Vermont

College roundup: Vermont defeats UMass Lowell men’s basketball team

Published

2 years ago

March 2, 2024

College roundup: Vermont defeats UMass Lowell men’s basketball team

Senior Quinton Mincey (Upper Marlboro, Md.) tallied a team-high 18 points, but the UMass Lowell men’s basketball team fell 74-62 to the Vermont Catamounts on Saturday afternoon at Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington, Vt.

Mincey, who connected twice from beyond the arc, was one of three double-digit scorers for the River Hawks (20-8, 11-4 AE). Behind him, senior Yuri Covington (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the second double-double of his career. Senior Ayinde Hikim (Washington, D.C.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Vermont improved to 24-6, 14-1 AE. UML had a four-game win streak snapped.

The River Hawks’ defense came out strong to start the game, holding the Catamounts to only one basket in the first three minutes. Vermont, however, began to heat up, sinking three triples as part of an 11-0 run to own a 13-4 lead with 14:02 on the clock. A jumper by Hikim interrupted the scoreless stretch before free throws from Mincey and junior Cam Morris III (Alexander City, Ala.) cut the deficit to 16-9 with just under 12 minutes remaining in the half.

The Catamounts responded quickly, using two triples to kick start a 13-2 run to extend their advantage to 29-11 with 8:17 to play in the half. Refusing to back down, the River Hawks locked down on defense, allowing only one basket over the next six and a half minutes of play. The River Hawks added seven points to whittle away at the deficit, but the hosts ended the half with six straight to own a 38-18 lead at the break.

UML tried to rally in the second half to no avail. The River Hawks will finish off the regular season at Maine on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Women’s basketball

UML nipped: UMass Lowell fell 55-51 to the Vermont Catamounts in the regular season finale at the Tsongas Center.

Prior to tip-off, the River Hawks (4-24, 4-12 AE) honored seniors Baylee Teal (Penfield, N.Y.), Sydney Coombs (Newmarket, N.H.), Leilani Rodriguez (Worcester) and graduate student Mili Carrera (Lima, Peru) in a special senior day ceremony.

Rodriguez led the squad with 16 points, going 6-for-11 from the field and 3-for-3 from three. Carrera added 14 on 5-for-10 shooting to go with four rebounds. Redshirt junior Sydney Watkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) was all over the scoresheet with 10 points and team-highs with six rebounds and five steals.

Davey shines: The Bowdoin College women’s basketball team pulled away in the second quarter and cruised to a 69-48 win over Western New England in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament in Brunswick, Maine

Sophomore Carly Davey, a sophomore from Westford and a former Westford Academy star, finished with a career-high 21 points, including 5-for-8 shooting from three-point range, for Bowdoin.

Men’s lacrosse

Hunt shines: Sophomore Brady Hunt (Billerica) scored the game-winning goal midway through the second overtime to lift Plymouth State University to a 9-8 win over Curry College in non-conference action at Panther Field.

Hunt went up high to snag a pass from behind the cage from junior Matt Miner (Chelmsford) and, in one motion, fired a shot to the bottom right corner as he was being hit from behind to secure the win. The game-winner was Hunt’s third goal of the game.

UML falls: Freshman James Donnelly (Ottawa, Ontario) tallied two goals and two assists, as UMass Lowell to the LIU Sharks, 13-6.

Donnelly, who now has back-to-back multi-goal games, was one of five River Hawks (0-4) to find the back of the net. Freshman Jayden Consigli (Franklin, Mass.) scored the first goal of his career, while seniors Curtis Redd (Amherst, N.H.) and Justin Longo (Kingston, N.Y.), and freshman Colby Frigon (Providence, R.I.) all added one.

In net, graduate student Mark Pav (South Setauket, N.Y.) made 11 saves in the start, while senior Anthony Mancino (Holbrook, N.Y.) made one save in relief.

Women’s lacrosse

St. George sparkles: Fitchburg State defeated UMass Boston, 13-7, as Jessica St. George (Dracut) and Nicole Orlowski led the way.

The pair combined for seven of the 13 goals, with Orlowski scoring a game-high four goals and two assists, with George netting another three goals and four draws.

Track

Camara stars: The Fitchburg State University women’s indoor track & field competed at the 2024 Tufts National Qualifying Meet at the Gantcher Center in Medford. Senior Makany Camara (Lowell) led the way for the Green and Gold, finishing fifth in the high jump with a mark of 1.64 meters.

On the men’s side, sophomore Liam Bourassa (Shirley) claimed sixth in the weight throw with a mark of 15.78 meters and 11th in the shot put with a throw of 13.58 meters.

Softball

UMass Lowell’s doubleheader against Howard and Towson at the TowsonDemarini Invitational has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

The River Hawks have a 1-1 record at the invitational hosted by Towson, falling short against Providence and earning a win against Towson. UMass Lowell concludes the weekend in Maryland with a rematch against Providence on Sunday at 10 a.m.

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Vermont

Friends, family rally behind Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism

Published

9 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Friends, family rally behind Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism

NEWPORT, Vt. (WCAX) – Friends and family of a Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism rallied in Newport Thursday, saying the charges stem from a mental health crisis and are unwarranted.

