Varsity Insider

Last high school weekend of the winter is upon us. And what a way it will finish: Four boys basketball finals.

It’s been a long road for all eight teams and, for one in particular, its coach forecasted a hopeful final four bid.

“I drew a road on our (chalk) board, drew a little school and a bus and at the end of the road was the Barre (Auditorium),” Missisquoi coach Jim Bose said. “Ultimately, this is where we want to be.”

And it’s where the Division II Thunderbirds ended up. Missisquoi made its first boys basketball final in program history and will play No. 3 U-32 in Saturday’s D-II final at 3:45 p.m.

It’s one of four finals on tap. (the others are: D-I, Burlington vs Essex; D-III, Lake Region vs. Hazen; D-IV, Proctor vs. Williamstown).

We will have previews of each championship game in Saturday’s paper. I’ll post links to each once the stories go live. For now, here are some championship notes, courtesy of Paul Stanfield, a Vermont sports historian who has compiled tournament and team playoff histories.

D-I advance.

D-II-IV advances

Division I

BURLINGTON
- 33rd final all-time, 5th straight, 7th in last 8 years, 10th last 12 years and 13th final in last 17 years (1994-2010) after 0 finals previous 16 years (1978-93) … Won 12 straight semifinals.
Overall: 132-61. Semifinals: 33-12. Finals: 20-12.

ESSEX
- 4th championship game all-time and 3rd in Division 1 … 1st finals appearance since winning state back in 1998 … Had lost its last 4 semifinal games before 59-39 win over Brattleboro.
Overall: 42-45. Semifinals: 4-10. Finals: 2-1.

Division II

U-32
Finals: 3-5. Semifinals: 9-7
- 9th final overall and 1st since winning back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004 (other state title in 1992)
- 3-1 in last 4 semifinal games played and 6-2 in last 8 semifinals played dating back to 1992

MISSISQUOI
Finals: 0-0 (0-0 D2). Semifinals: 1-0 (1-0 D2)
- 1st final overall in just its 2nd Division 2 tournament all-time (other D2 tourney in 1975)
- Went 2-28 in 28 Division 1 tournament played, while now 3-1 in D2 tourney games

Division III

LAKE REGION
Finals: 1-0 (1-0 D3). Semifinals: 2-4 (2-2 D3)
- 2nd final overall and 2nd in last 3 years (won the 2008 state title as #2 seed)
- Have reached at least semifinals last 4 years (lost in 2007 and 2009 semifinals)

HAZEN
Finals: 5-2. Semifinals: 8-4 (8-3 D3)
- 8th final overall, 2nd straight year and 5th title game in last 7 years
- Won titles in 2006 and 2009, while losses in 2004 and 2005 (also won in 1981, 1996 and 2000)

Division IV

PROCTOR
Finals: 14-7 (6-0 in D4). Semifinals: 22-17 (7-3 in D4)
- 22st final overall, 5th straight and and 7th last 8 years (won 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 D4 finals)
- Have won 17 straight and 21 of last 22 playoff games (Won 7 D3 state titles 1955-72)

WILLIAMSTOWN
Finals: 2-2 (0-0 D4). Semifinals: 5-5 (1-0 D4)
- 5th final overall and 1st Division 4 championship game (2-2 in 4 Division 3 title games)
- Last championship game appearance was 1986 (won D3 title), while other D3 title in 1939