Vermont Division 1 Players of the Year: Wings
Hot off the press, here is Vermont’s Players of the Year list, Wings edition. Each player in this edition was instrumental in leading their respective team to the final four this year, and a number of them have high school…
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Continue ReadingHot off the press, here is Vermont’s Players of the Year list, Wings edition. Each player in this edition was instrumental in leading their respective team to the final four this year, and a number of them have high school championship ambitions for next year as well. Which wings stood out in Vermont’s 2021-2022 season?
Ava MacDonough, 5’9 – RMHS Class of ’22
Ava caps her high school career off with the ever-elusive championship hardware. Last year, Ava and company fought from the #11 seed to get to the finals, however, it was cancelled due to Covid-19. This year, Ava strengthened her resolve and pushed a young Rice core with her emotional leadership and grit on the hardwood. Offensively, MacDonough is a natural glue player with the ability to create scoring opportunities. She can bring the ball up the court too and she has a solid dribble drive, furthermore, her frame allows her to body up against defenders in the post. She’s a solid catch and shoot three-point shooter as well, but it’s her passing and off-ball movement that really greases up Rice’s offense. Ava cut the net and put a championship ring on her finger, there’s no better way to go out.
Cailey Appenzeller, 5’9 – EHS Class of ’22
Cailey is a spark plug for this EHS team who at times had difficulty getting their offensive running, which in large part was due to missing their senior PG and playmaker with an injury. Regardless, Appenzeller stepped up big time when necessary. Her lefty stroke is clean from three and comes off the same every time, and her quickness and elevation can get her to the rim in a hurry. She’s plays solid defense and likes to attack in transition. Cailey was one of many important seniors on this final four EHS team.
Cherise Shamp, 5’10 – MMU Class of ’23, Dream Dozen
Cherise was recently named to Vermont’s Dream Dozen, and deservingly so. Shamp was integral to MMU’s finals run as she hawked the ball constantly on defense, served as ballhandler, wing, and post in most games, and outrebounded stronger players. Her motor is unmatched, and pair that with her incredible length, you can see why guards can’t stand facing against her. She can take defenders off the dribble or bang inside with her sound footwork, and more often than not she converts chances at the line. Cherise and MMU will look to work their way back to the finals next season.
Elise Berger, 5’10 – CVU Class of ’24
Midway through the season, Elise transitioned from wing to secondary ballhandler. It was a change that allowed Elise to showcase her skill set and grow her confidence. Berger has a long, strong frame, and defenders were nearly incapable of taking her out of stride. She plays with great poise and utilizes her solid footwork and strength to get exactly where she wants to go when she wants. She’s an adept passer and can often see over the top of pressure, allowing her to rip passes quickly to teammates on time and on target. Berger rebounds well and can defend 1-4. It’ll be interesting to see what she adds to her bag over the spring and summer.
Atika Haji, 5’10 – RMHS Class of ’25
Atika is a freshman phenom, and I’m rather surprised she didn’t the Dream Dozen nod. She had some inconsistency, which is to be expected of a freshman, but her frame, athleticism and skill set put her in an elite class. She’s got great length and a solid foundation, making it difficult for post players to out muscle her when she’s defending down low. When she’s guarding wings, her quickness and long arms make ballhandlers nervous, and they often shy away from the challenge. She’s got a great dribble drive and can finish with a variety of lay-ups and floaters, and she’s also got a jumper out to three. With experience she’ll reign in her tendency to reach on defense, and if she tightens up her footwork and improves her shooting consistency, she’ll take the next step.