Everyone knows what everyone else is going to do in this league. We were successful in doing what we wanted to do, and I think that was the difference. I think our inside kids were more active and forced them a little bit out of their game, but that is a good team and there won't be many teams that come in here and win.

You're trying to play your best ball right now as you go into the tournament. I really think we are. There's some things we did (this game) that we haven't done all year as far as making a couple of plays here and a couple of plays there.

There is a real question of whether nine unelected federal judges know exactly what's best for Vermont politics, and maybe local politicians have a better sense of what's best for local politics. This is a tension between expressive rights on one hand, and the ability of local citizens to control the election rules in their own states and communities.

If states go too far and pass spending limits that are too low, that might be seen as an effort to entrench incumbents.

This was just a first step. There is more work to do.

I think it showed her the human side of the legal issues she'll confront. The question is: Who will she be as a judge? Will she bring those same sensitivities to the bench as a judge? My hope is that she will - just as Justice O'Connor did.