Pat Paterson Memorial Thanksgiving Tip-Off Bloomington Kennedy vs Monticello 11-29-13

The second game I wanted to cover on this Black Friday of Beat ‘SC week was the nightcap game between Monticello and Class AAAA state runner-up Bloomington Kennedy.  Specifically, I wanted to see if Bloomington Kennedy looked like a team that could still compete for another run to the state title.  Granted, even though I didn’t know much about Monticello; which also has a very solid team, that question was answered early on. 

 

It didn’t take very long for Head Coach Quintin Johnson and his Bloomington Kennedy Eagles to establish their athletic superiority over an overmatched Monticello squad as they bolted out to a quick 8-0 lead behind the exploits of senior greats Tonoia Wade and Kenisha Bell by the 15:27 mark before the Magic finally stopped the bleeding - at least temporarily anyway – when sophomore reserve Melissa Schmitt knocked down a “3” from the left corner at the 15:07 mark.  The Eagle quickly countered, however, behind 8^th grader Mariah Alipate as she maneuvered inside for a score at the 12:56 mark and then drove down the middle of the lane in transition for a score at the 10:54 mark that gave Bloomington Kennedy a 15-5 lead.  Over the next three and a half minutes, the Eagles would go on a decisive 12-1 tear that was the difference in this contest that had Bloomington Kennedy up 27-6 and Monticello left in the dust.

 

The Magic simply had no answer for either Bell or Wade as the deficit ballooned.  Bell connected with a “3” from the left top area with 6:39 left and then Wade made good on a lay-up in transition with 4:59 left that had Bloomington Kennedy up 32-10.  Senior Alyssa Lentner came alive for Monticello down the stretch as they had no intention of giving up.  A lay-up with 3:36 left and then a daring foray into the paint for a finish that got her fouled; along with the obligatory free throw plus two more charity stripe shots with 1:50 left made a dent in the deficit at least.  But Bell made a statement for Bloomington Kennedy right before the half with a steal and lay-up that had the Eagles up comfortably 39-22.

 

Bloomington Kennedy looked to pick up right where it left off as the second half got underway.  Wade drilled a “3” from the right wing at the 16:54 mark and sophomore post LaShayla Wright-Ponder did damage down low with a score at the 16:02 mark.  The Wade and Bell Show continued to shine as a lay-up in transition at the 15:41 mark by Wade and then a “3” from Bell from the right top area at the 15:08 mark plus a short jumper by Alipate at the 14:15 mark had Monticello Head Coach Craig Geyen quickly calling for a timeout but not much could be done to slow the Bloomington Kennedy juggernaut.

 

What I like about this Bloomington Kennedy team is the unique blend of not only the speed and athleticism – and size they have but also the meshing of youth and experience from the 8^th grader Alipate to seniors Bell and Wade (along with Za’Keea Sa’eed-El, Isy Odor and Joy Davis).  In some ways, this squad may be even better than what they were last year and may have a better chance of getting past Hopkins than they would have in years past.  As the lead grew to as much as 29 coming down the home stretch, Wade scored inside with 4:29 left which was her 1,000^th point in her Bloomington Kennedy career.  With just over two minutes left, Johnson finally sent in his reserves for clean-up as the Eagles rolled to an easy 73-39 win.

Pat Paterson Memorial Thanksgiving Tip-Off Tournament New Prague vs De La Salle 11-29-13

Was back over at venerable Hutton Arena on this Black Friday of Beat ‘SC week to take in some games from the annual Pat Paterson Memorial Thanksgiving Tip-Off Tournament that is wonderfully put on and hosted by Hamline Head Coach Kerri Stockwell and her players.  One of the games that I covered on this day was the clash between New Prague and perennial powerhouse (and two-time defending Class AAA state champ) De La Salle.  But this De La Salle team lost a lot of talent that helped propel them to the top over the last couple of years and there are a lot of young, new faces on the team that Head Coach Faith Johnson-Patterson has to blend together – and go through some growing pains that was quite apparent as this game got underway. 

 

Junior guard Taylor Toney would gave De La Salle it’s only lead of the game when she connected with a jumper off the glass at the 16:18 mark to get things going but veteran New Prague Head Coach Ron Gunderson wasted no time having his team make life miserable for the Islanders by applying some full- and half-court pressure that forced several Islander turnovers and mistakes and allowed the Trojans (uh, bad nickname this week J) to capitalize and turn those into easy points.  Freshman phenom Maizie Deihl was instrumental early on for New Prague as they bolted to an 8-2 lead before a “3” junior guard Patience Griffin from the left wing at the 13:54 mark and a “3” from sophomore guard Aiza Wilson from the left wing – off the glass no less – at the 13:25 mark had the Islanders right back in the thick of things; trailing only 9-8.  But New Prague would not let up on defense and the Islanders were quite generous in turning over the ball to their opponents as the Trojans embarked on a 15-2 run over the next five minutes that really changed the course of the game for good and it was paced mainly by Diehl along with some help from sophomore Jess Allar and sophomore Maddie Giesen that made it a 24-10 game with 8:21 left and had Faith Johnson-Patterson yelling for a thirty-second time out to assess things with her staff. 

 

But the short break in the action did not deter the Trojans as they continued on their assault.  Diehl connected with a lay-up after a New Prague steal with 7:31 left and senior guard Rachel Haecherl knocked down a jumper on the ensuing Trojan possession.  Allar made good on a lay-up with 4:22 left and fellow senior Ella Grote at the post spot was able to muscle inside for a score that got her fouled as well with 1:17 left.  Giesen was able to get into the paint for a score with just :42 left and, when halftime finally rolled around, De La Salle was staring at a 41-17 deficit; something that is almost unheard of when it comes to Islander Girls Basketball.

 

And things did not get any better for the Islanders either once the second half got underway.  Two lay-ups by Diehl at the 16:02 and 14:57 marks really set the tone for the rest of the game.  Allar connected on a lay-up after a steal at the 13:27 mark and senior reserve Mikayla Giles scored down low at the 11:45 mark that made it a 56-23 game.  With the Trojans up by thirty at 58-28 by the 10:00 mark, Gunderson called off the dogs and sent his reserves in for mop-up duty which gave New Prague junior Kenzie Trewartha a chance to shine.  A lay-up with 9:03 left that got her fouled as well; a drive and finish in the paint with 7:13 left and a lay-up in transition with 6:45 left made it a 65-31 game.  Fellow junior Sarah Goblirsch also contributed to the effort coming down the stretch with a charity stripe shot with 3:37 left and a lay-up a mere twenty seconds later.  Freshman Keegan Mulvihill snared a rebound of her own miss for a putback for some icing on the cake as New Prague rolled to an easy 71-37 romp over the Islanders.  Afterward, Faith Johnson-Patterson was quick to point out that “We lost a lot” in terms of talent and experience to graduation.  For De La Salle, it’s now a matter of going back to the drawing and getting the young, new players better and better every day in practice.  As I mentioned at the top, there’s going to be some growing pains for sure, but you’ve got to go through those to take it to the next level.      

Northwestern vs Hamline 11-26-13

Was over at venerable Hutton Arena on this Tuesday night of Beat 'SC week to take in yet another UMAC-MIAC clash; the visiting Eagles from Northwestern which made the trip down Snelling Avenue to take on the host Pipers of Hamline.  I was very anxious to see this new-look Hamline team with the fresh new faces that are now a part of this team although it was somewhat odd to run into recent former Hamline great Kara "The Natural" Poirer when I first entered the building.  No doubt, the Pipers could have definitely benefited from her experience and wisdom coming down the stretch in this one.

