State Semi-final standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team's punched their tickets to the state final on Friday and there were some fun games. The environments this time of the year never disappoint. Here are the performers that stood out to me the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1782687"],"_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":"This week's biggest game in NOVA was Hayfield taking on South Lakes at Westfield. Hayfield knocked South Lakes out back-to-back years, and these are two of the five best public school teams in the area. This game is low-scoring and physical. Hayfield really struggled, but the one bright spot was [player_tooltip player_id='1782687' first='Phenix' last='Card']. He had a huge transition three in the second quarter following a steal and hit a few other shots in this game. Phenix shot the ball well and was Hayfield's leading scorer with 11.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1304244"],"_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":"What [player_tooltip player_id='1304244' first='Brian' last='Kennedy'] did in the first half set the tone for South Lakes. He knocked down a three and had some acrobatic finishes around the rim. I mentioned Hayfield having issues scoring, but South Lakes had just as much trouble early in the game. Brian was direct, didn't hesitate, and looked comfortable. Brian had 14 first-half points and was a pest on defense, as usual.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1410534"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1410534' first='Jordan' last='Scott'] had limited impact on offense in the first half. He was in foul trouble and never got into a rhythm. That changed in the second half, and he took over this game late. He got much of his offense around the rim from post-ups and knocked down a few jumpers. There was a 2-minute stretch in the 4th where Jordan took the soul out of Hayfield with his defense. He had a ridiculous block and a steal, and along with a few other defensive plays, it sealed the game. He finished with 14.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2333774"],"_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":"Tuscarora got their revenge on Loudoun Valley, blowing them out after losing to them in the regional finals. [player_tooltip player_id='2333774' first='TJ' last='Duggan'] has had a terrific senior season, and he had an excellent game. TJ's biggest strength is his shooting, but he scored the ball in other ways. TJ drove the ball really effectively and had some great finishes. He passed the ball well off of his drives as well. TJ led all scorers with 22 and chipped in 5 rebounds and 5 assists.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Payton Williams ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Tuscarora ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Payton Williams had a great game Vs. Loudoun Valley and sometimes what Payton does falls to the wayside because of how good [player_tooltip player_id='2333774' first='TJ' last='Duggan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1759750' first='Jayden' last='Johnson'] are. But Payton does a lot for this team as a perimeter defender and is also a good rebounder for a guard. Payton finished second on the team with 13 points.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1489085"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1489085' first='Isaiah' last='Vick'] beat up Oscar Smith, recording a 17-point 10 rebound double-double. He used his length on the glass and was great on defense. Isaiah's versatility on the defensive end is elite, and he has been a massive factor in this Patriot team probably being the best public school in NOVA.rnrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e3b8988f81e"} /-->