ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT
B Section
THURSDAY, Â DECEMBER Â 19, Â 2013
KARL LINDHOLM
SPORTS
ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
t 4DIPPM /FXT t -FHBM /PUJDFT
t $MBTTJĂŤFET t 3FBM &TUBUF
I  never  missed  one from  the  stands Editor’s  note:  If  you  get  a  wicked  sense  of  dĂŠjĂ Â vu  reading  this  column  don’t  call  your  doctor.  Karl  Lindholm  wrote  this  gem  in  December  1998  and  we  ran  it  again  in  order  to  give  Karl  a  chance  to  catch  his  breath  af- ter  he  rushed  back  from  Africa. Ted  Williams  was  wrong.  Hitting  a  baseball  is  not  the  hardest  task  in  VSRUWV 5HIÂżQJ D EDVNHWEDOO JDPH LV A  few  years  back,  I  made  a  fool- ish  decision.  I  agreed  to  become  a  basketball  referee  —  not  a  real  ref,  D FHUWLÂżHG RIÂżFLDO EXW IDU ZRUVH , DJUHHG WR RIÂżFLDWH JDPHV LQ WKH Middlebury  Adult  0HQÂśV /HDJXH LQ which  I  had  played  for  nearly  15  years. The  clever  fel- lows  running  the  league  played  to  my  innocence  and  my  egotism.  “We  need  you,â€?  they  said.  They  derided  WKH RIÂżFLDOV WKH\ KDG DQG FODLPHG my  association  with  the  league  as  a  player  for  so  long  gave  me  special  credibility  and  authority.  “You’ll  be  good  at  it,â€?  they  added.  Right. $ERXW ÂżYH PLQXWHV LQWR P\ ÂżUVW game,  my  former  teammates  and  friends  in  the  league  were  trans- formed  into  snarling  monsters,  casting  aspersions  on  my  eyesight,  honesty,  masculinity,  heritage,  my  very  being.  I  knew  immediately  I  had  been  naive.  By  the  third  game,  I  WKRXJKW P\ QDPH ZDV Âł-HVXV &KULVW Karl!â€? I’m  still  at  it.  Once  a  week,  Tues- GD\ RU 7KXUVGD\ QLJKW IURP 'H- OTTER  SENIOR  OLIVIA  Bloomer  tries  to  block  a  shot  by  Eagle  junior  cember  to  March,  I  show  up  at  the  Jen  Gordon  Tuesday  night. Municipal  Gym,  and  lumber  my  way  Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell through  two  full  length  games,  blow- LQJ WKH ZKLVWOH IURP S P /LNH DOO UHIV , VRPHWLPHV PDNH FDOOV in  the  frantic  last  minutes  of  a  close  game  that  I  wish  I  could  take  back.  Some  nights,  I  go  home  reasonably  VDWLVÂżHG RWKHU QLJKWV , JR KRPH GLV- OTTER  VALLEY  UNION  High  School  senior  Brittany  Bushey  spins  away  from  Eagles  Isabel  Brennan,  left,  couraged  by  my  imperfections. and  Ashlie  Fay  during  Tuesday’s  game  in  Brandon.  Mount  Abraham  won  the  game,  42-Â31. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell Starting  out,  I  knew  the  kind  of  ref  I  wanted  to  be.  I  would  not  be  a  (See  Lindholm,  Page  2B)
ScoreBOARD
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Boys’ Basketball 12/17  Fair  Haven  vs.  MUHS   ..............  40-Â32 12/17  Mill  River  vs.  Mt.  Abe   ...............  73-Â43 12/17  OV  Boys  vs.  Poultney   ..............  49-Â40 12/17  Fairfax  vs.  VUHS   .....................  63-Â45 Girls’ Basketball 12/16  Mill  River  vs.  MUHS   .................  39-Â16 12/17  VUHS  vs.  Montpelier   ...............  50-Â27 12/17  Mount  Abe  vs.  OV   ....................  42-Â31
Schedule
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Hockey 12/21  MUHS  Girls  at  B&Burton   ...  5:45  p.m. 12/21  MUHS  Boys  at  Lyndon   ......  4:15  p.m. 1RUWKÂżHOG DW 08+6 *LUOV  .........5  p.m. 0W 0DQVÂżHOG DW 08+6 *LUOV  ..  5  p.m. Boys’ Basketball 12/19  VUHS  at  S.  Burlington   ............  6  p.m. 12/19  Mt.  Abe  at  Randolph   ........  12:30  p.m. 12/21  Montpelier  at  VUHS   ..........11:30  a.m. 12/21  Mt.  Abe  at  Winooski   ...........  2:30  p.m. 12/23  VUHS  at  Burr  &  Burton   ......  6:30  p.m. 12/23  OV  at  Arlington  Tourney   ..........  7  p.m. 12/23  Colchester  at  MUHS   ...............  7  p.m. 12/28  Peoples  at  VUHS   .............  11:30  a.m. 12/28  Randolph  at  Mt.  Abe   ........  12:30  p.m. 12/28  MUHS  at  Montpelier   ..........  2:30  p.m. Girls’ Basketball 12/19  OV  at  Proctor   ..........................  