Boys basketball, hockey quaterfinal preview notes

As I prepare to head to Vergennes for the third straight year to cover the VPA high school cheer championships, my mind wandered to the five local teams also competing in the postseason today.

As local fans arise and take their morning coffee, here's some numbers to go with your Cheerioes before you embark on another day of March Madness, Franklin County style.

With apologies to the three local teams competing in the basketball quarterfinals, I'll start with the lone game that pits two Franklin County schools and the only one being played close to home.

At 4:30 today at the Collins-Perley Sports and Fitness Center Rink (Isn't about time we renamed this the rink after one of the local luminaries who helped build Hockeytown? But, as usual, I digress.) the 10th-seeded MVU T-Birds (5-14-1) visit No. 7 BFA (9-9-2).

BFA swept the season series, but the past playoff meetings between these long-time rivals have been pretty fairly split, although it's been a dozen years since the schools have met in the playoffs.

Here's the past tournament results.

1974 - BFA 7, MVU 2 - Quarterfinals

1985 - MVU 4, BFA 2 - Quarterfinals

1993 - BFA 3, MVU 0 - Quarterfinals

1998 - BFA 9, MVU 0 - Quarterfinals

1999 - BFA 10, MVU 0 - Quarterfinals

2001 - MVU 4, BFA 2 - Quarterfinals

BFA is 68-25 overall in the Division I playoffs - 1-0 in playdown games, 41-19 in quarterfinals, 24-11 in semifinals and 16-8 in finals.

MVU is 12-33 overall in the Division I and II playoffs combined - 8-30 in Division I with a 2-3 record in semifinals and 0-2 in finals; 4-3 overall in D-II playoffs, 1-0 in semis and 1-0 in finals.

In Division I basketball, MVU also is competing in the quarterfinals which in and of itself a notable accomplishment.

The Thunderbirds, seeded #9 with a 13-8 record, travel to St. Johnsbury to face the top-seeded and undefeated Hilltoppers (21-0) at 2 p.m.

This is just the second time in school history the T-Birds have advanced to the Division I quarterfinals.

Back in 1986, MVU defeated CVU in the playdown round 70-53 before falling to - coincidentally St. Johnsbury - 64-62 in the quarterfinals. MVU's only other Division I playoff win before this week's win at BFA was in 1980 when the T-Birds defeated Middlebury in a play-in game, 51-44.

MVU is now 10-31 all-time in boys basketball playoff action with a 3-29 mark in Division I and a 7-2 mark in Division II.

Turning your attention to Division III, if you want to win a bet on the way to the game today ask someone to guess how many boys basketball titles the BFA-Fairfax and Enosburg schools have combined to win in their long histories. The answer, incredibly, is none. When you think back on all the truly great teams - in the distant past and recent past - there have been at these schools it's astonishing to think they are a combined oh-fer-forever in title games.

That could change this year, but each team faces a long bus ride to face a relatively unfamiliar foe.

The fifth-seeded Hornets (15-6) travel to take on No. 4 Rivendell (17-4) at 2 p.m. in Orford, N.H. Yes, New Hampshire. Evidently at some point Vermont traded Canaan to New Hamsphire and in return we got a elven enclave. (OK, I'm joking, I think. Having never been to Rivendell (do you pass through The Shire to get there) I have no idea. OK, done with my nerdy Lord of the Rings references ... maybe.)

The schools have met twice in the playoffs with the Raptors (how this team is not named the Elves astounds me) winning 49-41 in the playdown round and Enosburg taking a 80-74 playdown win in 2003.

Enosburg is 28-36 in its combined Division II and III playoff history. The Hornets are 25-28 in the D-III playoffs with a 5-5 record in the semifinals and 0-5 mark in the finals. The Hornets are 3-8 in the Division II tournament (which they will play in again starting next season) and they are 0-1 in their lone D-II semifinal appearance.

The BFA-Fairfax Bullets are the No. 6 seed for the third straight year and sport a 15-6 mark headed into today's 2 p.m. quarterfinals game at No. 3 Leland & Gray (16-5).

What's a Leland & Gray and where is it? The second part of the question is Townshend - I know that doesn't help much - but alledgedly it is in Vermont somewhere, more precisely Windham County. Again, I've never been to either of those places, so it could be a internet hoax. Here are the directions from the school's website.

Here's a little more about the school you might want to know ... or not.

From the school's website: Townshend is situated in the southeastern corner of VT, approximately 20 miles northwest of Brattleboro. Townshend and the towns of Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, and Windham comprise the union high school district. The total student population of Windham Central Supervisory Union is 884. (2009)

But what of the name? The school was founded in 1833 by a minister named Leland and 27 years later a deacon named Gray pumped a bunch of money into it to keep it a float (I am paraphrasing from info on the school's website) and the school was renamed for both men. Of course, being founded as a seminary by religious patrons, the school adopted a Rebel as a mascot. OK, I'm being saracastic. I mean, how are they not the Deacons? At any rate, for my money the school's real claim to fame is it's the only school in Vermont with an ampersand in it's official name. Burr and Burton uses the word, not the symbol. Why I know this, I have no idea.

