MIAA D4/D5 Championship Game Standouts

Over the weekend, I watched every MIAA championship game all the way from division 1 to division 5. Over the next two days, I'll be highlighting some standout performers from each game.   To start, let's look at D4 and D5's championship game(s) standouts.    Loewen was on the wrong side of Cote's dominance, but he still had a really nice performance in the D4 championship game. The senior guard hit some outside shots and showcased pure-looking shooting form, but he also made a number of really smart kick out passes to his teammates when the help came. Defensively, he impressed me with his hands and toughness—he took a charge early on and contested tons of shots. Loewan's ball handling probably isn't at a high enough level right now to play college hoops, but perhaps I'm missing something and he'll land somewhere.     Bradley was absolutely ridiculous for Hoosac Valley. He started the game off relatively slowly, but it's clear he found comfort in the second half. The 6-foot-1 wing was a total monster on the offensive boards and probably had about 10 put backs off of offensive rebounds in the second half alone. The senior is way too athletic and strong for most players at the MIAA D5 level, and he took great advantage in the championship game. Bradley probably isn't skilled enough for college ball, but I bet he's an excellent football player—seems to be his number one sport.     Wicks probably took about 20 three-point attempts on Sunday, but it paid off for Hoosac Valley because he likely made 7 or 8 of them. The senior guard is pretty small and skinny, but he has an ultra-quick shot release that makes him very difficult to contest consistently, especially when you combine it with his conditioning and ability to move off the ball. He can also handle the ball well, though he needs to add strength to make himself tougher to keep from the rim. More size and bulk will be key for Wicks at the college level, but he had enough to help lead his squad to a D5 state championship this season.     Against Georgetown, Rose was simply too strong and athletic for their front line. He had multiple strong takes to the rim and finished with contact on a number of occasions. He also does the little things for Wareham, like rebounding the ball on both ends and defending a wide variety of positions and skill sets. Though he had some rough turnovers, Rose could slow down a bit and find himself getting some college looks if he keeps improving in other ways.     Massillon started off the game on fire for Holbrook and never quite looked back. The senior forward is only 6-foot-1 but he's dense and powerful and moves significantly better for his size than you'd think. He doesn't do much outside the paint, but he has a knack for finishing with contact and is a fighter on the offensive boards. He probably won't be able to find a college fit because he's too undersized for the big-man position, but I would be very curious what he looks like on a football field—you don't normally see guys with his build moving that way.     Brown was his normal self against Hoosac Valley, showcasing the ability to score from all three levels using superb skill and athleticism. The senior guard has a tight handle, but he does a good job playing with patience and getting to his spots on the floor before rising up for easy looks over the contest. At the rim, he does a phenomenal job taking contact and finishing—he's a foul-drawing machine who has great instincts when it comes to putting the ref in difficult spots. Brown should find a college fit. However, he'll have a rude awakening at the jump of talent to the next level, so he'll need to improve his decision making and shot selection.     Cote was very clearly the best player and prospect on the court for Wareham and Georgetown's D4 championship battle. The senior guard is fully healed from an injury a year back, and he's playing his best basketball as of late—he can score from all three levels and was dominant in Sunday's game both shooting the rock and driving it to the rim. The lefty is extremely difficult to stop from getting downhill to his strong hand, and he makes good decisions once he does so. Cote is a definite college player who should be getting lots of D3 looks.

Over the weekend, I watched every MIAA championship game all the way from division 1 to division 5. Over the next two days, I'll be highlighting some standout performers from each game.