Premier Performers: D1 Final Four #1 CVU vs. #4 EHS

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was the #1 seed Champlain Valley Union High School who made their mission clear; we're here to win a championship. #4 seed Essex High School battled all game, defended hard, and made a couple runs, but it wasn't quite enough to overcome the depth and teamwork of CVU. Check out who showed out! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='421353' first='Addison' last='Hunter'], 6'0 F - Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steady and effective, Addi came in and took care of business. On a team that truly goes 10 deep, Hunter put in a lot of work on what felt like limited minutes. Addi was integral to CVU's ability to control the paint. She reeled in eight boards, collected a couple of steals inside, and finished with seven points off of poised and controlled post finishes. Plus, her patience and awareness produced a couple of heady assists in the paint. Hunter's composure, awareness, and efficiency were on full display. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elyse Berger, 5'10 G - Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Elyse you get consistent effort and high IQ plays every minute she's on the floor. Berger dished up five assists off of some beautiful passes, and at least two of them came from halfcourt and 3/4 court. She's a strong ballhandler with over-the-top vision, and she was able to facilitate the offense and navigate EHS' pressure defense with ease. Moreover, she defended 2-4 and her hustle, plus her help defense gave EHS fits. Elyse is intuitive on the floor and makes the basketball play time and time again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='428153' first='Shelby' last='Companion'], 5'8 G - Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelby led all scorers with 13, but it came so smoothly and efficiently that I didn't expect she was the game's top scorer. Companion made a number of nice plays in transition and against the full court pressure, shaking defenders and outrunning opponents for finishes at the rim. Furthermore, she showed off the range from deep. Defensively, Shelby was a pest. She was in passing lanes, forced jump balls, and was quick to help. Shelby was locked in for the full 32. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446538' first='Samara' last='Ashooh'], 6'1 F - Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CVU is so deep that they can afford to bring Samara off the bench, and Ashooh is the most well-rounded forward in her class. It goes to show Samara's willingness to sacrifice for the betterment of the team. And once she stepped on the floor, she was incredibly effective. Samara owned the paint by blocking shots, cleaning the glass, and securing loose balls in the interior. And offensively, Ashooh was smart and simple. She battled for post position and made quick, smart decisions with the ball. Samara is a key cog in CVU's well-oiled machine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446534' first='Bianca' last='Williams'], 5'11 G/W - Essex High School Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a game that EHS struggled to find much rhythm. Yet when I saw the box score, I wasn't surprised by Bianca's line. She put up nine points, seven boards, and two steals, nearly eclipsing that double-double threshold once again. Clearly, Williams was integral to EHS' effort as she finished her open looks and worked the boards against CVU's seemingly endless rotation of 6-footers. I look forward to seeing how Bianca and EHS bounce back next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446535' first='Breya' last='Montague'], 5'9 G - Essex High School Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the going got tough, Breya rose to the occasion and made a number of plays to keep EHS battling. Montague forced turnovers at the top of the key and got out on the break for a couple of easy buckets, sparking a run for EHS. And when it seemed like CVU had clamped down on everyone defensively, Breya led by example. She remained aggressive by getting in the paint as she sought to make plays. While her shots were heavily challenged, it sent a message that she was battling to the final whistle. Gotta appreciate the grind.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='576153' first='Alexa' last='Rabidoux'], 5'7 G - Essex High School Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While I tend to think of defense as Rabidoux's strong suit, Lexi made a splash on the offensive end. Her shooting, especially from range, has been a progression of hers that I've followed all year. And Monday night, Lexi ended the first half on a momentum shifting three from near 25 feet. Furthermore, she made her mark defensively. Rabidoux pressured the ball and got into help position swiftly. I'm intrigued to see what Lexi adds to her game over the spring and summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->