MIAA D3 Check-In: 4 Seed Falls, Another Top Seed Faces Test

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, I watched two top-seeded MIAA D3 teams play super close sweet-16 matchups. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swampscott High School, a 4-seed, battled all night long and looked like they had Norwell High School ready to tap out before a buzzer-beater half-court shot from <strong>Nick Fein</strong> ended their season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charlestown High School was in a prime position to take out 2-seed Salem High School last night, before some late-game heroics from Salem earned them an elite-8 spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below I'll have standouts from both games.</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":"Matthew Adams","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Norwell High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69a88e4ba8e4c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Adams is only a freshman point guard but was tasked with guarding [player_tooltip player_id='3348955' first='Teddy' last='O'Neill'], one of the best players in the entire MIAA, in Norwell's sweet-16 matchup against Swampscott. Adams slid his feet very well and did everything he could to contest shots, and he limited O'Neill all game. Offensively, Adams hit a couple really big three-pointers and made really nice passes all night—he throws passes with great velocity and accuracy. Awesome performance from Adams, who has a bright athletic future ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3348955"],"_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-69a88e4ba8eb9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Though he was relatively limited for most of the game, O'Neill still showcased the skills that have made him an MIAA star. The 6-foot-2 guard has incredible strength and effortlessly moves defenders off him in the paint—he wasn't hitting his mid-range shots yesterday, but he took a bunch of really good looks. He's also an excellent rebounder for his size and uses his length and height to see passes over the defense. I imagine O'Neill will be at a prep school next season, and it'll be awesome to see how he fares at that level.</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":"Connor Chiarello","_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":"Swampscott High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69a88e4ba8f50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chiarello handled much of the scoring load with O'Neill having a down shooting performance. The 5-foot-11 guard has really solid quickness and gets SO LOW to the ground on takes to the rim, so he's very difficult to stay in front of. He also has a knack for hitting jumpers in the lane and is a good athlete at the rim. Chiarello is a relentless rim attacker who had an awesome high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2826663"],"_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-69a88e4ba8fa3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rodriguez had a big-time performance last night against a tough Charlestown defense. The 6-foot-2 guard was simply too quick for the CHS guards to handle—he consistently got to the front of the rim and showcased the ability to finish with comfort and confidence, especially with quick, wrong-footed layups with his right hand. He has a knack for throwing off the defense with his footwork, and he's long and athletic at the hoop. Rodriguez will look to lead Salem to a final 4 with one more win.</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":"Jeremy Baez","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Charlestown High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69a88e4ba9034"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Though they ended up losing the game, Charlestown was only in it to begin with because of Baez and his contributions in the paint. All night, he was a menace on the offensive boards and helped his squad get numerous second-chance points, especially at very key spots in the game. He also had a bunch of really nice passes once the defense collapsed on him in the paint after offensive rebounds. Baez is more coordinated than he looks, and he has some special physical tools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->