 

Nonetheless it was the Pipers who had the hot hand at the outset of this one as they quickly grabbed a 6-0 advantage behind the exploits of junior guard Jordan Sammons; perhaps the best athlete in the MIAC.  Northwestern junior guard Chanel Madson temporarily stopped the bleeding with her “3” from the left wing at the 17:40 mark but then Sammons was able to slither inside the paint for a score at the 17:28 mark and then sophomore guard Emily Behrman drained a “3” from the right wing at the 16:33 mark for an 11-3 Hamline lead and Northwestern Head Coach Aaron Kahl wasted little time in burning a timeout to talk about things with his squad.  But the Pipers would continue with their full-fledged assault from behind the arc as Sammons nailed treys at the 15:49 and 14:27 marks and freshman guard Chloe Graves knocked down a “3” of her own at the 13:41 mark that bulged the Hamline lead by a count of 20-7.  Northwestern would counter with “3’s” from senior guard Mollie Sir at the 11:38 mark and another from reserve freshman guard Tiffany Stubbs but the Eagles could not get a sustained run going that would make a significant dent in the Hamline lead.  Moreover, they were having a very difficult time dealing with the overall speed and athleticism the Pipers possess and the up-tempo game they like to play as well. 

 

The Eagles would finally make some inroads on the Hamline advantage with under eight minutes left in the first half.  Sophomore forward Courtney Cunard out of Missouri Valley, Iowa connected with a jumper off the glass at the 7:47 mark that cut the deficit to single digits.  Senior post/forward Jessica Fife muscled inside for a score at the 6:59 mark and then Madson drilled another “3”; this one from the left top area with 5:52 left that whittled the Piper lead down to 29-23; a much more manageable situation for the purple-clad Eagles and had Hamline Head Coach Kerri Stockwell burning a timeout to assess the situation with her assistants and team.  The Pipers would respond as Sammons would drain another “3” from the right corner this time with 4:24 left that once again helped get the lead back up to a ten-point margin at 33-23.  But fouls were catching up with the Pipers and Northwestern was eager to take advantage as they got into the bonus with just over four minutes left and Sir, who was fouled twice in the span of less than a minute, made good on her trips to the charity stripe that once again cut the deficit to six points with 3:32 left.  Hamline, however, would make one last push to build their cushion once again back to double digits as Sammons connected with a short jumper in the lane with 1:39 left and then connected from behind the arc again with just :01.2 left on the clock before the half from the top of the key that gave the Pipers a 43-30 lead; her fourth trey of the first half alone!

 

The second half featured runs and momentum swings that were almost too numerous to count (and, at times, too fast for me to write!).  Northwestern made a quick 4-0 push coming out of the gates as Fife connected with a lay-up at the 19:18 mark and then Sir, after snaring a defensive rebound, went coast to coast the other way for a lay-up at the 18:40 mark and had Stockwell clamoring for a thirty-second timeout to get her team calmed down and regrouped.  A seemingly personal battle between Sammons of Hamline and Sir of Northwestern ensued as each would trade baskets over the next three minutes which was incredibly fun to watch.  The Pipers still enjoyed a 49-40 lead with 14:35 left after Sammons made good on a breakaway lay-up but, just as in the first half, the foul bugaboo was once-again rearing its ugly head for Hamline and, by the 14:24 mark, Northwestern was in the bonus and this is where things slowly, but surely started going downhill for the Pipers. 

Crown vs St. Kate's 11-21-13

Made my way over to the St. Paul-side of town on the eve of the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy over to Wildcat Arena (aka Butler Center) on the campus of St. Catherine’s University to catch another UMAC – MIAC clash as visiting Crown came in to take on host St. Kate’s.  The Wildcats had returned from their trip out west where they lost two tough games to UC-Santa Cruz and Puget Sound while the Storm had to absorb a pounding on their own home floor the other night against visiting Augsburg so it would be interesting to see which team was ready to come out to make amends for their earlier sins.

 

Surprisingly enough, it would be Crown that would come out and set the tone early on while the Wildcats struggled with turnovers and other mistakes on offense.  Not to say that the Storm themselves weren’t guilty themselves of the turnover bugaboo but they were at least able to convert on more scoring opportunities early on.  Freshman guard Da’Neisha Patterson was able to maneuver inside for a score and got fouled in the process at the 18:46 mark and made the obligatory freebie as well to get Crown out to a 3-0 lead.  A jumper from the top area; just inside the arc by freshman Taylor Dubberke and another foray inside by Patterson who scored – and again was fouled by Wildcat sophomore sensation Gabby Zehrer not only allowed her to sink another freebie to expand the Storm lead to 8-2 by the 16:26 mark but also sent Zehrer to the bench and had St. Kate’s Head Coach Sean Pinkerton getting a bit hot under the collar as he shed his sport jacket.  The ‘Cats, however, would respond as junior forward Sarah Manning connected with a lay-up in transition at the 15:51 mark and then senior guard Kristen Lee knocked down a “3” from the left top area at the 14:10 mark that had St. Kate’s by a score of 9-8 and had Crown Head Coach Ryan Chmielewski calling a halt to the action so he could get his troops reassembled.

 

The Wildcats; heavy favorites in this match-up were looking to put their opponent away early and cruise to an easy victory but the visiting Storm was not about to go quietly in the night; at least yet anyway.  A “3” from the right corner by freshman sensation LaShay Holt at the 12:46 mark expanded St. Kate’s lead to 12-8 but Crown would climb right back into the thick of things as freshman forward Katie Hinkle calmly drained a “3” off the glass from the top of the key at the 11:46 mark to slice the Wildcat lead to 12-11 and the Storm would hang around within striking distance over the next five minutes as the Wildcats continued to struggle with turnovers and poor shooting.  This incredibly young Crown team with 15 freshmen, 2 sophomores, 2 juniors and one senior would finally get its chance to reclaim the lead.  Freshman guard Leah Breakfield banged home a “3” from the top of the key at the 8:02 mark and then a jumper in the lane by Hinkle with 6:55 left but the Storm back out in front by a score of 19-18.  The Crown, however, arguably had some missed opportunites of their own as both freshman reserve guard Alisa Warnes and sophomore reserve guard Michelle Hyde missed pairs of freebies that could have given the Storm some momentum.  Even more worrisome from a St. Kate’s standpoint was that Zehrer had also picked up her third foul in the process and had to retreat to the bench for the remainder of the first half.  The ‘Cats, however, would slowly right the ship and regain control of things against this pesky Crown squad.  Freshman reserve guard Liz Ellens out of Sauk Centre; who had a very solid game on this night, connected on a lay-up and was fouled as well and her free throw with 5:15 left put St. Kate’s back into the lead for good on this night at 21-19.  Sophomore reserve forward Shauna Horsch made one freebie with 4:46 left then uncorked one of her high-arcing “3’s” from the left corner with 4:22 left for a 25-20 Wildcat advantage.  More free throws by Ellens and a key drive into the lane and finish by Holt with 2:40 left enabled St. Kate’s to take a 31-23 lead into the locker room at halftime. 

 

St. Kate’s had reason to worry again in the opening moments of the second half when Dubberke made a hard drive into the paint for a finish – and was promptly fouled by Zehrer who was tagged for her fourth which quickly sent her back to the bench but the ‘Cats would stay calm and, once again, slowly steady the ship.  Manning would snare an offensive rebound for a putback at the 16:07 mark and then Holt would connect with a short turnaround jumper at the 14:02 mark that gave St. Kate’s its first double-digit lead at 35-25.  A “3” by Ellens at the 13:17 mark and a strong drive and finish by Horsch with 12:37 left had the Storm hanging by a thread but they still kept the deficit manageable as a drive along the left baseline and finish by Patterson and two freebies from the charity stripe by Hinkle at the 10:40 mark had St. Kate’s lead back down to 40-31 and, perhaps even more important, had Crown in the bonus as well. 

