4 Tournaments-4 Days: Elk River

Day 2: Elk River
Today was the first day of the Elk River tournament, and the quarterfinals were more competitive than the Rochester games yesterday. One was decided in the last second, two were hang on to your seats, and one was a massacre.

Game 1: St. Paul Central 73, White Bear Lake 44
SPC was up 12-10 early in the game when the afterburners kicked in and WBL was left in the dust. Central closed out the half with a 32-5 run to go into the locker room up 44-15. Central scored on 15/17 possessions during their point avalanche.
In the second half many players got a chance to smell the court.
St. Paul Central player evaluations:
Kiara Buford had one more point (31) than her jersey number as she hit from outside, penetrations, give and gos, rebound, fast breaks, free throws. Quick, smooth, fast she was on fire during the game. Red flag: minimal today
Angel Robinson (18) also was effective and had a big hand in Buford's successes. Runs the team well. Red Flag: needs to be more consistent on her shot.
The rest of the team: Need to develop one more offensive threat when the games grind out to half court possessions, not the free for all run and gun that Central was able to exploit against a WBL team that was not as quick.
White Bear Lake player Evaluations:
For the most part were out quicked by Central. Tanya Dickey (13) had some aggressive moves on offense, but WBL was not able to compete. In order for WBL to compete they need to take care of the ball and control the tempo better. Running with Central is suicide.
In the trench: Buford

Game #2: DeLaSalle 62, Andover 60
This game went to the last second. Andover took the early lead at 14-6. Andover scored on 4/5 first possessions. DLS cut the lead to 17-16 with a couple of steals and lay ups. Both teams went into a drought with Andover going 2/14 in their next possessions, while DLS was 1/12. Both closed with a flury with Andover leading 30-25 at the break.
DLS scored on their first 3 possessions of the second half and took a 33-32 lead. Andover's Kirsten Hengstler's 3 gave the lead right back to Andover. Andover took leads of 41-35, 50-42 and seemed in control. DLS's Anna Kovalchuk dropped a three (50-45), then Treasure Clemons scored a lay up after a missed Andover shot (50-47), Rachel Booth then made two post scored for a 51-50 DLS lead. Andover grabbed the lead right back and pushed it out 58-55. Booth closed it to 58-57. Chelsea Greenwald dropped on FT for Andover. Clemens answered right back with a rebound basket to tie it at 59. Rochelle Sather hit a jumper for Andover's last points. DLS and Andover each turned it over. DLS Porter scored on a drive to tie it at 61. Andover worked the ball around and Katie Theisen missed. The long rebound came out and DLS found Porter as she scored a lay up at the buzzer 63-61.
DeLaSalle evaluations:
Sheena Porter (21) made the crucial basket, but also did the majority of the ball handling. A competitor she plays a 78 rpm. Red flag: size and had to sit due to fouls.
Rachel Booth (17) did her damage in the paint. Moves well and uses her size. No one could stop her when she posted. Red Flag: minimal-Not as fast as the rest of DLS
Anna Kovalchuk (10) can shoot the three and delivered in the second half. Good perimeter size. Red Flag: Needs to develop more than just the 3. Needs to be consistent on offense both halves. Not as fast as Booth.
Treasure Clemons/Aaryn Booker: tough kids, physical kids, go all out. Red Flag: Size for Clemons, Booker needs some offense.
Andover evaluations:
Rochelle Sather (17) Sam Medcalf (14) Kristen Hengstler (10) all pass well, are in the right spots. Hengstler and Medcalf can hit the three. I will have to watch Andover again to give a better feel on these three. They are solid, but not overly flashy or attention grabbing.
Chelsea Greenwald (9) came off the bench and provided a spark as she made aggressive moves on offense. Red flag: had knee problems last year, but I did not see any after effects of that. In fact she was quicker than some of her healthy teammates.
Trench player: For making the big shot Porter

