802 Playoff Action: D2 #2 FHU vs #3 NCU
It was a hotly contested battle, wire to wire, as each side answered the other’s run. FHU had three guys who combined for a sick 59 points, and NCU’s three-man backcourt combined for a whopping 52, but NCU found a…
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Continue ReadingIt was a hotly contested battle, wire to wire, as each side answered the other’s run. FHU had three guys who combined for a sick 59 points, and NCU’s three-man backcourt combined for a whopping 52, but NCU found a little extra from the supporting cast to create an inch of separation. Check out who showed out!
Cooper Brueck, 6’1 G/W – North Country Union High School Class of 2023
Cooper’s two-way talent was in full effect. Brueck dogged opponents defensively, using his quickness and anticipation to stick with ballhandlers and get in passing lanes. Once in the open court, it was a wrap. He found lane runners for easy transition buckets, plus he put pressure on the rim and finished at the cup himself. Moreover, his halfcourt facilitation was squeaky clean and the ball never stuck in his hands. Brueck’s high motor and defensive expertise shone through, and his offensive game benefited from all that work defensively as he finished with 16.
Haiden Chilafoux, 6’0 G – North Country Union High School Class of 2025
I’ll be honest, I didn’t know Haiden until he came to the Aud Wednesday night and put on a clinic. Chilafoux ran the floor hard and found his rhythm inside, finishing numerous lays in transition. And that aggressiveness didn’t let up in the halfcourt. He continued to attack the iron and finished on either side of the cup + he got to the FT line. Once the defense realized they had to cushion the drive, he rose up from 3 and knocked down jumpers. Haiden finished with 21, but it wasn’t all offense. He hauled in boards and limited the production of FHU’s supporting cast. Chilafoux iced the game with clutch FT’s in OT; the sophomore is clutch too!
Jorden Driver, 5’9 PG – North Country Union High School Class of 2023
There weren’t many games I saw where Ramey didn’t completely outplay his matchup, but I have to say, Driver nearly equalized Sawyer in this one. Jorden’s agile and physical defense held Sawyer outside of the paint for much of the game, forcing him to make plays strictly from the perimeter. Moreover, Driver showed he can score it too, putting up a solid 15 off of strong drives into the paint, including a clutch drive and finish to send the game to OT. The two-way PG executed to a tee.
Hayden Boivin, 6’3 F – North Country Union High School Class of 2025
An unsung hero of sorts, Hayden did a lot of dirty work. Boivin was that brick wall inside, clogging the paint, forcing tough shots and battling for boards. The big fella must’ve been approaching double digit boards with his work inside. Yet he flashed some offensive abilities too. Hayden showed smart movement in the interior, moving into gaps as slashers drew his defender, and he finished a couple buckets because of it. Boivin was pivotal in this one.
Sawyer Ramey Sawyer Ramey 5'10" | PG Deerfield Academy | 2024 State NLG , 5’8 G – Fair Haven Union High School Class of 2023
When I saw Sawyer’s numbers, I was somewhat surprised. It felt like a night where his offense didn’t come as easy as usual, yet he still managed to drop a game high 23 points; it goes to show just how good Ramey is. I realize now, it was Sawyer’s expert balancing act of facilitating and scoring that occurred. His vision + defensive manipulation is elite, and he created a ton of opportunities for bigs and wings alike, dropping dimes in transition, the halfcourt, and out of bounds. Moreover, he hit a few 3’s, and when he got to the rim he was quite efficient. His defensive abilities tend to get lost with such dazzling offense, but he was all there. Sawyer put together a strong game, but FHU couldn’t get over the hump.
Phil Bean, 6’2 F – Fair Haven Union High School Class of 2025
The sophomore was steady. Phil just kept plugging away on both ends, defending the post and grabbing boards while finding offense inside. Bean had a quiet 14 points, coming off of nice creation from Ramey. But he also battled on the offensive glass and secured boards for numerous second chance buckets. Phil’s inside effort had FHU hanging in until the final buzzer.
Sam Barber, 5’10 G – Fair Haven Union High School Class of 2023
It’s true, Ramey draws a lot of attention, but Sam put together a strong game too. It almost fell under the radar, but Barber’s offense was clicking. He found production in volume from both the 3 and at the iron. Much of his scoring from range came off the catch, moving smartly into open space. And his hustle in transition was rewarded with pinpoint passes for smooth finishes at the rim. Sam put up a cool 22 points, keeping FHU in the game til the very end.