802 D1 Championship Game: #1 Champlain Valley vs #3 St. Johnsbury

This one was a grind. It was a defensive chess match as each team worked through their respective zone and matchup defense's; points were at a premium! Check out who showed out on the biggest stage in VT!   MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='421353' first='Addison' last='Hunter']   [player_tooltip player_id='421353' first='Addison' last='Hunter'], 6'0 F - Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2023   If you want to see a post clinic, watch Addi play. The feel from Hunter in this one was exceptional per usual. She went deep into her post arsenal, finishing turnaround jumpers, up-and-unders, and face-up j's from 10-12 feet. When the defense collapsed, her passing out of the paint flourished. Hunter made quick and simple reads, and her ball fakes opened up all kinds of space against the zone defense. On the other side of the ball, Addi was everywhere. Bothering shots, collecting 50/50 balls, preventing post touches, etc. Hunter finished with 16 points and six boards in a highly efficient championship win.   Standouts:   Elyse Berger, 5'11 G/W - Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2024   With a PG's brain and a forward's frame, Elyse is a matchup nightmare. Naturally, she took full advantage of St. J's smaller guards. Berger facilitated with ease, using her strength and body to keep defenders at bay as she got CVU into their stuff. Her passing was clinical, picking apart the defense with ball fakes and quick decisions as teammates exploited gaps. Then defensively, she was just as effective. Elyse bothered guards with her length and size in CVU's zone, and she added a few blocks at the cup as well. With 11 points, four blocks, three assists and three steals, Elyse did a little of everything.   [player_tooltip player_id='428153' first='Shelby' last='Companion'], 5'7 G - Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2023   I have to say, I'm impressed with how Shelby played her role. CVU retooled a bit throughout the season and put the ball in Elyse's hands more, turning Companion into more of a 2-guard. Regardless of how she may have felt personally, she played her role exceptionally well. On the offensive end, Shelby made quick, heady decisions with the ball. Her passing was clean and crisp, her drives controlled, and her shots within the flow of the offense. Plus, her defense was lockdown and communicative. Shelby's ability to sacrifice, accept her role, and play it at 100% is exactly what this game is about, and it gets you titles.   [player_tooltip player_id='579572' first='Hayden' last='Wilkins'], 5'8 G - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2024   Hayden is a gamer. It was clear from her performance in the Semifinals, and it was clear once again in the Finals. Wilkins didn't shoot it exceptionally well, but she made multiple momentum shifting plays to keep St. J's title dreams alive. Hayden had a couple tough finishes inside to crack CVU's seal of the paint. And she hit a number of jumpers to breathe life back into a team struggling to find buckets. In addition, she had a few steals which she turned into offense in a flash. Hayden may have gotten snubbed in my All-State regular season awards; she's certainly at that level.   Kaia Anderson, 5'8 W - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2024   Kaia's contribution in this one was critical; she hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds against the biggest team in the state. She consistently hit matchups with box outs and tracked down boards to limit CVU to single shot possessions. Moreover, her defense was keyed in. Kaia plays bigger than she is, and that grittiness was necessary against CVU's huge front line. She added a couple buckets offensively and worked the ball, but her defensive services were crucial in a game where points were hard to come by.   Cassidy Kittredge, 5'10 G/W - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2025   Even under duress, Cassidy had her shot falling. Kittredge showed her scoring ability at each level. Off of smart off-ball movement, she knocked down a three and some mid-range jumpers off the catch. Plus, she snaked into the paint for a sly finish around CVU's bigs. Then defensively she gave St. J a boost inside. Cassidy blocked numerous shots at the rim, and her effort on the glass was key. The sophomore finished with 10 points and three blocks, and her poise on the floor looked like that of an upperclassman. Strong showing from Kittredge.

This one was a grind. It was a defensive chess match as each team worked through their respective zone and matchup defense's; points were at a premium! Check out who showed out on the biggest stage in VT!