The Summer Week That Was #6: Double Time

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

THE SUMMER WEEK THAT WAS #6: Double Time in Menomonie
Last weekend it was Wisconsin's turn to have their state AAU tournament. Only 8 teams were in the event. Most of the teams were from western and northern Wisconsin around the Menomonie area. More teams in Wisconsin are going to tournaments sponsored by shoe companies and avoiding AAU. Teams from northeast and Southeast Wisconsin were scarce last weekend.

Minnesota will be holding their AAU State tournament this weekend. Their will be 20 Minnesota teams and one from South Dakota in the junior eligible division. Most of the teams are from the Twin Cities metro area and that is where the event will be held this weekend (Cooper High School in New Hope). 15 of the team are mainly based in the Twin Cities; three are from Southern Minnesota; one from the St. Cloud area; and one from the Lakes Area. This is almost the flip side of Wisconsin.

NUMBER CRUNCHING
So how do the states match up so far? I only used the Junior Eligible divisions that I have charted. No one under 17/16 allowed.
State, pp100, floor %
Iowa 93.08, .426
Minnesota 83.05, .388
Wisconsin 78.09, .371
Overall all ages 78.84, .375
overall High school 2008 81.53, .394
So the numbers indicate Iowa is in front. It should be remembered that I only charted 8 Iowa teams, 11 Wisconsin teams and 20 Minnesota teams. I am sure the numbers will change as the summer moves on.

TEAM OF THE WEEK
For the first time this season there is a two time winner. Team Wisconsin Select Samuels mowed down their opponents. Defensively they are rock solid led by 6-6 Nicole Griffin in the middle. They are averaging 53.7 pp100 and .241 on floor % on defense. On offense TWSS id averaging 98.58 pp100 and .476 on floor %. TWSS didn't have a close game in the tournament. The expected battle with TWS Doucette never materialized. A 25 point win in the championship against TWSD was an exclamation point on another strong performance. Samuels team in the championship checked in with 114 pp100 and a .509 floor %. Team balance is another key factor in their success. Players are stepping up. Everyone knows Griffin, now other players are emerging. TWSS has not lost yet this year.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Laura Petersen of TWSS is a stealthy scorer flying under the radar. You look at the box score after the game and she has quietly put together another double digit effort. Petersen is a 5-10 guard that is adept at going to the line. Her aggressive attacking attitude put her at the line three times in each of the two games I saw. She can shoot the three and also score inside. She moves without the ball. Petersen's days of flying under the radar may be over now.

To make the teams 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.
So where is Nicole Griffin??? She only had five possessions in each game. During the winter season the requirements are 10 possessions. Six is pretty small even in summer.

FIRST TEAM
Brittany Czerneski, Team WI Select 15 (Hurley)
Erin Frase, Team WI Select 15 (Phillips)
Laura Petersen, Team WI Select Samuels (Osseo-Fairchild)
Cady Roedl, Wisconsin Hoops Select 14 (Beaver Dam)
Britta Syverson, MN Finishers (Mpls Southwest)
SECOND TEAM
Erika Chitko, Wisconsin Hoops Select 14 (Beaver Dam)
Callie Hallstrand, Team WI Select 14 (Prentice)
Laura Maltby, MN Finishers (Mpls Southwest)
Shelby Sterba, Team WI Select 14 (Flambeau)

DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Nicole Griffin of TWSS picked up her second defensive award. Griffin is just plain flat out intimidating inside. At 6-6 you expect Griffin to block shots. But Griffin delivers more. She gets up in the air for rebounds, and doesn't wait for them to come to her. She rolls on the floor for loose balls and comes up with them. But it is what doesn't happen with Griffin that makes her the defensive player of the week. Not counting transition action, TWSS allowed only three regular two point baskets in their half court defense against TWSD and a mind blowing one two point field goal against Viking Club Boese. Griffin's shadow looms large.

