Slate Valley Showdown: D1 Rutland vs D2 Fair Haven

Cody Quattrocci

January 23, 2024 @ 04:06 PM

Down south, the Slate Valley League is consistently a battle between two tough programs in Rutland and Fair Haven. RHS is a middle of the pack team in D1 right now, albeit with two all-state caliber players. That being said, they've won six straight, two of those against FHU and one against St. Johnsbury. And Fair Haven continues their work as a premier D2 team, sitting atop the D2 rankings. Check out the standouts below!   [player_tooltip player_id='518717' first='Anna' last='Moser'], 5'8 G - Rutland H.S. Class of 2026   Even in a game where she wasn't in the best rhythm, Anna was clearly still the best player on the floor. Moser created offense in the halfcourt with savvy post feeds, athletic drives, and a few jumpers. Under duress, Moser navigated ball pressure well with a handle that might be the tightest and most creative in VT. Her on-ball defense gave FHU guards plenty of difficulty and Anna got out in transition for quick offense when it presented itself. She's still finding her groove, but all the skill and work ethic is there.   [player_tooltip player_id='649621' first='Jasmine' last='Evans'], 6'0 F - Rutland H.S. Class of 2024   Jasmine is a walking double-double, hands down. Evans had the defense draped all over her in what looked like a 1-3 zone as FHU kept one on Moser. Regardless, Jasmine owned the interior with nice seals, incredible catches on some tough passes, and a whole lot of finishes at the rim. Her rebounding on both sides was unstoppable and she created numerous second chance buckets for herself + FTs, and her FT looks crisp as ever. One fun thing I noted: Jasmine defended FHU's best shooter and showed nice versatility on the wing. Evans is a sneaky snag as an inside presence + defensive multi-tool if I'm a college coach.   [player_tooltip player_id='834838' first='Isabelle' last='Cole'], 5'11 W/F - Fair Haven Union H.S. Class of 2025   It was Cole who was FHU's most dynamic scorer in this one. Isabelle flashed her multi-level scoring with measured drives, smooth mid-range pull-ups, and a couple threes. Her stroke is pure and she showed aware passing + off-ball movement. Cole displayed solid defense out of FHU's zone and a knack for being in the right place as a helper/rotator. Isabelle is a solid modern 4 who has inside/out versatility on both sides and can really space the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='649634' first='Lily' last='Briggs'], 5'8 G - Fair Haven Union H.S. Class of 2024   Briggs is FHU's best shooter and Rutland knew it. They threw the six-footer at her and it was certainly an adjustment. Regardless, Lily was able to get a few 3s to fall throughout the course of this one. What I noted most particularly though was her defensive work. Briggs had the responsibility of sticking to Moser and Lily did well to hang with her. Lily forced tough decisions, and the ball out of Anna's hands at times, as she put Moser through a good deal of ball pressure. A good 3&D prototype with some handle to go with.   [player_tooltip player_id='645778' first='Katelynn' last='Hadwen'], 5'8 W - Fair Haven Union H.S. Class of 2025   Watching this game, I felt like Hadwen was FHU's x-factor. Kate did so much to keep FHU chugging along. Her aggressiveness on drives was the first thing that popped out; she continuously attacked the rim to finish and draw fouls, taking Moser out in Q1 with two quick ones as Hadwen knocked down FTs. Moreover, Hadwen was a constant feature on the glass for Fair Haven, snatching rebounds on the offensive end to keep possessions alive. Her grit and hustle gave FHU life.

Down south, the Slate Valley League is consistently a battle between two tough programs in Rutland and Fair Haven. RHS is a middle of the pack team in D1 right now, albeit with two all-state caliber players. That being said, they've won six straight, two of those against FHU and one against St. Johnsbury. And Fair Haven continues their work as a premier D2 team, sitting atop the D2 rankings. Check out the standouts below!