 

But, coming down the stretch, St. Kate’s speed and athleticism was simply too much for the Storm to handle as the ‘Cats showed flashes of the potential they have.  Ellens connected with a medium-range jumper with 10:26 left to get the ‘Cats back up to a doubl-digit advantage while Holt wowed the home crowd with her exploits which included snaring an offensive rebound for a putback with 8:45 left and then stealing the ball from a Crown player like a thief in the night and going the other way for an easy la-up at the 8:12 mark.  Junior reserve guard Jenna Mistler drained a “3” from the top of the key with 7:26 left for a 52-35 Wildcat lead and there was no looking back.  Consecutive scores by Manning in the span of forty seconds; a short jumper by Kristen Lee with 4:16 left, a coast to coast lay-up by Holt, and a strong drive by Zehrer; saddled with four fouls for a finish opened things up as the ‘Cats cruised to an easy, if not pretty 76-50 win. 

 

Afterward, Pinkerton, though happy with the win, acknowledged without hesitation about the work his team has ahead of them.  “We HAVE to get better!” Pinkerton stated unabashedly.  He pointed to the 26 turnovers his team committed on this night while shaking his head (Crown committed 29 on this night to give you an idea of how mistake-plagued this game truly was).  I think those things can be expected from a young team like St. Kate’s.  You’re going to have roller-coaster-like moments and establishing consistency is not going to be an easy thing to do.  Yet, when you allow yourself to see the positives that you did see on this night, there is reason to be excited about what the future holds for this squad and this program.    

Macalester vs Northwestern 11-19-13

Was over at Northwestern’s Ericksen Center on this cold, windy Tuesday evening to take in this clash between Macalester from the MIAC and host Northwestern of the UMAC.  The Eagles have started this season so far on a solid note; notching wins against Viterbo and UW-Stout at home this last weekend and hoped to extend that streak against the Scots on this night.  Macalester, meanwhile, settled for a split on opening weekend; knocking off St. Scholastica but dropping a 60-41 decision to UW-Superior the next day.

 

Before the game, senior guard Mollie Sir and fellow senior Jessica Fife were recognized as Sir tallied her 1,000^th point of her Northwestern career last weekend and Fife had snared her 500^th rebound.  Sir and junior Chanel Madson are not only very good basketball players but also have an incredible knack for belting out a tune as well as they did a sweet rendition of the National Anthem before the tip-off (they did an encore performance before the men’s game as well on this night).

 

Unfortunately for the Eagles, however, the sweet singing duet did not translate into a sweet performance on the court in the first half as the visiting Scots outhustled Northwestern for loose balls and utterly pounded the Eagles on the boards in the first half by a total margin of 21-8.  After Sir got the Eagles on the board first with a jumper at the 17:27 mark, Macalester senior post Veronika Jakubovie got the Scots going with consecutive scores and then a “3” by fellow senior Taylor Pike extended the Macalester advantage to 9-4 at the 13:04 mark.  Fife did connect with a one-handed jumper on the right side at the 12:09 mark to briefly halt the Macalester parade but reserve sophomore guard Katelyn Kack’s jumper at the 11:43 mark and an offensive rebound and putback by freshman reserve Grace Dickman got the Scots out to a 14-6 lead.  Northwestern was having considerable difficulty penetrating the paint against the Scots and the 2-3 zone defense the Eagles employed were not having the desired effects either and Head Coach Aaron Kahl called a thirty second timeout to assess the situation with his staff. 

 

The Scots were not to be deterred for the time being and extended their lead to as much as 18-6 thanks to a short jumper by Dickman and an offensive rebound and putback by reserve freshman forward Park Masterson out of Poway, California before Northwestern could finally mount an offensive.  Sophomore forward Courtney Cunard connected on a short jumper with 7:44 left and then Madson finally got untracked from behind the arc as she nailed one of her patented three-point bombs with 7:05 left that cut the Macalester lead down to 18-11.  Jakubovie connected with scores at the 6:18 and 3:18 marks that helped get the Scot lead back up to 22-14 but then Fife banged home a “3” from the left top area with 2:41 left and then junior forward Hannah Holm got the home crowd excited with a steal and lay-up the other way with 2:14 left that suddenly had the Eagles to within three at 22-19.  Macalester, though, would not wilt as the Eagles threatened to steal all the momentum that the Scots had established early on.  Jakubovie; utilizing her height advantage, scored inside with 2:03 left and with 1:26 left it was senior Emma Leyden calmly knocking down a “3” from the right corner that once again had Macalester up by eight at 27-19.  Two freebies from the charity stripe by Leyden would round out the scoring by the Scots in the first half as the Eagles had one last gasp before the half.  Madson muscled her 5’8” frame inside for a lay-up with 1:13 left and Holm did likewise with a drive and finish with just :32 left that had the Eagles looking at a six-point deficit at 29-23 going into the locker room at the half.  Not what they had hoped for but a damn sight better than what they were looking at early in the first half. 

 

Macalester looked to be on their way again to establishing some distance between themselves and their (too) gracious host at the beginning of the second half as sophomore Erin Murray out of Sparta, Wisconsin knocked down a long jumper just inside the arc from the left corner that once again had the Scot lead back up to eight at 31-23.  Now, however, Northwestern was quick to respond and appeared to play with much more intensity and energy than they did in the first half.  Sir made a foray into the lane to connect with a short jumper at the 17:58 mark.  Holm maneuvered into the paint for a score at the 16:10 mark and then connected with a jumper along the left baseline at the 15:42 mark that cut the Scot lead down to a slim 31-29 margin and Macalester Head Coach Ellen Thompson wasted no time in calling a halt to the action to talk about it with her team.  Initially, it looked as if whatever she said worked as the Scots once again built up some cushion.  Sophomore reserve post Abby Purfeerst scored in the paint at the 14:32 mark and then Kack connected with a jumper from the left corner at the 13:53 mark.  A freebie from the charity stripe by Kack had the Scots up again at 36-29 with 13:16 left and things were once again looking a little brighter for the team in royal blue and orange.

 

Once again, however, the Eagles found the necessary ways and means to claw their way right back into the thick of things – and then some.  Fife connected with a jumper from the left elbow with 12:42 left and then it was a parade of Eagles to the charity stripe that allowed them to chip away at the Macalester lead and eventually tie the issue at 36-all when Fife made good on two free throws at the 10:22 mark.  Even more worrisome for Macalester was that now Northwestern was in the bonus as well which only complicated things for the Scots.  Murray would give Macalester one last brief flirting with victory when she drained a “3” from the right corner at the 9:42 mark and a 39-36 Scot lead but a score in the paint by Fife and two freebies by Sir after being fouled at the 8:24 mark finally had Northwestern back in the lead at 40-39 for the first time when Sir connected with that jumper early on.  Then Sir had the home crowd roaring as she swished a “3’ from the right corner at the 6:59 mark for a 43-39 Eagle lead and her singing duet partner Madson made some sweet music on the court as she connected with a lay-up and got fouled in the process that sent her to the line for the obligatory freebie that she made good on that now had the Eagles up by a score of 46-39. 

 

Now it was the Eagles turn to try and withstand a Macalester comeback.  Another jumper from the left elbow by Fife with 4:46 left kept the margin at seven at 48-41 but the Scots were plotting one more push.  A score in the paint by reserve junior forward Annie Drabot and two free throws by Pike had things down to a one possession game at 48-45 with 3:08 left – plenty of time and no reason to break out the proverbial panic button.  A jumper in the lane by reserve sophomore post Jacki Smith upped the Eagle lead to 50-45 with 2:49 left but Macalester would not go away just yet.  Murray connected with two free throws after being fouled in transition with 1:38 left and a freebie by Pike cut the Eagle lead to 50-48 with 1:01 left.  Nursing that two point lead, Northwestern desperately tried to milk the game and shot clock down on their next possession in hopes of drawing a foul but turned the ball over as the shot clock was set to expire giving the Scots one last chance.  Macalester worked the ball around; looking for an opening of some kind – any kind – that would give them a chance to either tie it or perhaps win it.  But the Eagles were incredibly tough on defense and all over any potential shot opportunity.  Finally, with :03 left on the clock, Pike was forced to launch an off-balance “3” from the top that banged off the rim and was quickly rebounded by Fife who was fouled and made two insurance free throws to allow the Eagles to claim an exciting 52-48 win.