OK, assuming you didn't leave me four paragraphs ago, here's what you need to know about BFA-Fairfax's playoff history with and their meeting with the ill-named Rebels.

BFA-Fairfax, as I wrote 10 minutes ago, is the sixth seed for the third straight year. This is notable because the last two years, they lost in the first round, but this year - ostensibly to shake things up - most of the team shaved their heads into mohawks. It worked as the Bullets avenged a 2012 playdown loss to Windsor and advanced to today's quarterfinals where, with a win, they will advance to their third Final Four in five years.

This is the fourth meeting between the schools in the playoffs. If the scores of the first three are any indication, the winning team will score either 74 or 76 points and the losing team will score either 64 or 69.

How do I know this? Here's their past scores.

1977 - L&G 76, Fairfax 64 - Quarterfinals

1995 - L&G 74, Fairfax 69 - Playdowns

2004 - Fairfax 76, L&G 69 - Playdowns

Fairfax has a 30-48 record all-time in the playoffs; 29-44 in Division III, including a 3-7 record in the semifinals and 0-3 in the finals. The Bullets are 1-4 in D-II playoffs.

Good luck to all teams competing in the postseason today, including the BFA-St. Albans and BFA-Fairfax cheerleading squads which will be competing for the state championship today in Vergennes at 4 p.m. BFA-Fairfax, the two-time defending D-II champs, will compete in Division I this year, as will the BFA-St. Albans cheer teams.

SASA, MAHA state tournament schedule and results - updated 1:50 p.m. Feb. 17, 2013

This schedule is believed to be correct at the time it is posted. Of course, there could be mistakes, postponments, etc ... Please check with your team to make sure they are playing if you are venturing out in the storm this weekend and remember this schedule is posted for free and sometimes you get what you pay for - hahaha!

Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013

U-12 Girls A/B aka U-10 - SASA 1, Rutland 0

Bantam A - SASA 6, Essex 1 - Bantams advance to state championship game on Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. in Waterbury

Bantam A/B - SASA 10, MAHA 1

Midgets - Ice Breakers 6, SASA 3

PeeWee B - SASA 4, Northshire 1

U-12 Girls A/B aka U-10 - MAHA 3, SASA 0

U-12 Girls A - SASA 3, BAHA 2

U-12 Girls A/B aka U-10 - Middlebury 8, SASA 1

Midgets - Wolfpack 6, SASA 3

U-12 Girls A/B    MAHA    vs.    Woodstock    at Morrisville    7:10 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013

Bantam A/B - SASA 3, BAHA 1

Bantam A/B    MAHA    vs.    Middlebury    at Highgate      9:30 a.m.

Bantam A - SASA 6, Barre 0

PeeWee B - SASA 1, Essex 0 (SASA advances to state title game on Friday, Feb. 22 at 7:45 p.m. in Waterbury)

Midgets - SASA 3, PVA 2

U-12 Girls A - SASA 3, CSB 1 (SASA advances to State Championship game on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 12:30 p.m. in Waterbury)

Friday, Feb. 22

PeeWee B - SASA vs. TBA, 7:45 p.m. at Waterbury

Saturday, Feb. 23

U-12 A - State Championship SASA vs. TBA, 12:30 p.m. at Waterbury

Bantam - State Championship SASA vs. Barre, 2 p.m. at Waterbury

Sunday, Feb. 24

PeeWee A - State Championship SASA vs. Essex, 2 p.m. at Waterbury

D-3 boys soccer championship notes

Two relatively unlikely foes with a lot shared and similiar tournament history will tangle Saturday in the Division III boys soccer state championship game, slated for 1 p.m. at Williamstown High School.

Fifth -seeded Thetford and seventh-seeded Stowe both caught fire at the end of the season after suffering some mid-season woes.

The Panthers, 11-6, suffered through a four-game losing streak, culiminating is a 3-0 loss to top-seeded Peoples Academy followed by a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Harwood on Oct. 16. Since then, Thetford is 5-0, outscoring foes 14-2.

The Panthers avenged the loss to Peoples in the semifinals, winning 3-1 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie in regulation and overtime play.

Stowe, 9-6-2, lost four of five midway through the season and was 3-6-1 in its final 10 games before the playoffs began. Since then, the Raiders have fashioned three straigt close wins, including overtime victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

For the season, Thetford enjoys a 39-19 goal differential. Stowe has outscored opponents 30-18.

In the lone meeting between the schools this fall, Stowe prevailed at home, 1-0, on Sept. 22.

However, the Panthers have a 5-5 records against common opponents, compared to a 2-6-2 mark for the Raiders.

This is the ninth time the teams have met in the playoffs, but the first time in the finals.

Past playoff meetings

• 2010 - Stowe 0, Thetford 0 (Stowe wins in PKs) Quarterfinals
• 2009 - Stowe 1, Thetford 0 Quarterfinals
• 2004 - Stowe 4, Thetford 0 Playdowns
• 2002 - Stowe 1, Thetford 1 (Stowe wins in PKs) Semifinals
• 1994 - Thetford 2, Stowe 1 Semifinals
• 1992 - Thetford 2, Stowe 0 Semifinals
• 1990 - Thetford 2, Stowe 1 Quarterfinals
• 1974 - Stowe 1, Thetford 1 Semifinals

Thetford has a 46-37 record all-time in the playoffs and a 3-4 mark in state title games. The Panthers last won the title in 1996.

