FAIR HAVEN

Leo Hutchins takes the coaching reins from Kyle Wilson , but don ’ t expect a lot of changes in the way the Slaters play .

“ Like I told the kids , the blueprint for success is already there ,” Hutchins said .

The Slaters bring back some experience with starters Halle Coloutti , Adriana Dalto and Kaleigh Brown . Jessica Brewster also started a number of games late last season and Gabby Ochs got significant minutes . Those five give Fair Haven some good experience .

Coloutti , like her freshman sister Ryleigh Coloutti , possesses quickness at both ends of the floor that should allow the Slaters to have success when they play uptempo .

Courtney Brewster is another freshman who could have an impact .

Rounding out the team are freshman Zoe Cole , Sydney Rathbun , Kerrigan Disorda , Katrina Bean and Kaleigh Grenier .

“ They played a lot in the summer league , but we are still trying to find an identity ,” Hutchins said .

The Slaters made it to the Division II semifinals , where they fell to eventual state champion Lyndon .

FUN FACT : The Slaters have one state title in program history but have been to the finals five times , including three straight trips from 2014-16 .

MILL RIVER

There is not a lot of experience back from the Mill River team that made it all the way to the Division II state championship game . Superb point guard Olivia McPhee is back and so is post player Tessa Davenport . Britney Blanchard returns along with MacKenna Ludden . But you can stop right there .

“ Those are the only four with much varsity experience at all ,” coach Ken

Webb said . The next-closest thing to varsity experience is Jess Roberts , who was a JV-varsity swing player last season .

Mill River defeated U-32 in the quarterfinals last season .

The Minutemen will be road warriors for the early part of the campaign . They play six games before their home opener Dec . 27 against Middlebury .

Webb believes the Minutemen have toughened their schedule by adding D-II state champion Lyndon and Randolph .

The Minutemen will meet Lyndon at the halfway point on a neutral court — Hartford ’ s Hanley Gymnasium .

“ We haven ’ t been in a holiday tournament for a few years ,” Webb said .

FUN FACT : Mill River assistant coach Jo Jo Valente is in two college Halls of Fame — Castleton University for her accomplishments as an athlete , and College of St . Joseph as a basketball coach .

MSJ

Not to put pressure on new coach Bill Bruso but ... can the Mounties make it four straight state titles ?

There were significant losses from graduation but returning are Lyndsey Elms , Angela Perry , Emily Rapeno , Katlyn Schutt , Sophia Tedesco and Kristin Elliott .

The Mounties will also be aided greatly by a couple of talented transfers from Otter Valley — Julia Lee and Sophie Markowski .

Other newcomers include Madison Guay , Lucy Gallo , Ella Paquin , Torey Tracy , Fatima Hussein and Miracle Wood .

“ We preach defense . We always have ,” said Bruso , who had been on Elliott ’ s staff for the championship streak . “ That is what has made us successful .

“ We think we can score , but there

will be nights when the ball is not going in and points are at a premium . Defense can ’ t take a night off .”

Bruso is hoping the Mounties can “ go eight deep comfortably .”

They went 22-1 last season but this is a fairly new cast .

While there are a lot of new faces , the Mounties have gotten used to one another in the offseason .

“ We had a good summer league and that helped ,” Bruso said .

FUN FACT : Kim Levins was MSJ ’ s lone 1,000-point scorer for decades after ringing up 1,248 points before graduating in 1987 . Then the Mounties had two in two years — Monica Schmelzenbach in 2016 and Jenna Eaton in 2017 . Levins is still on the floor as an official .

OTTER VALLEY

It all worked out for new OV coach Kelly Trayah . A longtime coach in the Vergennes system , he moved to Brandon about a year ago and , lo and behold , the Otters girls varsity basketball position became available this summer .

He likes what he has seen so far from the Otters .

“ There is a lot of talent here . We have four talented bigs ,” Trayah said .

Those post players are Gabby Poalino , Katie Coolidge , Livia Bernhardt and Leah Pinkowski .

Complementing them are Felicity Drew , Kele Park , Emily Doty , Julia Eastman , Alia Edmunds , Isabella Falco , Mary Kingsley and Mallory Lufkin . “ We are going to try to get out and fast break ,” Trayah said .

Eastman will be a key to the offense as the starting point guard . Kingsley will back her up .

“ They are both very confident ballhandlers ,” Trayah said .

There will be a concerted attempt to get the ball inside to those post players .

“ I like to go inside before we take it outside ,” Trayah said .

Vergennes played a few teams on the schedule but much of the slate will be teams unfamiliar to Trayah .

Not that he hasn ’ t been trying to get up to speed on them .

“ All I have done since I got the position is study tape ,” he said .

Trayah sounds as though he is here for the long haul .

“ I have three grandchildren who are coming through the system . I ’ d like to coach them someday ,” he said .

FUN FACT : Poalino , a three-sport standout for the Otters , is Vermont ’ s recipient of the Wendy ’ s Heisman Award this year .

POULTNEY

Todd Hayes is in his first year with the program and he has been stressing fundamentals out of necessity . He was surprised at the lack of them , but they ’ ve been picking things up quickly .

He has been running practices similar to the way he did while coaching fourth and fifth graders , and that ’ s fine with him . He is patient and all he wants to see is improvement each day .

The Blue Devils will feature one of the Marble Valley League ’ s taller players in the post with 6-footer Leanna Mason . The senior is within striking distance of the 1,000-point milestone and a strong rebounder .

The other two seniors are Kera Book and Taylor Jordan .

Other players include Julia Bruno , Savanah Batier . Elvira Poriboun , Grace Hayes , Montana Stomski and Sierra Ynesta .

There are also four eighth-graders who could come up and add depth .

Hayes is Todd ’ s daughter , and she started at point guard as an eighth-grader . She will be running the offense again , but it will have a little

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