Kaus Verbals, Suns 12, Thunder 16, $7.4 Million

#1 posting 5.12.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

VERBAL
Emily Kaus has made a verbal committed to Bemidji State. The 6-2 center averaged 4.6 ppg for the 29-3 Eastview Lighting this winter. She had a breakout game in the state semifinals with 14 points. Kaus plays with the MN Fury 16u team this summer. Sister Michelle Kaus plays with Creighton.

The Minnesota Fury AAU Club would like to congratulate Emily Kaus on her verbal to Bemidji State. Emily is the first player in club history to make a verbal commitment. (This is the second year of the club, and the 2009 class is the first group of 16U players to come through the program) Congratulations Emily and good luck from the Minnesota Fury coaches, players, and families!

Kaus is the first 2009 Minnesota player to verbal a D2 school and the 7th overall to verbal.

photo: Kaus with the Fury this past weekend. photo by Teas.
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AAU RECAPS
The Minnesota Suns U12 team won the Division 1 AAU State Title on Sunday in 5 games. They defeated North Tartan 55-42, Buzzer Beaters 59-42, MN Stars-Higgins 52-37, Metro Stars 57-45, and then MN Stars Higgins again in the Championship game 38-29. The MN Sun's will go on to the National Championships in Rochester MN in July.

The players in the picture are as follows: Back Row: Asst. Coach Scott Kauls, Kyla Schmidt (Maple Grove), Martha Kauls (Moundsview), Claire Thomas (St. Paul), Erin Stromen (Woodbury), Courtney Schiffler (Woodbury), Anuli Okonkwo (Maple Grove), Head Coach Cori Davison Front Row: Allison Cordes (Roseville), Kelly Olzenak (Maple Grove), Angie Davison (Maple Grove), Jordan Hansen (St. Michael)
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MYAS RECAPS
The Minnesota Thunder 16’s went 3-0 this weekend including beating the Minnesota Triple Threat that were recently ranked # 1 in the MYAS division. The Minnesota Thunder started off on a 9 – 1 run, MN Triple Threat fought back with both teams playing tough defense on one another in a very physical game. By half time MN. Triple Threat were up by 4. The Minnesota Thunder Girls were not to be out done opening up the second half with an 8 point run, taking the lead for good finishing with a 45 – 39 victory.
Scores for the other two games
Minnesota Thunder 54 – Prior Lake 45 (MN. Thunder put up 40 points in the second half) They have the ability to be dangerous on the perimeter and inside, playing great team ball.
Minnesota Thunder 39 – Howard Lake 28 (MN Thunder, Physical game, free throws win games and the MN Thunder worked the ball around well inside dishing off to one another.
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The MYAS State Tournament will be held next weekend at a variety of sites throughout the area. Here are the schedules.
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LAWSUIT
The Michigan High School Athletic Association could be bankrupt if the $7.4 million legal fee judgment stands. The MHSAA fought the eventual girls basketball switch from fall to winter. From the Grand Rapids Press
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REMMERDE
Northwestern, Iowa's Debbie Remmerde was cut by the Houston Comets and will be looking to go overseas to continue to play professional basketball. Remmerde was the NAIA player of the year for the last two years. From the Sioux City Journal.
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Thanks to all the readers that have migrated to this site. I have no idea when or if the original site will be up and running. My advice is if you want any of the older articles on that site, go back and copy what you want.
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I can't do this site without the help of the readers. Thanks for all the support and information you have given over the years. It helps to enhance the site.
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I will be moving to a full fledged website at some point this summer. That way there will be a bit more control over what happens.
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Next up: three Out & abouts from the MN State AAU girls basketball tournament.

Minnesota State AAU Championship results.

#2 posting 5.11.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MINNESOTA STATE AAU TOURNAMENT
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
NC HEAT 6 for 6
NORTH TARTAN TAKES 15, 14

Today the Minnesota state AAU Girls Basketball tournament wrapped up. Champions were crowned in three age brackets today (and one yesterday) at Cooper. Skyview hosted the younger divisions.

