RMHS vs. MMU: A Chittenden County D1 Finals Showdown
The D1 championship featured a cross-county matchup between the #1 seed Rice Green Knights and the #3 seed Mount Mansfield Cougars. Fans from across VT packed UVM’s Patrick Gymnasium for the highly anticipated finals which featured numerous sophomore and junior…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe D1 championship featured a cross-county matchup between the #1 seed Rice Green Knights and the #3 seed Mount Mansfield Cougars. Fans from across VT packed UVM’s Patrick Gymnasium for the highly anticipated finals which featured numerous sophomore and junior starters for both squads, and a lone freshman. The lack of experience didn’t seem to be an issue, however, because the young Rice team showed poise and resilience in the face of a high-pressure defense from MMU. If it wasn’t for Rice’s sweet shooting from deep in an unfamiliar building, then it could’ve been a much different game from the 47-30 finish we had. Who elevated Rice to a D1 crowning, and who on MMU pushed their team in the program’s first D1 finals appearance?
Player of the Game: Elyse MacDonough, 5’8 PG – RMHS Class of ’24
Elyse came out ready to hoop on the big stage. She put down two threes in the first quarter to jump start Rice’s offense and from there they didn’t look back. She totaled 16 points for the game, coming from a couple threes, tough finishes in the lane, and conversions at the charity stripe. Her defense was slightly affected by foul calls, but nonetheless she remained aggressive and fought for loose balls. Her poise and leadership under the spotlight set the tone for Rice, and once they were rolling, they never touched the brakes.
X-Factor: Cassie Beste, 5’6 G – RMHS Class of ’24
Beste led the game with 17 points off of a perfect 4-4 from the field, 3-3 from trey, and a number of free throws. Her shooting is indicative of just how sighted in Rice was this evening. Beste found her shots mostly off of great ball movement against MMU’s zone pressure, and with her great basketball IQ she never forced any looks or drives, but rather made the easy play and took her shot in the rhythm of the offense. Her defense was solid as she homed in against MMU’s quick guards, she boxed out well and took care of the ball. This backcourt tandem of Cassie and Elyse will be a matchup nightmare for years to come.
Kelli Cieplicki, 5’9 F – RMHS Class of ’24
Cieplicki is a do-it-all type of talent. She can step out to three, bang in the paint, and she moves the ball with crisp passing on the wing as well. Defensively she’s adept at anticipating passes for steals and is capable of cleaning the glass against anyone due to her box outs and long frame. She recorded three points, three rebounds, four assists and four steals on the night as she greased the wheels of Rice’s well-oiled basketball machine. Her movement defensively forced MMU to make tough decisions in the paint, on the rare occasion they worked their way inside. Cieplicki is a quiet leader who leads by example, doing all the little things which often go unnoticed.
Atika Haji, 5’10 F – RMHS Class of ’25
In last week’s semifinals Atika was dialed in as she drove to the lane for clinical finishes in the paint, however, tonight the championship energy may have gotten to her feet, as she had a few travel calls that really took her out of rhythm. She didn’t let that affect her energy on the other side of the court though, where she battled for rebounds and clogged the paint with her strong frame and length. Atika played through mistakes and showcased her range instead, dropping in a couple timely treys just as Rice was working to break the game open. She collected five boards and moved the ball well on offense. Haji has plenty of time to sharpen her skills in anticipation of a few more championship runs with this young Rice core.
Cherise Shamp, 5’10 G/F – MMU Class of ’23
Cherise will always press on, regardless of the outlook of a game. She is the head of MMU’s zone pressure, and she hawked Rice all night, picking up full court and funneling ballhandlers to the corners. Offensively, Shamp did her best to ignite some MMU runs. She got out on the break and picked up four assists, mainly in transition. Cherise put up nine points as well, converting finishes inside and at the line. Her effort and length inside led to five rebounds, which was a lot considering Rice only missed 10 field goal attempts. Shamp will inherit an even larger leadership role as MMU graduates two senior starters, and I anticipate MMU will fight to be back at Patrick Gym next year as this experience marinates over the coming months.
Brianna Brownell, 5’9 F – MMU Class of ’24
Brianna is a hard working forward with high basketball IQ, and it’s clear both of those traits are prerequisites for this MMU program. Brownell recorded eight points off of short-range jumpers and flat-out hustle in transition; Brownell has a great first few strides and can get out ahead on the break due to her ability to mentally transition quickly from offense to defense. She collected four rebounds out of the ten total missed shots from Rice, and those rebounds were imperative as they gave MMU the opportunity to steal a quick bucket before the defense could set up. Brownell’s hard work and high IQ will be key ingredients to her continuing development on the court.