802 Playoffs: D3 Action – #2 Hazen vs #3 Thetford
Hazen had a no-nonsense approach, getting right to business from the jump. While TA and Mitchell Parkman clawed until the end, Hazen made it clear this was their game. Dig in and get familiar with one half of D3’s Final…
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Continue ReadingHazen had a no-nonsense approach, getting right to business from the jump. While TA and Mitchell Parkman clawed until the end, Hazen made it clear this was their game. Dig in and get familiar with one half of D3’s Final Four standouts!
Brendan Moodie, 5’7 G – Hazen Union High School Class of 2025
Moodie looked unfazed on the big stage. With the poise of a senior, Brendan played wisely and with ease. He made simple plays, moving the ball with smart decisions. And off the ball, he exploited gaps in TA’s defense. Brendan found his scoring at each level with consistent production all game. He knocked down numerous 3’s off the catch, made plays in ball screen actions, and drove the paint for finishes inside. In addition, his defense was crisp and aggressive yet measured. Moodie paced Hazen with 19 points and added five boards. The kid was highly efficient and highly effective.
Gabriel Michaud, 6’1 F – Hazen Union High School Class of 2024
The sixth man came in and made an impact almost immediately. Gabe is that swiss army knife for Hazen. Michaud defended at a high level with his versatility, handling forwards and perimeter players with equal success on the ball and off. Moreover, he rebounded at a high rate, collected loose balls and ran the floor hard. In doing so, Michaud put together 16 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. Gabe’s +/- must’ve been through the roof; his impact on this game was extensive.
Tyler Rivard, 6’4 F – Hazen Union High School Class of 2023
It wasn’t one of those blockbuster games for Rivard where he puts up a 30-20 line, but he didn’t need to. Hazen got big production from Moodie and Michaud, and Tyler took on the role of defensive backbone and glass cleaner. Rivard matched up with TA’s point-forward Parkman, and, using his strength and height, gave Mitchell a lot to handle. Tyler worked his tail off to keep Parkman out of the paint and off the glass. Of course, he didn’t stop everything, but over the course of four quarters, he wore Mitchell down excessively. Rivard put together six points and 14 boards, capturing his 1,000th rebound midway through the game. Rivard showed adaptability without any change in effort. Love his approach.
Jadon Baker, 5’9 G – Hazen Union High School Class of 2023
Glue guy! Baker did the little things throughout this one. He defended with tenacity and focus, hawking the ball and rotating to shut down slashers, finding a couple strips along the way. Then on the offensive end he was quick-witted, making simple and easy reads. He knocked down his looks, including a 3-ball, and moved the rock carefully. Jadon’s poise and smarts on both ends kept Hazen stitched together, leaving TA high and dry.
Xavier Hill, 6’1 PG – Hazen Union High School Class of 2024
It didn’t seem to matter that Hill’s jumper wasn’t falling in the first half, Xavier’s energy and output remained the same. Hill made smart reads defensively, collapsing on slashers, getting in passing lanes, and forcing a non-jump shooting team to beat them from outside. And while his own shot wasn’t quite clicking, he adjusted and made sure others found rhythm; Xavier orchestrated the offense and used his over-the-top vision to make plays. Hill finished with 13 points and five assists, and Hazen returns to the Finals with the opportunity to repeat and claim their second title in as many years.
Mitchell Parkman, 6’2 G/W/F – Thetford Academy Class of 2024
The point-forward provided production in every single category for TA. Mitchell facilitated offensively and found a multitude of buckets around the cup for himself and others. He slashed all game, breaking the seal for lays at the rim, and he used nice fakes to create space and knock down short-range jumpers or feed teammates. Then defensively, he was everywhere. Mitchell held Rivard to a mere six points with strong and smart interior defense. Plus, he hit the boards and collected countless 50/50 balls. Parkman finished with 19 points, and I had him down for 10+ boards too. Strong game from the junior.