7  p.m. 12/20  Burr  &  Burton  at  MUHS   ..........  7  p.m. 12/20  VUHS  at  Mill  River   ..................  7  p.m. 12/20  CVU  at  Mt.  Abe   .......................  7  p.m. 0W 0DQVÂżHOG DW 98+6  ...........  7  p.m. 29 DW 6SULQJÂżHOG  ....................  7  p.m. 12/23  MUHS  at  Winooski   ............  7:30  p.m. 12/23  Mt.  Abe  at  Fair  Haven  Tourney   ..  TBA 12/27  Mt.  Abe  at  Fair  Haven  Tourney   ..  TBA 12/27  MUHS  at  Mill  River   .................  7  p.m. 12/27  Arlington  at  OV   .......................  7  p.m. Wrestling 12/19  MUHS  at  Spaulding   ................  6  p.m. 12/19  VUHS  at  Milton   .......................  6  p.m. 12/21  MUHS/OV/VUHS  at  Granville,  NY, Tournament   ......................................10  a.m. 12/27&28   ..................OV,  VUHS,  Mt.  Abe  at  MUHS  ........................................................... Nordic 12/21  MUHS  at  S.  Burlington   .........  10  a.m. Gymnastics 12/27  MUHS  at  CVU   ........................  1  p.m. Indoor Track 12/21  VUHS  at  UVM   .........................  9  a.m. Spectators  are  advised  to  consult  school  websites  for  the  latest  schedule  updates. Â
Eagles  outlast  Otter  Valley Third-Âquarter  surge  boosts  champs  vs.  stubborn  Otters By  ANDY  KIRKALDY %5$1'21 ² 7KH 0RXQW $EUD- ham  Union  High  School  girls’  bas- ketball  team  opened  its  defense  of  WKH 'LYLVLRQ ,, WLWOH E\ UDOO\LQJ SDVW stubborn  host  Otter  Valley  on  Tues- day,  42-Â31. The  Otters  used  their  quickness  and  hard  work  on  man-Âto-Âman  de- fense  to  frustrate  the  Eagles  in  the  ¿UVW KDOI ZKLFK HQGHG ZLWK WKH KRVW WHDP XS EHKLQG D WULR RI three-Âpointers  from  senior  Jessica  )UD]LHU But  in  the  second  half,  the  Eagles  showed  more  patience  on  offense  and  switched  tactics,  pounding  the  ball  inside  to  six-Âfoot  junior  cen- ter  Isabel  Brennan.  Brennan  scored  eight  of  her  game-Âhigh  16  points  in  the  third  period,  and  senior  Ashlie  )D\ SRLQWV VL[ VWHDOV IRXU DV- sists)  added  six  as  the  Eagles  took  the  lead  for  good,  29-Â23,  after  three. Brennan,  who  chipped  in  nine  re- bounds,  acknowledged  the  Eagles  DQG &RDFK &RQQLH /D5RVH WDONHG about  a  change  in  approach  at  half- time.  “We  really  decided  around  the  perimeter  wasn’t  working  well,  so  we  needed  to  start  getting  it  in  and  drawing  fouls  and  really  start  mak-Â
ing  some  moves  in  the  post,â€?  she  said. /D5RVH FUHGLWHG WKH 2WWHUV ZLWK taking  away  the  Eagles’  preferred  ¿UVW RSWLRQ WKHLU UXQQLQJ JDPH “They  did  a  good  job.  We  talked Â
about  it  at  halftime.  We  have  to  stop  trying  to  outrun  them.  They’re  just  as  quick  as  we  are,  so  let’s  actually  try  to  play  basketball  and  see  what  we  GR ZLWK LW ´ /D5RVH VDLG Âł$QG ZH had  a  pretty  good  stretch  going  in  the  third  quarter.â€? The  Otters’  chances  of  staging  a  comeback  received  a  pair  of  blows  ODWH LQ WKH WKLUG SHULRG )LUVW )UD- zier  and  then  senior  Olivia  Bloomer  went  down  clutching  their  left  knees.  )UD]LHU UHWXUQHG HDUO\ LQ WKH IRXUWK but  soon  fell  again.  Both  had  to  be  helped  off. OV  coach  Steve  Keith  could  only  be  hopeful  afterward  for  the  health  of  two  key  players  —  both  are  four- year  varsity  athletes,  and  Bloomer  scored  six  before  she  left.  “We’re  going  to  ‌  get  them  looked  at  and  see  where  they  are,â€?  Keith  said.  “We’ll  know  more  tomorrow,  I  think.  I’m  hoping  it’s  short-Âterm.  We’ve  got  to  be  positive.â€? /D5RVH ZKRVH WHDPV KDYH VXI- fered  their  share  of  knee  injuries  over  the  years,  wished  the  Otters  well. MOUNT  ABRAHAM  UNION  High  “One  is  bad  enough,  never  mind  School  senior  Ashlie  Fay  races  WZR ´ /D5RVH VDLG Âł, GRQÂśW FDUH LI around  Otter  senior  Brittany  Bush- you  win  or  lose,  you  don’t  want  that  ey  during  the  Eagles’  42-Â31  win  to  happen  to  anybody.â€? Tuesday  night. (See  Hoops,  Page  2B) Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
