2013 D-2, D-3 and D-4 H.S. boys basketball state title game numbers and notes
Friday, March 8, 2013 at 12:02PM 
I will be once again covering all three high school boys basketball state championships for the Burlington Free Press tomorrow at the Barre Auditorium and in advance of that, here are some numbers and notes on each game.
Division II - No. 1 Vergennes (23-0) vs. No. 2 Burr and Burton (21-2), 3:45 p.m.
Vergennes won its first playoff game by 19 points, its' quarterfinal by eight and it's semifinal by 5. So, is that an indiciation that a team that outscored opponent by an average score of 67-44 this season is slipping? Not so, according to coach Peter Quinn.
"I think there was this illusion we were going to beat everyone by 25 points because that was our average during the year, but we are playing better teams now," said Quinn.
The Commodores are seeking their fourth state title and first since 2001 when they defeated Lamoiulle 71-56. Vergennes lost in the finals to MSJ last year, 56-48.
One of the most experienced teams in the state with 10 seniors, the Commodores have a balanced attack with Charlie Stapleford, Dan McGrath, Shep Carter, Brendon Huestis and Zach Oullette all scoring in double figures in at least one playoff game, thus far. Notably missing from the list is Stanley Salley, who led the team with 14 points and nine rebounds per game in the regular season.
Vergennes likes to force teams into mistakes and capitalize by using their athleticism and depth to run teams into submission.
Kind like what Burr and Burton likes to do, really.
Another athletic team with a plethora of seniors (seven), the Bulldogs are aiming for their 10th state final (after going 9-0 in their first title games) and their first crown since an infamous 24-22 win over Fair Haven in the 2006 title game (the lowest-scoring Final Four tournament game in Barre Auditorium history).
The Bulldogs also have played closer games with each playoff round, winning by 32 in the first game, 14 in the quarters and nine in the semifinals.
Seniors Jake Stalcup and Weston Muench and sophomore Joey Shehadi have been the offensive stalwarts in the playoffs. Stalcup had 25 points and 11 rebounds in the quarterfinals and 23 points in the semis. Shehadi has averaged 14.7 points in the playoffs and Meunch popped in 12 points in the quarters.
This is just the second time the schools have played in the playoffs. In 1979, BBA bopped VUHS 82-43 in the playdowns and in 1967 Vergennes prevailed in the quarterfinals 67-63.
One 'X' factor could be the health of VUHS sparkplug Shep Carter, who was helped off the court sans shoe after the game following an ankle injury. With five days between the semi and final, time will tell if that is enough to give him enough time to heal sufficiently to contribute in the manner he typically does.
Division III - No. 1 Williamstown (23-0) vs. No. 2 Thetford (19-4), 7:30 p.m.
The Blue Devils are gunning for their second-straight title and fifth overall (including one in Division IV).
The Panthers have their sight set on their first title since 2004 and fourth overall.
The teams are very similar with aggressive defenses, opportunistic offenses and the ability to push the ball up and down the court and to attack the rim with athleticism. It has the potential to be a track meet at The Aud and it may come down to which team can protect the ball better and which team is more effective when the possessions are extended.
If it comes down to free throws, you have to like the Blue Devils who were 24-for-26 in the semifinals. Some teams struggle to find their stroke shooting on the unfamiliar rims at the Barre Aud. Obviously, this is not a problem for the Blue Devils who have plenty of experience in that environment.
Jason Manwaring, Seth Atherton and Hunter McLaughlin have led the Blue Devils in scoring in the playoffs.
Ian Weider, Brandon Gray, Aiden Cleaves and Dominic Chatot have reached double figures in scoring for a Thetford team that is playing in its sixth state title game in 12 years and its 10th Final Four in 13 years.
Williamstown won the lone regular season meeting by 14 points, 78-64, back on Dec. 28.
One factor in Thetford's favor on an anecdotal level is that the top-seed in the Division III tournament has failed to win the state title in every year since 2006.
Division IV - No. 1 Rochester (22-1) vs. No. 6 West Rutland (16-7), noon
West Rutland is the lone surprise team to reach the boys basketball state championships this winter. However, the Golden Horde know something about pulling up title-game upsets at The Aud. Back in 1995, seventh-seeded West Rutland won its most recent (and 13th) state title with a 51-48 win over fourth-seeded Rochester.
The upset would be even more monumental this time around, but certainly within the realm of possiblity.
Rochester has the best player in the division - and one of the best in the state - in guard Pavin Parrish (averaging nearly 30 points per game in the playoffs), but the Golden Horde are deep and have the athleticism and poise to hang with the high-flying Rockets.
Rochester is looking for its sixth overall state title after securing three in Division IV and one each in Divisions II and II. The Rockets last title was back in 1993 and they are 0-3 in their last three state title games, falling in the 1995, 96 and 98 title games.
This is their second straight trip to the Final Four following a 13-year drought.
The Rockets shot 56 percent from the floor in their semifinal win, led by a 14-for-19 effort by Parrish and he's on his game and Mike Smith, Clay Walker and Tanner Pratt can continue to shoulder a part of the load offensively, the Blue Devils are clearly the team to beat in this match-up.
However, West Rutland has plenty of scoring options and even if standout Jordan Pease or one of his two main supporting cast members: Joey Callahan and Chris Charbonneau are struggling, perhaps, just perhaps, the Gold Horde will be able to add another chapter to a very storied Vermont high school basketball playoff history.
SHAWN CORROW is the currently sleep-deprived owner of Cold Hollow Photographer, frequent contributor these days to the Burlington Free Press and slowly becoming a piece of furniture at the Barre Auditorium.
