From 15 down, Fair Haven caps a championship worthy comeback to deny defending champion North Country’s repeat bid with a stirring 55-50 triumph in the Division II girls basketball title game.

Elizabeth Love's third steal of the quarter gives the Slaters the ball with under a minute to go. They drain the clock down to 18.5 seconds before Maddy Perry is fouled and heads to the line with a 50-48 lead. #vtplayoffs

Another Slater steal, this time Lily Briggs, sets up Cole to drill a step-back 3 in the left corner for a 47-46 lead with 2:07 to play vs. North Country. #vtplayoffs

A Brueck and-one pushes North Country in front 46-42 with 4 minutes to play. #vtplayoffs

Victoria Kelly converts on the right block with 30 seconds left in the third quarter to give Fair Haven its first lead, 38-37. With eight minutes to go, it suddenly feels a long way from when North Country led 17-2 in the first quarter. #vtplayoffs

After North Country's second starter exist with a fourth foul, Cole hits one of two chances at the line to get FH within a point, 37-36, with 1:38 left in the third. #vtplayoffs

We've got ourselves a game now. Cole splashes a 3 from the left corner to cut North Country's lead to 36-31 with 4 minutes left in the third. #vtplayoffs

Slaters pull within eight, 34-26, after Cole converts the business end of a nifty backdoor lob play — for the third time today — but Brueck promptly answers with a slashing layup to get her to double digits midway through the third quarter. #vtplayoffs

Sabine Brueck with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and Maya Auger with 8 points to lead the Falcons. Izzy Cole with 8 points and Kate Hadwen with 6 to lead the Slaters.

Halftime at the Aud in the D2 girls hoops final: North Country 30, Fair Haven 18. #vtplayoffs

A byline later tonight, yup!

North Country timeout leading 22-10 with 4:46 left in the first half and Fair Haven's Kate Hadwen at the line to shoot two free throws. #vtplayoffs

Falcons stretched their lead to as many as 15 points in the opening frame, but head to the second leading Fair Haven 17-8. #vtplayoffs

Dream start for the reigning champs leads to a Fair Haven timeout, trailing North Country 9-0 with 5:04 left in the first quarter. #vtplayoffs

A rematch of the 2021 final, which sounded very different with no fans in the Aud to watch the Falcons' triumph, North Country is going for a repeat crown and their third in four years.

Back off the bench for the day — in the crow's nest at Barre Auditorium to cover the D2 girls basketball title game for @bfp_news. No. 1 North Country (21-2) vs. No. 2 Fair Haven (19-4) ste to tip off in a few minutes! #vtplayoffs