Out & About: Waconia/Watertown-Mayer

#3 posting 2.16.2006

Waconia 42, Watertown-Mayer 37

Tonight's action took place in the Wright County Conference in a match up between two top teams. The odd thing is neither school is in Wright County, they are in Carver County. A good crowd, as is fitting with first place on the line. Waconia had a one game advantage going into the night, and they stay in first one game ahead of Litchfield (depending how they did this evening), and two ahead of Watertown-Mayer.

Both teams took their time looking for good opportunities. The pace was slightly under the average of 66 with 59 possessions for each team. Neither team had very good looks as defense was at a premium. Waconia opened the scoring with McKenzie Collins scoring her only points on the night. Waconia held the advantage early as they built a 10-4 lead. WM had a hard time generating anything as they had a 0/10 string of possessions. Waconia caught the scoreless bug and put together their own 0/11 string. During this time Waconia's Chelsea Honebrink picked up her second foul and was sent to the bench. WM snapped out of the drought with a three string started by a pull up jumper from Laura Parochka. Amy Stifter finished it with a drive on the left base line to tie the game at 10 with 7:07 left in the half. Parochka cashed in a three from the left side to give WM a 15-14 lead. Jen VanKirk returned the lead back to Waconia 16-15. Parochka answered with a flash cut basket for a 17-16 lead with 2:24 left. No one else scored the rest of the half.

WM scored the first two times they touched it in the second half. After Bridget Boll dropped a three from the left side to make it 22-16, Waconia took a time out. It did not stop WM as they continued on their hot streak. To open the half WM was 10-2. They were 6/8 to start the half. Their biggest lead took place at 27-18. Waconia started their comeback with five straight points by VanKirk on a three from that left side, and a basket underneath from a nice pass from Leivermann. That was the start of Waconia's 13-4 run. WM's last gasp came with two baskets by Michaels, and Burke for a 35-31 lead. Waconia started an 11-2 run starting with Liz Fischbach's two free throws. They were in the bonus with 5:01 to go. Waconia took the lead for good when VanKirk made her first free throw, missed the second, but Honebrink slipped in to get the put back for a 36-35 lead with 4:29 to go. Honebrink picked up her second offensive foul and fourth overall with 2:45 to go. WM worked the ball around but never had a clear vision. They had the ball close to midcourt and had an over and back violation. The WM faithful believed Stifter was pushed in that situation. Waconia made six free throws to finish out 42-37. Waconia dominated the free throw line 18-1. Both teams had success with second chance points Waconia had 10 in the second half, WM 9.

Height Matters: Waconia 5-9.6, Watertown-Mayer 5-8.6
Department of Defense: both teams played the majority of the game man. WM zoned out of bounds under their basket. Waconia pressed early, also played 2/3. WM pressed right at the end.

Player, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
Waconia Player Evaluations
Starters
Keli Leivermann 6, 12, 50.0, .250 point guard.
Anna Philip 2, 3, 66.7, .333
McKenzie Collins 2, 6, 33.3, .167
Jen VanKirk 18, 21, 85.7, .429 big perimeter player. leader, did not get rattled. shut down Parochka to one point in the second half after 9 in the first half . Came up with crucial defensive rebounds in stretch crunch time. RF: Did not have a great night shooting. (6/17) Off balanced at times on shot.
Chelsea Honebrink 7, 6, 116.7, .500 good frame. moves well. aggressive. RF: too aggressive at times with two offensive fouls. did not have much time on the floor. Also fades on shot instead of going through the nostrils.
Bench
Liz Fischbach 8, 9, 88.9, .444 off the bench, another strong body inside, if smaller in stature. RF: small for position post HS
Nanette Ristow 0, 2, 0.0, .000

Watertown-Mayer Player Evaluations
Starters
Amy Stifter 2, 9, 22.2, .111 point guard. quick: RF: ball handling
Bridget Boll 5, 7, 71.4, .286 athletic, speed. got on floor. RF: decisions.
Ingrid Tanner 6, 14, 42.9, .214 decent rebounder. RF: turnover prone, more with foot work and violations.
Laura Parochka 10, 12, 83.3, .417 outside gunner looking for the 3. RF: needs to develop a drive to the basket to get fouled.
Alex Burke 12, 11, 109.1, .545 insider for WM, active, cuts, comes out on perimeter to relieve pressure. RF: size for position post HS.
Bench
Leah Michaels 2, 4, 50.0, .250
Amy Lynch 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Trench Player: VanKirk

BY THE NUMBERS
team, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
Waconia 42, 59, 71.2, .339
Watertown-Mayer 37, 59, 62.7, .305
Bench: Waconia 8, WM 2 the better bench won again. Is there a trend?
Made Free Throws: Waconia 18, WM one lonely made free throw

Next up: Friday am