Nickerson Standouts Part II: Cassidy the Hustler

Below is part 2 of the standouts from last weekends’ Nickerson Classic <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-368002" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/3EA9DB59-CAA2-49BA-9308-EE88D63F3075-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1640234224-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="263837" first="Cassidy" last="Yeomans"] - Tabor - 5’5’’ - PG - ’22 Yeomans might be one of the toughest and hardest working players I have seen, period. Against Hoosac, she was one of Tabor’s most important players in the 55-51 nail biting win. Leading the team with 14 points, Yeomans killed the defender from the perimeter and at the basket. Her clutch plays down the stretch on defense were the turning point of the game. The backcourt of Yeomans and [player_tooltip player_id="266805" first="Sophia" last="Vital"] is one of the most relentless defensive tandems in the region.   [caption id="attachment_368005" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/5B619195-038D-4F29-B24D-E25EEA8DAB96-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1640234706.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-368005" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/5B619195-038D-4F29-B24D-E25EEA8DAB96-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1640234706-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="267154" first="Cate" last="MacDonald"] - New Hampton - 6’2’’ - PF - ’23 MacDonald was a defensive monster last weekend. She was a massive part of New Hampton’s 3-0 weekend, which included a big double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds vs. Marianapolis. MacDonald’s rim protection was off the charts, and having her as the anchor of New Hampton’s tough, gritty defense explains why they are 6-1 and holding teams to scores in the 40’s or lower. MacDonald was easily the most impactful defender at the Nickerson and was an efficient scorer around the basket.   <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-368006" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/09/IMG_0087-crop-1200x788-1640234851-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="287264" first="Grace" last="Ceseretti"] - NMH - 5’9’’ - CG - ’22 Ceseretti had an excellent weekend, and in the two Northfield Mount Hermon games I saw, she was effective on offense. Sunday vs. Bradford Christian Academy, she had one of the most explosive scoring performances of the weekend. She led the game with 23 points which included 6 three-pointers. The degree of difficulty of these long-range shots was extremely high. Ceseretti was connecting on off the dribble stepback contested threes like clockwork. Ceseretti saw the floor well and set up her teammates with good looks at the rim. It is hard not to appreciate Ceseretti’s overall makeup. She is tough, competitive, and never takes plays off.   <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-368009" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/26742288_Unknown-crop-1117x734-1640234955-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="279142" first="Thalia" last="Shepard"] - St. Andrews - 5’8’’ - CG - ’23 Shepard has been scoring at a high rate to kick off her junior season and dropped a team-high 14 points vs. Milton Academy. Her mid-range pull-up game has always been a strength of hers, but Shepard ripped a couple of threes to complete her offensive repertoire. She was a dynamic playmaker in transition, pushing the tempo whenever the opportunity presented itself and passed the ball well in the open court. Shepard has been on top of her game thus far, drawing the attention of Binghamton University, who offered Shepard at the tournament’s end.   [caption id="attachment_368018" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/643E7AC4-5AF1-4DE9-938F-AC3BAFA9B5FA-scaled-crop-1660x1090-1640235182.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-368018" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/643E7AC4-5AF1-4DE9-938F-AC3BAFA9B5FA-scaled-crop-1660x1090-1640235182-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Produced4Soul[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="363766" first="Lilly" last="Stoller"] - Milton Academy - 5’9’’ - SF - ’22 The Wesleyan commit has been a consistent scoring threat for Milton academy. Stoller displayed her three-level scoring ability and played well off the ball. Stoller is a very good athlete who runs the floor well and is an effective scorer when going downhill. This past weekend, her best game that I saw was her 11-point game vs. Kent.   [player_tooltip player_id="337882" first="Skyla" last="Norton"] - Storm King - 5’8’’ - CG - ’22 Norton was very impressive vs. Tabor last Friday. She finished with 9 points, but her shot creation on each bucket should have everyone tuned in. Norton is a great slasher who can attack and finish with either hand. She can create and score from the mid-long range area too. Norton, in an isolation setting, was consistent and deadly. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-368022" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/09/IMG_0052-scaled-crop-1660x1090-1640236209-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="184048" first="Alanna" last="Phillipo"] - Marianapolis - 5’9’’ - CG - ’24 Phillipo has had to transition to playing more forward than her usual combo guard position this season and is adjusting nicely. The biggest difference I saw in Phillipo’s game last weekend was her playmaking in the high post. I like that she is starting to add this element to her game. Against New Hampton, she found success in that role, dropping 10 points while also moving the ball well.   [caption id="attachment_368026" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/EAEAFF4A-E0E1-4D64-AE91-E327BDB4414D-scaled-crop-1660x1090-1640236394.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-368026" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/EAEAFF4A-E0E1-4D64-AE91-E327BDB4414D-scaled-crop-1660x1090-1640236394-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Produced4Soul[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="270721" first="Kaelyn" last="Carroll"] - Tabor - 6’2’’ - SF - ’25 Carroll proved why she is undoubtedly the best freshman in New England after her performance vs. Storm King. Her comfort level playing in NEPSAC AA is unprecedented. The way she moves, her shooting confidence, and her IQ on both sides of the ball are head and shoulders greater than anyone in her class. I am most impressed by her interior defense and rebounding. At Carroll’s size, I expect her to score and take advantage of mismatches on offense but witnessing some of the rejections, and tough rebounds further enhances Carroll’s game. There are stretches of the game where she is the best player on the court, making Tabor one of the most dominant teams in the region   [player_tooltip player_id="295696" first="Theresa" last="Twardosky"] - NMH - 5’8’’ - CG - ’22 Twardosky was one of the most efficient three-point shooters at the Nickerson Classic. No matter if the shot was off the catch or dribble, NMH could count on Twardosky to knock them down. Versus Dexter Southfield, Twardosky attacked the basket more and had some impressive drives and finishes. Against Bradford Christian Academy, she shot the lights out, connecting on 4 triples.   <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-368030" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/5143E742-F380-4CB7-BEE4-2F7CE1E85BC4-scaled-crop-1660x1090-1640236569-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="278567" first="Maysen" last="Hill"] - St. Andrews - 5’11’’ - CG - ’25 In the two St. Andrews games that I saw, Hill looked really good. She showed confidence in her outside shot, and playmaking in the open court was also solid. Her change of speed and direction in transition was fluid and under control and resulted in a few impressive baskets. What I appreciated the most from Hill was that in both games, her effort remained consistently high throughout, no matter the time or score. Hill stayed aggressive on offense, continued to dig in on defense, and is progressing nicely early on in her freshman campaign.