As you can well imagine, there has been plenty of people willing to talk about seemingly sudden demise of the Vermont Frost Heaves - certainly more than I could fit into any of the stories I've written in the last few days.

So, herewith are my extra quotes from the past few days from Daniel Freiberg, former assistant to former head coach Will Voigt. As more information surfaces, there will be much more to write about and probably many more extra quotes to share with you here. That and when I remember to email myself the ones on my Macbook at home, I'll have more.

"I'm definitely sad that the team is forced to fold because I know how much the team meant to the city. I know how much the guys meant to all the people who supported the team. We received a personal connection with so many fans who wanted to get to know the players and coaches on a personal level. It was nice for so many of us being so far away from home.

"I haven't been in touch with anyone since I heard the news but I will reach out to people soon. I still speak with many people on a semi regular basis (Luck, JB and Will to name a few). The friendships and bonds that were formed are something that mean a lot to me. I will always keep in touch with these guys. We spent many, many hours together getting to know one another and I know it was an incredibly unique situation to bond with people you wouldn't normally have chances to meet.

The team has had a lasting impact in me. I believe I learned what it truly meant to work hard while working for the team. Always thinking about every possible angle and ways to go above and beyond the tasks that were presented to me. That is a very important part in my growth as a person and in my career.

I just feel bad that it couldn't continue because the cities of Burlington and Barre deserve to have the team. Vermont was an incredible experience."

Thanks for your help, Daniel, and everyone who has come forward to help piece this story together.

-Anna Grearson

This week's PBL leaders

2 posts in 1 day? I know, weird...

Anyway, I took a spin over to the Premier Basketball League website, www.thepbl.com, to check out the league leaders, which are updated every Monday.

With Vermont's two-game slide this weekend, I figured things might've changed a little bit. Turns out, fortunately, that I was wrong.

The Frost Heaves' Mike Williams held on to his league-leading scoring average of 20.86 ppg, .86 ppg over Quinnell Brown of Quebec. Williams is second in the league in rebounds per game with 10.29, behind Halifax veteran Eric Crookshank, who averages 11.5.

Williams has been bothered by a hamstring injury, yet he still averages a double-double. Neat, huh?

Dwuan Rice still leads the league in assists per game at 7.57. Rice is also tied for first in the league in steals per game at 3.00 along with Quebec's Royce Parran.

Ross Demasi, who missed Sunday's game at Oklahoma with an injury suffered at Kentucky on Thursday, is fifth in the league in rebounds per game with an even 8.00. Of course that's the big "what-if." What if Demasi were available for his usual effort against the Cavs? Vermont was up 3 after 1 and 1 at the half without him...

Markus Austin is fifth in the league in steals per game with 2.00.

What I've liked about the league this season is just how close all of the teams are - there aren't any easy wins - and you don't have to look too much further than the league leaders to see why: Every team is represented by at least one player in the Top 5 in each statistical category. That's how even this league is this winter.

Sure beats 50-point blowouts every week...

-Anna Grearson

Good recommendation

So I know I have at least one loyal reader for this blog, because so far he's the only one to say, "Hey, you haven't posted since before the winter season started!"

Fair enough.

But, more than just a shout-out to this one coach, I want to pass along a site I'd heard about last year that has since come to fruition and has really become a great source for myself as a member of the Vermont sports media and to coaches around the state: www.vermontscoreboard.com.

The site, run by a pair of guys in Chittenden County, gives up-to-date standings and schedules and even some game coverage for most of Vermont. The one criticism I have is that it does not include Division III and IV boys and girls basketball. These teams already feel like they fall off the radar, so I'll bet they aren't too happy about not being included here, too. But, I can also imagine that being new to the game, the whole thing takes some getting used to and perhaps the III and IV kids will be added for next year.

I'll be back, I promise. There's a new editing rotation we're trying to get used to, and once we get that figured out, it will free me up to write more, both games and on here. So, I'll be back, coach!

 - Anna Grearson