 

A relieved Aaron Kahl was able to laugh a bit afterward saying, “We probably set the game of basketball back a couple of years by the way we played in the first half!”  But Kahl acknowledged that his team had to rebound better in the second half and they did that.  “We had to get more physical as well; we just had to come out with more intensity and energy in the second half.”  A disappointed Thompson didn’t have a lot to add afterward and you could detect her disappointment.  “We just didn’t knock down shots” she said.

MIAC Predictions For 2013-14 Season

Well, here we go with my bold predictions for this upcoming season in the MIAC womens hoops world.  I apologize for the delay in getting this out but have been sidetracked with tennis and trying to root my UCLA Bruins on to another Pac 12 South Division title.  A busy time of the year for sure!

 

Anyway, brace yourself because another season gets fully underway this weekend.

 

TITLE CONTENDERS

1.        UST

Yeah, like, who else did you expect here?  It’s quite conceivable that this year’s Tommie squad could run roughshod through conference opponents again just like they did two years ago going unblemished.  I’m not saying they will for sure but when you look at the roster of this team with both Maggie Weiers AND Taylor Young both back and both presumably healthy now plus a boatload of complimentary talent in players such as Kelly Brandenburg, Jen Dockter, et al it’s difficult to envision some other team in this conference getting in their way in their quest for yet another MIAC title.  The big question here is how well the Tommies handle having that proverbial target on their back night in and night out.  I think the fact that this group has already made deep runs in the last two NCAA Tournaments says a lot.  And, make no mistake about it.  This team is capable of not only making another deep run in the Dance but also of winning the whole ball of wax.  In fact, they’d better.

 

 

 

SOLID MIAC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

2.        CSB

3.       Concordia

4.       SMU

5.       Bethel

If there’s one team that has a chance at actually challenging UST in any form or fashion for title I would have to say that it’s the Blazers.  True, they lost Whitney Canton to graduation but Head Coach Mike Durbin has a bevy of talent at his disposal; highlighted by seniors Tish Alexander, Brianna Barrett and Morgan Dale.  I think last year was something of a learning experience for the younger members but presumably they should be ready to help the Blazers in their return to prominence.  IMHO, they likely don’t have enough to ram the Tommie ship but they may very well have more than enough to get an invite to the Dance.  Concordia, always solid, always consistent, always tough, has to deal with losing both Trisha Sorensen and MIAC POY Emily Thesing but a solid recruiting class by Head Coach Jessica Rahman will ensure that the Cobbers will remain in the mix for the long-haul.  SMU had a fabulous year last season going 22-5 but losing two great players in Jessica Thone and Jamie Stefely to graduation will be tough.  The big question in my mind is who inherits that coveted PG spot for the Cardinals?  Again, I would have to think that, barring a rash of injuries, this team should be right in the thick of things but replicating last year’s W-L record is likely a bridge too far.  I think that Bethel makes a jump from last year into that fifth spot.  Last year’s team was incredibly young and it took a while for all the moving parts to “work” the way they were supposed to.  This year, though, they don’t have that luxury of having time to improve.  They’ve got to find a way to be consistent from beginning to end.  They have one of the best post players in the conference in preseason All-American Rachel Parupsky and that should bode well for the Royals.

 

FIGHTING FOR THAT 6^TH SPOT

6.        St. Olaf

7.       GAC

8.       Hamline

 

I should be cutting the Oles a bit of a break here with all the talent Head Coach Dave Stromme has assembled on the west side of Northfield but after last year’s disappointing finish I’m really cautious on this group.  I realize all the injuries and all the other off-court issues played a factor but last year was a huge disappointment no matter how you slice it, dice it or cut it and the Oles have to show me that last year was a fluke.  GAC lost a tremendous group of players to graduation and an even bigger concern to me is who inherits that PG spot in St. Peter.  The guess here is senior Shelly Blaschko will get the nod.  They also have a very good post player in sophomore Karina Schroeder who had a solid first year.  And let’s not forget do-it-all senior Julia Dysthe either.  But if the Gusties margin for error was small last year, it will be even smaller this season and they can ill-afford another January swoon like they had this last season.  Hamline lost a great triumvirate of seniors in Kara Poirer, Steph Pilgrim and Cassidy Vogt but Head Coach Kerri Stockwell has a very athletic squad including junior Jordan Sammons; perhaps the best athlete in the conference.  They’re not loaded with experience but they have enough speed and skill to give teams fits.  Finding some semblance of consistency will be their biggest issue.

 

 

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

9.        Augsburg

10.   Carleton

Augsburg continues to confound me with how they continually flirt with making that big jump only to fall flat on their face at the most crucial times.  The Auggies have a group of seniors that will hopefully allow them to challenge once again in Jill Tichy, Jolene Blood and Carly Wolf.  But again, with the Auggies, it’s about finishing and that’s something that they haven’t been able to do so far.  Carleton continues to be the great unknown in my mind and it’s difficult to predict exactly how they’ll fare this season although they seem to be taking incremental steps in the right direction.  One player for the Knights to keep your eye on is junior guard Skylar Tsutsui.

 

THE CELLAR DWELLERS

11.    St. Kate’s

12.   Macalester

The Wildcats endured a rough, rough year last year but Head Coach Sean Pinkerton has been patient and, along with former St. Kate’s Head Coach Tim Kjar as his assistant, they’ve reeled in some exciting new young talent in the first steps of taking this program to new heights.  It won’t happen overnight but this will be an exciting group to watch with sophomore Gabby Zehrer and freshman Abby Torgerson among the newcomers.  It seems hard to believe that it was four years ago that Macalester was taking the MIAC by storm as they were challenging mightily for the conference crown.  While the Scots may not be loaded with talent or size, don’t let their slide fool you.  This is a tough, extremely well-coached team that always plays hard and will not beat itself.  They have a solid group of players led by senior Veronika Jakubovie at the post and senior guard Emma Leyden and up-and-coming sophomore point guard Erin Murray.

Anoka-Ramsey vs St. Kate's (Scrimmage) 11-12-13

Was over at the Butler Center on the St. Kate’s campus on this Tuesday evening to catch the scrimmage between visiting Anoka-Ramsey and host St. Kate’s.  This would be a three-part scrimmage with the first two twenty minute scrimmages having normal clock and the third with running time.

 

1^st Scrimmage

 

The first scrimmage featured a barrage of three-point shots from both sides.  Anoka-Ramsey sophomore Nicole Schaub got things going with one of her patented pretty treys from the right wing at the 19:32 mark to get the Golden Rams out front early but that was quickly answered by St. Kate’s sophomore guard Gabby Zehrer’s three-point bomb from the right corner at the 18:36 mark.  Another “3” from the willowy forward from Park Center gave Anoka-Ramsey a 6-5 lead at the 16:42 mark but then it was Zehrer with back-to-back “3’s”  - one from the left wing area at the 15:52 mark and another from the opposite wing at the 14:55 mark that propelled the Wildcats into the lead at 11-5 and had Anoka-Ramsey reeling somewhat.  Schaub would connect with a running jumper at the 13:58 mark and then freshman Ashley Carter made good on a jumper at the 12:32 mark that cut the Wildcat lead to 14-10 but then St. Kate’s proceeded to go on a 7-2 run that was capped by a “3” from sophomore Shauna Horsch from the left wing area at the 11:24 mark that made it a 21-12 ballgame.  The Wildcats would push the lead to double-digits soon thereafter and were able to maintain that advantage through the rest of the first scrimmage.  A jumper off the glass by freshman Abby Torgerson out of Anoka and a steal by Zehrer and lay-up the other way helped increase the lead to 31-18 with 7:16 left.  Another trey from Schaub would narrow the deficit to ten with 6:52 left but the Golden Rams could get no closer.  The Wildcats played with a lot of energy and intensity on both sides of the ball and controlled things the rest of the way to score a 44-27 win.

