Playoff Prowess: Top Performances Through First Two Rounds

Playoffs are in full swing and just like that the Final Four's have taken shape! Get a glimpse of the early round heroics from across VT.   [player_tooltip player_id='2568400' first='Freddie' last='Bacon'], 6'0 G - Colchester H.S. Class of 2026   It was Freddie who paced CHS in this one, going for 34. Bacon's steady offensive production throughout the matchup kept CHS above water with his ability to score at multiple levels. The PG's ability to knife into the paint and convert inside opened up his perimeter game, and he hit jumpers off the bounce and the catch to make them pay. When it came down to crunch time, Bacon put the game away with a clutch runner to seal the win with just four seconds left. The steady PG struck again with a huge scoring game and brought CHS to the second round, where Freddie led with 17, as they eventually fell to Rice.   [player_tooltip player_id='1227861' first='Harry' last='Geng'], 6'3 G - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2024   I haven't seen a gameplan that has really stopped Harry, and I thought BHS might be able to do so with their athletic guards and perimeter depth. Nonetheless, Geng did what he does. Harry posted a 30-piece at home, producing half of St. J's point total. And he did it with variety; smart movement for catch-and-shoot 3s, athletic slashing finishes, and a transition buckets too. Nobody figured out quite how to stop the D2 St. Michaels commit, but BHS got just enough to tip the scales and knock the Hilltoppers off.   Haidin Chilafoux, 5'11 G - North Country Union H.S. Class of 2025   You could tell early on that Haidin was locked in. The crafty guard went for a huge double-double, logging 35 points, 10 assists, seven boards and numerous steals. His ability to score it from deep and at the rim gave Fair Haven fits. Chilafoux's savvy handle and explosiveness got him inside, then he worked the second layer with sly finishes with either hand or heady reads for dimes. Kid was everywhere in this one and completely took the game over on both ends.   Hayden Boivin, 6'5 W/F - North Country Union H.S. Class of 2025   The inside out duo at NCU was clicking to say the least. Chilafoux did his work and Boivin followed suit with a monster game around the interior. Boivin was all over the glass, cleaning consistently and reeling in 18 on the night with his combo of strength, athleticism and anticipation. He managed to put up a number of post moves and a few second chance buckets too, collecting 15 points total on the night. Hayden is NCU's inside man, yet he showed nice activity as a fullcourt and perimeter defender too, collecting three steals to send NCU to the Final Four in a huge second round win. So versatile.   Carson Cody, 6'3 G/W - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025   I knew Carson wasn't far off from 1,000, and he managed to break into the record books with his 24-point, eight rebound performance vs Spaulding. Cody's size, multi-level scoring ability, and fundamental footwork manifested into 3s off the catch, savvy little pull-ups within 12-feet, and a few inside finishes here and there. Cody followed that up in the second round with a 12-point, seven assist game, flashing the distribution ability off smart reads and simple plays. Carson's activity is constant on both ends, and his playmaking offensively is tough to contain. MHS looks to repeat as they head to the Final Four.   Musa Kasanga, 6'4 W - Burlington H.S. Class of 2025   #6 seed BHS is heating up at the right time. Musa caught the flame most recently in a huge second round win vs #3 St. Johnsbury, going for 21-points. Kasanga's a good scorer from 3 and at the rim, and he used his length and height to finish inside. He got transition buckets out of the pressure defense too, culminating in a huge 4th quarter slam to boost BHS in the final frame. Kasanga's defensive instincts and steady offensive production gives BHS good size on the perimeter as they head to the Final Four, playing tonight vs CVU.   [player_tooltip player_id='2546890' first='Justin' last='Munger'], 6'7 F - BFA St. Albans Class of 2025   Munger's activity and versatility really impressed me in this one. The lanky big man showed nice footwork both inside and out. He picked up drivers on the perimeter, made smart traps in the corners, and forced turnovers out of BFA's pressure zone. Of course, he locked in around the rim and provided nine boards too. Offensively, just as versatile. Munger flashed his ability to hit the open 3 off the catch, attack off one or two dribbles, and finish inside, going for 20-points. His and court awareness is all there, and he connected BFA with nice passing instincts. Keep tabs.   Phil Bean, 6'4 F - Fair Haven Union H.S. Class of 2025   Phil Bean has some grown man strength and it showed in the first two rounds. He's a guy that does the dirty work around the rim, and he certainly did so in FHU's huge win against Milton. He had 28 in that one off of power moves inside or off 2nd chance opportunities. Then in the 2nd round in a loss vs North Country, Phil paced FHU with 21. It was sheer will and physicality, creating little bits of space with his post ups and hitting the glass hard for 2nd chance opportunities or collecting FTs. Fair Haven's backbone inside; a key piece of their returning core.

Playoffs are in full swing and just like that the Final Four's have taken shape! Get a glimpse of the early round heroics from across VT.