Michigan Finals; Late Friday; Out & About Becker

MICHIGAN FINALS
A Southfield-Lathrup 48, Detroit King 36
B Detroit Renaissance 49, Hudsonville Unity Christian 39
C Houghton 50, Michigan Center 44
D Frankfort 39, Lansing Christian 37

BIGGER AND BIG
Michigan Miss Basketball Alyssa DeHaan (Grandville) is 6-8 and headed for Michigan State. Minnestoa has their own big kid--Catherine Hintz, of Hastings a 6-7, 2007. She had 22 points last night in a win over Benson. This is her first year on varsity. She is the biggest player from Minnesota since Osseo's Toni Melancon (6-6) in 1994.

NOTABLE GAMES (FRIDAY D2)
MN
Hayfield (#9AA) upset defending state champion and current #1AA Rochester Lourdes 49-46 in overtime. Justine Sandvick of Hayfield hit a three with time running out to send the game into overtime. She finished with 16 points. Lourdes player Amy Battey was injured in the game.

Aitkin won their first contest in two years. They beat Rush City 45-39.

TOURNAMENT WINNERS
MN
Southland: Grand Meadow 44, Southland 39

LATE PARADERS
IA
2A
Jane Ohde, Wapello 25 vs Winfield-Mt. Union 69-50
MN
JUCO
Brittney Gladis, Rochester 25 vs Central Lakes 69-59
AAAA
Megan Eul, Rosemount 28 vs Rochester Century 51-53
Camille Stenhaug, Rochester John Marshall 28 vs St. Paul Johnson 53-49 ot
AAA
Hannah Draxten, Fergus Falls 30 vs Brainerd 61-39

OUT & ABOUT: BECKER BREAKDOWN CLASSIC
I watched five games today at Becker.
game #1: St. Cloud Tech 66, Monticello 47. Tech has two scorers Megan Foley 16, and Kristen Wolters 23. They both have nice strokes, althougth only Wolters went to the line once. The rest of the team does what it takes. Monticello could not get the ball to Jill Zaruba in the post. If that continues the Magic act will be a disappointment.
game #2: Becker 69, Waseca 64. The Bulldogs two power sophs Brianna Mastey, 20 and Shelly Stemper, 14 played like veterans in the win. Mastey can hit from the outside, and is no longer tied to the block as last year. She faces the basket and has some decent moves. Stemper, a big point guard was hobbled for most of the second half with fouls, but when in was a major impact player. The Beckel twins of Waseca are clearly good athletes, but need to get control of their bodies and finish stronger than they showed me on Saturday. Tressa had 17 points, Staci 9. Waseca was able to stay in the contest with the help of 10 three pointers.
game #3. Tartan 58, St. Michael-Albertville 49. Tartan had the size and physical play to put STMA off its game. Tartan is not afraid of driving to the hoop and getting hit. Erica Jost had 14 points, six of them free throws. Jackie Goetzke had 16. Jodi Reinschmidt of STMA led all scorers with 23. She will not be able to play inside in college (not enough bulk, also smaller 5-10). She may be able to transition to the perimeter as her shot is fluid and natural.
game #4. Osakis 69, Eden Valley-Watkins 60. In the smaller school match up Osakis came out on top for a couple of reasons. 1. The players do what they can do, and they do not force things. 2. They are in the right spots at the right time making the right cuts. On defense they may need some positioning work, but they all worked well as a team. Brittany Quistorff is a natural shooter and has a good understanding of the game. She does need to hit the weight room this summer to take the next step. She had 22, and her inside partner Steph Roggenbuck had 21. Roggenbuck is 5-10 and will not be able to continue to play inside when she leaves high school. Her transition will be tougher than Reinschmidt's. EVW's Hannah Linz, who has been ripping it up with 30 point games was held to 25. She is a scorer as opposed to Quistorff the shooter. Linz can stroke the three and also drives. Her running mate Krista Opheim can dish with the best. She is creative and gets the ball to the open player, something that is hard for some players.
game #5. Bloomington Kennedy 64, Marshall 53. This was the showcase event with two #1 teams from the big classes. The size of Kennedy (6-3, 6-2, 6-1) was matched against the perimeter play of Marshall. Tara Steinbauer scored 22 for JFK. She can score out and in and is physical. Jenna Smith had at least three Marshall players on her when she touched the ball in the paint most of the evening and ended up with 17. Marshall's point guard, Macie Michelson is a strong floor general barking directions and playing with a sense of urgency I don't see often from the perimeter. She not only can see the floor (broad vision), but can shoot (narrow vision) which is not an automatic for a point guard. She is fearless, and will challenge anybody on offense.
My First Five All Tournament (or Classic)
Macie Michelson, Marshall; Tara Steinbauer, Kennedy; Jenna Smith, Kennedy; Brittany Quistorff, Osakis; Brianna Mastey, Becker.
My Second Five All Tournament
Shelly Stemper, Becker; Hannah Linz, Eden Valley-Watkins; Tressa Beckel, Waseca; Jodi Reinschmidt, STMA; Megan Foley, St. Cloud Tech