NEPSAC Class B Title: Avengers-Endgame

Championship Sunday gave us an incredible slate of games within the NEPSAC. I attended a Class B showdown between the two undefeated teams, #1 Brooks vs. #2 St. Luke’s. With the star power on both sides, you knew it would be a close battle and ended up being the best game of the winter by far. St. Luke’s came out scorching hot behind star-studded ’23 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="266716" first="Mackenzie" last="Nelson"] who could not be stopped all game as she cruised to 45 points. She cranked up the heat along with backcourt mate [player_tooltip player_id="263919" first="Caroline" last="Lau"] (22 total points) on Brooks from the jump and they netted 35 first-half points combined giving St. Luke’s a 9 point lead at the break. St. Luke’s controlled the entire third quarter and had a 10 point lead heading into the 4th quarter, but I never felt Brooks was out of it because BC commit [player_tooltip player_id="263832" first="Taina" last="Mair"] was playing out of her mind. She carried the scoring load on offense, and whenever Brooks needed a bucket, Mair got it. Down 70-68 with 20 seconds left, Mair hit the floater to send the game into overtime. After [player_tooltip player_id="266716" first="Mackenzie" last="Nelson"] buried a free throw to put St. Luke’s up 1 in the extra period, Mair went the length of the court with 10 seconds left and hit the game-winner to secure Brooks the Class B title.   Player of the Game: <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-397216" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/692090D3-4A94-4591-824D-1A45844CF618-crop-1423x935-1646665150-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="263832" first="Taina" last="Mair"] - 5’8’’ - PG - ’22 Thirty-seven points, the shot to send the game to overtime, and the game-winner to clinch the Championship; is there a better way to end your high school career? Mair was unbelievable Sunday afternoon and proved yet again she is the best player in New England. Mair put the team on her back, and her shot-creating and making were out of this world. I still have not witnessed a better contested shooter off the dribble, and Mair hit multiple big mid-long range jumpers to keep Brooks within striking distance. I have watched Mair all season, and she is wired differently. She has mental toughness and ability to take her game up a level no matter the situation. Down 10 in the biggest game of the year, with #20 at the helm, there is zero doubt that she will deliver. Brooks Standouts: <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-397217" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/1830FA75-C230-4F23-BB79-90F69B74AF0C-scaled-crop-1660x1090-1646665186-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="263799" first="Samantha" last="Dewey"] - 6’2’’ - PF - ’22 By far, the gutsiest performance I have seen was from Sam Dewey, who had an apparent leg injury the whole game and was a shell of herself in the first half. The 4th quarter arrived, and so did Dewey as she hit big buckets around the rim and was elite on defense. I don’t think she was at 50% health, but she found a way to make countless defensive plays at the rim. The shot-blocking and altering saved Brooks’ season and slowed down a St. Luke’s team who was scoring in the paint at will. Dewey also played every minute of the game hobbling, which was as heroic as it gets.   [player_tooltip player_id="266795" first="Kendall" last="Eddy"] - 5’8’’ - CG - ’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-397218" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/B65EC9BE-7FA6-44A0-AFBE-FD0E232B0DB7-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1646665239-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Eddy didn’t have her best game compared to some of the other electric performances from the winter, but she made big plays when it mattered most. She was on the money in transition by hitting a couple of big field goals and nailed a crucial free throw down the stretch. She made a few plays that shifted momentum on defense, whether that was a tipped pass or interception to jump-start the fast break and keep the Brooks championship open.   [player_tooltip player_id="267149" first="Maeve" last="Gaffney"] - 5’9’’ - SG/SF - ’23 I felt like outside of Mair, when Brooks needed a timely basket, specifically in the first half, Gaffney delivered it. She only had 9 points, but with Brooks starting the game slowly on offense, they needed one shot maker to give the team a jolt. I liked Gaffney’s mid-range shooting and her shot selection. She didn’t settle for bad shots and took what the defense gave her.   [player_tooltip player_id="302393" first="Samaya" last="Lovett"] - 5’6’’ - CG - ’25 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-397219" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/04D67C89-FE61-496D-8705-D941157D353A-scaled-crop-1660x1090-1646665279-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="336800" first="Sophie" last="Broussard"] - 5’10’’ - PF - ’25 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-397220" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/02/2AF919A9-E78B-4C4C-8324-7444FBE799CE-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1646665361-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> The freshmen played a massive role in securing this win. Rebounding was one of the biggest keys to victory, and with Sam Dewey playing hurt, someone had to step up and battle underneath for rebounds. Both Broussard and Lovett fulfilled that role beautifully. The last thing you want to do is give St. Luke’s second and third scoring chance opportunities, so the two ’25 standouts cleaning up the defensive glass was imperative.   [player_tooltip player_id="392979" first="Lydia" last="Tangney"] - 5’5’’ - SG - ’25 Tangney didn’t play as many minutes as everyone else but made the most of her time on the floor. Tangney came into the game a few minutes into the third quarter and immediately gave Brooks a spark. A big pickpocket steal at the top of the key ignited a transition opportunity, and the players and the Brooks crowd were energized off of it.