Barre Bound: D2 Gamers Showing Out - Final Four Edition

Here we go! The D2 Semis featured a boatload of defense, post-work from some savvy forwards, and hardnosed guard play. Dive in on VT's D2 standouts!   [player_tooltip player_id='645601' first='Sabine' last='Brueck'], 5'8 G - North Country Union H.S. Class of 2025   By far, Sabine was the best player on the floor. Her two-way impact, snatching steals, forcing TOs, and cleaning the glass, culminated in a whopping 13-0 Brueck run en route to her 25 on the night. She rained down three 3s and connected on a couple classic coast-to-coast Sabine transition buckets. Her ability to defend the ball with hawk-like tendencies and not foul was exemplary, as was her composure when NCU was out of rhythm. A true D2 juggernaut who'll bury you in multiple ways.   [player_tooltip player_id='649631' first='Aaliyah' last='Wilburn'], 5'11 F - North Country Union H.S. Class of 2024   When I watch Aaliyah, I see someone with a natural feel for the game. Her sense of spacing is keyed in, whether she's in the high-post vs zone or operating as a ball screener and deciding whether to roll or pop. Wilburn consistently made those subtle, on-the-fly reads to maintain driving lanes and force tough defensive decisions with her jumper and her passing clicking from various spots. Her defensive activity provided needed interior resistance and she hit the glass well too. Solid work from the dependable senior forward.   Victoria Kelly, 6'0 F - Fair Haven Union H.S. Class of 2026   I had yet to see Kelly play all year and boy did she make her presence felt. Victoria's sturdy frame, fundamental footwork, and soft touch inside had her cooking in the post. She kept it simple, using the footwork to navigate the post and create space for little hook shots. Then she stepped it out, displaying the jumper from various spots in the short-range and out to 15-feet, all with good efficiency. Sprinkle in her timely distribution and defensive rebounding too; Victoria looked unstoppable in this one.   Elizabeth Love, 5'5 G - Fair Haven Union H.S. Class of 2025   Love's production, while sporadic, was a key component of the FHU win. Elizabeth caught fire in the 1st quarter, striking gold from the arc as she drained numerous 3s off savvy spot-ups in both the half court and in transition. In the interim, Elizabeth utilized the agility and assurance of a rim protector to get into ballhandlers and force tough decisions. Then came the clutch, end of game FTs where Love and co. iced the game. Solid work from the junior.   [player_tooltip player_id='630314' first='Alana' last='Crittenden'], 5'8 G/W - Lamoille Union H.S. Class of 2026   Alana was the most aggressive player for LU right out of the gates. Crittenden got right in the mix with her defensive activity; she was tracking down loose balls, hounding ballhandlers with agile footwork and length, or clearing the boards to secure possessions. Offensively she brought that same grind. Crit opened the game with a 3-ball, punctured the 2nd layer to scramble the defense, and consistently distributed to generate clean looks or hockey assists. She even flashed some facilitation at the 1. Alana is coming into her own.   Maddex Percy, 5'6 G - Lamoille Union H.S. Class of 2027   It's impressive when a freshman just steps right on the court and gets to business. Maddex came in and made an immediate impact, knocking down a trey off the catch and hustling on defense. Her foot speed and anticipation had her cutting off driving lanes while doing well not to reach and bail out slashers. On the other end, Percy moved the ball well and flashed a cool 1-dribble pull-up from the short corner, showcasing a little taste of her offensive ability. She's one to monitor.   [player_tooltip player_id='645694' first='Eloise' last='Liley'], 5'8 G - Harwood Union H.S. Class of 2025   It was one of those games where Harwood just couldn't catch rhythm. Regardless, Eloise maintained her hardnosed approach. Liley managed to find space in the mid to short range for a couple of buckets and she connected on the 3 ball, collecting 12 points on the night. Defensively tough and anticipatory, Liley worked her tail off to slow NCU down. A tough competitor with energy a full 32 minutes.   Quinn Nelson, 6'0 F - Harwood Union H.S. Class of 2024   The interior defense was smothering from NCU, but that didn't stop Quinn from putting in the work. Nelson battled all game, using her length to grab rebounds on both ends. She managed some 2nd chance points out of her rebounding, at times showing savvy footwork to slip past defenders and finish at the cup. Quinn provided a bit of rim protection too, swatting a few shots inside. Lengthy with good instincts.

Here we go! The D2 Semis featured a boatload of defense, post-work from some savvy forwards, and hardnosed guard play. Dive in on VT's D2 standouts!