4 Tournaments-4 Days: Rochester Day 1

OUT & ABOUT: Rochester (day 1)
This is the start of four tournaments in four days. Rochester Civic Center was the first stop
Game #1: Eastview 69, Roch Century 42
For all intents and purposes this was over at half as Eastview led 32-17. Eastview outscored Century 15-5 the last nine minutes. Century went without scoring 13 straight possessions in the first half and only made three field goals as well.
It was more of the same in the second half with the pressure getting to Century. Most of the main Eastview players rested the last portion of the second half.
Eastview Player Evaluations:
Cassie Johnson is now playing out of the shadows. She was involved on defense, blocking shots, making a statement on offense whereas last year she was invisible. It appears motivation is higher this season. Red Flag: Can this continue?
Brittnye McSperron is the point guard. She handles the ball well, keeps her head up, has nice moves to the basket. Red Flag: did not finish on her drives today
Janine Oxley is a 2006 player (not 05) and is physical and a big strong guard. She ended up with 15. Red Flag: this is minor in my estimation, but at times a tad out of control. I would rather have to control energy than light fires.
Brittany Rud came off the bench for 16. She drives baseline. Century played a 1-3-1 D and Rud lived on the baseline corners. Red Flag: not as athletic as the other three.
On the whole Eastview was much more athletic than Century. The defense pressure caused pain.
Century player evaluations:
Brianna Jobe was one of two players who could do something with the ball. Red Flag too much spin dribbling when in trouble.
Ericka O'Meara was the main ball handler and was not afraid to go to the glass. She did not have much help to go with her. Red Flag: needs more strength as Eastview had better athletes. Also a tad smaller than Eastview guards.
Century posts: in foul trouble and were not a factor on offense.
Trench Player: Johnson for setting tempo on defense and giving life to the post that has been lacking the past two years at Eastview.

Game #2 Roseville 65, Rochester Mayo 60
This was by far and away the most competitive of the four. Mayo came out on fire scoring on 7/8 possessions and building a 15-4 lead. Karolina Haraldsdottir scored 8 of those points early. It was a physical contest throughout Roseville's Brittany Starr was carted off on a stretcher with 16:55 left in the first half. Roseville eventually got their three pronged offense on track, scoring on 5/6 possessions to cut the lead to 28-25 Mayo. Both teams cooled off before half with 2/9 scoring on their possessions. Mayo led 33-29 at half thanks to a three by Ashley Westergaard.
Mayo scored on 3 of their first 4 possessions, but then the well went dry. They actually led 39-31 before the drought kicked in. They went 14 straight possessions with only one point to show on the scoreboard. Roseville's half court pressure forced 9 turnovers during that stretch. Roseville's Amy Beggin provided the Raiders their first lead at 40-39. When all was said and done Roseville outscored Mayo 21-4. Roseville's Talisha Barlow had 10 points during the crucial run. Mayo found the range late in the game scoring on their last five possessions, but by that time Roseville was in control. Beggin scored Roseville's last six points--all at the line.
Roseville player evaluations:
Amy Beggin-in control, no worries when press was on (21 points). Finds open players and can stick big shots. Red Flag: may be small for higher level, but I would take the chance anyway.
Talisha Barlow: scored in and out (26 points) Can get off the floor, active on defense. Red flag: see Beggin's
Alison Nash-Gerloch: finished with 13 points, but only 3 free throws in the second half. Red Flag: needs to be more physical and not be come a non factor on the offensive end.
Roseville's role players: did what was needed, and did not try to do to much.
Mayo player evaluations:
Karolina Haraldsdottir: (15) strong inside presence, gets off the floor. Comes out to 3 point line to help relieve pressure on offense. Red Flag: got into foul trouble and had to sit too much.
Julia Hirssig (12) another strong player, knack for rebounding. Scored 8 points late--on drives, rebounds, and off pen and dish. Red Flag: needs to assert herself on offense. If she can take over late in the game she can do it more often.
Allison Lunde (9) another kid that is strong and physical. Started second half with two straight field goals. Red flag: too physical at times as she fouled out. might be too small for a forward post HS. Might be not the best ball handler if a guard post HS
Ashley Westergaard (9) can hit 3s. Red Flag: size, needs to make better decisions on offense and take care of the ball.
Trench player: Beggin for handling the ball, distributing the ball, playing defense, coming up in the clutch. She is indispensible. Barlow also is trenchworthy.

