NHIAA Game Recap: Trinity vs. Keene

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <em>Trinity Pioneers</em> hosted the <em>Keene Blackbirds</em> tonight in an <em>NHIAA Division I</em> quarterfinal matchup in Manchester.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a slow start for both teams, the scoring turned up in the second quarter and <em>Keene</em>, the 6th seed in the tournament, headed into the half with a 27-26 lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Keene</em> extended the lead into the fourth quarter and was up by eight with three minutes left when <em>Trinity</em> went on a run, taking a one point lead with 11 seconds to go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <em>Blackbirds</em> answered by going the length of the floor to in less than 6 seconds to score what proved to be the game winner in a 59-58 thriller.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Trinity</em>, the 3rd seed, sees their season end while <em>Keene</em> advances to the Final Four, where they'll take on <em>Portsmouth</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five standout performers from this evening's game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2811750' first='Javon' last='Massiah']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Keene","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cb9c38033af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the top players in the <em>NHIAA</em> this winter, Massiah completely took over in the second quarter, almost singl handedly propelling his team to a halftime lead. He's a long and lean scoring guard that has the ability to break defenders down in isolation situations, finish in a variety of ways around the rim, and make shots with deep range from behind the arc. What really stood out was his ability to operate as a primary ball-handler, making great reads in the half-court and finding teammates in position to score in transition. He's a versatile defender that can also rebound above the rim in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2465143"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cb9c38032f5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Few guards at the high school level play as hard as consistently as Stanley does. His motor is impressive, as is his effort on the defensive end of the floor and on the offensive glass. He's well built physically and at 6'2", has the ability to play and guard a variety of positions. He runs the floor really hard in transition, can handle the ball in space while initiating the break, and scores with either hand at the rim through contact. Defensively, he guards on the perimeter and in the paint, and is relentless on the defensive glass, keeping plays alive and chasing down loose balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kasen Abbott","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Keene","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cce9a28d1e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Every time Keene needed someone to make a shot, Abbott was up to the task. When his team was struggling to score early in the game, he made a big three that seemed to settle his teammates down and take the lid off the rim. He did a nice job of creating space with his dribble, was in consistent motion without the ball, and utilized his shot fake to keep defenders off balance. He got his feet set quickly, showed his hands when he was spotting up, and had a quick release on his jumper. Defensively, he was active on the perimeter and chased down multiple loose balls in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Collin Charbeneau","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Trinity","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cce9a28d27d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The scoring guard was a major reason why Trinity was able to get back in the game in the fourth quarter as Charbeneau hit tough shot after tough shot down the stretch. A shifty ball-handler, he did a good job of using the dribble to create space and proved to be really good in the mid-range when pulling up off the bounce. He moved the ball and then worked hard to get open as a cutter, leading to catch and shoot threes. Operating as a combo guard, he showed the ability to pick his spots as a scorer and creator, having a nice balance of both.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2568381"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cce9a28d2cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Trinity asked Torres to do a lot of the dirty work in the paint and the sophomore was more than up for the task. A good athlete with a nice frame and good length, he isn't a traditional big man, but was super active in the paint and utilized his athleticism to rebound in traffic and protect the rim. Offensively, he showed some versatility with his ability to make plays off the bounce from the top of the key while also scoring at the rim with either hand. He's a prospect to watch this spring and summer and should only continue to expand his offensive game with more repetitions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->