Vermont
VBCA names players of the year at annual all-star event at Windsor
After leading their teams to state championships earlier this month, West Rutland’s Peyton Guay and Burlington’s Abdi Sharif collected more hardware on Saturday: the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association players of the year honors.
Guay was named the top girls player for the second time in three seasons, while Sharif was recognized as the state’s best on the boys side during the day-long celebration of hoops highlighted by four senior all-star games at Windsor High School.
Guay, who set the state’s all-time girls scoring record (2,279 points) this winter, helped West Rutland to a fourth straight Division IV title. Sharif was the leading scorer on a Burlington team that captured the program’s first D-I crown since 2016.
Coaches who are members of VBCA are allowed to vote on the POYs.
During Saturday’s competition, the North and South split the four games. The North now leads the all-time series 59-33.
The results:
Division III-IV girls: North 56, South 47
BFA-Fairfax’s Abba Villeneuve (10 points), Windsor’s Sophia Rockwood (nine) and Twinfield/Cabot’s Kendall Fowler (eight) powered the North, which pulled away from a three-point halftime lead.
For the South, West Rutland’s Bella Coobs scored nine points and Oxbow’s Maggi Elsworth tossed in seven.
Windsor’s Rockwood won the 3-point contest with a record-tying 18 3-pointers in a minute.
Division III-IV boys: South 82, North 81
Windsor’s Tanner Crane and White River Valley’s Zander Clark each scored 13 points and White River Valley’s Brayden Russ struck for a dozen points as the South built a big lead before holding off a North comeback bid.
Hazen’s Brendan Moodie (23 points) led the rally attempt from a 14-point deficit. Danville’s Andrew Joncas scored 11 points, Williamstown Evan Bailey added nine and Thetford’s Dylan Vance and Richford’s Jerrick Jacobs each had eight.
White River Valley’s Wyatt Cadwell won the 3-point contest on a tiebreaker.
Division I-II girls: South 65, North 62
In a tight finish, Fair Haven’s Izzy Cole sealed the win with a pair of game-sealing foul shots. Spaulding’s Taylor Keel led the winners with 14 points, followed by Mount Abraham’s Louisa Painter with eight points and Springfield’s Macie Stagner with seven.
For the North, Burlington’s Nylah Mitchell scored nine of her team-high 12 points in the second half. Mount Mansfield’s Bella Schultz-Mitchell scored seven.
Mount Anthony’s Madi Moore was the 3-point contest winner, matching Rockwood’s record 18 3s.
Division I-II boys: North 106, South 86
Burlington’s Abdi Sharif scored 17 points and Mount Mansfield’s Tommy Brockmeyer scored 14 as the North outlasted the South in a shootout.
St. Johnsbury’s Rex Hauser scored 13 points and Rice’s Dallas St. Peter put up 11 points.
On the South side, Rutland’s Dez Krakowka totaled 17 points and Montpelier teammates Atif Milak (14) and Carter Bruzzese (13) also reached double figures.
St. Peter captured the 3-point contest with 21 treys from distance.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.