#3 Lakeville North 59, Rochester JM 38
This was a tale of two games. In the first half Lakeville North left the court up 21-20. Their offense was sputtering. At one time they did not score 8 straight times. JM went on a 16-8 run in the first half. But it all was an illusion. JM only made three field goals in the first half. Lakeville North was bouncing the ball off the lights in their frantic attempt to get down the court. That all changed in the second half.
Lakeville North scored the first five times they touched the ball in the second half. JM closed the lead to 35-27, but LN soon put JM in their rear view mirror. Foul problems plagued JM, and LN had a much deeper, taller, and physical bench.
Lakeville player evaluations:
Katy Sanders (22) may be the most underrated player around. She was in the right spot at the right time, scored on a variety of shots from post ups, to drives to 3s. She found the open player and made plays on defense. She also rebounds. Red Flag: is no longer unknown.
Katie Sheets (10) is one of the main ball handlers. She is intense on both ends of the floor and likes to push the ball. Red Flag: may push or throw ball out of bounds
Kelli Hilt, Kaiya Sygulla are both perimeter types with Sygulla handling the ball more. They are worker bees (as are most of the LN players)
Cassie Rochel (8) as a 6-3 8th grader she made an impact off the bench. No doubt she will get stronger. Good hands and feet. Not shy about contact. Definately one to keep an eye on as the 2010 class in the state gets better and better. Red Flag: needs to get stronger, but that flag is small.
Another player to keep an eye on is Shayla Owodurni. She is 6-1 but has not played very much. She is an athlete however.
JM player evaluations:
Camille Stenhaug (16) was the only player that could score for JM. She has a nice shot and made a five point play (a 3 with a block out foul) in the first half. Red Flag: It is hard to be the main option when they can't get you the ball and the defense covers you like a blanket. Needs to keep getting stronger.
Samantha Sikkink (6) spent too much time sitting down. However she can handle the ball and is aggressive. She is part of the S&S connection. Red Flag: fouls kept her off the floor.
Trench player is easily Sanders

Game # 4 Rochester Lourdes 38, Osseo 28
This game was the most patient, labored offensively of the four games today. Both teams were deliberate in style. Osseo did not play that deliberately the first time I saw them against SC North, but Lourdes dictated the style. Again a physical contest with both teams not giving any thing away. Lourdes quickly got off to a 7-0 lead. Neither team was a machine on offense, unless a sputtering machine is what you are thinking about. At one point Lourdes was 1/14 with their possessions. Osseo finished the half 0/8. Osseo did take it's only lead at 17-14 with a three by Ericka Calkins. Molly Miller of Lourdes gave them the lead for good with a steal and a lay up 18-17. That ended the scoring for the half.
Osseo took up where they left off---with an 0/10 start. By the time they scored again Lourdes was up 24-17. Osseo spent more time around the perimeter looking for shots. Their post players never were a factor in the contest. Lourdes only scored four field goals in the second half.
Lourdes player evaluations:
Anne Breland (16) is the leader. She has a sweet shot from the three point line, can deliver when needed. Red flag: needs more upper body strength to play at the higher levels.
Lauren Luebbe (4) is a physical player that did not score like usual because bigger kids were guarding her. Red Flag: develop offense against bigger players.
Molly Miller (12) provided some offense off the bench. If Lourdes wants to do anything post season they will need her efforts. Red Flag: speed
Rest of Lourdes: they do their job, they don't mess up too much. However they need to step up offensively to take the heat off Breland and Luebbe.
Osseo Player evalutations
Melissa Henderson (9) scored more than the first time I saw her. Hit some shots off the pass. Red Flag: this may go for the whole Osseo team--need to create better spacing on offense. Some one needs to take charge and deliver.
Desiraee Robinson (8) can shoot the three, is a big guard. Red Flag: take it to the glass if given the chance.
Jenny Oligmueller (2) was not a factor on offense. Red Flag: dominate the paint on both ends. Seal up and keep the defense pinned.
Trench player: easily Breland

A look at offense scoring if 100 possessions
School, points, possessions, pt100, scoring %
Eastview 69, 85, 81.2, .507
Roch Century 43, 85, 50.5, .271

Roseville 65, 67, 97.0, .493
Roch Mayo 60, 68, 88.2, .426

Lakeville North 59, 64, 92.2, .453
Roch JM 38, 64, 59.4, .250

Roch Lourdes 38, 56, 65.5, .321
Osseo 28, 54, 51.9, .241

The Lake teams Eastview and Lakeville North are showing off their defense, but Lourdes had the stranglehold only allowing Osseo to score .241 times they had the ball.
Eastview had the most efficient offense at .507

TOMORROW---Elk River Quarters