Big Stage: 802 D1 Semifinals - Top Performers

The stakes were high and it was experience which paid off! Get a glimpse of the top players from the semifinal showdown at UVM's Patrick Gym.   [player_tooltip player_id='579572' first='Hayden' last='Wilkins'], 5'8 G - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2024   With her 3-level scoring touch, pace, and shifty handle, Wilkins got St. J going. Hayden's 1st half scoring outburst came off of pull-ups from various locations, knocking down mid-range jays and 3s off of crafty ballhandling to create space. Her orchestration was clinical as she got St. J into their stuff, probed in transition for dishes, and moved off-ball to keep the defense guessing. Furthermore, her defensive impact was considerable. She read opponents well and got in the passing lanes when off-ball plus locked down on-ball. Her 19 points led all scorers, and she added six boards plus four steals; her presence was felt the entire game.   [player_tooltip player_id='649625' first='Kaia' last='Anderson'], 5'9 W - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2024   Kaia's that steady player who doesn't need plays called yet will deliver big time. Anderson had a huge line, going for 10-points on 5-9 shooting, 13 boards, three assists and three steals. It's safe to say she was everywhere. Her scoring was in the flow, either making heady reads to manipulate rotations and lose defenders for easy lays or she was in the right spot at the right time for loose balls and 2nd chance buckets. A force defensively with her awareness off ball and the ability to defend 2-5, she plugged up every little hole, forced tough decisions, and closed possessions with boards. A true swiss-army knife type.   Elise Berger, 5'11 G - Champlain Valley Union H.S. Class of 2024   Offense was at a premium in this one but Elise just kept plugging away. She'd rebound the rock and go, collecting five boards en route to using sound court vision to distribute in transition, logging three assists. Moreover, her hustle game was all there too. Elise would collect a loose ball or an O board and consistently finish around the rim with short-range jumpers off glass for her 10 points. Her coast-to-coast playmaking, defensive activity out of the zone, and rebounding played large part in CVU having control all night.   [player_tooltip player_id='584222' first='Zoey' last='McNabb'], 5'8 G - Champlain Valley Union H.S. Class of 2026   It was McNabb's bothersome defense and ballhandling which stuck out in this one. CVU showed a few different defenses and for stretches Zoey was matched up with Moser, a top 2026 talent. But McNabb's footspeed is elite and her length pesky, and using both she got into Anna and made her work for every inch. On the other side of the ball, Zoey got CVU into their stuff amidst tough pressure while providing a handful of points too. Two top 2026 players going head up, got to love it.   [player_tooltip player_id='518717' first='Anna' last='Moser'], 5'7 G - Rutland H.S. Class of 2026   I think most everyone in VT knows Anna is one of the most talented and competitive players around. She displayed her twitchy, tight handle and found a few cracks in the defense, snaking into the 2nd layer for a couple tough finishes. Then she flashed what could've been a gamechanger had her shot continued to fall; Moser unleashed an NBA range 3 ball with total confidence, and it was nothing but nylon. She didn't let many 3s fly, but that one put everyone on notice. And I'd be remiss if I didn't touch on her defensive activity. She's agile and relentless with the ball pressure, making guards uncomfortable nonstop. A high-level talent who's coming into her own.   [player_tooltip player_id='649621' first='Jasmine' last='Evans'], 6'0 F - Rutland H.S. Class of 2024   The energy, physicality, and work ethic out of Evans does not waver. Jasmine's interior work is based on those components; her pursuit of O boards kept numerous possessions alive and provided a couple 2nd chance points here and there. All that effort carried over defensively too of course as Jasmine worked to control the paint with her toughness, length, and willpower. She's an interior force with the versatility defensively to step out. She's shown flashes of nice touch inside too; take note.   [player_tooltip player_id='645616' first='Nylah' last='Mitchell'], 5'9 W - Burlington H.S. Class of 2025   One of the most effective and efficient players between the two games last night was [player_tooltip player_id='645616' first='Nylah' last='Mitchell']. She posted 12-points on 5-8 shooting and 1-2 from range, plus she provided her regular work on the boards, snatching 10. Mitchell's offense was generated by her work out of the high post and in the pnr, finding gaps in the 2nd layer to exploit for rim finishes and little jumpers in the short range. Her 10 boards included four offensive, key to keeping BHS hanging around. Mix in her versatile defense and bothersome on-ball work, leading to two blocks, and it's two-way tough. One of the more overlooked players this year (hold me accountable).   [player_tooltip player_id='450194' first='Bree' last='McDonald'], 5'7 G - Burlington H.S. Class of 2025   The bucket seemed to have a lid on it but I was impressed with Bree's impact elsewhere. McDonald reeled in six boards from the guard slot with smart anticipation and added a couple steals + a dose of disruption with her timing on crossovers and in the passing lanes. She managed to put together nine points but St. J had her dialed in and made it tough on her all game. One of the more talented guards around.

The stakes were high and it was experience which paid off! Get a glimpse of the top players from the semifinal showdown at UVM's Patrick Gym.