 

2^nd Scrimmage

 

You can bet that Anoka-Ramsey Head Coach David DeWitt did not mince words after the first twenty minute stanza and whatever he said after the break seemed to work as the Golden Rams came out focused and determined in the second twenty minute scrimmage.  After falling behind 3-0, freshman Olivia Antilla out of Osseo tied the score at the 17:28 mark with a “3” from the left wing.  Schaub connected with a short jumper at the 16:28 mark and then it was sophomore guard Maria Loughlin draining one of her lefty three-point attempts; this one from the left wing at the 16:00 mark that got Anoka-Ramsey up 10-5.  The Wildcats would gradually claw their way back into the thick of things as lanky junior forward Sarah Manning snared a steal and went the other way for a lay-up at the 15:25 mark and then strong freshman LaShay Holt made good on a drive into the paint for a finish at the 14:02 mark that tied the issue at 11.  St. Kate’s would retake the lead on three occasions by a scant point near the midway point but then Schaub would help the Golden Rams retake the lead – and keep it for good in this one as she buried another “3” - this one from the right wing – at the 9:08 mark for a 23-20 score.  Antilla would connect with a jumper along the right baseline with 7:54 left and then freshman Ashley Carter muscled her way inside for an offensive rebound and putback with 5:46 left that increased the Golden Ram lead to 27-20.  Then it was the crafty Loughlin playing a thief in the night with her steal and lay-up the other way with 5:31 left for a 29-20 lead.  The Golden Rams kept the lead at nine after Carter scored inside on a nifty give-and-go with 4:46 left to make it 31-22.  St. Kate’s would make a run at the Golden Rams late, though.  A “3” by Zehrer from the right top area with 4:28 left along with a trey from Holt from the right wing with 3:47 left cut the lead to four at 32-28 and a Zehrer rebound of her own miss for a putback with 2:37 left sliced Anoka-Ramsey’s lead to 32-30 but the ‘Cats never could get any closer than that.  A score down low by sophomore Nicole Howard with 1:27 left and a score off of an inbounds pass by Antilla sealed the deal for the Golden Rams as they claimed the second scrimmage by a count of 38-32.

 

 

3^rd Scrimmage

 

As mentioned earlier, the third scrimmage featured running time to help things move along quickly and, at the same time, kept the scoring down somewhat.  It also gave St. Kate’s Head Coach Sean Pinkerton a chance to use his bench players to see what they could do in a game situation as well.  Antilla would get the Golden Rams out to a 3-0 lead with her trey from the right wing area at the 19:47 mark but freshman post Mari Lee would snare an offensive rebound for a putback on the Wildcats ensuing possession to get them on the board.  The ‘Cats would then embark on a 6-0 push capped by a score inside by Holt before Anoka-Ramsey could counter with scores from Antilla at both the 15:48 and 14:27 marks to keep the Golden Rams within striking distance.  Mari Lee, however, took it upon herself to not let the Golden Rams inch closer as she made a foray into the paint for a score with 13:14 left and added a freebie from the charity stripe after being fouled with 12:17 left.  Anoka-Ramsey threatened again when freshman guard Hannah Norton knocked down a “3” from the left corner with 7:52 left that cut the Wildcat lead down to 14-12 but then St. Kate’s countered when freshman reserve Erin FitzGerald connected with a “3” of her own from the left top area to push the Wildcat lead back to five at 17-12 with 6:23 left.  A freebie from junior Amanda Padilla was icing on the cake for the Wildcats in this one as they took the nightcap by a count of 18-13.

Anoka-Ramsey vs Madison Area College 11-9-13

Was over at Anoka-Ramsey on this Saturday afternoon to catch the much-anticipated match-up between host Anoka-Ramsey and visiting Madison Area College in Day 2 of the "Border Battle Classic".  The Wolfpack have lofty expectations this year as they were picked to finish third in District B behind perennial powers Rock Valley College and DuPage College.  And, just judging from the roster and the look of their team, it certainly looks like they have the personnel to be in the mix. 

 

Anoka-Ramsey, coming off the win on Friday night against Milwaukee Area Technical College, hoped to clean up some of the things that plagued them on offense and they certainly looked like they were up to the task.  Still, it would be the Wolfpack which controlled the tempo of the game for a good chunk of the first half.  With the game tied at 2-all, reserve freshman guard Nicole Hoffman made good on a lay-up in transition at the 16:52 mark and then fellow freshman guard Gabrielle Hood maneuvered into the paint for a score and got fouled in the process and the obligatory charity stripe shot had Madison Area College up 7-2 at the 16:24 mark.  Freshman forward Sara Vande Wetering had the Wolfpack up 9-4 at the 15:01 mark with a score down low before the Golden Rams finally began to find their touch.  Strong freshman reserve forward Ashley Carter got the Golden Rams going by snaring an offensive rebound for a putback at the 14:37 mark and fellow freshman Olivia Antilla asserted herself in the paint for a score at the 13:39 mark that whittled the deficit down to a single point at 9-8.  Madison Area College would attempt to snatch the momentum back behind freshman reserve guard Brittany Kaltenburg as she connected with a lay-up in transition at the 12:49 mark and then made good on two free throws after being fouled a bit later at the 12:22 mark that had the Wolfpack out in front by a score of 13-10.  Up to this point anyway, Madison Area College was doing a good job of getting into transition and making the most out of those opportunities.

 

But the Wolfpack never could find that one big "push" that might have had the Golden Rams in a hole early on and Anoka-Ramsey steadied itself as the two squad were neck and neck over the course of the next eight minutes.  Sophomore do-it-all guard Maria Loughlin, fellow sophomore guard/forward Nicole Schaub did damage out on the perimeter by draining "3's" while Kaltenburg and fellow freshman Kelly Calhoun were connecting on some more transition opportunities.  After Loughlin knocked down two freebies after being fouled at the 4:28 mark that knotted things up at 25-all, freshman Mattie Racek helped propel the Rams into the lead.  She connected with a jumper from the right wing with 3:46 left and then again with 2:44 left from the left elbow area with 2:44 left that had Anoka-Ramsey up 29-25 and Antilla upped the lead to 31-25 with 2:08 left after being fouled and knocking down two freebies.  Racek then bombed home a "3" from the left wing with 1:03 left and sophomore reserve post Paris Finklea connected with a short jumper with just :31 left that helped Anoka-Ramsey take a 38-32 advantage into the locker room at the half.

 

Madison Area College, however, came out in the second half with seemingly an axe to grind as they went on an 10-2 run.  Freshman guard Nicole Hoffman connected with a lay-up in transition at the 19:39 mark and then it was Calhoun knocking down a "3" from the right corner at the 19:05 mark and then both Calhoun and Hood would get lay-ups in transition that had the Wolfpack back up 41-40 by the 16:06 mark.  But it did not take long for the Golden Rams to re-assert themselves back into the lead - this time for good.  Sophomore forward Nicole Howard drained a "3" from the right top at the 15:49 mark and then Antilla finished with a lay-up in transition at the 15:19 mark.  A score by Loughlin at the 14:44 mark and a running jumper in transition by Schaub at the 13:47 mark had Anoka-Ramsey back up by six at 49-43.  Freshman Megan Mazur did connect on another transition opportunity for the Wolfpack at the 13:04 mark and Kaltenburg connected with a "3" from the right corner at the 10:40 mark that kept the Wolfpack close; trailing only 52-48 but they never could get their nose out in front again. 

