Just a few final thoughts on this All Star Weekend put on by the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association:
1. First, a hearty congratulations to Braham's Rebekah Dahlman on being named Minnesota's Miss Basketball for 2013. There were a host of other worthy candidates as well including Nia Coffey of Hopkins, Jessica January of Richfield, Tyseanna Johnson of De La Salle, and MC McGrory of Edina but, in the end, it was too tough to deny Dahlman of this honor.
2. One observation made by my colleague Mike Peden yesterday during our webcast of Saturday's games was that this is one of the deepest classes Minnesota has had since perhaps 2009 that included Tayler Hill. You've got at LEAST three players who have the potential to take their games to the next level after they complete their college careers - Dahlman, Coffey, and January. It's always a bit tricky to try and predict the future and how they'll fare at their respective college but these three definitely have a shot if things work out right for them. I certainly hope things do for all of them and that we see them in the WNBA in the not-too-distant future.
3. Okay, now my big gripe: I can somewhat understand the concerns of the outstate participants and their families and friends who may have to travel a bit to come watch them play BUT the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association has GOT to do the right thing and go back to the Saturday night/Sunday afternoon format they used to have for this event. It's true that the advent of (FINALLY!) nice weather may have kept the crowds down a bit for Saturday afternoon's games but having the first session on Saturday evening almost always tends to draw a greater crowd and more interest. And, to be honest, there's perhaps no bigger bummer than coming out of the Saturday afternoon session between 4:30 and 5:00 P.M. on a nice day and realizing that your afternoon is pretty much shot. I hope the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association recognizes this and does the right thing.
4. One other item: What happened to the three-point shooting contests that were always a part of the All Star series? It's supposed to be a fun event for the participants so why not have this? Food for thought.
Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, April 28, 2013
2013 Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association All Star Series - Gold Team vs Maroon Team - 4-26-13 8:00 P.M.
The second game on this Friday night over at UST had the Gold Team going up against the Maroon Team for the right to take on the Blue Team in Saturday's Championship Game. And, just as in the first game tonight, the winning team (Maroon) would make its presence known early and often.
Frazee's Alexis Tappe, bound for Northern State, helped draw first blood for the Maroon team with a "3" at the 19:47 mark which would be the first of several forays from behind the arc for Tappe on this night. Another "3" by Tappe from the left wing at the 17:50 mark along with a lay-up at the 15:13 mark enabled the Maroon team to grab as 12-7 lead. The Gold team, however, would stay within striking distance as Osseo's Janay Morton, bound for Eastern Michigan, connected from behind the arc at the 15:01 mark and then again at the 12:13 mark the kept the Gold team within three; trailing 18-15. Centennial's Paige Waytashek; the youngest of the Waytashek triumvirate who is also bound for Northern State, knocked down a "3" from the left top area with 9:56 left that helped the Maroon grab a 23-17 lead. The Gold Team, however, managed to briefly tie things up at 25-all thanks to Bloomington Kennedy's Jade Martin, who is bound for Georgetown, snaring an offensive rebound for a putback with 6:15 left. Tappe, however, gave the Maroon the lead back for good with yet another "3" with 6:01 left and Grand Rapids' Kenzie Kane, bound for UM-Duluth, did the same from the top of the key with 5:29 left. The Gold team threatened one more time when De La Salle's Tyseanna Johnson, bound for Iowa State, connected with a jumper that drew the Gold team to within two at 31-29 but this is where the Maroon made its decisive run; going on an 18-5 spurt that allowed it to take a 49-34 lead at the halftime break.
Tappe helped the Maroon team pick up right where they left off as she was simply on fire in this game. A trey from the left wing at the 19:14 mark and then a jumper at the 18:46 mark bulged the Maroon advantaged to 54-34. Martin tried to keep her Gold team close with scores at the 17:14 and 16:22 mark but a "3" by Eastview's Tyra Johnson; bound for Minnesota State and another score at the 13;53 mark kept the gap at twenty with a 66-46 lead for the Maroon. Hawley's lanky Drew Sannes; bound for nearby Moorhead State (they ALWAYS get tall players) felt right at home in the Twin Cities on this night as she snared an offensive rebound for a putback with 9:29 left. Coming down the stretch, Kane scored on a lay-up with 7:36 left as did Tyra Johnson and a lay-up by Sannes enabled the Maroon team to score an easy 83-61 win to secure a spot in Saturday's Championship finale.
