NEPSAC A Semifinals Preview

Will Armishaw March 7, 2026 @ 08:00 AM

Class A of the NEPSAC has been one of the most competitive leagues in New England this winter, with little to no seperation between anywhere from the top 12 to 15 teams in the league.   There was so much parity, that two of the quarterfinal games resulted in upsets, setting up a #5 vs. #8 matchup in one of the semifinals.   Below in the game info, how they got here, and players to watch for each of Class A's semifinal matchups.   #5 The Hotchkiss School vs. #8 Phillips Exeter Academy   Game Info: At The Hotchkiss School on Saturday, March 7th, at 2:00 PM.   How They Got Here: Hotchkiss knocked off #5 Milton Academy (57-54), and Phillips Exeter upset #1 Noble and Greenough (54-45).   Players to Watch:   Hotchkiss: [player_tooltip player_id='2207287' first='Alonzo' last='Archbold'], a 6'8" forward, has been a force in the paint all season long. He plays with great lower body strength and is a plus athlete that does a nice job of exploding to the rim in transition, off the bounce as a driver, and when rolling out of ball screens. He has the ability to make catch and shoot threes from behind the arc and does a nice job of running the floor in transition. Defensively, he can protect the rim from the help side and also rebounds it at a really high level in traffic.   Exeter: [player_tooltip player_id='2568375' first='Jayden' last='Duverne'], a 6'6" forward, has established himself as a real 3-and-D threat this winter. Defensively, he plays bigger than he is, moves his feet to stay in front of opposing forwards, and really competes on the defensive glass, showing a strong base and the ability to hold his spot. Offensively, he's a willing ball mover, highly instinctive cutter, and spaces the floor with his ability to knock down shots in catch and shoot situations. On top of that, he's capable of attacking bad closeouts off the bounce and shows the ability to finish with either hand as an off-ball cutter.   #2 Phillips Academy Andover vs. #3 Deerfield Academy   Game Info: At Phillips Academy Andover on Saturday, March 7th, at 3:00 PM.   How They Got Here: Andover took down #7 Suffield Academy (84-78), while Deerfield defeated #6 Dexter Southfield School (57-56).   Players to Watch:   Andover: Zion Williams, a 6'3" guard, has emerged as a fundamental piece of Andover's offense and defense this winter. The big guard is a fluid mover that plays with great strength as a driver and on the defensive end of the floor. His best asset offensively is his ability to shoot the ball with range, showing that he can knock down threes both off the catch and off the bounce. He makes good decisions with the ball in his hands, has a little wiggle off the bounce, and does a nice job of scoring in isolations late in the clock. He's a strong perimeter defender that is able to guard any perimeter spot and usually takes on the other team's best perimeter scorer.   Deerfield: [player_tooltip player_id='2396746' first='Elijah' last='Webb'], a 6'8" forward, took another step in his development this winter and really rounded out his game on the offensive end of the floor. He's playing harder, making an impact on the offensive glass, and shows inside-out versatility as a scorer. He's a tough cover for opposing bigs due to his ability to stretch the floor and to attack off the bounce in space. Defensively, his length and mobility are both assets, as he's able to protect the rim against bigs and drives, but can also switch onto the perimeter and be disruptive against long distance shooters and wings.

Class A of the NEPSAC has been one of the most competitive leagues in New England this winter, with little to no seperation between anywhere from the top 12 to 15 teams in the league.