• 2006 - Enosburg 1, Thetford 0
• 1996 - Thetford 3, Northfield 0
• 1994 - BFA-Fairfax 1, Thetford 0
• 1993 - Thetford 2, BFA-Fairfax 1
• 1992 - Oxbow 2, Thetford 1
• 1973 - Thetford 1, Proctor 0
• 1972 - Proctor 1, Thetford 0

Stowe has a 52-38 all-time playoff record and a 4-2 mark in state title games. The Raiders last won the title in 2009, wrapping up a championship three-peat.

• 2009 - Stowe 4, Winooski 0
• 2008 - Stowe 1, Peoples 0
• 2007 - Stowe 3, Peoples 2
• 2003 - Peoples 3, Stowe 2
• 1974 - Stowe 3, Arlington 1
• 1968 - Proctor 3, Stowe 1

Stowe ranks in a tie for fourth on the D-3 most-championships-won list; Thetford is in a tie for fifth.

Most Division III boys soccer state titles

• Proctor 14 (including 3 co-championships)
• Northfield 8 (including 2 co-championships)
• Arlington 7 (including 3 co-championships)
• Black River 4 (including 1 co-championship)
• Stowe 4
• Peoples 3
• Thetford 3
• BFA-Fairfax 1
• Enosburg 1
• Leland & Gray 1
• Oxbow 1
• Sacred Heart 1
• South Royalton 1
• Swanton 1 (a co-championship)
• Twin Valley 1
• Wilmington 1

D-3 girls soccer championship notes

In looking over the numbers, it's clear the two best teams in Division III high school girls soccer will meet Saturday at 10 a.m. at Williamstown High School (directions here).

The top-seeded, undefeated and defending champion Peoples Academy Wolves enter the game with a 17-0 record, having outscored (according to the VPA rankings page) opponents 79-4 during the regular season and 23-0 in the playoffs (according to the Burlington Free Press VPA pairings and schedules). I heard some reports the Wolves have outscored opponents 100-4 this season, but regardless if it's 100 or 102 total goals, it's just an incredibly ridiculous statistic.

The second-seeded BFA-Fairfax Bullets are 16-1 and have outscored opponents 76-10 this season (14-1 in the playoffs).

Despite the fact they are just 27.7 miles from each other, the teams did not play in the regular season.

They have, however, a lot of recent playoff history (source: VPA past champions).

• 2005 - Peoples 1, BFA 0 - quarterfinals
• 2007 - BFA 2, Peoples 1 - quarterfinals
• 2008 - Peoples 1, BFA 0 - finals
• 2009 - Peoples 3, BFA 1 - semifinals

More Peoples numbers to consider:

• According to Anna Grearson of the Times Argus, citing the PA athletic director, the Wolves are on a 31-game winning streak, outscoring teams 166-11 and posting 22 shutouts.
• The Wolves have been scored on in just three games this season, allowing two to North Country and one each to U-32 and St. Johnsbury.
• The Wolves carry a streak of five straight shutouts into Saturday's tilt.
• Peoples is 4-2 in state championship game finals and 41-18 all-time in Division III tournament play.
• Their four state championships rank them second all-time to Northfield for more championships won in D-III. The Marauders have 15 titles, including one co-championship.

The Wolves have been the most dominant D-III program over the past eight seasons, advancing the five title games in that span and winning four times.

• 2011 - Peoples 3, Oxbow 1
• 2009 - Peoples 2, Mill River 1
• 2008 - Peoples 1, BFA-Fairfax 0
• 2006 - Peoples 1, Northfield 0
• 2005 - Northfield 2, Peoples 1

Peoples also lost the 1989 title game to Northfield, 1-0.

More BFA-Fairfax numbers to consider:

Anissa Hartmann and Morgan Young have combined for 50 goals this season, with Hartman scoring 26 and Young 24.

Hartmann has equalled the all-time goal scoring mark at the school with 55.

The Bullets have not scored less than two goals in any game this season.

Their lone loss was a 3-2 defeat against Mount Abraham on Sept. 14. Since then, BFA has won 13 straight games.

The Bullets have only allowed two goals in a game twice this season; the aforementioned loss to Mt. Abe and in a 3-2 win over Oxbow on Oct. 11.

They have posted 10 shutouts this season.

Fairfax has a 27-21 all-time record in the Division III playoffs.

They are 0-3 in state championship games.

• 2008 - Peoples 1, BFA 0
• 1998 - Northfield 4, BFA 0
• 1993 - Northfield 3, BFA 0

For those interested, here's the list of all Division III girls soccer championship ranked by the most by each school.

• Northfield 15 (including one co-championship)
• Peoples 4
• Arlington 2
• Black River 2 (including one co-championship)
• Leland & Gray 2
• Green Mountain Valley 1
• Stowe 1
• Thetford 1
• Twin Valley 1

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