By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
SWANTON (February 14, 2026) – After losing 12 of their first 14 games this year, Swanton ended the regular season on a good note with a 38-27 victory over Montpelier.
“We talked in the locker room before the game about it being our last home game and sending our seniors out on a good note,” Bulldog coach Craig Good said.
“Obviously it hasn’t gone the way it should’ve for them, but the underclassmen wanted to play well for them tonight and get a win.”
Holding a slim 8-7 lead late in the first, the Bulldogs got a triple from Lexi Yeager, a coast-to-coast drive by Carli Lagrange, and a split of two free throws from Lauren Bettinger to take a 14-7 lead.
Bettinger’s fast break layup gave the Bulldogs their largest lead in the first half at 18-10 with 4:17 left.
Zoe Uribes heated up for Montpelier, hitting a pair from outside the arc and dishing to Morgan Bechtol for another basket to bring the Locos even at 20-all at halftime.
Yeager hit a three-ball starting the third, and Lagrange scored off an inbounds play, then again on an offensive rebound to put the Bulldogs up by seven points.
Uribes nailed another long bomb with 2:07 to go in the third to get Montpelier within four points at 27-23.
The Locos could get no closer. Lagrange scored on the same inbounds play as previously, and Evelyn Ventimiglia put in a loose ball just before the buzzer to send Swanton into the fourth with a 32-23 advantage.
Yeager’s foul line jumper and 1-2 from the line from Lagrange increased the Swanton margin to 35-23. Lagrange led the Bulldogs with 13 points and Bettinger chipped in with 10.
“We’ve seen a ton of improvement from the first day we met this summer,” Good said. “The biggest thing for us now is consistency. We have to put a good off-season together. Hopefully we can build on this one here next week in the tournament.”
Uribes was the biggest threat for the Locos, chalking up 19 points. Both teams took 44 shots from the field with Swanton hitting 15 and the Locos 11.
Swanton (5-17) travels to Elmwood for a Division V sectional final game next Saturday. Montpelier (2-20) plays Thursday in a Division VI matchup against Ottawa Hills.
MONTPELIER (27) – Thorp 0; Brown 0; Uribes 19; McGee 0; Humbarger 0; Ramos 3; Feeney 0; Bechtol 2; Wade 3; Totals: 6-5-0 – 27
SWANTON (38) – Yeager 8; Hamrick 4; Rominski 0; Bettinger 10; Cooper 0; LaPoint 0; Lagrange 13; Ventimiglia 3; Totals: 13-2-6 – 38
MHS 7 13 3 4 – 27
SHS 14 6 12 6 – 38