The St. Johnsbury Academy Hilltoppers (St. Johnsbury, VT) basketball crushed the host Essex Hornets (Essex Junction, VT), 68-46 in Friday's league bout.

The Hilltoppers now possess a 7-4 record. They play next when they host Champlain Valley Union for a Metro bout on Monday, January 20. St. Johnsbury Academy will play a Redhawks team coming off a 42-38 league win over South Burlington (South Burlington, VT). The Redhawks record now stands at 6-4.

With the loss, Essex falls to 2-9 on the campaign. The Hornets travel to Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans, VT) to play the Bobwhites/Comets in a non-league bout on Monday, January 20. The Bobwhites/Comets go into the bout with a record of 5-7. Bellows Free Academy lost 55-51 in their recent non-league bout against Mt. Mansfield (Jericho, VT)