EAGLE  SAMANTHA  DRISCOLL,  pursued  by  Otter  Amy  Jones,  races  up  the  court  Tuesday  night  in  Brandon.  Driscoll  had  four  points  and  four  assists  in  the  Eagles  win. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
Middleburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  35th  annual  Turkey  Trot  draws  247  runners 0,''/(%85< ² 7ZR KXQGUHG and  forty-Âseven  runners  braved  cold  temperatures  on  Nov.  24  to  run  ei- WKHU ÂżYH RU NLORPHWHUV LQ WKH Middlebury  Parks  and  Recreation  'HSDUWPHQWÂśV DQQXDO 7XUNH\ 7URW and  Gobble  Wobble. Many  runners  brought  donations  to  local  food  shelves,  20  won  draw- ings  for  turkeys  after  the  race,  and Â
many  more  won  prizes  donated  by  the  many  local  business  sponsors  of  WKH DQQXDO HYHQW LQ D SRVW UDFH UDIĂ&#x20AC;H Out  on  the  courses,  Todd  Smith  RI %ULVWRO DQG -HVVLH 'RQDYDQ RI &RUQZDOO ZHUH WKH RYHUDOO PHQÂśV and  womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  winners  of  the  10K,  respectively,  while  Allen  Mead  of  +LQHVEXUJ DQG .ULVWHQ &RQULHOOH RI &ROFKHVWHU ZHUH WKH PHQÂśV DQG ZRP-Â
OV  only  winner  in  area  boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  basketball  action $'',621 &2817< ² 2QO\ Otter  Valley  won  as  all  four  local  union  high  school  boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  basketball  teams  saw  action  on  Tuesday. OTTERS The  Otters  snapped  a  36-Â36  tie Â
after  three  periods  to  defeat  Poult- ney,  49-Â40,  in  the  consolation  game  of  Mount  St.  Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Tip-ÂOff  Tournament.  John  Winslowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  25  points  and  a  fullcourt  press  were  (See  Wrap,  Page  3B)
enâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  winners  of  the  5K  race.  In  the  5K,  Ethan  Reiderer  of  Mid- dlebury  was  the  12-Âand-Âunder  boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  winner,  and  Maisie  Newbury  of  Weybridge  was  the  U-Â12  girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  win- QHU 3DWWL )LVFKHU RI 1RUWK )D\VWRQ was  the  50-Â99  womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  age  group  winner  in  the  5K,  an  honor  claimed  E\ 'DQ 'D3ROLWR RI :H\EULGJH among  the  men. Â
Judy  Messer  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  won  the  womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  50-Â99  age  group  at  the  10K  distance,  and  Tony  Bates  of  Salisbury  coasted  to  a  win  among  the  50-Âplus  male  runners  in  the  10K.  The  complete  10K  results  were:  1.  Todd  Smith,  M,  39,  Bristol,  34:14. 2.  Josh  Hummel,  M,  24,  Middle-Â
bury,  35:44. 3.  Ben  Bruno,  M,  29,  Middlebury,  38:25. -HVVLH 'RQDYDQ ) &RUQ- wall,  38:26. 5.  Tony  Bates,  M,  54,  Salisbury,  38:55. 6.  Thomas  Beatty  Jr.,  M,  22,  Mad- LVRQ &RQQ (See  Turkey  Trot,  Page  3B)
Otter  wrestlers  reach  St.  J  podium By  ANDY  KIRKALDY ST.  JOHNSBURY  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  The  Ot- ter  Valley  Union  High  School  wrestling  team  got  off  to  a  strong  start  for  its  season  this  past  week- end,  taking  fourth  place  at  a  major  opening  tournament,  the  St.  Johns- bury  Early  Bird  Invitational.  Six  Otters  reached  the  podium Â
ZLWK WRS IRXU ÂżQLVKHV OHG E\ MX- QLRU $GDP 6KHUZLQÂśV ÂżUVW SODFH effort  at  220  pounds. OV  coach  Steve  Mitchell  noted  his  team  is  still  young,  with  only  one  senior  on  his  roster,  Joe  Palm- er,  who  took  fourth  at  138.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;We  did  pretty  well  considering  our  youth,â&#x20AC;?  Mitchell  said.
Also  placing  were: Â&#x2021; -XQLRU (ULF 0DQQLQJ VHFRQG at  112. Â&#x2021; )UHVKPDQ 7\VRQ &UDP VHFRQG at  126.  Â&#x2021; -XQLRU -DFRE 6FDUERURXJK third  at  132. Â&#x2021; )UHVKPDQ 1HLNR 'HVDEUDLV fourth  at  120. Â