FIRST TEAM
Theresa Cassidy, Totino-Grace
Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select Samuels (Milwaukee Vincent)
Heather Kessler, Team WI Select Samuels (Antigo)
Cady Roedl, Wisconsin Hoops Select 14 (Beaver Dam)
Britta Syverson, MN Finishers (Mpls Southwest)

NEWCOMER
Wispy Cady Roedl of Wisconsin Hoops Select played David to Team WI Select 14's Goliath. The diminutive guard scored 18 huge points in a 41-40 victory over the bigger team. The lefty scored off quick shots from the outside. She has a nice hesitation, and also a step back move. Her key defensive steal with the game tied at 40 gave her team a chance to win. I am sure that as the years go on she will get bigger and stronger. When that happens watch out.

DISTRIBUTOR
This week I am adding the distributor award. This goes to the player with the most assists. Katie Wolff of Team WI Select Doucette had 7 assists and .412 % of all her team's assists in the championship against TWSS. Wolff had 7 of the 17 possible assists in that game for TWSD.

PAST WINNERS
Here are the past weekly winners
TEAM
5. NC Heat
4. MN All Star 2A
3. Team WI Select Samuels
2. Minnesota Dynamite
1. IBCA Select Red

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
5. Megan Nipe, NC Heat (Centennial)
4. Brianna Mastey, MN All Star 3A, (Becker)
3. Sam Price, Team WI Select Samuels (Eau Claire North)
2. Haylie Darrington, Maroon South Central All Star (Blue Earth)
1. Trisha Nesbitt, IBCA Select Red (Ames)

DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
5. Tori Rule, Midtown Lady Monarchs (DeLaSalle)
4. Jackie Voigt, MN All Star 4A, (Park-Cottage Grove)
3. Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select Samuels (Milwaukee Vincent)
2. Kiara Strickland, Gold South Central All Star (Mpls Roosevelt)
1. Amber Kirschbaum, IBCA Select Red (Spirit Lake)

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
5. Alyssa Hagen, MN Stars Carlisle (NRHEG)
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
19s
1. MN Stars
2. Metro Stars Black
3. Team WI Sr White
4. Team WI Sr Black

17u/16u/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. Fury
11. MN Suns
12. MN Stars Smith
13. MN Stars Eckmann
14. MN Stars DeWitt
15. Team WI Select Doucette
16. All Iowa Attack 17
17. 43 Hoops Olson
18. 43 Hoops Zuck
19. Southern Minny Elite
20. Southern Stars
21. Comets
22. X Factor

16u/MYAS DIVISION
1. Triple Threat
2. MN Thunder
3. MN Dynamite

15u
1. North Tartan
2. Team Iowa
3. Metro Stars
4. Team WI Select
5. Nebraska Judds
6. MN Suns Ellen
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. North Tartan
2. IBCA Select Blue
3. Fury Haugen
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: later tonight with results from Day 1 of the Minnesota Girls State AAU Tournament.

The Week That Was #5: Seeding Time

#4 posting 5.2.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

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 WEEK
The 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 WEEK
Her 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

The Week That Was #4: All Stars

#2 posting 4.25.2008 (I know it is Saturday)
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

THE WEEK THAT WAS #4: ALL STARS
The All Star game again showed that teamwork is essential in winning games. Too often the five best players don't make the best team. That may have factored in to the outcome. 2A looked for each other, shared the ball, and hustled. It didn't hurt they had a solid height advantage over every team. They also had expert long range shooters.

How did 2A compare to the last two winners in 2007 and 2006? In a word better.
Year, Winner, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
08 2A 185, 167, 110.8, .521
07 4A 185, 185, 100.0, .481
06 4A 135, 154, 87.6, .422
They are better on the defensive end too.
08 2A 130, 167, 77.8, .395
07 4A 163, 188, 86.7, .398
06 4A 123, 153, 80.4, .373
I will go out on a limb and say 2A is the best All star team in the time I have charted these events. The numbers point that direction.

