Out & About: Highland Park/St. Croix Lutheran

#3 posting 1.23.2006

St. Paul Highland Park 76, St. Croix Lutheran 52
With Highland Park coming into the game with a 10-4 record and St. Croix Lutheran coming in with a 3-11 record the result was to be expected. But it took a little bit longer to get the engine humming for SPHP. Actually SCL had a 17-13 lead in the first half as SPHP sputtered along. After that SPHP went on a 14-2 run in the space of five minutes to leave no doubt who was in charge. Brittany Dorsey had six of those points as she hit a three, made a free throw as she hit the offensive boards, and a steal and a layup. She ended up with a season high 19. HP started with a 1/6 possession ratio, then went on a four possession scoring binge. As quick as that, they turned back to frigid with five possessions going for nothing. During their big run they were 7/9. A key factor in their burst was shifting from zone defense to man.
The second half started quite differently than the first half with both teams converting on 3/5 possessions. But then SCL went 11 possessions in the wilderness and HP built their lead to 58-31 with a 19-0 run. At this point SPHP subbed quite a bit. They eventually had a 28 point lead, but then SCL's Alex Engelman came in a stroked three 3s in a row from the right wing spot and that lead melted to 17 points. SPHP's starters were right back in at that point and outscored SCL 14-7 the rest of the way. Kiara Allums immediately hit a three and had eight points during this run.

name, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
St. Paul Highland Park Player Evaluations
Starters
Georgie Jones 23, 22, 104.5, .545 Shot blocker, big inside, hands are allright. Worked the offensive boards for 8 points. HP didn't really look to get it into her. She could have scored at will do to size mismatch. Hit from free throw line to show range. RF: needs strength
Kiara Allums 14, 6, 233.3, .833 She did this scoring all in the second half. Looking at this you think she was 5/6 shooting. That would be a mistake. SPHP did a great job all night on the offensive boards. Allums was 5/6 on possessions that ended with her. She may have missed shots and SPHP picked up the board. In fact she shot .385 on the night 5/13. Active with defensive steals on the perimeter. A big perimeter player at 5-11. Can drop 3s. RF: she did this all in the second half. foul trouble
Brittany Dorsey 19, 19, 100, .474 As Allums had a great 2nd half, Dorsey had a great 1st half with 16 points. Another player similar to Allums. RF: Didn't do much in the second half.
Nakita Walker 0, 4, 0.0, .000 point guard. RF: my feeling was there may be others that can do the job just as well.
LaCoya Jackson 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Bench
Dennelle Levene-Banks 5, 6, 83.3, .333
Maddie Orenstein 6, 3, 200.0, .667 RF: a sling shot type shooter
Patrice Lee 0, 1, 0.0, .000 Strong upper body, an athlete. wide arms. RF: maybe hasn't played enough for offensive skills to develop. Fouled out
Alonia Chess 4, 4, 100.0, .500
Parishia Thompson 5, 4, 125.0, .750
Marilyn Simerson-Wallfred 0, 1, 0.0, .000

St. Croix Lutheran Player Evaluations
Starters
Hannah Jenkins 14, 18, 77.8, .444 their main scoring option. RF: dribbles in what I consider an upright position. Looks down when dribbling. Hitch in shot.
Abby Kassulke 4, 7, 57.1, .286
Cassondra Killeen 2, 4, 50.0, .250
Danielle Pomerenke 14, 16, 87.5, .438 probably the quickest kid for SCL. She seemed like she wanted to go. Three times in the first half was fouled and scored, but only made one of the free throws on the old fashioned 3 point play. RF: size, still not as quick as SPHP.
Megan Rupprecht 1, 5, 20.0, .200
Bench
Andrea Schmeling 4, 4, 100.0, .500
Jenny Enger 1, 2, 50.0, .500
Alex Engelman 12, 11, 109.0, .364 three possessions in a row from her favorite spot on the right wing. RF: everyone knows your favorite spot now.
Sarah Stump 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Marit Kyllo 0, 4, 0.0, .000
Common RF for SCL: Ball handling/decison making needs improvement. Strength issues.
Trench player for the Game: Georgie Jones
For the Half: Kiara Allums

BY THE NUMBERS
team, points, possessions, pp100, scoring %
St. Paul Highland Park 76, 72, 105.6, .486
St. Croix Lutheran 52, 72, 72.2, .361
My guess is SPHP will have problems with teams that can block out, and have the same size they do. They are in the brutal section 3AAAA with four teams in the top ten. Even with an 11-4 record they may be no better than 7th out of 8 teams. That gives you an indication that the strength of this section.