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THE WEEK THAT WAS #5: SEEDING TIME
Last weekend was the first big Minnesota event of the spring calendar. Most of the top flight programs were there. There were a few stunners. There were a few nailbiters. There was also a few Civil War games.
In the big upset in the Junior Eligible division it was Metro Stars White getting revenge over Metro Stars Black 51-32 in a Civil War game. MSW went on to finish third.
The JE (or 16) championship went down to the wire with NC Heat prevailing over MN Stars Borowicz/Hested 52-50. North Tartan Larson and Crosby were both missing from this event, but will be there next weekend for the Minnesota State Tournament. The top three teams look solid, and North Tartan Crosby has yet to lose and may be a dark horse.
In the 15 division it was North Tartan beating Metro Stars for the title. NT had different players step up and deliver in each game. When they all fire on the same cylinder at the same time they will be scarry.
In the wide open 14s it was Fury Haugen turning heads with a win over Midtown Lady Monarchs. The 14 teams are bunched up and no one has a clear slam dunk advantage in the upcoming state tournament.
One team coach Teas & I saw over the weekend that played with great intensity and hustle didn't win, but we think that will change in the upcoming weeks as they get their system down. MN Stars Carlsile already has the working hard part down pat. Many times teams don't go all out. MSC does.
HANDS ON DEFENSE
The thing I noticed most this weekend was the position of the hands on defense. Most players insist on having their hands down by their knees. The better spot would be up by their ears, or having their elbows level with their shoulders. It makes the defense bigger, causes more deflections and makes it harder to see what is happening. I realize it is harder work, but those that want to stretch their game would be wise to get their hands by their ears.
THIS WEEK
The big event is in Menomonie with the Wisconsin State AAU tournament. Only 8 Junior Eligible teams will be in attendance.
TEAM OF THE WEEKThe 16/Junior Eligible winners NC Heat get the nod. When I watched them on Friday and Saturday they rolled over 43 Hoops Johnson and MN Stars Smith. Their margin of victory in those games was 43.5 points. NCH used their defense for many transition baskets. In each game they were over 100 pp100. They averaged 114.0 pp100 for the two games I saw and .551 floor %. On top of that their defense held their opponents to a 64.0 pp100 and .281 floor %. Unfortunately I was not able to see the finals.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Megan Nipe of NC Heat is always consistent. If you give her a split second opening, she will get her shot off. She has an uncanny radar. Her shot never strays away from the bottom of the net. She had the highest average in the two games I saw with 17 ppg. Her pp100 was 147.8 and her floor % was .696. Nipe always is ready to play and play well.
Remember the rules:
#1. I need to see the player
#2. Player needs to have 6+ possessions
#3. Player needs to be over 100 pp100
#4. Player needs to be over .500 floor %
#5. If I see a player in two games the numbers are added up and the average used.
FIRST TEAM
Brittany Chambers, MN Stars Borowicz (Jordan)
Amber Dvorak, MN Stars Borowicz (Hinckley-Finlayson)
Kayla Hirt, North Tartan 15 (Bemidji)
Ephesia Holmes, MN Stars 19 (Mpls South)
Megan Nipe, NC Heat (Centennial)
SECOND TEAM
Jade Geif, MN Suns Arbogast (Lakeville South)
Tayler Hill, NC Heat (Mpls South)
Rachel Leitz, Metro Stars 15 (Champlin Park)
Cara Lutes, MN Suns Arbogast (New Life)
Cassie Rochel, MN Stars Borowicz (Lakeville North)
DEFENDER OF THE WEEKHer team didn't win the title this week, but Tori Rule of Midtown Lady Monarchs (and DeLaSalle) sure made it difficult for Fury Haugen to operate. She dominated the defensive boards. She has long limbs and is constantly on the prowl.
FIRST TEAM
Abby Busch, MN Stars Eckmann (GFW)
Rachelle Eckmann, MN Stars Borowicz (St. James)
Erica Gress, Metro Stars 15 (Apple Valley)
Tayler Hill, NC Heat (Mpls South)
Tori Rule, Midtown Lady Monarchs (DeLaSalle)
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
With many of the players already seen during the course of three years the newcomers were few and far between. But there were a smattering of players that had escaped my gaze either during the winter seasons or during the summer circuit and camps. Alyssa Hagen of MN Stars Carlisle is one of several posts on that team that play with an intensity that doesn't quit. During the winter the 2010 grad plays with New Richland-Heartland-Ellendale-Geneva.
PAST WINNERS
Here are the past weekly winners.
TEAM
4. MN All Star 2A
3. Team WI Select Samuels
2. Minnesota Dynamite
1. IBCA Select Red
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
4. Brianna Mastey, MN All Star 3A, Becker
3. Sam Price, Team WI Select Samuels
2. Haylie Darrington, Maroon South Central All Star (Blue Earth)
1. Trisha Nesbitt, IBCA Select Red (Ames)
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
4. Jackie Voigt, MN All Star 4A, Park-Cottage Grove
3. Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select Samuels
2. Kiara Strickland, Gold South Central All Star (Mpls Roosevelt)
1. Amber Kirschbaum, IBCA Select Red (Spirit Lake)
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
4. Hilary Friendshuh, Team WI Red 15s (Clear Lake, WI)
3. Jessica Waldvogel, Team Wisconsin Select 15s
2. Kara Hofschild, Minnesota Dynamite (Andover)
1. Kionna Kellogg, IBCA Select Red (Ames)
POLLS
There are more teams rated now. If I am forgetting anyone, go to my email and I will make note of it for next week.
19s
1. MN Stars
2. Metro Stars Black
3. Team WI Sr White
4. Team WI Sr Black17u
JR ELIGIBLE
1. North Tartan Larson
2. NC Heat
3. MN Stars Hested/Borowicz
4. Nebraska Bison
5. IBCA Select Red
6. Team WI Select Samuels
7. North Tartan Crosby
8. Metro Stars White
9. Metro Stars Black
10. Team WI Select Doucette
11. Fury
12. MN Suns
13. MN Stars Smith
14. MN Stars Eckmann
15. MN Stars DeWitt
16. 43 Hoops Olson
17. 43 Hoops Zuck
18. Southern Minny Elite
19. All Iowa Attack 17
20. Southern Stars
21. Comets
22. X Factor
16u/MYAS DIVISION
1. MN Thunder
2. MN Dynamite
15u
1. North Tartan
2. Team Iowa
3. Metro Stars
4. Nebraska Judds
5. MN Suns Ellen
6. Team WI Select
7. Lady Cats
8. MN Suns Arbogast
9. MN Stars Carlisle
10. 43 Hoops
11. Fury
12. Southern Mini Magic
13. MN Dynamite
14. MN Finishers
15. MN Gym Rats
14u
1. Fury Haugen
2. North Tartan
3. IBCA Select Blue
4. Midtown Lady Monarchs
5. MN Stars Hested
6. Metro Stars
7. Fury Livers
8. MN Suns
9. Southern MN Heat
12u
1. MN Suns
2. MN Stars Farview
Next up: tomorrow morning