Vermont State Police say Joseph “J.J.” Millett, 38, of Newport, called a veterans crisis line in February, making suicidal statements and threatening a mass-casualty event.

Court records say Millett had guns and wrote what investigators call a manifesto. He turned himself in, and state police say they disarmed him at the barracks. He pleaded not guilty and was never formally arrested or placed in jail. He is currently in a treatment facility.

Supporters say the threats were the result of new medication and a mental health crisis. “But all the way to domestic terrorism for a man that fought overseas — he wasn’t a terrorist. He’s been fighting terrorists half his life,” said Chad Abbott, a friend who served with Millett overseas.

Abbott said he believes the charges could have unintended consequences for veterans seeking help. “These hotlines that they put out for us is to kind of get us the help we need. And now, none of us are going to want to call that,” he said.

Millett’s sister, Courtney Morin, said her brother served in the Vermont Guard for nearly 10 years and has struggled with mental health since returning home. “He suffers from depression, anxiety — he has PTSD. So, he’s actually been seeking help for his mental health for probably as long as he’s been home,” Morin said.

Orleans County State’s Attorney Farzana Leyva said the charge is warranted and that Millett was not calling for help when he contacted the crisis line. “He called the crisis helpline to make the threats. I think we have to be very clear about that. Those were threats. He did not call the crisis helpline for help. He called anonymously,” Leyva said.

She said the evidence — including repeated threats — Millett’s access to guns, and a manifesto justifies the charge and protects the public. “My priority is public safety, which is the highest priority that I have right now,” Leyva said.

Morin said she believes her brother was trying to get help. “I think he was seeking help. I mean, it’s all a trail of him seeking help, being on different meds. You know, we’re not in his head. We don’t know what he’s dealing with. And especially if you’re dealing with it alone,” Morin said.

Millett continues to receive treatment and is due back in court later this month.

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Vermont

Vermont high school playoff scores, results, stats for Thursday, March 5

Published

21 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Vermont high school playoff scores, results, stats for Thursday, March 5

The 2025-2026 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.

TO REPORT SCORES

Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

▶ Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

▶ Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.

THURSDAY’S H.S. PLAYOFF GAMES

D-III GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

At Barre Auditorium

No. 5 Vergennes (17-4) vs. No. 1 Hazen (18-2), 5:30 p.m.

No. 3 Oxbow (16-6) vs. No. 2 Windsor (16-6), 7:30 p.m.

Watch Vermont high school sports on NFHS Network

D-I BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

No. 8 Mount Mansfield (10-11) at No. 1 Rice Memorial (17-3)

No. 12 Essex (5-16) at No. 4 Rutland (15-6)

No. 7 Burr and Burton (13-8) at No. 2 South Burlington (15-5), 6 p.m.

No. 6 BFA-St. Albans (13-8) vs. No. 3 Burlington (15-5) at Colchester, 7:30 p.m.

D-II GIRLS HOCKEY QUARTERFINALS

No. 8 Stowe (5-16) vs. No. 1 U-32 (13-6-1) at Kreitzberg Arena, 5 p.m.

(Subject to change)

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Vermont

19 Vermont school budgets fail as education leaders debate need for reform

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

19 Vermont school budgets fail as education leaders debate need for reform

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Most Vermont school budgets passed Tuesday, but 19 districts and supervisory unions saw their spending plans rejected — an uptick from the nine that failed in 2025, though well below the 29 that failed in 2024.

Some education leaders say the results show communities are largely supportive of their schools.

“We’re starting to kind of equalize out again towards the normal trend of passage of school budgets each year,” said Chelsea Meyers of the Vermont Superintendents Association.

Sue Ceglowski of the Vermont School Boards Association said the results send a clear message. “Vermont taxpayers support Vermont’s public schools,” she said.

Meyers said the results also raise questions about the scope of education reform being considered in Montpelier. “If we are going to reform the system, it might not require sweeping broad changes as are being considered right now, but a more concise approach to consider that inequity,” she said.

But in districts where budgets failed, officials say structural changes are still needed. In Barre, where the budget failed, Barre Unified Union School District Board Chair Michael Boutin said the Legislature must, at a minimum, create a new funding formula. “We have to have that in order to avoid the huge increases and decreases — the huge increases that we’ve seen in the last couple years,” Boutin said.

He said the rise in school budgets is separate from why property owners are seeing sharp tax increases. The average state increase in school budgets is 4%, but the average property tax increase is 10%, driven by cost factors including health care. “There’s a complete disconnect, and that’s a product of the terrible system that we have in Vermont with our funding formula,” Boutin said.

Ceglowski says the state should address health care costs before moving forward with rapid education policy changes. “Addressing the rapid rise in the cost of school employees’ health benefits by ensuring a fair and balanced statewide bargaining process for those benefits,” she said.

The 19 districts that did not pass their budgets will need to draft new spending plans to present to voters, which often requires cuts. Twelve school districts are scheduled to vote at a later date.

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