Out & About: Twofer

Today was a twofer, a matinee with Hopkins and Henry Sibley; and the battle of #1s with Marshall and Breck.

Game #1, Hopkins 89, Henry Sibley 66
Or is it Henry Sibley 2, Hopkins 0
Word circulated after the contest that Hopkins had inadvertently used a player over the half limit. The old rule was five quarters a day, now it is three, but it can not be consecutive. The infraction occurred in the very late in the first half when Hopkins had the game well in hand 40-23.
One other note: Caitlin Rowland, Hopkins has been out of the line up with a foot injury. She may return as soon as two weeks, but it depends on recovery time. This was the second game she was out.
Nevertheless Hopkins controlled the game right from the tip. They were up 12-0 as they scored on 6/8 possessions to start the contest. Henry Sibley was 0/7 including the first three ending up as turnovers. HS defensively started in a 1/2/2 zone, shifted to 2/3 and ended up man. It did not matter what they ran Hopkins got the shots when and where they wanted. HS on offense did not pass with the same crispness shown by Hopkins. HS was able to penetrate most of the day, however the shots were off balance and in general limited to one. Hopkins' biggest lead in the first half was 32-13, but HS closed out with a 21-13 run to end the half down 45-34. Hopkins had problems at the line in the first half going 14/28.
Hopkins opened the second half 6/8 on scoring chances. The best string HS had was three possession string, but they never could stop Hopkins. The longest dry patch for Hopkins was two possessions. HS had droughts of 6 and 4 in the second half. (they had a 7 drought in the first half).
Hopkins player evaluations
Jillian Schurle (38) knows how to score. Did not have a wonderful shooting day, but if you look at the number you would not know it. She has a scorers mentality. She scored on posts, out of bounds plays, she made 9 free throws on the day, she scored on drives, transitions, and popped a three. She has scored 30+ in the past three games. She is averaging 34 ppg in the last 4 games, 24.7 for the year. RF: needs to improve shooting %
Abby Greene (11) the calm engine that runs steadily. Her strength is getting the ball to players in transition when the other team is still shifting gears. Most of those transition passes went to Schurle. Getting the ball to people so they can do something with it in the proper position, not reaching behind, or grabbing the ball at the ankles is an overlooked skill. She has it. Can also score when needed. Dropped a 3 early in the game. RF: foot speed, HS players were penetrating on all Hopkins guards.
Jackie Heibert (10) is Schurle in traning. Can run the floor as well. Feels more natural on the outside, maybe not the range of Schurle or the scoring focus yet. RF: needs more upper body strength
Tiana Wilkinson (5) still a tough kid, but RF: offensive shooting needs to become more consistent. Also did not block out Ross in the second half for some HS put backs.
Hanna Muegge (8) taking over for Rowland. I had not seen much of her in the previous two games, but aggressive offensive rebounder, had a knack for being in the right spot at the right time. RF: shooting range--she will be needing to drop 3s in the future. Upper body strength
Claire Burmeister (13) another newer face. another perimeter player. 2nd ball handler replacing Greene when she was on the bench. RF: size/strength
Henry Sibley player evaluations
Team RF: Herky jerky offense. Careless with the ball. flips and playground style no match for disciplined Hopkins. Also defense---move feet, get in position
Jenny Ross (16) worked the offensive boards in the second half. At one point scored six straight. Even stepped out and popped a 3. Her main job is to post up, but would feel allright outside. RF: needs to control boards
Ashley Wells (14) has some fire and flare with the ball, but RF: needs to stay in control, Circus moves. fouled out, last one on an offensive charge.
Katie Fink (11) some speed RF: showed some anger at a call that did not go her way. fouled out
Danielle Davenport (6) liked her speed. RF See team RF above. Size
Trench Player Abby Greene for her transition game. Great vision.

BY THE NUMBERS
team, points, possessions, pp100, scoring %
Hopkins 89, 87, 102.3, .529
Henry Sibley 66, 86, 76.7, .349
I was thinking I might see the century mark. The frentic pace did not favor HS. In the three games I have charted with Hopkins this is their best defensive effort if you are measuring points per 100 possessions (St. Paul Central was at 83.8, Cretin-DH 88.7). However on scoring % the top effort was vs. St. Paul Central at .338.

GAME #2: Breck 60, Marshall 42
In the battle between #1s this game was led start to finish by Breck. In fact Breck was 7/8 to start the game. Marshall took time at 12:21 with the score 18-7. Marshall just could not match up on the perimeter with all of the Breck options. Breck guards are strong, their arms are defined. Macie Michaelson can match for intensity and floor burns, but Breck has at some times in the game four point guards. It is hard to generate turnovers off that. Both teams started man, but Marshall tried everything to try to get Breck off rythym. They tried 2/3, 1/3/1, various full and half court traps. Breck zipped by. Meanwhile Marshall's offense was spinning it's wheels; they went 0/9 during this period. Breck would take shots they want, when they wanted, if they wanted. At one point there were 31 touches before Breck scored (they did miss a shot, but got a rebound to work it around for shot #2). Breck led 22-7. Marshall did get it's act together and finished the half 13-7.
Marshall in the second half zeroed in on getting the ball to post on the blocks. Breck played behind and had collapsing defense. Marshall scored it's first two possessions had cut the lead down to 7 various times. Breck was a cool 1/6 to start the half. A Michaelson three cut the lead to 41-34 the last time it was to be that close. Mullaney answered right back, Marshall missed a three, and Breck scored the next three times on back cuts to bring the score to 49-34. At this point it became a foul-a-thon. The next 7/8 times Breck cashed in at the line.
All in all Breck players do what they can do. They don't overreach. They are well grounded in how the game needs to be played.
Marshall is not as athletic as Breck, and they have not played from behind that often this year. They were hampered somewhat by fouls.
Breck player evaluations:
Kelly Mullaney (25) intense, can answer the call, gets to loose balls, gets on the floor, a warrior. I would say a scorer, not a shooter. the fire burns hot. RF: snapped at a teammate on a miscommunication on a turnover.
Emily Neal (15) intense, but cooler. RF: wasn't as on outside this evening
Megan Givens (10) more of an offensive threat than in the Champlin Pk game.
Jamie Erdahl (6) overlooked by the big three, but plays with the same intensity. It appears to me she wants to go, but knows her borders. RF: outside shooting
Marshall player evaluations
Macie Michaelson (21) the same type of intensity and fire that Mullaney has. Great desire to achieve. More point guard than Mullaney. Looks hard to drive. A human mop on the floor on defense or getting knocked to the ground on a drive. RF: size at the next level.
Kelsie Krueger (9) the only other real offensive threat Marshall possessed this night. Worked the boards, drove the lane, went to the line. RF: needs better ball handling, sharper, zippier passes
Jessica Onken (3) the focus inside RF: but needs to gain strength, catch and score quickly. It looks as if she is thinking at times. Just play, do.
Trench player: Mullaney is the first player to get it twice. She is the Tasmanian Devil in action

BY THE NUMBERS
Breck, 62, 50, 124.0, .580
Marshall 40, 51, 78.4, .353
Breck clearly had the most efficient offense as indicated with 124 points. Only Hopkins against Cretin-DH had a better mark 125.5. The .580 scoring % is in the upper stratsophere as well. Only two teams (Hopkins vs CDH .647) and now Breck have reached this plateau.