Right now all the teams in the AAU/Off season ball are "All Stars" in the sense they are thrown together. I prefer the term "multi-school." One advantage the AAU teams have is they can practice longer than 2 hours before their first contest, but practice is more limited than it is in the high school season. That is one reason you see lower pp100 in summer than in the winter.
The AAU teams that have the most success are the ones that play together as a team and are not just a collection of individuals.

The key key key (not a typo) ingredient, and the one I continually emphasized when I was coaching AAU, is "what have you done to make your team mates look better?"

TEAM OF THE WEEK
That is an easy call----2A for the reason mentioned above. In both games their pp100 was over 100. They also were at .521 on floor % for the weekend.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
This goes to Brianna Mastey who did a lot of the heavy lifting on 3A. She is athletic, runs the floor and finishes. Her scoring didn't venture far from the lane, but she does have 3 ability. She is also effective on defense. She had 37 points for the weekend, the most of any player, and besides that she had a pp100 of 154.2 and floor % of .792 which were also the highest around.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
FIRST TEAM
Kiara Buford, 4A, St. Paul Central
Angie Jetvig, 2A, Hawley
Brianna Mastey, 3A, Becker
Brittnye McSparron, 4A, Eastview
Kamille Wahlin, 2A, Crookston
SECOND TEAM
Rebekah Aase, Southern Minny Elite, Austin
Megan Erlandson, 3A, Minnehaha
Karin Gibson, Metro Stars White, Eden Prairie
Emily Kaus, Fury, Eastview
Whitney Langen, 1A, Kittson County Central
THIRD TEAM
Samantha Bornmann, 43 Hoops Zuck, Chaska
Melissa Borstner, 43 Hoops Zuck, St. Francis
Courtney Boylan, 4A, Chaska
Hilary Friendshuh, Team WI Red 15, Clear Lake
Taylor Voss, 2A, Albany

DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Jackie Voigt of the 4A gets the call. She had 10 d stops in the game against 1A and added six in the game against 2A. She boarded strongly in both contests.

DEFENSIVE TEAM
Kiara Allums, 4A, Centennial
Angie Jetvig, 2A, Hawley
Brianna Mastey, 3A, Becker
Sarah Peterson, Fury, Minnehaha
Jackie Voigt, 4A, Park-Cottage Grove

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Hilary Friendshuh of Team WI Red 15s (and Clear Lake, WI). Aggressive perimeter player, uses both hands on her shot and crashes the offensive boards.

PAST WINNERS
Here are the past winners.
PAST WINNERS
TEAM
3. Team WI Select Samuels
2. Minnesota Dynamite
1. IBCA Select Red

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
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
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
3. Jessica Waldvogel, Team Wisconsin Select 15s
2. Kara Hofschild, Minnesota Dynamite (Andover)
1. Kionna Kellogg, IBCA Select Red (Ames)

POLLS
19s
1. Metro Stars Black
2. MN Stars
3. Team WI Sr White
4. Team WI Sr Black

17u/JR ELIGIBLE
1. North Tartan Larson
2. MN Stars Hested/Borowicz
3. NC Heat
4. IBCA Select Red
5. Team WI Select Samuels
6. Metro Stars Black
7. Team WI Select Doucette
8. MN Suns
9. Metro Stars White
10. 43 Hoops Zuck
11. Fury
12. Southern Minny Elite
13. Southern Stars
14. Comets
15. MN Stars Eckmann
16. All Iowa Attack 17
17. X Factor

16u/MYAS DIVISION
1. MN Thunder
2. MN Dynamite

15u
1. North Tartan
2. Team Iowa
3. Metro Stars
4. Team WI Select
5. MN Suns Arbogast
6. MN Stars Carlisle

14u
1. MN Suns
2. North Tartan
3. IBCA Select Blue
4. Southern MN Heat

12u
1. MN Stars Farview

Next up: tomorrow morning