Nell Burdis and Kathryn Whalen Earn Co-MVP's
In twenty years and forty seasons of coaching, I have named only two or three MVP's. I believe that no single player can be more important than any other. This team reinforced my belief in this regard.
A little less than a year ago, I found Nell Burdis on the coaches in Schoolhouse, and she asked me what I thought this basektball season would be like. I told her I didn't know, but that I was sure I would enjoy it because there were so many returning players whom I like and trust.
I enjoyed this season immensely precisely because of the people on the team. Wendy Arias, a first year player as a senior, made the commitment to the program despite the certain knowldege that she would not play much. Tory Small brought her brand of goofy seriousness to the court, and performed her role creditably as a rebounder and defender.
Caroline Collins, in her first year on the varsity after three on the JV team, displayed the same dedication and maturity here as she did when she served as a team leader for younger players.
Maddie Fuller, in her second year on the varsity,elevated her game this year. Though you might know it by looking at her, maddie is a tough kid, and she changed the tide and the tone of two or three games with her willingness to hit the floor and play rugged defense.
Taylor Nelson, a three-year letter-winner, was named to the all-New England team, but her contribution to this program will be measured in the intensity she brought to it. She changed the way we practice and played with her willingness to fight for every ball, every rebound.
Xan Duhoski, a four-year letter winner, anchored our defense this year. It should be noted that this was the second best defense, in terms of points allowed, that we have had in the last fifteen years, and Xan's play in the post -- the key to everything else we do -- made the difference. I'm not sure she could have carried that weight last year, but she did it with aplomb this year, and so she has earned our Most Improved Player Award.
Finally, our two co-captains can only be considered together. Both two-year captains, Nell and Kathryn have played more games than any girl in Millbrook history save one.
Kathryn will finish her career second all-time in assists and second in steals. She assumed point-guard duties this year, though it was not easy, and ended the year as a very good "1."
Nell is our all-time leader in assists and is third all-time in rebounds -- a statistical rarity. Her intensity, toughness and couraged served as an example to us all.
As I thought about it, I could not imagine what this season -- or any of the previous three, for that matter -- would have been like had they not played almost every minute of every game. It seems to me that this fact warrants an exception, and so they have earned the co-MVP Award.