JUNIOR ELIGBLE
For the sixth straight year NC Heat won the State tournament. NCH beat MN Stars Borowicz in the finals 82-72. The Heat got off to a fast 16-2 start and led by that margin most of the game. They stretched it out to 20 in the second half. Tayler Hill came out with about 3 minutes to go and NCH up 78-61. She returned with the score cut to 78-66 and 2:35 left. MSB did cut it to 80-72 with under a minute to go, but it was too late to change the outcome. Tayler Hill had 34 points, 20 in the first half to lead NCH.
Last year NCH beat North Tartan Larson for the championship 77-61. In that contest Tayler Hill oddly enough had 34 points.

NCH beat North Tartan Crosby in the semifinals after a struggle in the first half. NTC led in the first half, but NCH turned up the defensive pressure to get the victory in the second half.

I watched the other semifinal between MN Stars Borowicz and North Tartan Larson. MSB beat 67-56. The game featured three future Gophers (Amber Dvorak for MSB, and Shakila Boler and Katie Loberg for NTL). The size across the line was bigger than some colleges put on the floor. MSB trailed at half time 32-31. MSB scored the first five points of the second half and went on a 18-8 run to go up 49-40. That was the difference maker in the win.

Before that I watched a couple of quarterfinal games. NTL survived a nailbiter with Metro Stars Black 61-60. NTL led 53-40 with 8:30 minutes to go. The rest of the game MSB outscored NTL 20-8. MSB had a chance to win the game with the ball with 9 seconds left. Shakila Boler made the game saving block to preserve the win for NTL.

In the first quarterfinal game I watched it was North Tartan Crosby over Metro Stars White 75-51. In the second half NTC outscored MSW 42-20 as everything was clicking.

The other contest I watched was the 14u championship. In that game it was North Tartan beating Metro Stars 64-52. NT led at one point 63-42 with 7:26 to go.

Unfortunately I was not able to see any of the 15u action because it was held at the same time as the Junior Eligible tournament. In the 15u championship it was North Tartan beating MN Suns Ellen 61-23.

I will have more results as they filter in.

On Saturday, MN Stars beat Metro Stars by about four in the 19u Championship. MN Stars Coach Willie Taylor picked up his second State Championship this calendar year. He led St. Paul Central to the AAAA title in March.

INJURY NEWS
In other news Katie Loberg was injured in the third place game with a ankle sprain from what I was told.
In the 14u championship Marissa Janning of North Tartan went down with what appeared to be a knee injury.

There will be 12 out & abouts coming this week.
preliminary schedule
Monday
Junior: Fury vs Suns
Junior: North Tartan Crosby vs MN Stars DeWitt
Junior: North Tartan Larson vs 43 Hoops Olson
Tuesday
Junior: Metro Stars White vs Southern Minne Magic
Junior: MN Stars DeWitt vs Stangs
15: MN Stars Jihad (Lady Cats) vs Gym Rats
Wednesday:
15: MN Suns Ellen vs 43 Hoops
Junior: quarters North Tartan Crosby vs Metro Stars White
Junior: quarters North Tartan Larson vs Metro Stars Black
Thursday:
14: championship North Tartan vs Metro Stars
Junior: semis MN Stars Borowicz vs North Tartan Larson
Juinor: championship: NC Heat vs MN Stars Borowicz

Now I need to digest some numbers and celebrate Mother's day

Next up: tomorrow

Saturday Minnesota State AAU Results

#2 posting 5.10.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SATURDAY MINNESOTA AAU RESULTS
It was more pool play today with the Minnesota State girls AAU tournament. With the pool play finished it sets up for an interesting championship day tomorrow.
In the Junior Eligible (16u/17u) division
The 9:30 AM quarterfinals
NC Heat vs Fury
Metro Stars White vs North Tartan Crosby
The 11 AM quarterfinals
MN Stars Borowicz vs MN Stars Smith
North Tartan Larson vs Metro Stars Black
Semifinals will be at 3:30 PM
the championship at 6:30 PM

I don't have all the 15u bracketing completed, but it looks like this
The 9:30 AM quarterfinals
North Tartan vs either 43 Hoops or MN Dynamite
MN Suns Gregg vs MN Stars Carlisle
MN Suns Ellen vs Fury
Metro Stars vs MN Stars Lady Cats
Semis and finals just like the JE/16/17 division

A word to the wise----pack a jacket, it gets pretty cold in the newer gym level.

