Girl’s Hoop: CVU Hands Hilltoppers First Loss 54-47

HINESBURG — The four time defending state Division One State Champion CVU Redhawks knocked the previously unbeaten St. Johnsbury Academy Hilltoppers from the ranks of the unbeaten on Thursday night, topping the visitors 54-47 inside the CVU Gym.

The game began as a contrast in styles … CVU using a pronounced height advantage to pound the ball inside while St. Johnsbury bombed away from long range. The result was pretty much a standoff as the Redhawks’ duo of Abby Thut and Shannon Loiseau combined for 12 points in the paint while the Hilltoppers buried five three pointers and the visitors led after eight minutes 17-16.

But in the second quarter the CVU defense got the St. J. three game under control, Lindsay Albertelli came of the bench to provide a couple of hoops inside and ‘Hawks went to the locker room up four , 26-22.

The teams traded hoop is the third quarter with freshman Josie Choiniere contributing a couple of big shots for the Academy and senior Marlee Gunn matching her effort for CVU as the Redhawks carried a 37-34 lead into the final quarter.

Gunn, Thut and Harper Mead then combined for 16 points over the last eight minutes as the home team opened as much as a ten point lead and held off a last charge by Choiniere (8 fourth quarter points) and the ‘Toppers to win it by seven.

Thut led CVU with 16 points. Gunn added 13 (11 in the second half), and Loiseau finished with nine. Choiniere led all scores with 22 while Sadie Stetson added 10 for St. Johnsbury.

With the win CVU improves to 8-2. The loss drops the Academy to 9-1.