5AAAA Quarterfinal Game - Coon Rapids vs Osseo 3-1-12

Was over at Osseo High School on this Thursday night for one of the opening sectional games; this one in Section 5 AAAA between Coon Rapids and host Osseo.  Despite being the home team, the Orioles could ill afford to take the Cardinals lightly as Coon Rapids swept Osseo during the regular season.  Even more interesting on this night was that former Oriole point guards Brianna Olson ('08) and younger sister Paige ('11) were among those in the stands to cheer on their old team which was pretty cool.

Despite any mental advantage Coon Rapids may have had, Osseo looked comfortable enough in the opening minutes as they built up a 10-3 lead fueled by flashy juniors Jany Morton  and Phyllis Webb and senior post Olivia Antilla.  But the Cardinals were confident enough in their ability to handle the speed and athleticism that the Orioles have and fought their way back into the thick of things thanks to senior guard Libby Storrick's free throws at the 13:13 mark and a drive inside that counted along with an ensuing freebie.  Fellow senior guard Allie Hall sliced the Oriole lead to a scant one point at 11-10 with her jumper from the right side at the 9:22 mark.  Osseo, however, would maintain the edge the rest of the first half; gaining a seven point lead again at the 4:14 mark when senior Mikayla Bailey finished inside in transition but Storrick and junior post Courtney Pasiowitz kept Coon Rapids right in the thick of things and would have been down only four if it hadn't been for Morton's slash inside and finish with just three ticks on the clock before halftime that made it 29-23 Osseo.

Oriole senior guard Colleen McCullough scored in the lane to get things going in the second half that upped the Osseo lead to 31-23 but again Coon Rapids refused to fold at this sign of adversity and promptly cut the Osseo margin to a more managable 4-6 point margin within the next couple of minutes.  But this is a very talented Osseo team that can strike in a hurry when it has its "guns" going.  With just under 12 minutes left in the second half, those "guns" that the Orioles have finally helped give the home team a run that appeared to more or less ice things.  Webb banged home a long "2" from the right corner at the 11:52 mark and then Antilla muscled her way inside to score and got fouled in the process and the ensuing freebie made it a 45-33 game.  Another Webb drive and finish at the 9:58 mark and then scores from Antilla and reserve senior Anuli Okonkwo gave Osseo what APPEARED to be a safe 54-36 lead with just 6:30 left. 

Someone, however, forgot to tell this scrappy Cardinal team to pack it in and call it a night when it seemed like all hope was lost; particularly senior wing Brianna Havelka who took it upon herself to put the team on her shoulders for one last glorious run.  Trailing by 17 at 54-37 with just under six minutes left, Havelka drained a "3" from the top of the key that started the improbable comeback.  Fellow senior Jessie Owens scored inside at the 5:12 mark and was fouled in the process by Osseo's Bailey that gave her four fouls.  Havelka then snared a steal and got an easy finish the other way that suddenly cut the Oriole lead to 54-44.  After two charity stripe shots by Morton that briefly gave Osseo a twelve point lead, Havelka AGAIN reigned terror from behind the arc as she drained another "3" from the right wing at the 4:26 mark that sliced the Osseo lead to single digits.  Owens knocked down one free throw at the 3:51 mark and then Hawkins got a layup in transition with 3:28 left.  A Morton score temporarily stopped the bleeding for Osseo at the 3:14 mark but then - Guess who??! - struck again - Pavelka with ANOTHER "3" from the right wing at the 2:10 mark.  Osseo Head Coach Joey Waters had seen enough and promptly called a time out to try and get her team settled down to try and avoid yet another disaster at the hands of Coon Rapids.  Whatever her message was to her team at this critical juncture of this game worked as the Orioles were able to stave off a furious Coon Rapids comeback.  Webb knocked down crucial free throws at the 1:46 and 1:08 marks and another strong move and finish inside by Antilla finally allowed Osseo to breathe a bit easier.  The Orioles came away with a hard-fought 67-55 win that was much closer than what the final score would indicate.  But for Joey Waters, it's the win that counts and avoiding a disaster to Coon Rapids for a thrid time this year would allow her to get some sleep on this night.

Back At It Again....

Okay....So here it is Memorial Day weekend and I'm finally back typing on my blog again.  I apologize for letting the cobwebs gather on this site since the end of the MIAC season.  A lot of things have been happening or going on since I last posted.  First, and most important, I have a BRAND NEW home computer (Yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!) that I absolutely LOVE along with high-speed internet which is just soooo awesome.  Second, I have been on the tennis court a lot over the last three months working hard (on the court and off) to get ready for another summer tournament and league season.  So that has slowed me down in doing what I want to do.  But I have been around the action as much as I can.  I've just done a lousy job of writing about it.  So, let's see if I can't get this thing caught up again.  Bear with me......