Here is what Coach Teas & I saw today (full details will be coming on the out & abouts later in the week). Our focus was on the teams we haven't seen yet.
GAME 1
Metro Stars White (a team we have seen before 3 times) beat Southern Minne Magic 78-61. SMM led right away 5-0 and built it out to 24-14 with 8:24 left in the first half. MSW outscored SMM 21-10 the rest of the half to lead 35-34 at the break. MSW used 13 first half free throws and three 3s by Karin Gibson to pull back in front.
In the second half MSW used their momentum to go on a tear at the start of the second half. They had an 8/9 sequence early to go out in front 52-45. Three other players knocked down 3s during this time. Later in the half MSW had a 7/8 offensive sequence as they closed out with a 78-61 win.

GAME 2
For the second day in a row we saw MN Stars DeWitt. Today they faced the 'Stangs, a school team out of Sioux Falls Roosevelt plus one from Beresford, SD. (yes a South Dakota team in the Minnesota State tournament). MSD led early 15-2, but the 'Stangs never quit. They were able to cut the margin down to 35-25 at the half.
In the second half the 'Stangs narrowed the gap even further to 51-46 and 57-52, but that was as close as it was going to get. MSD finished with a 6/7 offensive sequence and won the game 73-62. Gina Lange and Amanda Wagner provided a solid one two punch for MSD. The 'Stangs relied on Emily Palmer for most of their production.

GAME 3
After that it was off to the 15u divisions. The first contest was between Cats and Rats and, as you would expect in such a battle, the Cats prevailed. It was the MN Stars Jihad Lady Cats beating the Gym Rats from the Northwest portion of the state 63-43. The Lady Cats used their pressure defense to get the lead and build on it. MSLC led 34-24 at half time. In the second half the game never got to single digits and the MSLC gradually pulled away for a twenty point win.

GAME 4
In the last match up of the day it was MN Suns Ellen beating 43 Hoops 51-37. It was a relatively low scoring first half with MSE leading 19-11 at the break. The scoring pace picked up in the second half with MSE scoring the first five possessions of the second half to take a 29-14 lead. 43H did managed to cut the lead to 34-26 with a 8-0 run, but Suns responded with a 5-0 run to go back in front 39-26. One more time 43H got the deficit to single digits at 41-32, but a six possession drought stopped their rally short.

We may have a new winner for worst parking situation. It was a miserable rainy dreary day and to top it off there was another function going on at Cooper. I had to park at New Hope Elementary. Unfortunately there were no shuttle buses for fans to get to the doors. I made it to the game on time, moist, and soggy.

Next up: Tomorrow morning.

Minnesota State AAU Tournament: Friday Pools

#3 posting 5.9.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

FRIDAY NIGHT MN STATE AAU RESULTS
Tonight the Minnesota State Girls Basketball AAU Tournament opened with pool play. Coach Teas and I spent our times watching the 16u/Junior Eligible teams. Our focus today and tomorrow will be mostly, if not exclusively, the teams we haven't seen yet this spring.

The first game we saw was the Minnesota Fury and the Minnesota Suns. The Suns led 25-20 with 4:12 left in the first half when the Fury had an 8 possession scoring string and a 16-4 run to take a 36-29 lead. The Fury's high water mark in the second half came at 55-41. The Suns cut the margin to 60-54 with 42.6 left. Both teams are in pool G.

Next up was North Tartan Crosby and MN Stars DeWitt, two teams we hadn't seen yet. NTC came out hot scoring their first four possessions and taking a 7-2 lead. MSD had an 18-4 run to take a 18-11 lead. Both teams ended the first half tied at 30.

The biggest MSD lead came at 38-33 early in the second half. NTC took the lead for good on an old fashioned three point play by Devyn Smith at 43-40. NTC built the lead out to 47-41. MSD came back capped by a three by Abby Weiss with 14.3 seconds left to make it 49-48. Two more free throws by Smith finished the scoring and NTC led 51-48.

