Cushing Edges Out Cheshire for NEPSAC Class AA Title

In what was easily Sunday's best game at Western New England University in Springfield, MA, Cushing beat Cheshire 64-55 to win the NEPSAC AA title.   This game was a battle throughout, but Cushing just had a bit too much size and athleticism for Cheshire to handle. Below are 5 standouts from the game.    Hynes was absolutely huge in Sunday's championship game. The 6-foot-6 wing was bigger than most of Cheshire's front line, so he was able to bully his way to the front of the rim for offensive rebounds and finishes. He has continuously improved his athleticism and strength over the past couple of years, and he knows exactly where to be on the court at all times. Hynes is an A+ role player who should walk into a similar role on Bentley next season that he currently plays for Cushing.     I've certainly seen Moesch play better games, but even when the opposing team tries to shut him down offensively, he still finds a way to make them pay. Against a Cheshire team that aggressively blitzed him on pick and rolls, the Siena commit consistently made smart decisions and reads. He dragged out the big-man defender and then either found Edema in the paint for a dunk or kicked it to the weak side shooter for a closeout-attack opportunity. He also picked his spots for threes and drives to the lane, including a clutch and-one down the stretch. No matter what pick and roll coverage you play on Moesch, he'll figure out how to beat it, especially as the game goes on.     Edema was Cushing's X-factor, because Cheshire didn't have the size or strength to compete with him in the paint. Though he got the ball stolen from him and missed a couple easy layups in the beginning of the game, the 7-footer found his footing as the game went on and eventually got used to all the smaller guys swiping at the ball. He dominated the second half with crushing screens and rolls to the rim, and he was a total beast on the offensive glass all game. Edema needs to improve his hands a bit, but games like Cheshire are a great experience for him to have and should help him develop.     Maguire was tasked with a massive offensive load on Sunday, because Cushing chased him over screens and forced him to dribble into the lane and make decisions at the nail. But the 6-foot-2 guard really impressed me with his quickness and strength, and he made good passes in the lane when he needed to. I also love the way Maguire cuts off the ball—he has clearly learned how to play with [player_tooltip player_id='2874981' first='John' last='Spinoso'] and has developed some beautiful chemistry with him, and that'll pay off for him at the next level.     You would probably look at Leonardo and think he's too small and skinny to compete against a Cushing team with multiple scholarship players, many of which are older than him. But the 6-foot guard more than held his own. He made multiple threes on the move and also impressed me with his ability to attack the lane and make plays near the rim. Once Leonardo puts on some more strength and weight, he's going to be a really excellent player. Right now, though, he already has the skill and IQ necessary to be effective at this level. Very bright future ahead.

In what was easily Sunday's best game at Western New England University in Springfield, MA, Cushing beat Cheshire 64-55 to win the NEPSAC AA title.