Game #3: Mpls South 50, Rogers 46
This game was a curious game. South came out and hit five threes to start the game. In fact they made 7 on the night. They enjoyed the zone Rogers' played in the first half. South jumped in front 16-4 and 21-6 and it looked like a route was in the making. But don't cash that check just yet. South forgot to score on their last 9 possessions of the first half. South was up at half 22-13.
The drought continued for South as they looked confused or messed up scoring chances. They only converted 2/11 of their possessions to open the second half. Meanwhile Rogers was slowly chipping away at the lead. The tightest Rogers made it was 45-43 after two Amanda Chesness free throws. South went to the line to score since they could not from the floor. South's last six points were at the line. Rogers could have closed it to one but a bad pass gave the ball back and with it went the chance for an upset.
South player evaluations
Tayler Hill (25) is the main offensive weapon at South. She scores when she wants to and is a big time money player. She cashed in four 3s on the night. Red Flag: may tire playing on a team with no real threat on the inside. She had to play high post, and that is not where she needs to be.
Candice Butler (2) is the best passer I have seen this year. Can penetrate and deliver. Has the wow factor. Red Flag: is the worst shooter I have seen this year. Has the yech factor. If she played at a high level her leash would be yanked the first time she thought about shooting.
Ephesia Holmes (17) is the second (and last) offensive weapon at South. She can pop 3s, and penetrate. Red Flag: is Barkleyesque in size, but smaller.
The rest: Red Flag: develop your block shots because Butler will deliver you the ball. Pay attention.
Rogers player evaluations:
Amanda Chesness (16) was more of an offensive weapon than when I saw her against Elk River. She makes her free throws, positions herself for Mann's passes, and is in the right spot. Red Flag: needs to be consistent (only 5 vs Elk River).
Casey Mann (13) is the ball wizard with Rogers, but had moments when the magic was snuffed out by South. Exploded by people on a drive late in the game to cut South's lead to 48-45. As Mann goes so goes Rogers. Red Flag: Faced quick players and had an adjustment. Faced bigger kids and had an adjustment. Must make free throws late in game.
Jennifer Dowd (8) is a mini Mann. See above.
Ali Suski (7) was more of a factor tonight on both ends. Red Flag: As post needs to deliver 12 points every night
Trench: Hill....was there any doubt?

Game #4 Elk River 60, St. Cloud Tech 56
The Elks came from behind (45-36) late in the game to upset the undefeated Techsters. Tech was up early 10-3, but ER tied it at 12. Tech went up 18-12, but ER tied it at 20. You get the idea for the rest of the night. The problem was Tech did not have the depth that ER had and the Tigers did not have a tiger in the tank when it came to crunch time. Tech was up at half 29-24.
Tech's biggest lead in the second half was 43-32. After Tech led 45-36 ER scored on 12/14 of their next possessions. Tech led 53-47 when Katie Christensen dropped a three (53-50). Tech's Jordyn Sears made a driving layup and was fouled but went away from the FT line empty handed (55-50). Both teams miss fired on their next possessions. Christensen scored from the line twice (55-52) whereas Sears missed the front end of a 1 and 1. Tempestt Wilson scored on a drive (55-54). Tech did not convert. ER's Crunch time Christensen delivered again at the line for two more and the lead (56-55). She added two more ft (58-55). Wilson provided the last two points.
Elk River Evaluations:
Katie Christensen (19) came up big at the end in crunch time. She is the point guard and made sure that her team was going to have a chance to win. During this portion of the game she delivered 12 points. Red Flag: needs to play with that sense of urgency early in the game.
Tempestt Wilson (19) also delivered for the Elks. Athletic and quick. Scored from 3 line and penetrations. Red Flag: At times totally off her shot.
Gemma Saxon (8) steady rebounder, physical. Red Flag: is outsized for post HS.
Kristina Thompson (8) another steady performer on the perimeter. Red Flag: does not grab attention.
St. Cloud Tech evaluations:
Jordyn Sears: (16) point guard, aggressive, goes to the glass. Red Flag: Missed free throws at the end hurt. Contrast with how Christensen ran team at the end.
Kristen Wolters (15) rangy, lanky kid that can play out or in (more out). Hits offensive boards, pops 3s. Unorthodox shot. Red Flag: needed to step in to help rescue Tech's chances.
Megan Foley: (13) Similar to Wolters. likes perimeter land. Red Flag: This is true of all Techsters--need to be in better shape, if not physically at the end, then mentally as ER did as they wished.
Trench: Crunch time Christensen

UPDATES
Rochester Tourney
Eastview revenged Roseville in a low scoring affair 41-33
Lakeville North upended Rochester Lourdes 34-32 as Cassie Rochel made the winner at the end. If you had bought stock in Rochel she would now be approaching Google range.

Apple Valley Tourney
Hopkins trashed Tartan in another of the revenge matchups 65-37. Abby Greene came to life with a scoring kick of 20.
Cretin-Derham Hall survived a scare from Blaine 78-75 in OT. Lindsey Laur poured in 29 for CDH.
That sets up a contest between Hopkins and CDH tomorrow
The other semi will be Omaha Skutt and Apple Valley

Day 3 will be in Apple Valley