North Tartan Larson faced 43 Hoops Olson in the last contest of the night. Again we hadn't seen either team yet. As much as the second game had scoring early neither team generated much offensively in this game. 43HO started the scoring with an Angela Tauer shot from the left wing. 43HO led 8-7 when NTL started clicking on the offensive end and shut the door defensively. Suriya McGuire scored on transition to give the lead to NTL for good 9-8. At half time it was 35-18 NTL.

The second half NTL kept the momentum with a scoring runs of six that put them up 58-25. Toward the end of the game running time was used in a 62-31 win for NTL.

Tomorrow I will be at Cooper for a couple more pool play games. Sunday is when the real action takes place. The quarterfinals will be at 9:30 and 11, the semis at 3:30 and the finals at 6:30 on Mother's Day.

Lakes Area Heat did not show this weekend. So Pool F only had two teams.
Here are the other results tonight
#1 seed NC Heat beat 43 Hoops Johnson 68-21.
#2 seed MN Stars Borowicz beat 43 Hoops Zuck by a wide margin, the score wasn't posted when I left.
#4 seed Metro Stars White beat MN Finishers 50-31

I will have out & abouts on all these games later in the week.

Next up: tomorrow morning.

Latest Signings, Michigan AAU State Tournament

#1 posting 5.7.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SIGNINGS
Also at Indiana State in the 2008 class: Kayla Mullins, 5-8, McGuffey Upper Scioto Valley (Ohio) has signed.
A verbal to Indiana State from the 2009 class: Moriah Hodge, 6-1, Cincinnati Glen Este (Ohio).

At Dubuque University six more are headed to play basketball:
Heather Taylor, River Ridge, WI
Joelle Domingos, Hortonville, WI
Jamie Duprel, Sturgis, SD
Nia Calbreath, West Carroll, IL
Kaitlin Nowicki, Iowa City Regina, IA
Shana Kester, Jesup, IA

Gabbie Binion of Davenport Assumption has signed with Southeastern CC in Keokuk, Iowa. From the Burlington Hawkeye.

COACHING NEWS
Hortonville's boys basketball coach Joe Russom is going over to the girls side. He will be the new girls basketball coach at Appleton North. From the Green Bay Press Gazette.

AAU
Minnesota isn't the only state with an AAU State tournament this weekend. Michigan will also hold their State tournament. Last week the Michigan Cagers won the North Regional. From the Flint Journal. Here are the Michigan AAU Brackets. The events for the 14-19s are in the Grand Rapids Area.

Maple Grove will host an AAU tournament on June 7 and 8.

MYAS
Triple Threat won the MYAS Forest Lake event on Saturday finishing 3-0. Prior Lake will host the 16/171 division while Coon Rapids hosts the 19 this weekend.

Next up: the Wisconsin State AAU State tournament--Junior Eligible Semis and finals

Wisconsin State AAU Tournament Results

#2 posting 5.4.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

WISCONSIN STATE AAU TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Today it was off to Menomonie to see the Wisconsin State AAU tournament. The number of teams is lower than that of Iowa or Minnesota. There were only four teams in the 14u division, and 8 each in the 15u and Junior Eligible divisions.

The 14u championship provided the most drama by far of the day. Wisconsin Hoops Select out of the Madison upset Team Wisconsin Select 41-40. WHS only had six bodies as some girls were off to soccer. Despite not having legs WHS did build up a 7 point lead only to see TWS rally to tie the game at 40 each with 28.4 seconds left. TWS had the ball with 16 seconds left when Cady Roedl stole an inbounds pass and Julia Shelbourn was fouled. She made the second free throw and a desperation three bounced off as WHS escaped with a victory.

In the 15u championship it was Team WI Select beating WBA Prestige 60-34. TWS controlled the game early with eight straight scores to open up a 26-7 lead. It was 31-19 at half. In the second half TWS had another outburst with six straight scores to go up 53-25. We missed the last minute or two to catch the start of the 16u or junior eligible championship.

In the Junior Eligible semis it was Team Wisconsin Select Samuels beating Viking Club Boese 56-24 as the TWSS defense, led by 6-6 Nicole Griffin, prevented any easy shots. It was 30-10 at half time.

