State Tournament Recap: Top Connectors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What an event! The NIAA State Tournament never disapoints. Place two opponents in opposite jerserys line them up and play for glory. It's a simple formula that always produces lifelong moments, and lasting results.&nbsp;Several players willingness to keep their team connected by doing the little things resulted in success. Here's a look at the top Connector players from the NIAA State Tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2351329"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Smith gave the 4A state champs some valuable minutes. Whether he was buying time for 7 footer [player_tooltip player_id='1281369' first='Xavion' last='Staton'], or helping and recovering in perimeter Pu0026amp;R situations, he played a pivotal role for the squad.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2351324"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The State Finals was the culmination of a playoff run that saw Ruffin take his game to another level. He was a terror on the glass, providing the Mountain Lions with another interior rebounder. He defended everyone, showing some of the most defensive versatility of any player in the tournament. Behind his toughness, grit and IQ, Sierra Vista captured the 4A crown.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1587902"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Von is one of those players willing to do anything to help his team win. Several times he sacrificed his body, stepping in the way of on coming downhill drivers, taking charges for his team.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2316809"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Rhodes is going to be a member of my All Floor Burn team. The wing, layed it all on the line for the Eagles, taking charges, scrapping for rebounds and of course, diving on the floor for losse balls.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1463311"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Taylor put together one of the most impressive unselfish efforts I've seen in recently playoff memory. Giving up 6 inches and nearly 50 pounds against not 1 but 2 players, the wing took on the challenge of defending both of them. His low post physicality, combined with his rebounding, and slashing ability, helped Democracy Prep to a history making championship.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["2357807"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Barraza kept his team connected through his shooting. When teams helped off Highlanders other shooters, [player_tooltip player_id='1321364' first='Tommy' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2357809' first='Jayden' last='Abbate'] the PG was right there to make them pay. He burried multiple threes in the championship game, incluind  a run stopping banked one to keep his team connected.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcd908ea0c1"} /-->