Frazee's Alexis Tappe, bound for Northern State, helped draw first blood for the Maroon team with a "3" at the 19:47 mark which would be the first of several forays from behind the arc for Tappe on this night. Another "3" by Tappe from the left wing at the 17:50 mark along with a lay-up at the 15:13 mark enabled the Maroon team to grab as 12-7 lead. The Gold team, however, would stay within striking distance as Osseo's Janay Morton, bound for Eastern Michigan, connected from behind the arc at the 15:01 mark and then again at the 12:13 mark the kept the Gold team within three; trailing 18-15. Centennial's Paige Waytashek; the youngest of the Waytashek triumvirate who is also bound for Northern State, knocked down a "3" from the left top area with 9:56 left that helped the Maroon grab a 23-17 lead. The Gold Team, however, managed to briefly tie things up at 25-all thanks to Bloomington Kennedy's Jade Martin, who is bound for Georgetown, snaring an offensive rebound for a putback with 6:15 left. Tappe, however, gave the Maroon the lead back for good with yet another "3" with 6:01 left and Grand Rapids' Kenzie Kane, bound for UM-Duluth, did the same from the top of the key with 5:29 left. The Gold team threatened one more time when De La Salle's Tyseanna Johnson, bound for Iowa State, connected with a jumper that drew the Gold team to within two at 31-29 but this is where the Maroon made its decisive run; going on an 18-5 spurt that allowed it to take a 49-34 lead at the halftime break.
Tappe helped the Maroon team pick up right where they left off as she was simply on fire in this game. A trey from the left wing at the 19:14 mark and then a jumper at the 18:46 mark bulged the Maroon advantaged to 54-34. Martin tried to keep her Gold team close with scores at the 17:14 and 16:22 mark but a "3" by Eastview's Tyra Johnson; bound for Minnesota State and another score at the 13;53 mark kept the gap at twenty with a 66-46 lead for the Maroon. Hawley's lanky Drew Sannes; bound for nearby Moorhead State (they ALWAYS get tall players) felt right at home in the Twin Cities on this night as she snared an offensive rebound for a putback with 9:29 left. Coming down the stretch, Kane scored on a lay-up with 7:36 left as did Tyra Johnson and a lay-up by Sannes enabled the Maroon team to score an easy 83-61 win to secure a spot in Saturday's Championship finale.
2013 Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association All Star Series - Blue Team vs Green Team 4-26-13 1800
Was over at the new Schoenecker Arena at the Anderson Athletic Complex on the campus of UST on this Friday night to take in the first day of the 2013 Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association All Star Series - The Best Of The Best. This years teams were not divided by class which sometimes led to some blowout games but rather the teams were drafted at random whereby each of the four teams had a smorgasbord of players from each class. Now, it would just be a matter of each team being able to "mesh" and come together. In any event, it provides a great opportunity for each player to come out and showcase their skills in a fun event where the players can come out and do their thing - and not have the pressure that a normal game would produce. Rather, it's a chance to have fun with the other players out there and share a few laughs on the bench as well.
The first game on this Friday night featured the Blue Team vs the Green Team and, despite the Green Team having the services of Esko's 6'9" Savanna Trapp who is UCLA-bound, the Blue team quickly asserted itself. Trapp, however, showed early on how dominant she can be by getting two easy scores inside early on. But, at the 15:07 mark, the Blue team made its decisive move. Annandale's Kaitlyn Kuefler, bound for St. Cloud State, nailed a "3" to make it 12-6 Blue. Richfield's Jessica January who is headed for De Paul tried to keep the Green team close by snaring a steal and dashing the other way for a lay-up at the 12:53 mark that temporarily halted the Blue team's assault but consecutive scores by Minnetonka's Joanna Hedstrom who is Minnesota-bound upped the Blue team's lead to 27-19 with 10:33 left in the first half. Red Wing's Tesha Buck who is bound for UW-Green Bay made a drive and finish for the Blue team that made it a two-touchdown lead at 35-21 and then diminutive Tarah Cleveland out of Menahga who is bound for Valley City State drilled a "3" that helped up the Blue team's advantage at 41-21 with 6:45 left. A jumper by Hedstrom from the right baseline with 4:11 left along with a score in the paint by Marshall County Central's Tori Davidson who is bound for Northland Community College upped the Blue's lead to 45-25. St. Paul Humboldt's LaShay Holt - bound for St. Kate's just down the street - nailed a "3" from the left wing with 2:22 left made it a 50-29 game for the Blue. Late scores by the Green team's Mikaala Shackelford from Hopkins who is bound for Illinois and January bit into the deficit a bit but the Blue Team still held a decisive 54-35 lead at the half.