In the final TWSS matched up against Team Wisconsin Select Doucette. TWSD also has a 6-6 center in Anna Cole. Both Griffin and Cole were on the same team last year so there was a bit more intensity in this Civil War battle. TWSS jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first three possessions and never looked back. TWSD did close to 7-6, but after that Samuels went on a 27-9 run to close the half up 34-15. At the widest margin in the second half Samuels team led 64-33.

next up: Tomorrow morning

2 STMA Signings, Rund Resigns? Open Enrollment

#1 posting 4.30.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

Day 5 of "the deuce." thanks for your patience.

SIGNINGS
Two St. Michael-Albertville girls basketball players will continue to play next year. Lexi Thompson is going to Augsburg next year and Angy Gavere is going to Anoka-Ramsey.

COACHING NEWS
According to the Fergus Falls Daily Journal girls basketball coach Dave Rund has resigned at Fergus Falls.

Southeast Warren, Iowa coach Ron Smith will serve a 10 game suspension after an incident with a parent after a district game in February. From the Des Moines Register.

Bill VanderWoude has resigned at Forest Hills Eastern in Michigan. From the Grand Rapids Press.

MORE AAU RESULTS
From the Minnesota Seeding Tournament last weekend at Kennedy: The MN Suns 14's lost out this last weekend. Their point guard had a separated shoulder from Lacrosse game. She will be back for state. The Suns went 2-0 in pool and lost first round to Minnesota Stars Hested in first round. The Suns actually beat the tournament champions Fury Haugen in pool play by 10.

Next weekend: Their will be tournaments around the Twin Cities Metro area with MYAS.

In Wisconsin they will hold their state AAU tournament at Menomonie. Their are 8 teams playing in the Junior Eligible tournament. Team WI Select Samuels is the #1 seed.

OPEN ENROLLMENT
The Tea Champion looks at open enrollment in South Dakota and how it is affecting schools. SD will be putting a one year wait like in Minnesota.

Next up: College reports

Kirkwood 3, Americans Upset, North Tartan Crosby

#1 posting 4.27.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

KIRKWOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS
Kirkwood CC women's basketball coach Kim Muhl announced Friday that five sophomore basketball players have announced their intentions for next season.

Previously Lauren Thomas Johnson (Manchester, England) and Breann Hill (Harrisburg, PA) had signed with WNIT champion Marquette University.

On Friday, three remaining sophomores announced their plans for next season. Allie Lindemann (Champaign, IL) announced for Siena University in Loudonville,NY; Ashley Gorsh (Urbana, IA) and Rachele Monroe (Clutier, IA) both announced for the University of New Orleans.

These five sophomores were all major contributors for the Eagles back to back NJCAA Div. II championships.

COACHING AWARDS
Nate Malchow of AA State champion Sioux Falls Washington has been named Girls Basketball Coach of the Year by the South Dakota High School Coaches Association. From KELO TV.

OLYMPIC BASKETBALL
The Americans were beat by the Chinese 84-81 in Beijing in a tune up for the Olympics coming this summer. From MLive.

AAU TOURNAMENT RESULTS
North Tartan Crosby is playing in Battle for the Dimes in Appleton, WI. Today NTC went 3-0 beating, Wisconsin PC Players 16's, Wisconsin Fox Valley Hustle 16's and the Wisconsin Force 17's. Today NTC will play in the Championship, opponent is TBD. NTC's current overall record is 8-0. Here is the schedule for this tournament.

HALL OF FAME
Jayme Anderson of Janesville Parker will be inducted into the Janesville Sports Hall of Fame. In the story in the Janesville Gazette are some important reasons for her success: passion for the game, her high school coach is quoted "She knew her game and her limitations. She knew how to do the things that would make her successful."

MISS BASKETBALL
This evening the Minnesota Miss Basketball will be named. Here are the five up for the honor:
Courtney Boylan, Chaska
Kiara Buford, St. Paul Central
Brianna Mastey, Becker
Brittnye McSparron, Eastview
Kamille Wahlin, Crookston

Next up: after the MN Seeding Tournament