Vt. HS Boys D-2, 3 and 4 title previews by the numbers

As part of my prep to cover the Divisions 2, 3 and 4 high school boys state championship game, here’s a look at three match-ups strictly by the numbers.

One interesting note to start you off, in each division there is a team that has never won a state title. Having three teams win their first state title - especially in that venue - on the same day would be a spectacle.

Division 2

No. 7 Enosburg (15-8) vs. No. 1 Woodstock (23-0), 3:45 p.m.

With a win over the undefeated Wasps the Enosburg Hornets would make history in a couple regards.

The Hornets have never won a state title in boys basketball and they would be the lowest seed to ever win a Division 2 title. Back in 1980, Winooski was a No. 6 seed and won the title.

The last time Enosburg competed for a title was in 1992. The other title-game losses were in 1984, 1986, 1987 and 1991.

The Hornets are a young team and after a 1-5 start it’s remarkable they are playing for the title. With this youth, this could be the start of a long run of trips to The Aud.

This is the first title game appearance for Woodstock since 2002. The Wasps have won four state titles and this is their 11th title game appearance. Their last title win was in 1999. They won the 1998, 1965 and 1964 titles, as well.

The teams did not play each other this season and have never met in the playoffs.

Division 3

No. 4 Rivendell (19-4) vs. No. 3 Williamstown (19-4), 7:30 p.m.

Unlike in Division II where the teams are unknown to each other, the Rivendell-Williamstown recent playoff history is reaching epic proportions, but only the Blue Devils are happy about that.

The teams have met on the bouncy Barre Auditorium floor for the last three seasons.

Williamstown is seeking its fourth straight title. Do the math. The Blue Devils have been the hammer in this relationship and the Raptors have been the nail.

Here are those past meetings

2014 - Semifinals - Williamstown 67, Rivendell 41
2013 - Semifinals - Williamstown 60, Rivendell 54
2012 - Finals - Williamstown 66, Rivendell 42
Also
2006 - First round - Williamstown 59, Rivendell 49.

The teams played twice in the regular season
Feb. 6 - Williamstown 64, Rivendell 59
Feb. 18 - Williamstown 77, Rivendell 58

If Rivendell can overcome all of those past defeats and win Saturday’s game, they’re be many reasons to rejoice - including a first-ever boys basketball title for the school.

The only other time the Raptors were in the finals was in 2012.

Williamstown would run it’s title streak to four straight with a win and it would be the seventh in school history. This is the fifth finals appearance in six years for the Blue Devils, who have built an impressive dynasty.

The Blue Devils - one of three teams to make the finals despite opening-game losses - started the season 1-3. They are 18-1 since.

Division 4

No. 4 Proctor (17-6) vs. No. 3 Sharon (20-3), noon

Sharon has the better record, better seed and a rabid fan base, but Proctor has the pedigree.

The Sharon Academy - fans serenaded the players with chants of T-S-A! in the semis - is playing in its’ first state title game.

Proctor is playing in its’ 23rd.

The teams did not play in the regular season.

The met once in the playoffs.

2007 - Semifinals - Proctor 50, Sharon 34

Proctor’s last title was in 2010 - the last of five straight championships.

D-2, D-3 and D-4 girls basketball title game preview by the numbers

The Richford girls team celebrate their semifinal win on Feb. 26, 2015 at Barre Auditorium. (Shawn Corrow, www.coldhollowphoto.com)

Every year that I’m asked by the Burlington Free Press to cover all three state championship games I do a little research to see if I can uncover some nuggets that might improve my stories.

Here’s the results of the endeavor - most of it will never see the light of day unless I post it here.



No. 1 Lake Region (21-2) vs. No. 3 Mill River (18-5), 3:45 p.m.

Lake Region started the season 5-0, lost to D-I Burr and Burton and Lyndon Institute in back-to-back games, and since then has reeled off 16 straight wins, including a win over Lyndon in the semifinals.

This is Lake Region’s seventh state title game appearance, it’s sixth since 2007 and it’s first since 2011.

The Rangers are 2-4 in state title games, winning the D-III title over Windsor in 2009 and winning the D-II title way back in 1974 over Oxbow. They are 1-0 in D-II title games.

They had a run of five straight title games from 2007-2011.

Mill River is making it’s fourth state title game appearance, but it’s first since 1986. The Minutemen went to three title games in a row from 1984-1986, but came up empty each time.

