchman,  vs.  Harwood.  “The  McClay  girl  both  set  up  by  has  obviously  added  some  energy  Johnston.  McClay  also  scored  and  some  enthusiasm,â€?  Waller  twice  in  the  period,  during  which  said.  “She  came  out  and  helped  set  Waller  began  substituting  freely. the  tone  for  us  early.â€? VUHS  switched  from  man-Âto- Waller  said  his  substitutes  have  man  to  a  3-Â2  zone  in  the  second  all  proven  useful:  Senior  Melina  KDOI IXUWKHU EDIĂ€LQJ WKH +LJKODQG- Myers  and  junior  Alyson  Gebo  HUV ZKR FRPPLWWHG ÂżYH VWUDLJKW have  both  shot  well  from  the  out- turnovers  to  open  the  third  peri- side;Íž  junior  forwards  Rebecca  od.  Aunchman  (10  points,  six  re- Maloy,  Abigael  Dobson  and  Lily  bounds)  scored  four  in  the  quarter,  Russell  have  earned  minutes  Salley  (six  points,  six  rebounds,  through  effort  in  practice,  and  ju- seven  steals)  picked  off  several  nior  Breanna  De  Smit’s  versatility  passes  at  the  back  of  the  zone,  and  has  made  her  valuable. (See  Commodores,  Page  2B)
Boys’  hockey  shuts  out  VUHS  snaps  skid;Íž  OV,  MAU  fall Rutland,  reaches  5-Â0-Â1 In  boys’  basketball
ADDISON  COUNTY  —  Only  Vergennes  posted  tack,  and  backcourt  mate  Dylan  Bradford  added  14  as  a  victory  in  recent  local  high  school  boys’  basketball  VUHS  improved  to  2-Â6.  The  Bullets  dropped  to  2-Â3.  play,  as  Mount  Abraham  and  Otter  Valley  each  came  EAGLES up  short.  On  Dec.  22,  host  Winooski  defeated  the  Eagles,  86- Middlebury  was  set  to  play  on  Tuesday  at  32.  Jackson  Counter  led  still  winless  St.  Albans  after  the  early  holiday  deadline  for  Mount  Abe  with  nine  points.  this  edition  of  the  Independent. OTTERS COMMODORES On  Monday,  visiting  Proctor  put  the  On  Dec.  23,  the  Commodores  clamps  on  OV’s  attack  in  a  51-Â36  vic- snapped  their  six-Âgame  losing  skid  and  tory.  Kai  Norwood  led  the  Otters  with  avenged  an  earlier  home  loss  by  top- 13  points  as  they  slipped  to  2-Â5.  Proctor  ping  host  BFA-ÂFairfax,  61-Â56.  Adam  improved  to  4-Â1.  Gill  scored  23  points  to  pace  the  at-Â
BASKETBALL
Wrap-Up
RUTLAND  —  The  Middlebury  Union  High  School  boys’  hockey  team  on  Dec.  23  defeated  host  Rutland,  5-Â0,  to  remain  unbeaten  at  5-Â0-Â1  heading  into  three  home  games  this  week.  Entering  this  week,  Woodstock  (5-Â0)  was  the  only  other  undefeated  team  in  Di- vision  II. The  Tigers  are  set  to  play  two  games  vs.  New  York  teams  at  the  Memorial  Sports  Center  in  their  annual  holiday  tournament,  against  Northeast  Clinton  on  Wednes-Â
day  and  Lake  Placid  on  Thursday. Those  games  were  played  after  the  early  holiday  deadline  for  this  edi- tion  of  the  Independent.  D-ÂII  rival  Burlington  will  visit  on  Saturday  at  7  p.m.,  and  the  Tigers  will  play  D-ÂII  rivals  U-Â32  and  Burr  &  Burton  on  the  road  next  week.  This  past  Wednesday,  D-ÂI  Rut- land  outshot  the  Tigers,  33-Â13,  but  goalie  Doug  DeLorenzo  worked  a  33-Âsave  shutout  and  the  Tigers  took  FKDUJH ZLWK WKUHH JRDOV LQ WKH ÂżUVW (See  Boys’  hockey,  Page  2B)