Early Playoff Standouts in Kentucky

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's playoff time in the Bluegrass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Louisville, the Kentucky Scholastic Lacrosse League (KSLL) held its regional tournaments this past week. The KSLL state tournament gets underway on Sunday with its champion being crowned on Thursday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elsewhere around the state, the Commonwealth Lacrosse League (CLL) got its state tournament underway with the first and second rounds having been played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at five players who have stood out amongst the rest during these early rounds of playoff action in Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lawson Cantley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"142","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Kentucky Country Day","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"L4 Lacrosse","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Coming out on top as district three champions in the KSLL, the KCD Bearcats will host rival Collegiate in the league quarterfinals on Sunday. The Bearcats enter the league tournament on a six-game winning streak, including a 16-11 district title game win over Eastern. It marked the first time in eight years that KCD won its district.rnrnSenior attackman Lawson Cantley has been leading the way for the Bearcats for four seasons, and his dominance has continued this spring. A dual-sport athlete who also starred for the Bearcats' football team, Cantley has proven to be a pure goal scorer. Having recorded 70 goals on the year thus far, he netted seven goals in the Bearcats' district championship win over Eastern. The majority of his scoring opportunities came from Cantley using his speed, quickness, and finesse to beat his man and get to the heart of the defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663fe2bc3b8ec"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["20545"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Playing in the most competitive and parity-ridden district in the KSLL, Eastern came out of the week having earned their spot in the league championship tournament. The Eagles beat Christian Academy 10-7 in what was the league's most competitive district semifinal game. It marked the second win in a week for the Eagles over the Centurions, as they had beaten them 10-4 in the regular season finale. It was the senior who helped lead the way in the big playoff win as he netted a hat trick. An extremely versatile player, DeWitt's three scores came in three different ways. His first came off a dodge on the wing as he took advantage of a short-stick matchup. His second of the day was a rip from 10 yards out and came by way of some pick-and-roll action up top. DeWitt's third came as he found himself all alone up top, received the feed from X, and ran past a sliding defender for the shot down the alley. Eastern lost to KCD in the district championship game, 16-11. The Eagles will play Trinity in the KSLL quarterfinals on Sunday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663fe2bc3b984"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alec Brenner","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"143","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Covington Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"An overtime thriller took place in Park Hills, Kentucky on Friday night, as the Colonels of Covington Catholic topped the Colonels of Dixie Heights in a 5-4 rivalry game. In what was a defensive battle, it was senior midfielder Alec Brenner who had the hot hand for Cov Cath. The Colonels' leading scorer, Brenner is a serious threat from up top as both a downhill dodger who can beat his man on the regular and a shooter who can stretch a defense at times. Brenner led his team with four points off three goals and one assist on Friday night. His most impressive score might have been his third as he used a jab step to move his man and beat him down the right alley. Brenner stung the top nearside corner on the run to give himself his fifth hat trick of the season. Friday night's win advances Covington Catholic to the CLL quarterfinals where they will meet Frederick Douglass on Tuesday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663fe2bc3ba55"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='20784' first='Landon' last='Davis']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"156","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"146","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Frederick Douglass","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Commonwealth Kings","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The top seed in the CLL Tournament, Fredrick Douglass has taken care of business thus far. The Broncos beat Cooper 10-4 on Friday night to advance to the quarterfinals, where they will meet Covington Catholic. Defense was crucial in that Friday night victory and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='20784' first='Landon' last='Davis'] was among the standouts on that end. Part of a young defense, the freshman continued to shine. A good on-ball defender who knows how to put the ball on the ground, Davis entered the postseason with a team-high 31 caused turnovers. He also has a nose for the ball and is great off the ground. He has gobbled up 44 ground balls on the year entering the postseason and added to that tally on Friday night.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663fe2bc3bb1f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["24850"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Anchoring that Frederick Douglass defense on Friday night was sophomore goalie [player_tooltip player_id='24850' first='Will' last='Hart']. Having earned a reputation as one of the best young goalies in the Commonwealth, he continued his strong season in the Broncos' win versus Cooper.rnrnAs usual, the 6'3 keeper was able to use his great size and frame to his advantage as the opposing offense has trouble getting anything past him. The Hart-anchored defense held Cooper, who has averaged nearly 10 goals per game, to its second-lowest goal total on the year. Their lowest also came to the Broncos in an early season 16-3 contest. Hart helped hold Cooper off the board for the entirety of the first quarter and allowed just one goal the entire second half. He was on-brand once more, being especially tough for the opposing offense to beat low.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663fe2bc3bb95"} /-->