D1 Semis Showdown - #2 MMU vs #3 BHS

This highly anticipated matchup turned out to be more one-sided than expected. BHS star guard [player_tooltip player_id='450194' first='Bree' last='McDonald'] took the reins early and never let go as teammates played their roles to perfection. MMU had flashes of momentum, and I see this experience as a huge learning curve for the sophomores who've now become even hungrier. Tap in!   [player_tooltip player_id='450194' first='Bree' last='McDonald'], 5'7 G - Burlington H.S. Class of 2025   There was no doubt who the best player on the floor was. Bree's complete control of the game, particularly on the offensive side, had BHS in the driver seat. Her sense of momentum and rhythm shined through as she controlled the tempo of the game and manipulated the defense. With a super tight handle, she intently snaked through MMU's various defenses with spins and low dribbles for tough inside finishes, distributed the rock to shooters for three dimes as the defense bent, and reorganized routinely to ensure good looks. Moreover, she provided good ball pressure and reeled in a game-high 12 boards with nice anticipation alongside her game-high 17 points. A masterclass from VT's most skilled player.   Emma R Maley, 5'8 G - Burlington H.S. Class of 2027   In a Playoff X-Factor piece I dropped last week I said Emma's shooting could prove critical, and it did. Emma hunted open space vs the zone constantly with her hands prepared to catch and fire, and her 3pt shooting cracked this game open early. She knocked down two rainbow threes in Q1 and a couple more throughout the contest, shooting 4-9 from deep and punishing the zone. Plus, I liked her decision making when it wasn't a shot; she moved the ball quickly, saw the defensive gaps, and kept them moving. Moreover, her length and awareness off the ball closed air space quickly as help on drives and against MMU's various shooting threats. One of '27s best shooters was confident and poised on both ends.   [player_tooltip player_id='645616' first='Nylah' last='Mitchell'], 5'9 W - Burlington H.S. Class of 2025   The recent Emmanuel College commit didn't have a huge game in the stat column, but her impact was still felt. Nylah's physicality around the paint sought to keep MMU's length off the offensive glass with box outs and five boards herself. Plus, Mitchell's awareness in the passing lanes and on rotations resulted in four steals, taking vital offensive possessions away. She tallied four points, countless hustle plays, drew fouls, and operated wisely around the high post against the various zones to collapse the defense and find shooters. A clean, subtle game where Nylah cleaned up defensively and greased the offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1263374' first='Mae' last='Yenkavitch'], 5'9 G - Burlington H.S. Class of 2027   I'll say this, Mae's two-way play keeps you on your toes. Yenkavitch's performance leaned defensive in this one as she disrupted offense with her constant energy and length on the ball + in the passing lanes. In turn, she collected four steals and sapped the rhythm from MMU's perimeter players. Offensively, the 3-ball wasn't falling, but Mae responded with a couple knifing slashes, particularly in Q3, to finish at the rim and draw fouls, going 4-5 from the line and collecting eight points on the night as she put some distance between them on the scoreboard. Tough two-way game from one of 2027's best guards.   Aly Dorman, 5'8 G - Mount Mansfield Union H.S. Class of 2027   The most aggressive, comfortable, and consistent player on the floor for MMU. Dorman asserted herself with routine organization of the offense as she sought to get others going, but even more so with her crafty, poised drives where the stopped on a dime for mid to short-range pull-ups. The pacing on her moves created space against quicker defenders, and her footwork featured 1-2 stops + jump stops through traffic where she finished shots consistently, providing a team-high 10-points and what felt like the only reliable offense. Dorman's defense was solid and measured as she finagled a couple steals along the way. A growing guard who's going to be a top guard in VT the next couple years.   [player_tooltip player_id='975815' first='Maysa' last='Long'], 5'11 F - Mount Mansfield Union H.S. Class of 2027   There's one thing you can always rely on with Maysa and that's her relentless effort. Long led MMU in rebounding with a team-high eight boards, seven of which were offensive. Her pursuit of the ball never wavered, and her footwork around the rim led to lots of good looks inside that just wouldn't fall. Yet she persisted, providing six points off intuitive pivots inside to create clean little hook shots. Foul trouble and extended time on the sidelines seemed to prevent her from catching rhythm, but Maysa had a near double-double in 19 minutes on a particularly tough night. She's one of the top players in her class.   [player_tooltip player_id='645777' first='Bella' last='Schultz Mitchell'], 5'10 W - Mount Mansfield Union H.S. Class of 2025   The senior didn't go down without a fight. Schultz Mitchell worked diligently to find cracks in the defense with her off-ball movement, which early in Q1 resulted in one of MMU's best sequences as a teammate drove the lane and Bella made a 45 cut from the weak side for an easy two. And defensively, Bella paced MMU on the glass with seven boards off strong box outs, six of which closed defensive possessions. Her seven points and seven boards were hard fought.

This highly anticipated matchup turned out to be more one-sided than expected. BHS star guard Bree McDonald Bree McDonald 5'6" | PG Burlington | 2025 State New E took the reins early and never let go as teammates played their roles to perfection. MMU had flashes of momentum, and I see this experience as a huge learning curve for the sophomores who've now become even hungrier. Tap in!