They have not competed for a title before or since.

Mill River’s losses were to Burr and Burton, Rutland, Fair Haven and Mount Anthony.

The teams did not play each other this season.

This is the second time the schools have met in the playoffs

Past result
2010 - Lake Region 63, Mill River 23 - Quarterfinals

Division III

No. 1 Thetford (22-1) vs. No. 3. Richford (19-4), 7:30 p.m.

Thetford has won 18 straight games since a three-point loss to Rivendell on Dec. 20, 2014.

The Panthers won their first-ever title last year.

Prior last year’s win, they had been 0-3 in state title games.

Richford is seeking it’s fourth state title, its’ first since 1992. The Rockets also won titles in 1989 and 1990.

Richford suffered two losses to Division II top seed Lake Region and one each to BFA-Fairfax and Stowe.

The schools did not play each other this season.

This is the fifth time the schools have meet in the playoffs.

Past results
2012 - Thetford 42, Richford 19 - First round
2001 - Thetford 56, Richford 45 - First round
1996 - Thetford 57, Richford 35 - Quarterfinals
1993 - Richford 60, Thetford 58 - Semifinals
1992 - Richford 67, Thetford 47 - Semifinals

Random notes - Richford coach Jenessa Swainbank is one of the youngest coaches to lead a team to a state title game at the ripe old age of 22. She’s also a member of a very exclusive club of father-daughter combos that have led teams to title games. I’ve asked other members of Vermont sports media and no one could remember anyone younger or another father-daughter combo, but there’s no way to prove she’s the youngest or they are in exclusive company.

Division IV

No. 1 Mount St. Joseph’s (21-1) vs. No. 3 Proctor (17-5), noon

The Mounties defeated Proctor twice during the regular season, 45-33 and 51-46.

MSJ’s lone loss was to West Rutland.

This is MSJ’s fifth trip to the title game. They lost last year to Proctor, 40-33.

MSJ’s lone title was a Division II title in 2002 over Windsor.

They have lost to Vergennes in the D-II title game in 2006 and to Arlington in the D-III tournament in 2001.

Proctor is in the midst of an amazing run of success.

The Phantoms have won three straight state titles. They also won a D-III title back in 1984 and lost three times in the Division III finals (1985, 1987 and 1989).

Their other losses this year are to Whitcomb, West Rutland and Fair Haven.

This is the third time the schools have met in the playoffs.

Past results
2014 - Proctor 40, MSJ 33 - Finals
2013 - Proctor 45, MSJ 37 - Quarterfinals

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

Dance State Championship news and notes

A few things to know about today's Vermont dance state championship at Vergennes High School.

This is the seventh year dance has been an organized athletic endeavor in Vermont.

The first year, the sport was a demonstration sport. In 2007, the first state championship was awarded to Springfield.

South Burlington goes through it's practice routine / Shawn Corrow, coldhollowphoto.com

Other past champs are South Burlington (2008), Burr and Burton (2009 and 2011) and Colchester (2010).

There are three genres of dance championships awarded: Pom, Jazz and Hip Hop.

Teams can compete in two genres. The team with the highest combined score for both dances wins the state title.

There are five judges for each dance. The top and bottom scores are thrown out. The maximum score for each judge is 100. The combined scored of the remaining three judges is combined for a total score of a maximum of 300. According to event chair Sean Farrell, South Burlington has posted the high score in the regular season, scoring nearly 280 points.

Eleven schools are competing - Arlington, BFA-St. Albans, Burr and Burton, Colchester, Lamoille, Middlebury, MVU, Mount Anthony, Mount Mansfield, South Burlington and Springfield.

The largest team is MMU with 21 dancers listed on its roster; MVU has just 5.

South Burlington goes through it's practice routine / Shawn Corrow, coldhollowphoto.com

Here's the scoring matrix:

Teams could score as many as 100 points based on five categories: Communication and projection (10 possible points); choreography (40 possible points, 10 each for appropriateness to genre, difficulty and creativity; five points each for formations/transitions and the way the dance compliments the music; group execution (25 possible points, 10 each for synchronization, timing with the music and five points for spacing; dance technique (20 possible points, 10 each for rhythm and body control/placement; five points for image of a high school dance team in regards to appropriateness of music, lyrics, movement and apparel.