 

Carter, who fouled out the night before against Milwaukee Area Technical College, would make amends on this day as she connected with a jumper in the lane with 9:59 left and then a strong drive along the right baseline and finish by the freshman out of Shoreview had Anoka-Ramsey back up by eight at 56-48 at the 8:41 mark.  The Wolfpack would make stabs here and there to try and forge a run but could never quite find that same spark they had at the beginning of the second half.  Nursing a six-point 58-52 lead, Loughlin hit a beautiful "3" point shot that found absolutely nothing but net from the top of the key with 3:44 left that made it a 61-52 ballgame.  Free throws by Schaub with 2:19 left and a Carter offensive rebound and putback with :52.3 left had the Golden Rams up by double-digits at 65-52.  Schaub and Antilla would ice things away with pairs of freebies although Kaltenburg would bury a "3" with just 11.6 left for a final Wolfpack jab but it would be way too little too late as the Golden Rams claimed a 70-55 victory.

 

Afterward, Head Coach David DeWitt seemed pleased with the victory although he cautioned that this was only their second game and there is still a ton of room for improvement by his squad.  "We played in control today" said DeWitt and I would agree with that assessment.  Just as important, the Golden Rams took care of a quality opponent that was close with them for much of the game and then took control when they had to coming down the home stretch.

MIlwaukee Area Technical College vs Anoka-Ramsey 11-8-13

Was over at Anoka-Ramsey Community College on this Friday night to take in their first regular season game of the year as the Golden Rams were host to visiting Milwaukee Area Technical College.  This game was part of the “Border Battle Classic” with Madison Area College and Gogebic Community College playing earlier in the day.  While the Golden Rams have always been contenders for the national championship in NJCAA Division III and currently sport a #3 national ranking, Head Coach David DeWitt knew his squad would have a lot to prove in these first early games but little could they have known they would be in for a real battle on this evening. 

 

Despite an early trey from willowy sophomore forward Nicole Schaub that had the Golden Rams up early 3-0, Anoka-Ramsey looked sluggish and tentative on offense and it didn’t take DeWitt long to call for a timeout so he could voice his displeasure as the Golden Rams committed some uncharacteristic turnovers in the early going.  Still, freshman guard Mattie Racek propelled the Golden Rams to a 6-0 lead after she sunk a “3” from the top of the key at the 16:36 mark before Milwaukee Area Technical College gradually drew closer.  Sophomore guard Ashley McHenry; enroute to a 31 point performance on this night, got the Stormers going at the 15:58 mark with a drive and finish and a drive and finish along the right baseline by freshman guard Benetta Jones helped pull Milwaukee Area Technical College to within one by the 15:12 mark.  However, Anoka-Ramsey would then proceed to go on a 9-0 burst highlighted by a “3” from sophomore guard Maria Loughlin at the 14:54 mark and jumpers from freshman forward/post Olivia Antilla and Schaub plus a drive into the paint for a finish by Racek and the Golden Rams appeared to be ready to put things into cruise control and ready to sail for a relatively easy win.

 

But Milwaukee Area Technical College had vastly different ideas and Head Coach Jeff Lorenz’ squad, which won only seven games last year, refused to be fazed.  A jumper by McHenry along the left baseline at the 9:32 mark along with a “3” from Jones from the left corner at the 7:45 mark plus a McHenry lay-up in transition with 7:02 left capped a nice 7-0 run by the Stormers and whittled the deficit to only three points at 15-12.  Anoka-Ramsey would stretch the lead back out to as many as nine points when sophomore reserve post Paris Finklea snared an offensive rebound for a putback with 1:10 left and a 27-18 but they never could quite put the Stormers away early on the way DeWitt and Assistant Coach James Fassett had hoped.  Freshman reserve forward Tisawn Briscoe-Rimmer maneuvered into the paint for a Stormer score with :30 left and two freebies from the charity stripe by freshman reserve guard Takita Williams helped Milwaukee Area Technical College pull to within five at 27-22 by the halftime break and, for whatever reason, things just didn’t seem right for Anoka-Ramsey going into the intermission.

 

The Golden Rams began the second half on the same note that they had started the game on – a “3” by Schaub; this one from the right top area at the 19:47 mark and you had to think that Anoka-Ramsey was perhaps on the cusp of going on a big run and putting this thing away once and for all.  But, for whatever reason, the Golden Rams just could never find that one big decisive burst that could have put them up big early on in the second half.  Instead, they curiously struggled with cohesiveness on offense and, even more alarming, were not getting the best of the Stormers on the boards either as Milwaukee Area Technical College kept finding a way to hang around.  The Stormers were now also applying full- and half-court pressure on the Golden Rams which further increased Anoka-Ramsey’s troubles on this night.  The Golden Rams did build an eleven point lead at the 13:23 mark thanks to tough work down low by strong freshman Ashley Carter that made it a 38-27 game but even that ray of reassurance seemed hollow as the Golden Rams were tagged for their 5^th team foul by the 16:21 mark and, by the 13:09 mark Milwaukee Area Technical College was in the bonus as seven team fouls had piled up on the Golden Rams.

 

Somehow, Anoka-Ramsey was able to build a somewhat deceiving 42-29 lead by the 12:24 mark after Loughlin made good on two charity stripe shots but this is where things started to slowly fall apart for the Golden Rams.  After two freebies by Jones at the 12:02 mark, sophomore forward Emerald Kidd connected with a jumper just inside the top of the key at the 11:37 mark.  Then it was McHenry knocking down a “3” from the left wing after a steal at the 11:09 mark and then it was McHenry again at the 9:05 mark with an offensive rebound and putback that pulled the Stormers to within four at 42-38.  Then it was freshman reserve guard Niki Johnson draining a “3” from the right wing with 8:12 left that whittled the Anoka-Ramsey lead down to a scant single point at 42-41.  But just when you thought that Milwaukee Area Technical College was suddenly ready to seize the moment (and the lead as well), they just……couldn’t……quite…..find the will to do it.  And the culprit?  Missed free throws.  Williams missed a pair after being fouled at the 7:57 mark and Briscoe-Rimmer couldn’t get two freebies to drop after she was fouled by Anoka-Ramsey’s Carter – the fifth foul on her that sent her to the bench.  Jones missed two more at the 6:42 mark but got some redemption when she was able to get into the paint for a score with 6:18 left that tied the issue at 43-all. 

 

And maybe this was the wake-up call that the Golden Rams needed on this night as they found a way – some way – to weather this storm.  Antilla connected on an unlikely “3” from the top of the key at the 5:30 mark that kissed off the glass and into the cylinder for a 46-43 lead and another score in the paint by the former Osseo standout made it a five-point game at 48-43 with 4:53 left.  And then it was the former Rogers standout Loughlin, who would have some huge moments in the home stretch when things could have gone kablooey for Anoka-Ramsey.  She connected with a jumper in the lane with 4:31 left to make it a seven-point game at 50-43.  The Stormers, though, would have one last little run in them and three times they got to within three points thanks to some strong work in the paint by McHenry and with 1:09 left trailed only 54-51; plenty of time to pull off this improbable upset.  But Loughlin, the team leader, refused to let her team lose and took over things when she nailed a cold-blooded “3” from the left wing for a six-point lead at 57-51 with just :36 left on the clock and now Milwaukee Area Technical College had to foul and you knew DeWitt would want the ball in Loughlin’s hands in these last few critical moments.  She would knock down two more pairs of freebies that gave Anoka-Ramsey just enough breathing room and allowed them to get a hard-earned win on this night by a final count of 64-57. 

