COUNTY COURIER QUESTION OF THE WEEK: 03-03-2022

**Each week, the County Courier sports staff will answer one “Question of the Week” in regards to the high school sports scene. Check back each Thursday to see what question we are answering and don’t forget to pick up a copy of the County Courier on Thursdays**

Out of the remaining local teams in the playoffs, what possible matchup are you looking forward to see the most?

Don’t tell either coach, but I’m skipping the semifinal round and looking ahead most excitedly to the possibility of seeing two of our teams skate for a title next Friday at UVM’s Gutterson Fieldhouse. With a little luck Friday and Saturday, we’re in for a redo of 2020 with Milton vying for a DII title followed by BFA-St. Albans doing the same in Division I. On that final night before the world shut down due to COVID-19, things went against Milton and in favor of the Bobwhites. Here’s hoping if we have another local doubleheader on March 11^th, we’re covering two title wins.

For the No. 3 Yellow Jackets, the aim is to end a very long title drought. The school hasn’t captured a hockey crown since 1982, having fallen in the semifinals eight times since and losing both title-game appearances. 39 seasons seems like the right amount of time between championships, 40 would be too much – so  I’m hoping this is Milton’s year. The group is deep and many have big game experience either from hockey in 2020 or as soccer champions this fall. Milton would face either No. 1 Hartford or No. 4 Mt. Mansfield; games against both teams were close in the regular season (a two-goal loss to the Hurricanes and two-goal win over the Cougars) and figure to play out the same way at Gutterson.

There is no risk of a four-decade title drought for No. 2 BFA-St. Albans, who with a win Friday against No. 3 Essex (the Hornets swept BFA in the regular season) would face either No. 1 Rice or No. 4 Colchester in the late game after the Division II final. The Bobwhites are looking for a third consecutive title, having won that game after Milton’s championship loss in 2020 and knocking down Essex in last year’s championship. A possible three-peat is really the secondary storyline for these Bobwhites with a championship serving as the perfect swan song for outgoing coach Toby Ducolon. Ducolon is hanging it up and passing the program to assistant Ben Roberts after 32 years of coaching and nine championships (to go with two as a BFA player in the 80s). If the Bobwhites can get past Essex, and not many teams beat a Ducolon squad three times in one season, BFA’s motivation will be all about sending its legendary coach out with a 10^th championship.

The matchup I would most like to see would have to be round three between the BFA-St. Albans and Spaulding girls hockey teams, which would take place in the Div. I championship game if they end up playing each other in the tournament. Both teams still need to make it through their semifinal opponents, but after seeing the first two games (both won by BFA), I think the added element of a championship on the line would be a great bonus. It almost seems blasphemous to say I’m looking forward to seeing BFA play anyone else over Spaulding’s semifinal opponent in Essex, but this year’s games against Spaulding just has those special. On the other hand of that, if Essex ends up knocking off Spaulding in the semifinals Friday, you can’t really go wrong with a BFA/Essex championship game which will just add to the already storied rivalry.

But there is a lot of history between BFA and Spaulding as well which adds another layer to this matchup. These two programs met seven times in the postseason between 2004 and 2014 with BFA winning six of those contests, including in the 2010 and 2011 championship games. Of course, history doesn’t matter much for the current rendition of these teams if they face off against each other, but looking at their stats adds to the allure of them facing off for a championship. Through the quarterfinal round BFA has outscored its opponent 118-34. Spaulding has outscored its opponent 114-30. In their last seven games, the Comets’ defense has gotten better and better, as the team has outscored their opponents 22-6 with Erin Jackson posting two shutouts in that span and Makenna Montgomery securing a shutout in the regular-season finale and neither has given up more than two goals in a game since Feb. 5 against Rutland (who just so happens to be their semifinal opponent). BFA took both regular season meetings this year against Spaulding with a 5-3 win on Jan. 19 and a come-from-behind 3-2 win on Feb. 12.

Coming off a loss in the quarterfinals for the first time in program history last year, I’m sure the players on this year’s team that experienced that last season have been keeping that in the back of their minds. Despite cruising through a number of games, the Comets never took a team lightly this season and continued to work no matter what an opponents’ record might be. With an offense led by its top line of Jodie Gratton (22 goals, 23 assists), Caroline Bliss (17 goals, 19 assists) and Bri Jarvis (13 goals, 13 assists), the Comets are going to put up plenty of goals. That’s not even counting the points from Sophie Zemianek on defense, who enters Friday’s semifinal game with 20 goals and 21 assists and on a 10-game point streak. Depth has been key for the Comets all season and should continue to play a big role. Up and down the lineup, the Comets have been getting production from everyone whether it’s scoring goals or killing penalties or doing the dirty work that doesn’t get recognized on the scoresheet, everyone has had a hand in the success of the team so far this season. Again, I’m sure no one will complain if it comes down to a BFA/Essex final (I know I wouldn’t), but just the comparisons between BFA and Spaulding this season and the two games they already played makes me want to see game No. 3.  

I am a bit of a homer, but I am excited to see the No. 6 BFA boys basketball team compete in the quarter-finals. After the Bobwhites won over the No. 11 Burlington Seahorses on Wednesday night (first playoff win since the 2017-2018 season), they will travel to South Burlington to face the No. 2 Rice Green Knights @7 pm on Friday night.

Last Saturday, BFA finished the regular season with a matchup against Rice. They went shot for shot with them and entered the fourth quarter down three until the Bobwhites got into foul trouble. In that game, they showed they could play with the fast-paced team, and with a few tweaks, they can compete with the top teams in division one.

The matchup within the matchup is why it makes this playoff game so unique. Seth Richards has become a severe threat on the offensive end and gave Rice problems on the offensive glass. Noah Earl’s defense vs. Sharif Sharif’s offense will be something to watch. Earl did not allow Sharif to get into a rhythm this past weekend, and if Earl contains him to less than 18 points, he will have done his job. If they fix the defensive communication and execution on offense, the Bobwhites have a shot at making the semi-finals for the first time since 1996.

Win or lose, the coaching staff deserves the most credit for what they have accomplished this season. Tristan Menard, Shawn Earl, Mike Moshovetis, Sean Sweeney, Cody Bushway, and Jeremy Franklin have all contributed to changing the culture of this program. This group of boys has had to overcome much more than their play on the court, but how to play as a team. 

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