RI State Tournament Final Four: Who were the best of the best?
In this article:
It takes talent and determination to reach the state tournament finals. It's where the elite meet to face off for the state's biggest prize. In the semifinals, No. 8 St. Mary's Academy-Bayview defeated No. 12 Rogers and No. 2 North Kingston advanced over No. 6 Ponaganset. Bayview won a 42-40 OT thriller over North Kingston to clinch the title. Let's dive into who shined during the state tournament's final weekend.
Let’s start off with state tournament most outstanding player,
Siera Baptista
Siera
Baptista
6'0" | PF
St. Mary’s Academy Bayview | 2023
State
New E
. Baptista is a strong post presence with an ability to find her own shot. Her screening abilities create scoring opportunities for teammates and help to move Bayview’s offensive schemes. Baptista has the strength and physicality to pull rebounds down on the offensive and defensive ends. It’s no wonder that Baptista ended her high school career as most outstanding.
Benway guided Bayview to a title with her reliable ball-handling skills and strong court vision. She is a poised, athletic guard who can find teammates with quick, efficient passing. On the defensive end she the an energizer bunny, and uses her quick hands and speed to shut down opponents’ perimeter play.
Moreau is a tall guard who provides pace and solid shooting outputs for North Kingston. She’ll drive to the basket and find her own jumper, or she can hook up her teammates with elite passing. Moreau is scrappy, speedy and efficient. On both ends of the court Moreau contributes valuable, productive minutes.
Maive Crowley
Maive Crowley
In the semifinals, Crowley hit five three-pointers and connected on all six of her free throw attempts, totaling 27 total points on the afternoon. A 1,000+ point scorer in her high school career, she can score in a hurry. Crowley is also a strong defender and rebounder who uses her length and athleticism to create second-chance scoring opportunities for herself and teammates.
DeCesare added 16 points for Ponaganset in the semifinals. She is a versatile scorer with the strength and physicality to get points in the paint and the quick release and shooting form to connect from long range. DeCesare is also a tough defender who can disrupt opponents with her quick hands and defensive prowess.
