Menard and Fortmann Power Vikes to Top Spot
LYNDONVILLE – Hazen Union’s Andrew Menard and Max Fortmann combined for three assists last week as the Lyndon Institute (LI) boys’ hockey team blitzed Missisquoi Valley (MVU), Woodstock, and Burlington to run their unbeaten streak to 10 games.
Fortmann, a junior forward/defenseman, recorded an assist and Alex Giroux reached 100 career points in an 8-1 win over MVU last Wednesday. Giroux scored twice and Ben West recorded a hat trick in the win. Menard notched an assist on Thursday as the Vikes raced past Woodstock at home 6-1. LI scored three times in the first period and never looked back. The senior defensive captain celebrated Senior Night over the weekend with two more assists as the Vikings completed a clean sweep of the week with a dominant 11-1 home win over Burlington. Fellow seniors Adam Dusek and Jason Richmann were also honored by family, friends, and teammates, with Dusek capping off his special night with a hat trick.
The 14-2-2 Vikings leapfrogged Colchester for the top spot in the division II standings and wrap up the regular season with a home date with Northfield on Monday and a trip to Harwood on Wednesday.
Bears Roll to Number One Seed
DANVILLE – Junior Andrew Joncas powered the offense to help the Danville boys’ basketball team cap off the regular season with wins over Oxbow and Stowe to capture the top seed in the upcoming Division IV state tournament.
Joncas connected on a trio of threes on his way to a 19-point night as the Bears dispatched Oxbow 75-49 at home last Monday. Anthoni Guinard added 16 points, including four more threes as the home team took a commanding 54-14 lead into the break. Sebastian Eldred chipped in 14 more for Danville in the win. Joncas scored 17 more and pulled down 10 rebounds to help the Bears outlast a gritty Stowe team at home on Friday 53-47. Cooper Calkins complemented with nine points and game-high 12 rebounds in the win. Isaiah Thomas paced the Raiders with 13 as they fell to 4-16 on the season.
Danville closed out the regular season on a five-game winning streak and hosted Sharon Academy on Tuesday in the first round of the Division IV playoffs. If they advance, they will host the winner of eighth seeded Twinfield-Cabot and ninth seeded Poultney in a quarterfinal matchup on Friday night.
Shorthanded Chargers Finish Third
RANDOLPH – The Craftsbury Academy (CA) bowling team wrapped the regular season over the weekend with a third-place finish at the Valley Bowl in Randolph.
Jason Brown led the way for the Chargers, rolling the high games of the day with a 209 and 179. Jacob Marquis followed with a high game of 170, with Matt Wilcox rolling a high game of 160. Despite being shorthanded, CA took White River Valley to the wire in the opening round before falling 180-145 in the third and deciding game.
“We tried to use our numbers disadvantage to our advantage, taking our time on the lanes during each frame. Our team rolled some amazing shots, but the pins just weren’t reacting leaving us tough splits all afternoon. Our team did a great job of continuing to fight, taking the first Bakers game with only four bowlers. I’m super proud of the team and our coaching staff and we’re confident with the team we are rolling into States with,” said head coach Ashley Gravel.
The individual and team state tournament will kick off this weekend in Rutland and conclude the following weekend in Colchester.
