Out & About: Monticello/Sauk Rapids

#3 posting 2.28.2006

4AAA Quarterfinals
#3 Monticello 75, #6 Sauk Rapids-Rice 47

Monticello never trailed it this contest. There was not a lot of suspense. That is what one gets in the early rounds of the section tournaments. There were a couple of interesting moments however--Monticello's Maggie Fedor made four 3s---three on three consecutive possessions in the first half. Shari Laugen reached the 1000 point mark for Monticello in the first half. She is the at least the third Monticello player to reach the number.

Monticello established right away that they were the team that was moving on. Kristy Niklaus scored six of Monticello's first 10 points. Sauk Rapids did get the lead down to 17-14, but Monticello put together a seven straight possession scoring string with a 17-8 run. This is when Maggie Fedor was raining 3s. Also Laugen notched #1000 with 3:26 to go. The game was stopped, photos were taken, and she ran into the crowd to give the game ball to her family. As you may have noticed SRR was scoring as well. They were engaged in a 6/7 possession scoring string, their best of the night. Monticello led at half 38-27.

There were no great scoring exhibitions in the second half, but SRR's offense sputtered when Megan Swecker sat down with fouls. SRR had a droughts of 5 and 7 possessions. The benches were emptied with Monticello's bench connecting three straight possessions.

Monticello's quickness, speed, aggessiveness as a team were too much. SRR wasn't strong with the ball, and many shots looked rushed and off balance. Monticello uses it's guards in a major way, the post players are not the focus.

Height matters: Monticello 5-7.8, SRR 5-7.8
Department of defense: Monticello --man with full court press. SRR: started 1/3/1 had to go to man.

players, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
Monticello Player Evaluations
starters
Nellie Swanson 2, 2, 100.0, .500 RF: not really part of the offense
Kristy Niklaus 8, 7, 114.3, .571 Started out hot. nice elevation on shot. RF: size
Jill Zaruba 6, 7, 85.7, .429 changes shots, rebounds RF: doesn't square on shots. I'm expecting more, missed a lot of chip shots.
Amanda Reh 3, 5, 60.0, .400 another player with good elevation on shot. RF: size
Shari Laugen 17, 15, 113.3, .533 aggressive, drives hard. RF: a tad out of control at times
Bench
Melody Olson 9, 7, 128.6, .571 scored in transition, has range with a 3. RF:
Maggie Fedor 16, 15, 106.7, .400 on a roll with 3s. had four in first half. RF: decisions/passing. high dribbler.
Lauren Boleen 4, 4, 100.0, .750 strong inside body; RF: size post HS
Kayla Hiltner 2, 3, 66.7, .333
Sarah Bordwell 2, 5, 40.0, .200
Nicolle Diekman 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000
Jackie Schreifels 2, 2, 100.0, .500

Sauk Rapids-Rice Player Evaluations
Starters
Jessie Warzecha 8, 14, 57.1, .357 RF: forced shots
Kelsey Boeckman 3, 7, 42.9, .143 RF: shot technique
Laura Jacobson 2, 3, 66.7, .333
Katie Christian 0, 6, 0.0, .000
Megan Swecker 20, 23, 87.0, .435 the most intriguing SRR player. point guard, likes to drive, favorite move is the spin. decent body control, with all the twists and turns. RF: has a bouncey dribble motion, not extremely quick or fast on dribble. Too casual with passes
Bench
Amber Helmin 5, 6, 83.3, .500
Kaylyn Long 4, 4, 100.0, .500
Kayla Stonehouse 2, 3, 66.7, .333
Amy Warzecha 3, 6, 50.0, .167
Beth St. Martin 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Alicia Yankovec 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Trench: Shari Laugen

BY THE NUMBERS
team, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
Monticello 75, 73, 102.7, .479
Sauk Rapids 47, 74, 63.5, .311
Bench: Monticello 37, SRR 14. Fedor came off the bench and did some damage. This is the fourth game out of the last five where a bench player contributed in a major way.
Made free throws: SRR 13, Monticello 8. That number seems odd. It may be a problem if Monticello wants to advance further. Only four players scored at the line.

Next up tomorrow with a rehash of the night's action