D1 Finals: #1 St. Johnsbury vs #3 Burlington - A 49-Year Wait

It had been nearly five decades since BHS found themselves in a championship game, while St. J had been here and back again three straight years. But it was the hometown team, propelled by the best duo in the state, which hoisted the hardware and cut the nylon. Get a glimpse of the VT D1 State Championship's top performers.   [player_tooltip player_id='450194' first='Bree' last='McDonald'], 5'7 G - Burlington H.S. Class of 2025   Once again, Bree took control of the game from the outset. Her tempo + sense of rhythm was pinpointed all game as she organized the offense, ensured quality possessions, and picked apart the defense. With her ultra-tight handle, savvy scoring touch, and court vision, McDonald cut up the defense for 20 points as she finished crafty lays, short-range jumpers with pure touch, 2-5 from 3, 6-6 FTs, and dished out a game high four assists as she bent the defense and saw through the rotations. Plus, her defensive effort was scrappy and physical, resulting in four steals and seven boards. Bree had her fingerprints all over this game, and then was the first to put her fingerprints on the D1 State Trophy.   [player_tooltip player_id='645616' first='Nylah' last='Mitchell'], 5'9 W - Burlington H.S. Class of 2025   The finishing against the state's best zone defense was just surgical. Nylah was unfazed by the dynamic 2-3 zone as she caught the rock with poise at the elbows, turned and faced, then knifed through the defense for strong contested finishes, often going to her left. That high-post work resulted in 20 points with 4-4 FTs, proving critical as she forced the defense to collapse, saw the dominos fall, and then finished or distributed the rock. Moreover, Nylah's defensive game shined just as bright. Mitchell's awareness and aggression in the passing lanes + on drives resulted in a game-high five steals along with her emphatic eight boards. A dynamic two-way game to finish out her H.S. career.   [player_tooltip player_id='645785' first='Hawa' last='Mubarak'], 5'9 W - Burlington H.S. Class of 2025   A steady presence all game, Hawa provided her typical pressure defense on the ball and composure in the halfcourt offense. While the impact was subtle for long stretches, she burst on the scene in the 4th. Mubarak had a huge sequence where she collected a tough O board, kicked, got the ball back and hit a little jumper, and on the ensuing defensive possession, she stripped the ballhandler in the halfcourt then through an aware hit-ahead pass for an easy dime. While the dust was beginning to settle by that point, Mubarak made clear that any St. J momentum would quickly be stamped out with those plays and an additional steal and bucket in that same frame. A steady role player who laid everything out there did what was asked of her.   Rowan Thomas Demeritt, 5'5 G - Burlington H.S. Class of 2028   The freshman came in and made waves! Rowan took no time to make her mark, stepping into the game partway through Q1 and within moments nailing a corner 3, then a possession or two later, Thomas Demeritt slipped inside for an easy O board and quick finish to strike a five-point flurry. Going forward, the work Rowan put in didn't fill the stat sheet, but it indeed impacted winning. Fearless on-ball defense, natural rotations into help, a couple defensive boards, and flowy ball movement to keep the rock moving and the defense scrambling. A freshman who I've never seen rattled.   Adrianna Hever, 5'9 W - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2025   Hever was the sole St. J player to reach double figures. Adrianna's continual effort to attack defenders off the catch with strong lefty drives resulted in a couple contested finishes and FTs, going 3-4 from the line. As she forced the defense to respect the slash, she balanced the attack with a couple 3s from deep amidst the quick rotations, going 2-7 from distance and 15 points on the night. Additionally, Hever used her size and versatility out of the zone to capture six boards, deny three shots, and toggle between defending wings and sinking inside to contest interior plays. St. J's top performer and two-way talent.   [player_tooltip player_id='592897' first='Anna' last='Ebert'], 5'8 W - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2026   One thing you can be sure about is Anna's attack mindset. Ebert's aggressiveness did result in some early foul trouble, but it also resulted in a mass amount of boards, 15 with six being offensive, and a few much-needed drives including a tough coast-to-coast attack that lifted St. J spirits, if only shortly. Moreover, the dynamic physicality of Ebert often had her center of the zone where she provided some solid rim protection, collecting three blocks. While the halfcourt offense never seemed to get off the ground, Anna's eight points and 15-boards kept St. J afloat.

It had been nearly five decades since BHS found themselves in a championship game, while St. J had been here and back again three straight years. But it was the hometown team, propelled by the best duo in the state, which hoisted the hardware and cut the nylon. Get a glimpse of the VT D1 State Championship's top performers.