Vermont

Late unanswered run saves season for Vermont basketball in America East quarterfinals

Published

1 year ago

March 9, 2025

Late unanswered run saves season for Vermont basketball in America East quarterfinals

Vermont basketball at America East tournament: Quarterfinal interviews

Vermont basketball coach John Becker and players TJ Hurley and Nick Fiorillo discuss America East quarterfinal win on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

The Vermont Catamounts defeated the New Hampshire Wildcats 64-57 in the America East quarterfinals.
TJ Hurley led the Catamounts with 18 points, while Nick Fiorillo added 10 points.

Vermont basketball has been here before. Exactly one year ago, TJ Long’s 3-pointer in the final minute was the go-ahead basket as the Catamounts rallied to deny Albany’s upset bid in the 2024 America East quarterfinals.

While not nearly as dramatic as Long’s late-game triple, Vermont endured another major scare Saturday afternoon in the conference’s opening round of playoffs.

And the Catamounts survived to advance once again.

Second-seeded and three-time reigning champion Vermont finished the game on a 10-0 run to knock off No. 7 New Hampshire for a 64-57 league quarterfinal triumph in front of 2,102 at Patrick Gym.

“Today felt like a vintage Vermont game,” Vermont coach John Becker said. “That was really, really good to see. Any time you can be in a tight game and win, it’s going to help you and give you confidence that … if it is close, we know how to win and certainly we’ve proven that over the last couple decades.”

UNH gained the upper hand on Davide Poser’s 3-pointer and freshman Khalil Badru’s foul shots for a 57-54 advantage with 3:01 left in regulation.

TJ Hurley then drove baseline for a tough finish at the rim, beating the shot clock, and then knocked down a corner 3-pointer to put the Catamounts (21-11) in front at 59-57 with 2:03 to go. On UVM’s next trip, Hurley wrapped a baseline pass to Nick Fiorillo, who poured in a 3-pointer for a five-point edge with 1:06 on the clock.

While Vermont struggle at the foul line to close it out, UNH missed its final seven field-goal attempts.

Hurley finished with 18 points on 8 of 14 shooting, while Fiorillo added 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Ileri Ayo-Faleye put up a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds along with three blocks for the Catamounts, who trailed 34-26 at the break.

“The message at halftime was, we’ve been here before and we know what it takes to win,” Hurley said.

Another America East semifinal for Vermont basketball

Although they flirted with an early exit for a second straight year, Vermont basketball booked its trip to the semifinals for the 16th straight season. During that span, the Catamounts have gone on to the title game 10 times (2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024).

Becker has been the coach for nine of conference title-game berths.

Vermont basketball overcomes sluggish first half vs. UNH

The Catamounts trailed by as many as nine points in the opening 20 minutes, but it could’ve been much worse. They committed too many turnovers (eight), allowed too many 3-pointers (seven) and made only 1 of 10 from beyond the arc to sum up a putrid first half for the hosts.

Vermont also let Badru drain half as many as 3s (4) than he has all season.

However, Vermont’s defense toughened in the second half: UNH made only 1 of 11 of its 3-point attempts, while the Catamounts buried six triples and shot 58.3% overall in a second half they won 38-23.

Up next for Vermont basketball at America East tournament

The Catamounts will host a semifinal game vs No. 3 Maine on Tuesday, March 11 at Patrick Gym. Vermont seeks its fourth straight America East tournament championship.

Game time Tuesday will be 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

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

Source link

Click to comment

Vermont

Vermont lawmakers reject digital lottery initiative – Valley News

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Vermont lawmakers reject digital lottery initiative – Valley News

A plan by Gov. Phil Scott’s administration to make all of the state’s lottery games, including scratch-off tickets, available on a person’s phone never got off the ground at the Statehouse this year.

Lottery Commissioner Wendy Knight told lawmakers in January that the plan was a way to modernize the lottery “because you need to keep pace with technology — you need to meet your players where they are.”

Fifteen states have created a “digital” lottery system, and many have discovered there’s a distinct market of people who don’t buy lottery tickets at retail outlets but will do so on their phones, according to Knight. “We’re trying to ensure the future of the Vermont Lottery, ” the commissioner said.

But state lawmakers have not been persuaded.

Vergennes Rep. Matt Birong, the Democratic chair of the House government operations committee, said members of the panel felt this year was not the time to move forward with this plan, especially given the recent legalization of sports betting.

“It is digitizing a current system and after moving forward with the sports wagering — people just wanted to take their time with it — so my committee decided to tap the brakes on further testimony.”

The administration estimated that the plan would have raised roughly $5 million a year for the state’s education fund after two years of implementation.

The prospect of that additional revenue is appealing to lawmakers, and Birong said they may reconsider the plan next year.

Source link

Vermont

Wrong-way driver stopped on I-89, charged with DUI

Published

14 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Wrong-way driver stopped on I-89, charged with DUI

BOLTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A wrong-way driver was safely stopped on Interstate 89 overnight Sunday.

Vermont State Police say just before 12:30 a.m., they stopped the car near marker 77, near Bolton.

The driver, Denise Lear, 60, of Revere, was charged with driving under the influence and gross negligent operation.

Lear is expected in court Monday.

Source link

Vermont

Women’s Lacrosse Bested in Burlington by Vermont – University at Albany Great Danes

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Women’s Lacrosse Bested in Burlington by Vermont – University at Albany Great Danes

Score: UAlbany 4, Vermont 14

Location: Virtue Field | Burlington, Vt.

Records: UAlbany (10-5, 5-1 America East) | Vermont (8-6, 4-1 America East)

Short Story: UAlbany women’s lacrosse fell to the Vermont Catamounts on Saturday afternoon.

Key Stats

Grace Cincebox recorded a total of 14 saves with 13 goals allowed for a .565 save percentage.

Ravan Marsell led the Great Danes with two points on one goal and one assist.

Four different UAlbany players scored in the contest.

Reggie Williams was the team’s leader with three ground balls.

Delilah Mile caused a team high three turnovers.

How It Happened

The Catamounts came out of the gates hard and heavy, scoring all three goals between both sides in the first quarter.

Vermont would take an 8-0 lead in the second quarter before Amanda Williamson found the back of the net on a women-down goal to put the Great Danes on the board and make it 8-1.

The Great Danes would allow one more goal in the first half to trail 9-1 after 30-minutes of play.

Grace Cincebox would enter the half with 10 saves.

Riley Forthofer started the Great Danes off in the second half to make it a 9-2 game, before Vermont put up three more goals to take a 12-2 lead entering the final quarter of play.

Mya Carroll and Ravan Marsell both scored on back-to-back free-position goals to make it a 12-4 game.

The Catamounts finished the game with two more goals to take the win 14-4.

Up Next
The Great Danes will next have a bye week and wait to see the outcome of next week’s Vermont vs UMass Lowell game to see who will host the America East Tournament.

Social Central: Stay up to date with UAlbany women’s lacrosse by following the team on Instagram (@UAlbanyWLax), Facebook (UAlbany Women’s Lacrosse), and X (@UAlbanyWLax) for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the year.

Source link