5 Champions From The Nation’s Smallest State
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This high school season has been really exciting and has officially come to an end. After a couple good weeks of high-level hoops, the season has come to a halt and we now get a chance to reflect a bit.…
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Continue ReadingThis high school season has been really exciting and has officially come to an end. After a couple good weeks of high-level hoops, the season has come to a halt and we now get a chance to reflect a bit. A special congratulations to all the Rhode Island teams that participated in the post season this March. Playoffs are full are high emotion and these games are played on large stages in front of many eyes, all the young ladies that contributed to their team’s success deserve an applause and appreciation for participating. The girls of Rhode Island put on a post season performance and it was a pleasure to watch. Although the state is small in size, the basketball culture here is immense and New England has emerged as a premier talent hub. That means that teams that ended the season with a championship were extremely battle tested facing some of the best talent in the region every round. That alone is a feat that can’t be overlooked and the reason why five girls are highlighted from these winning teams. Below are five champs who finished the season ultimately victorious.
Mia Fiore Mia Fiore 5’11” | SG St. Andrews | 2024 NewE (2024) | 5’10 CG| St. George’s
Mia is an incredible all-around talent that plays with a ton of energy. A 2-way guard that can play multiple positions that affects the game in so many ways. Fiore is an efficient scorer that gets buckets at the rim with contact, has a deadly pull-up game and also a sniper from long range. Fiore plays with some flare and has just about every counter in the book for straight-line defenders trying to guard her head up. Mia takes her time and uses her pivots along with step-throughs to get just enough space to sneak a layup by. Her crossover to step back combo is outrageous and the separation she creates is even more impressive. Fiore was one of the elite players in Class B this year not only because of her offensive game, but she also plays smothering defense. Mia is an excellent help defender as a primarily perimeter player. She has quick feet, fast reactions with her head on a swivel and superb timing on blocks.
Fiore led St. George’s to their very first title in program history this year. The senior All-NEPSAC and All-ISL star had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in championship game. Mia was named tournament MVP finishing out her career legendary.
Jaelynn Perez Jaelynn Perez 5’8″ | PG Moses Brown | 2026 State NewE (2026) | 5’8 PG| Moses Brown
Jaelynn is a gifted floor general most coaches would love to have on their team. She has a bunch of intangible skills that don’t always show up on the stat sheet, but are vital for the team’s success. Perez is a natural break starter; she loves to get the ball out in the open floor and put pressure on the defense. Perez never tries too hard on offense and allows the game to come easy. Her handle and shot making ability keep the defense honest at all times. Jaelynn allows the game to come to her, she allows her defense to fuel her offensive and that leads to easy layups in transition. Jaelynn has quick hands and she anticipates action on the court, allowing her to be in the right position and make plays that feed into easy points.
In the month of March Jaelynn has been averaging a little under 10 points per game and she finished the season top 20 in assists, steals and blocks. Perez ended the season the 17th with a state title over Barrington in a game where she defended the opposing team’s best player. Her efforts were a big part in Moses Brown winning the championship.
Highlights
Dariia Serednytska
Dariia Serednytska
Dariia is one of the best all-around bigs in the state of Rhode Island. The 6’2 Ukrainian forward is a game changer on the floor. The opposing team must be aware of her at all times while she is on the floor. She is the perfect complimentary piece to play alongside another 6ft+ scoring big and they feed off each other’s game. Dariia would be deemed as the more defensive minded player out of the two, but she is no slouch on offense. Dariia has a nice touch around the rim and a strong base making it hard to get her out of position, especially when on her hip. Dariia is a very good passer from the mid and low post areas being able to hit her targets on the move, in the flow of the offense. Serednytska makes her biggest impact when she is helping fuel her team’s offense and gives her team a bunch of extra possessions. She constantly blocking shots, snatching critical rebounds and even taking charges. She does this throughout the entirety of the game and it swings momentum in her team’s favor, making her the ultimate x-factor.
Dariia and the Rocky Hill girls won the NEPSAC Class D Championship over Vermont Academy in a tough game where Serednytska had 12 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 2 charges taken in the title game, helping seal the victory for her squad. Dariia was also named the 2023-2024 NEPSAC Class C Defensive Player of the Year.
Lauren Bousquet Lauren Bousquet 5’10” | PF Moses Brown | 2026 State NewE (2026) | 5’10 F| Moses Brown
Lauren has been on a mission all season showing why she is a top talent in the RIIL. A skilled forward with a game that suits her aggressive style. Bousquet plays at her pace and she will use just about any move you can think of to score. Lauren can play in the half court and in open transition just as well as some of the better guards in the area. Lauren has a strong upper body and finishes through contact. Her spin going baseline is elite and she creates space with jabs to get open shots. She opens the lane to the basket off a head fake or pump fake and she can drive with either hand hard to the basket. Although in a primarily scoring role, she is getting her points in the flow of the offense and loves to get her teammates involved.
Bousquet put up a whopping 29 points in the state championship game over Barrington where she absolutely dominated the game. There was no answer for Lauren and she further cemented her stats on the year just proving how much of a force she really is. What was even more impressive about the stats from the title match was the pure dominance she had over the entirety of the game. Lauren looked very comfortable out there driving to the lane at will, finishing through heavy contact while flexing on the opponents and hitting transition jumpers while looking at the crowd. Lauren finished out the year a 1000-point scorer, a champion and finals MVP.
Addison Mahar
Addison Mahar
Addison Mahar (2027) | 5’4 CG| Rocky Hill Country Day
Addie is an overlooked talented guard with a tight handle, quick feet and an even quicker jump shot. Mahar plays with her sister on the same team and the chemistry from the family dynamic has bled onto the court, generating great outcomes on the floor for Rocky Hill. Although Addie is with a group of girls that are vastly gifted, her game speaks volumes. Addie moves well without the ball; always having active hands and moving without the ball. Mahar is shot ready off backscreens and always a danger from long range just because of how quick she can get her shot off. Addie is one of the quicker players around and uses that attribute to help accelerate her to the basket in a minimal number of dribbles. Her quickness is also relayed on the defensive end, disrupting lots of action on and off ball. Mahar is always active when she is on the floor.
Addie, alongside Rocky Hill won their first NEPSAC title in the school program’s history. She led the way with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, 1 charge taken and over 5 deflections. Mahar was also named to the NEPSAC ALL-League team this year, a great accomplishment for a 2027 guard.