Defense tends to be a four-letter word at these All Star events and the Green team only saw the gap grow wider in the second half. Cleveland used her 5'3" frame to maneuver inside for a score to start another assault for the Blue team and, despite the Green team's Brigette Audette who hails from Big Lake and is SMU-bound getting a score at the 19:30 mark, both Buck and Cleveland got scores right after that and a blowout was officially on tap. Hedstrom snared an offensive rebound for a putback at the 17:52 mark and treys by Davidson and Kuefler plus two from Buck alone helped balloon the Blue's advantage to 78-45 with 10:17 left. The Green team was still battling, of course. "Big Country" Erin O'Toole, who had a stellar senior season at Hopkins and is bound for North Dakota, used her strong frame to snare an offensive rebound for a putback with 9:33 left and then Audette was able to get into the paint for a score with 8:24 left as did Shackelford at the 7:18 and 6:39 marks but the Blue team would not be denied on this night. De La Salle's Allina Starr - bound for Auburn - nailed a "3' off the glass (I THINK I heard her call it anyway!:) ) with 5:25 left and then Holt scored on a lay-up with 3:16 left. With their sights set on dropping a C-note, the Blue team did not let up on the gas pedal. Hedstrom knocked down a "3" from the left corner with 1:44 left then a score in the paint by Davidson with :56 left along with a "3" from Starr with just :27 left helped the Blue Team reach the century mark. Despite the final 100-70 blowout, both teams had a good time in this one.
The first game on this Friday night featured the Blue Team vs the Green Team and, despite the Green Team having the services of Esko's 6'9" Savanna Trapp who is UCLA-bound, the Blue team quickly asserted itself. Trapp, however, showed early on how dominant she can be by getting two easy scores inside early on. But, at the 15:07 mark, the Blue team made its decisive move. Annandale's Kaitlyn Kuefler, bound for St. Cloud State, nailed a "3" to make it 12-6 Blue. Richfield's Jessica January who is headed for De Paul tried to keep the Green team close by snaring a steal and dashing the other way for a lay-up at the 12:53 mark that temporarily halted the Blue team's assault but consecutive scores by Minnetonka's Joanna Hedstrom who is Minnesota-bound upped the Blue team's lead to 27-19 with 10:33 left in the first half. Red Wing's Tesha Buck who is bound for UW-Green Bay made a drive and finish for the Blue team that made it a two-touchdown lead at 35-21 and then diminutive Tarah Cleveland out of Menahga who is bound for Valley City State drilled a "3" that helped up the Blue team's advantage at 41-21 with 6:45 left. A jumper by Hedstrom from the right baseline with 4:11 left along with a score in the paint by Marshall County Central's Tori Davidson who is bound for Northland Community College upped the Blue's lead to 45-25. St. Paul Humboldt's LaShay Holt - bound for St. Kate's just down the street - nailed a "3" from the left wing with 2:22 left made it a 50-29 game for the Blue. Late scores by the Green team's Mikaala Shackelford from Hopkins who is bound for Illinois and January bit into the deficit a bit but the Blue Team still held a decisive 54-35 lead at the half.
Defense tends to be a four-letter word at these All Star events and the Green team only saw the gap grow wider in the second half. Cleveland used her 5'3" frame to maneuver inside for a score to start another assault for the Blue team and, despite the Green team's Brigette Audette who hails from Big Lake and is SMU-bound getting a score at the 19:30 mark, both Buck and Cleveland got scores right after that and a blowout was officially on tap. Hedstrom snared an offensive rebound for a putback at the 17:52 mark and treys by Davidson and Kuefler plus two from Buck alone helped balloon the Blue's advantage to 78-45 with 10:17 left. The Green team was still battling, of course. "Big Country" Erin O'Toole, who had a stellar senior season at Hopkins and is bound for North Dakota, used her strong frame to snare an offensive rebound for a putback with 9:33 left and then Audette was able to get into the paint for a score with 8:24 left as did Shackelford at the 7:18 and 6:39 marks but the Blue team would not be denied on this night. De La Salle's Allina Starr - bound for Auburn - nailed a "3' off the glass (I THINK I heard her call it anyway!:) ) with 5:25 left and then Holt scored on a lay-up with 3:16 left. With their sights set on dropping a C-note, the Blue team did not let up on the gas pedal. Hedstrom knocked down a "3" from the left corner with 1:44 left then a score in the paint by Davidson with :56 left along with a "3" from Starr with just :27 left helped the Blue Team reach the century mark. Despite the final 100-70 blowout, both teams had a good time in this one.
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