Dynastic Tendencies: #1 Montpelier vs #4 Otter Valley

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montpelier is on pace to win its 5th straight D2 State Title and they showed no signs of apathy. It took a huge Q1 from [player_tooltip player_id='2377234' first='Carson' last='Cody'] to get MHS rolling, but from then on it was go-time. Whenever OV spurred a touch of rhythm and a hint of a run, MHS quickly hampered that momentum with buckets to match en route to a 30+ point W. Check out the top performers below!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2377234' first='Carson' last='Cody'], 6'3 W - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cody has been one of the best bucket-getters in VT the past couple years and he showed exactly why in this one. Carson carried MHS in Q1 after a slow start, erupting for 17 straight points. He got it done with 3s in transition, slick drives off the catch, and by breaking down his defender to create buckets at each level. With his wiry frame and keen anticipation defensively, he worked to pressure atop the 1-3-1 zone at times, force turnovers in the m2m, and reel in a few rebounds to go with. But his 30 points, and explosive first half, set the tone for the rest of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clayton Foster, 6'2 G - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A true do-it-all combo-guard, Clayton seemed to answer OV every time they made a minor run. Foster's poised shooting from 3 off the catch was fundamental and the deceptive pace on his handle + slashing had the defense compromised pretty much all game. Add in his keen passing to oil the machine and the defensive disruption both on the ball and off and its quickly obvious his two-way impact was widespread. With an air of confidence about him, you can tell by Clayton's consistent high-level decisions that understands the game and opponents deeply, always a step or two ahead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kleo Bridge, 6'3 W - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kleo is a guy who could be a first or second option on a lot of teams in this state, but on deep team's, sacrifice is necessary. Bridge's sense of timing and opportunity, his decision making of when to attack vs when to move the rock, was surgical. Kleo took his mismatches head on, often gliding by with 1-2 dribbles for smooth contested finishes at the rim. Yet he instinctually worked the ball to find the best looks for others as he bent the defense as a scoring threat, sent the dominos falling, and garnered hockey assists. A dynamic defender too, Bridge locked in with tight help rotations, strong on-ball work and rebounds. A formidable two-way presence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carter Bruzzese, 6'0 G - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early foul trouble had Carter watching from the sideline for a chunk of the first half. But once he got back on the court, he struck stride. Carter broke down his defender, collapsed the defense and made plays. He finished well amidst physical contests at the cup, and he maintained awareness of where the rotations were coming from and distributed when wise. Moreover, Bruzzese's work within MHS' stellar team defense was pointed. He collected a couple on-ball steals and kept the seams tight as a help defender. One of my favorite PGs to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2811950' first='Atif' last='Milak'], 6'8 F - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the numbers weren't big, Atif's presence was. Milak's size forced tough shots within the paint as he protected the rim and secured boards. Plus, he showed his versatility defensively, coming out onto the perimeter at times to cover his matchup, both in m2m and as the middle of the 1-3-1, showcasing agile feet and an awareness of his opponent tendencies. Offensively, Milak provided a few buckets inside as he ran in transition or snatched a 2nd chance opportunity. A solid, and subtle, showing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conor Denis, 5'10 G - Otter Valley Union H.S. Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The backbone of OV, Denis' headstrong guard play led the way. Conor's ability to handle ball pressure was vital, as was his physical slashing and scrapping which culminated in tough buckets around the rim. When the D managed to cut off his lays, Denis instead found space in the mid to short range for little jumpers, collecting 17 points to lead OV in scoring. Furthermore, his toughness came through defensively with his physical on-ball defense and work to make decisions tough. A hardnosed guard with a ton of fight in him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Drew Pelkey, 6'4 W - Otter Valley Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I liked what I saw from Pelkey in this one. Drew showed a solid handle and a number of moves to get to his preferred spots. His direct slashes were strong, and with his length he extended well to finish. Plus, he showed a nice touch of footwork around the rim to pivot and counter when cut off, finding open shooters or cutters. Add in a one or two 3s off the catch too and Drew provided 11 for OV along with the distribution. A slender wing who can play inside and out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Logan Letourneau, 6'1 W - Otter Valley Class of 2025</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of OV's top offensive options, Logan supported the cause with his own offense. Letourneau benefitted from some tough driving teammates who saw the kick out as he moved into space, and he knocked down a couple 3s off the catch. As MHS adjusted, Logan saw driving lanes himself and managed to finish a couple at the iron too with savvy footwork, even as the defense rotated hard to recover. Plus, he provided a bit of ballhandling and passing sense against the dynamic and bothersome MHS pressure defense. Solid work.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->