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

Trivia time - Vermont H.S. boys basketball playoff superlatives

I’m a nerd. I like trivia. I like numbers. But I also like sports.

And so when I when I get lists in front of me of all of the histories of all of the teams who have played in all of the state tournaments over all of the last 90 years, I’m mentally duty-bound to analyze and compile.

That just how us nerds roll.

This character flaw can bemuse and even infuriate our significant others, but it can also result in some research that answers the questions that, well, frankly no one was asking.

At any rate, if you care about such things, here are the list of the Vermont high school boys basketball teams with the most playoff wins since 1992, the worst and best all-time playoff winning percentages and the best and worst all-time records in state championship games. (Oh, and a couple of items that I just found to fanciful not to include, as well).

At this point, you should either continue reading and admit that you, too, are a sports nerd or click onto to some other more productive and entertaining website.

Enjoy.

All-time most wins in Vermont high school boys basketball tournament history*

1. Burlington 136 wins, 64 losses
2. Rice 122-60 (won the first state title in 1922, a 28-24 win over Hardwick)
3. Proctor 90-52
4. West Rutland 87-42
5. Spaulding 84-62
6. Montpelier 76-58
7. Rutland 76-76
8. Mount Anthony 67-34
9. Winooski 66-51
10. Fair Haven 65-45
11. Blue Mountain 62-36
12. Danville 62-46
13. Arlington 61-40

(*minimum 60 wins; since 1922 - source vpaonline.org; research by Paul Stanfield, I believe)

Schools with best all-time tournament win percentage

1. Bennington Catholic 8-2 (Won two titles from 1963-67)
1. Shelburne 4-1 (Won title in 1938)
3. North Bennington 6-2 (Won title in 1949)

Schools with worst all-time winning percentages - 11 schools tied

Bristol 0-4 (from 1962-67); Newport Center 0-3 (1939, 66 and 67); Trinity Baptist 0-3 (1985-91); Pine Ridge 0-2 (2002 and 03); St. Albans 0-2 (1922 and 23); St. Anne's 0-2 (1940 and 41); Waitsfield 0-2 (1958 and 66); Bethel 0-1 (1932); Greensboro 0-1 (1966); Highgate 0-1 (1969); Troy 0-1 (1922).

Schools with best record in state title game appearances, minimum two appearances

1. Burr and Burton 9-0

2. Mount Mansfield 4-0

3. South Royalton 3-0

4. Harwood 2-0

5. Poultney 10-2 and Wallingtonford 5-1 (last competed in 1969)

7. Winooski 12-3

Schools with the most appearances in the title game without a win

1. Northfield and Enosburg 0-5

3. Colchester and Bennongton (last appearance in 1961) 0-4

5. BFA-Fairfax, Milton and Wells River (last appearance in 1967) 0-3

9. Marian, Johnson, Swanton and Websterville 0-2

13. Weeks School 0-1

Notables - Craftsbury is 8-1 in semifinal games and 1-7 in state finals; South Burlington is also 1-7 in semifinal games and Green Mountain Union is 0-7 in semifinals

##

SHAWN CORROW is the owner of Cold Hollow Photography and former St. Albans Messenger sports editor and former Burlington Free Press sports copy desk editor/reporter/photographer. He still contributes to various newspapers and other publications, in print and online, across the state. And he's a really big nerd.

 

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

MVU-South Burlington game notes

A few notes on the MVU-SBHS Division I boys soccer semis I'll be covering for the Free Press today.

MVU is No. 1 seed with 14-1-1 record and a 33-9 goal differential. T-Birds lone loss to SBHS 2-0 on Oct. 6.

MVU advanced to semis with 3-0 win over Lyndon and 1-1 (5-4 PKs) win over Essex.

MVU is defending Division II champs and reached finals in D-2 two straight years.

This is MVU's first Division I semifinal since 1993, a 1-0 loss to CVU as the No. 1 seed. MVU's last playoff win in D-I before this year? Also back in 1993.

MVU's last D-I final was in 1980 (a 2-0 loss to BFA) and it's last D-I title was in 1979.

This is only the second time MVU and South Burlington have played in the soccer playoffs and first since 1986 when MVU won 1-0.

MVU is 7-4 in D-I semis and 4-3 in D-I title games, with almost all of the success in the 1970s.

South Burlington is No. 4 seed with 11-4-1 record and 39-16 goal differential. Advanced to the semis with 1-0 win over BFA and 3-1 win over Harwood.

This is sixth trip to semis in seven years for SBHS and the Rebels are bidding for their fifth title game appearance since 2005. The Rebels are 0-4 in the title game since 2005.

SBHS has a 10-3 all-time record in the semis and a 3-6-1 mark in the finals. SBHS's last title was in 1991, a 2-1 win over Essex. The Rebels lost 2-0 in the finals to Essex in 2010.

Game time is 3 p.m. in Swanton.

I'll be at the game - follow me @scorrow for updates and check out my photos from the game later tonight at www.coldhollowphoto.com