 

Afterward, Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Lorenz was disappointed in the final result but remained upbeat about the long-term prospects for his team.  “We really had missed opportunities in the first half and we woke up in the second half defensively…..We wanted to press and put pressure on them.”  I mentioned those missed free throws they suffered when they made their big run.  Lorenz:  “13/29 from the free throw line for 44.8% - not good….Our team had seven wins last season so this is a big step forward for us going up against a quality program like Anoka-Ramsey.  Now we just have to clean the little things up and finish.”  Despite the win, DeWitt seemed somewhat subdued and just acknowledged that his team has a lot of work in front of them – particularly in developing that defensive mentality he has so passionately sought from this squad from Day 1.  This team clearly has a leader in Loughlin but they will be tested on Saturday (11-9) when they take on Madison Area College.      

Anoka-Ramsey vs Macalester (Scrimmage) 11-4-13

Made it over to Macalester’s Leonard Center on this Monday afternoon to catch the scheduled scrimmage between visiting Anoka-Ramsey and host Macalester.  Having seen both teams practice back in mid-October, I was anxious to see how both squads have come along since then and to see how close they really are to being ready to go for the opening tip of the season.  Naturally, you had to expect both teams to be a bit rough around the edges yet.  In any event, this scrimmage was broken into three different stanzas:  the first two were normal, 20-minute scrimmages and the third stanza was 20 minutes but with running time.

 

1^st Scrimmage

 

The first eight minutes of the first scrimmage were relatively tight as neither side could get any significant advantage.  Anoka-Ramsey’s freshman post, Olivia Antilla, got the Golden Rams on the board first with a score in the paint but that was countered at the 17:54 mark by Macalester senior post Veronika Jakubovie.  Fellow senior guard Emma Leyden would briefly put the Scots up early with a jumper at the 16:33 mark but then Anoka-Ramsey went on a 7-1 surge; highlighted by sophomore forward Nicole Schaub’s “3” from the left wing that got the visitors up by a count of 9-5 by the 13:35 mark.  Macalester, however, would come right back and take control of this first scrimmage.  Senior reserve guard Carmen Whitehead snared an offensive rebound for a putback at the 13:18 mark and then sophomore reserve guard Katelyn Kack connected with a medium-range jumper at the 12:36 mark that tied things at 9-all.  Freshman reserve guard Grace Dickman put the Scots ahead for good in this first stanza with  a steal and a lay-up at the 12:20 mark.  Freshman reserve post Park Masterson out of Poway, California snared an offensive rebound of her own at the 11:09 mark for a putback that made it a 13-9 game.  Schaub would answer with another “3” at the 9:48 mark that drew the Golden Rams to within one at 13-12 but here Macalester exploded with a decisive 12-0 run over the next four minutes to take firm control; highlighted by treys from sophomore point guard Erin Murray and senior guard Taylor Pike.  Leyden added a thief-like steal and lay-up the other way as well and Anoka-Ramsey looked totally out of sorts; not only from an offensive standpoint but, much to the chagrin of Head Coach David DeWitt, they were getting beat defensively and on the boards as well.  The Golden Rams would recover somewhat as the willowy Schaub drained back-to-back treys that helped slice the deficit to five points at 25-20 by the 3:27 mark but they could get no closer as Macalester would wind up on top at the end of the first scrimmage by a count of 29-24.

 

 

2^nd Scrimmage

 

Anoka-Ramsey would make some amends in the second scrimmage by bolting out to a quick 7-0 lead that included two scores in the paint by Antilla and yet another “3” by Schaub at the 16:07 mark.  A score in the paint by Jakubovie and a foray into the paint and finish by Leyden cut the Golden Rams lead to 7-4 at the 14:19 mark but then Antilla showed that she can do more than just bowl over opponents in the paint as she confidently knocked down a “3” from the top of the key at the 13:48 mark to make it 10-4 Anoka Ramsey.  Macalester would come right back, however, and make things tight again thanks to some tough work in the paint by Masterson and sophomore reserve post Abby Purfeerst.  A jumper by Whitehead along the left baseline at the 9:55 mark drew the Scots to within one at 11-10 and a lay-up in transition by the 5’8” senior from Greeley, Colorado tied things up at 12-all with 6:41 left.  The lead would then change hands four times over the next three minutes and the Scots appeared to be in good shape when Jakubovie connected with a jumper off the glass with 3:30 left for an 18-15 Macalester lead.  But it would be Maria Loughlin, the sophomore guard from Rogers, who would come to the rescue of the Golden Rams in the home stretch.  Out last year with an ACL injury, Loughlin showed that she’s back in full form as she calmly drained a “3” from the left corner with 2:28 left that tied things at 18-all.  A score in the paint by Purfeerst with :56 remaining gave the Scots the lead again but on the last possession it would by Loughlin taking control of the offense and, with time running down, she made a sweet move and drive into the paint for a finish with just :02.1 left on the clock to tie things up at 20-all and that’s how the second stanza would finish.

 

 

3^rd Scrimmage

 

As mentioned at the beginning, this third stanza featured running time to help speed things along.  It also gave Macalester Head Coach Ellen Thompson an opportunity to give some of her younger players a chance to show what they could do as well.  In this stanza, it would be the Scots who would take the lead early.  Dickman would get the Scots a 2-0 lead by the 19:35 mark with a jumper and, after withstanding Anoka-Ramsey’s Schaub reigning terror from behind the arc, the Scots would open up an 8-3 lead by the 13:50 mark thanks to senior reserve guard Lindsey Anderson as she connected with her own “3” from the top of the key at the 15:45 mark and then would connect with a jumper from the right corner for that 8-3 advantage.  However, Anoka-Ramsey would not be daunted by this early Macalester surge and came right back to seize control of this third stanza.  A pull-up jumper by freshman guard Mattie Racek at the 10:23 mark seemed to give the Golden Rams some spark.  Antilla would then make good on a strong drive into the paint for a finish that got her fouled as well and the ensuing freebie knotted things up at 8 a piece.  Antilla again would show her versatility as she banged home a “3” from the left wing at the 8:28 mark and a defensive rebound and coast-to-coast lay-up by Racek with 5:23 left had Anoka-Ramsey up 13-8.  Macalester, however, would get back-to-back treys from freshman Lauren Clamage out of Lake Forest, Illinois that had the Scots back in the lead at 14-13 with 4:15 left.  Both teams went cold over the next few minutes but, with under a minute remaining, things really got interesting.  A jumper by Clamage with :51 left had Macalester up 16-13 and Anoka-Ramsey appeared doomed.  However, Antilla would help the Golden Rams claw to within one at 16-15 when she connected with a lay-up.  After a foiled Macalester possession, the Golden Rams got the ball with precious few seconds left.  And here, in the waning moments, Schaub was able to get free and get the ball at the top of the key for a clean look.  Like a cold-blooded assassin, Schaub let loose with one of her patented three-pointers with just a tick left on the clock and got the ball to bounce off the rim just right that gave the Golden Rams the third and final stanza of the afternoon at 18-16.

 

Afterward, DeWitt admonished his team for the lack of team defense and rebounding; stressing that his squad HAS to develop a defensive-minded identity; something that he’s been seeking from his squad from Day 1.  They have the perimeter shooting from Schaub and solid guard play from Loughlin who will likely settle in at the point guard spot although she sometimes seems more comfortable at the shooting guard position.  Antilla is going to be tough to stop down low and if sophomores Paris Finklea and Nicole Howard develop the consistency that DeWitt seeks, the Golden Rams have the potential to be very, very good.  The one player who stood out to me this day on the Anoka-Ramsey front was the freshman guard Racek out of Parker, Colorado.  I wouldn’t be surprised if she inherits the point guard duties next year for the Golden Rams.  On the Macalester side, Thompson indicated to me that one of the things her team needs to work on includes transition defense.  They may not be the most athletic squad in the MIAC but one thing I couldn’t help but notice is how they almost always seem to be in the right place at the right time; whether it’s going for a rebound or zeroing in for a steal.  This is a team that plays very, very smart and will not beat itself with dumb mistakes. 

