Out & About: Concordia Roseville/Meadow Creek

Tonight's contest was between two small private schools in the Twin Cities. Meadow Creek (#1A) against Concordia (#4AA) a slightly bigger school. And the bigger school won this game, but it was a roller coaster ride 48-42. Meadow Creek was the first to break out of a tight game, jumping to a 16-10 lead. But then the game turned when center Elizabeth Woerle picked up her third foul for MC with 3:22 to go. At this point she had seven of MC's 16 points. Concordia took advantage right away with Sarah Ingison dropping a three. Concordia scored on four of their next five possessions, including three straight possessions with 3s, to take a 23-18 lead into the locker room at the half. Ingison had 8 points during this 13-2 run.
MC just never got into rhythm in the second half falling behind by 15 (from 37-22 to 45-30) so the entire run came to 35-14. Then the game turned again from Concordia in the driver's seat to Concordia careening down a slippery mountain road with the breaks cut. MC scored on five of their next six possessions cutting that 15 point lead to four (46-42). A main factor in the comeback was the sense of urgency and pressure in the back court, and the disappearance of Ingison to take control of the ball. Concordia took an ill advised three attempt with a 46-36 lead and then turned it over three straight times. MC caught the turnover bug their last two possessions. Concordia finished up the game with free throws for the final margin 48-42. I know the paper will say 49-42, but they counted as a made free throw the second shot from Erlandson on their last possession. She missed and Woerle rebounded.
Meadow Creek player evaluations
MC has two players of interest: Center Elizabeth Woerle is their best athlete (she also is a top notch soccer player). She can run, jump, and is physical. This is only her fourth year of competitive basketball (I have been told), but is aggressive. She has decent hands and her footwork (think soccer/Hakeem Olujawan) is excellent. She does need polishing on defense, but has good anticipation skills making a late game swipe at mid court and going in for a left hand layup.She is the only inside threat MC has. Woerle ended up with 17 points.
Abby Thom is only in her third game of the year. I do not know what caused her to miss the first few games, but she is probably not back at full strength yet. She is not as fast as last year and had trouble creating shots and getting them off. She is not afraid to get hit and get to the line. During the late comeback Thom's contribution was assists. She needs to get to full health and pick up the quickness or she will have limited options.
The other players need to become more offensive threats with their shooting, passing and dribbling. My guess is they have not seen the height and quickness they faced tonight. The sense of urgency they played with on their press late in game needs to be used the full game. Again I say the sense of urgency, not necessarily the press.
Concordia Roseville player evaluations
Sarah Ingison is bound for Wisconsin and is their most intense player, but she needs to be more involved at the end of the game. She needs to have the ball in her hand, she needs to take command and not become an auxillary player. She was not involved in the late game snafus, and that was the problem. If she has the ball good things will or would have happened. Perhaps the MC defense deserves credit for this, but I say take over. She ended up with 17 from 3s, drives, and postings.
Breanna Schneidermann, the center, needs to gain a few pounds and become more physical. Defensively she can not get locked up behind her player. She ended up with 8. Her feet are fine, she needs to dominate the paint, and tonight she was out played by her counterpart.
Kelsey Carlson played for the first time in three games. She faces the basket and can hit the three and drive. She ended up with 8. Late in the game she took the three when the shot was not needed. She does need to be aware of time and score situations. She also needs to take control late in the game. I am sure she is still working her way back into rhythm.
Concordia's other players were bigger and quicker than MC's players. They are more of an offensive threat, however late in the game during the pressure cooker MC was heating up the decision making started to melt down.
Who is in the trench tonight?
For the first time I am taking a kid on the losing team Woerle. Ingison would have been the choice if she had grabbed the game by the throat at the end instead of vanishing.