We blinked, and here we are in February with one month of the season left to go. January was a wild 31 days in NEPSAC, and it got me thinking:
With all the big-time individual performances throughout the league this winter, who would be my NEPSAC MVP? Who is the NEPSAC Defensive Player of the Year?
If the season ended today, who would be the candidates?
Let’s get into the MVP Race.
Most Valuable Player
MVP is very simple to me. Which player impacts winning the most at the highest level for their respective team? There are 4 players who I feel like are the frontrunners.
Cam Rust || Worcester Academy || F || ’24
Rust has had a monster season and signature performances in several of Worcester’s wins this year. She dropped 30 against Tilton, 32 against Rivers, 26 against Dexter, and 30 vs. Hoosac, to list a few. Long story short, she has dominated her opponents all season, has been a double-double machine, and her consistent efforts have Worcester in the running for the #2 seed. Rust has been unstoppable.
Ahnay Adams || Tilton || PG || ’24
Tilton has a stretch of games coming up that could decide this race if Tilton comes out victorious. They play Tabor tonight, Dexter Saturday afternoon, and the following Saturday, they host Nobles. That is an insane stretch for Adams and Tilton, but with how she has been playing this season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Tilton win all 3 matchups. She started to heat up at the end of December, and when she elevated her game, the team followed, and they have been playing at a high level since.
Orlagh Gormley || Dexter – Southfield || PG ||’24
Dexter has one of the youngest teams in NEPSAC, and they have been one of the strongest teams this season. Gormley, leading the charge, has been playing at an elite level. She is the best distributor, and no matter what 4 players are on the court, she can maximize the ceiling of the unit with her playmaking,
Ashley Dinges || Nobles || SF || ’25
You can mention a couple of Nobles players in the MVP conversation, but I went with Dinges because she has quietly been Nobles’ most consistent player. The game that sticks out the most is the Tabor one. On the road against arguably the best defensive team in NEPSAC, Dinges carried the offensive load throughout the game. It seems like Dinges delivers whenever Nobles needs a shot specifically from long-range. She also has been a terror on the glass.
Defensive Player of the Year
Regarding Defensive Player of the Year, I look at the top defensive units in the league and who their anchor is. Usually, this player is versatile, can defend the perimeter/paint, and can change the game’s complexity with their defensive play. I think it is cool and intriguing how the defensive efforts from these prospects can be the driving force to winning big games. My 4 candidates:
Jasmyn Cooper || Nobles || F || ’25
Cooper can’t duck any smoke. She is matched up every game against the opposition’s biggest offensive threat, regardless of position. She has checked Ahnay Adams, Cam Rust, Orlagh Gormley, Kaelyn Carroll, and Alicia Mitchell; I think you get the point. Cooper embraces the challenge and produces. She has been on top of her game defensively all year long, which is a big reason why Nobles has been so dominant.
Olivia Rodrigues || Tabor || F || ’25
You can always count on Rodrigues to be in the right place at the right time for Tabor defensively. She shuts down the paint and can switch out on the perimeter and shut off angles. I personally like Rodrigues when defending the P&R and in trapping situations. If Rodrigues is around the ball, there is a high percentage of her forcing a turnover, no matter what team it is against.
Ella Peper || Dexter- Southfield || F || ’28
From game 1, I have raved about Peper’s defensive efforts. She has a high motor, is intimidating when closing out and contesting the three, and is a presence in the paint. Peper covers so much ground in the halfcourt and can recover and get back into plays as well as anyone. I also like her toughness and how she fights underneath for defensive rebounds.
Hannah Richardson || Hoosac || F || ’24
Physical defense is Hoosac’s identity, and Richardson sets that tone with her aggressiveness on that side of the ball. She’s mobile, athletic, and a motor. Hoosac doesn’t give up a ton of good looks in the halfcourt, and it is because they have Richardson roaming around on the inside, forcing tough shots. Richardson engulfs smaller players and makes life a living hell when she jumps out on the perimeter.