UW-Superior vs Concordia St. Paul (Exhibition) 10-31-13

Was over at the Gangelhoff Center on the Concordia St. Paul campus on this Halloween night with all the ghosts and goblins out and about in the Twin Cities.  In town on this night as well were the visiting Yellowjackets of UW-Superior under Head Coach Don Mulhern and they had to figure that the host Golden Bears would have plenty of tricks - but no treats - for their visitors.

 

The Yellowjackets and Golden Bears were pretty much even steven in the game's first four minutes with the issue tied at 6-all before UW-Superior made its first real move of the game; opening up a 12-8 lead by the 14:47 mark thanks to a score in the paint by preseason All-American junior Sally Linzmeier; the Yellowjackets do-everything player.  But also, by this point as well, it was clear to see that the Yellowjackets were clearly outhustling, outworking and outplaying their bigger, stronger Division II opponent on their own home floor.  Senior guard Britnee Blake knocked down a "3" from the left top area that extended UW-Superior's lead to 15-9 at the 13:22 mark.  Then, it was Yellowjacket junior Deandra Vavra's time to shine as she banged home a "3" at the 12:57 mark and then went coast-to-coast after grabbing a defensive rebound for a lay-up that made it a 20-11 game before a stunned home crowd.  Linzmeier would drain a "3" from the left top area at the 11:06 mark and then connect with a short jumper at the 10:38 mark to make it a 25-11 Yellowjacket lead that had mercurial Concordia St. Paul Head Coach Paul Fessler calling a timeout to get his troops reorganized.

 

But the Yellowjackets; an incredibly smart and disciplined team under Mulhern, would not let up with their onslaught as the Golden Bears struggled mightily from the perimeter and looked out of sorts in their offensive sets and, even more glaring, were getting beat on the rebounding front.  Sophomore reserve forward Allyssa Lindberg banged home a "3" from the left wing area at the 9:18 mark to make it a 28-12 game.  Senior Rachel Hansen seemed to be the only Golden Bear playing with any kind of fire for much of the first half as two charity stripe shots at the 8:20 mark and an offensive rebound and putback a bit later kept the deficit halfway manageable.  But a lay-up by Vavra at the 6:46 mark followed by a "3" by reserve sophomore guard Allie Nelson with 6:11 left upped UW-Superior's advantage to 35-18.  A drive into the paint and finish by Vavra followed by a jumper by Linzmeier in the paint had UW-Superior up by nineteen with 3:44 left at 40-21 The Golden Bears would make a bit of a dent into this gap as speedy sophomore guard Jasmine Haynes snared a steal and went the other way for a lay-up with 2:38 left and senior guard Carissa Wolyniec made good on a sweet reverse lay-up under the basket with a minute and a half left before the intermission that got Concordia St. Paul closer but, up 43-31 at the break, the Yellowjackets clearly had the momentum.

 

The Golden Bears obviously hoped to make serious inroads on the UW-Superior advantage in the opening minutes of the second half and a Hansen fast-break lay-up that cut the Yellowjacket lead down to 43-33 at the 19:32 mark initially made it look like they might.  But UW-Superior seemed to pick up right where they left off in the first half; attacking and pressing on defense; something that Concordia St. Paul seemed VERY uncomfortable with.  A score in the paint by junior forward Vanessa Lebens at the 19:01 mark and then an offensive rebound and putback by the lanky forward from Roseville at the 17:38 mark seemed to give the Yellowjackets yet another spark.  Linzmeier, like a thief in the night, snared a steal and went the other way for a lay-up to extend UW-Superior's lead back to sixteen at 49-33 at the 17:09 mark.

 

UW-Superior would maintain their advantage over the next five to seven minutes and still owned a double-digit lead near the halfway mark of the second half when Vavra made good on a lay-up to make it a 55-38 game.  But the Yellowjackets seemed to be slowing down just a hair and it was this window of opportunity that the host Golden Bears saw and they did not hesitate to seize the moment.  On the next possession, junior forward/post Anika Whiting finally began to assert herself in the paint as she snared an offensive rebound for a putback at the 10:20 mark.  Then it was Haynes with a steal and lay-up the other way just seconds later that cut the deficit to 55-42.  Reserve junior guard Ameshia Kearney got into the paint for a score for the Golden Bears at the 9:26 mark and strong sophomore forward Kionda Nicks connected with a lay-up with 8:39 left that got Concordia St. Paul within single-digits for the first time since the opening minutes of the first half; trailing 55-46.  Vavra did hit another "3" for the Yellowjackets that got their lead back up to 58-46 with 8:08 left but the Golden Bears would embark on a 6-0 run in the course of a little over a minute to slice UW-Superior's lead down to 58-52 and Mulhern wasted no time in halting the action with a timeout with 6:47 left. 

 

Linzmeier threatened to put the Golden Bears away single-handedly herself with a drive in the lane and finish with 5:22 left and a jumper and trip to the charity stripe after being fouled along with a foray into the paint and finish with 4:03 left that pushed the Yellowjacket lead back to nine at 65-56.  But the Golden Bears would not be denied coming down the home stretch.  Two shots at the charity stripe by Hansen with 3:50 left and a rebound and putback by Haynes of her own missed shot with 2;33 left cut the UW-Superior lead down to 65-60.  Both squads had opportunities in the next minute but were unable to cash in on them.  Still trailing by five with under a minute left and with things looking bleak, Haynes finally drained her first "3" of the night with :39 left to make it a one possession game trailing 65-63.  Linzmeier would commit a rare mistake; turning the ball over that allowed Hansen to steal the ball and quickly get the ball to Haynes.  Blake would foul Haynes with :25.7 left and Haynes connected with two freebies that finally tied things at 65-all.  Mulhern called a timeout to plan one last attack to try and win it in regulation and, it almost worked.  With scant seconds left on the clock, the Yellowjackets got the ball to Linzmeier who made a strong move into the paint for an attempted lay-up that drew a host of Golden Bear defenders to thwart the attempt.  There appeared to be contact at the critical moment but the officials did not whistle a foul; much to the chagrin of the UW-Superior coaching staff and fans in the stands.  Still, the Yellowjackets retained possession and with just :01.9 left, Linzmeier took the inbounds pass and got an open look for a jumper.  The ball appeared to agonizingly flirt with the cylinder before harmlessly dropping off to the side into gravity's power that sent the game into overtime, tied at 65-all.

 

The Golden Bears wasted no time in the extra session to seize the advantage and extinguish the upset bid by the Yellowjackets.  Two scores by Nicks within the first minute of overtime and a strong move and finish by Whiting down low with 2:48 left and then a "3" by the 6'2" junior from Ashland, Wisconsin made it a 75-67 game with 2:00 left that extinguished any hopes UW-Superior may have had.  Another score by Whiting inside with 1:28 left and two free throws by Hansen with 1:11 left were academic as Concordia St. Paul escaped with a 79-71 victory.  Later, a disappointed but upbeat Mulhern thought his team played exceptionally well but lamented on the missed opportunities they had in the second half that may have closed the door for good on their hosts.  Missed free throws cost the Yellowjackets; particularly in the second half that, at the very least, could have changed the complexion of the game and would have made the Golden Bears task that much more difficult.  Still, you have to think that UW-Superior, IF they play up to their potential, would have a chance at stealing the WIAC out from under the noses of favorites UW-Whitewater and UW-Stevens Point.  Fessler, meanwhile, seemed relieved at the outcome and couldn't help but heap praises on the UW-Superior team.  Even Fessler admitted that the Yellowjackets were "kicking our butts" for a good chunk of the game.  But, the important thing was that his squad found a way to win when the odds were stacked against them.  And, even for an exhibition game, this could prove important for the sixth-ranked team in DII and the favorites in the NSIC.