Bethel vs Macalester & St. Kate's vs Hamline Roundups

Saturday, December 3 was an incredibly busy day as I took in THREE MIAC games.  First, I was over at Macalester's Leonard Center as the host Scots took on northern St. Paul neighbor Bethel.  I was basically only able to stay for a half as I had to leave early in the second half to get over to Hamline to get ready for their home game against St. Kate's as I did color commentary with Mike Peden.  In any event, the highlight of the Bethel - Macalester game was senior guard Taylor Sheley notching her 1,000th career point as a Bethel Royal.  It took Sheley a bit to get started but she finally got it at the 6:45 mark with a drive and finish and, with family and friends in attendance, the moment proved to be very special - except for the host Scots who again got off to a good start in this one only to see their advantage evaporate.  They were holding a 15-9 lead by the 13:18 mark when senior Shannon Rene nailed a "3" from the left corner and maintaned that advantage when senior post Holly Schiedermayer was able to score inside at the 9:17 mark for a 21-16 lead.  But the Royals soon closed the gap when Sheley got untracked as mentioned above and then Sheley again with another drive and finish at the 6:04 mark.  Sheley then nailed a "3" from the left wing at the 3:41 mark and in another grand moment for the willowy blonde from Backus, she nailed a "3" as time was about to expire in the first half - off the glass no less - as the Royals took a 31-29 lead into the locker room at halftime - a lead that the Royals would not relinquish the rest of the way in their win over Macalester.

But even Sheley's antics could not have prepared me for the wild affair I was about to take in over at Hamline as they hosted a VERY young but feisty St. Kate's team that doesn't know the meaning of quit.  Even while doing color commentary with Mike Peden, you knew this one had the makings of a shootout.  Both teams played at a fast pace and the Wildcats had to battle back from ten-point deficits not once but twice.  Coming down the stretch in regulation, it appeared that St. Kate's had the inside track to pull off the improbable upset but Hamline freshman sensation Jordan Sammons twice had to come to the rescue.  In the first overtime, once again it appeared that St. Kate's might pull it out and, in fact, came very close to winning it when freshman Sarina Baker's drive at reverse lay-up attempt barely fell off the rim.  In the second OT, Hamline finally started making free throws and wound up winning an exhausting contest by a score of 106-100.