Out & About: North Tartan/Brighton Stars 14s

#3 posting 5.24.2006
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This game took place Saturday, May 20 at Forest Lake
MN AAU State 14 Quarterfinals
North Tartan 44, Brighton Stars 38

NT grabbed the early lead at 7-0 and was never really in danger this game. They had a 3 possession string to get things going. Devyn Smith had five with a pull up jumper and a trey. After that outburst the offenses sputtered with neither gaining any traction. BS had dry spells of 5, 6, and 6 during the first half. They started the game with 1/12 possessions. NT never had such severe spells, but they never really clicked or dominated a team that did not have varsity players. NT had bigger players, and two varsity starters. NT led at half 21-14

Five of the first six possessions in the second half resulted in scores. NT, or Katie Loberg, strung three possessions together. Loberg had six quick points all the result of post ups. NT led 29-17, its biggest lead. BS went on a 13-6 run to close the gap to 35-30. Megan Locke provided six of the points. At this point the varsity experience of Holleman and Loberg took over as each scored to push the lead back to 39-30 with 2:29 on the clock. Locke closed the gap again down to 40-35 with 1:18 to go with two free throws. After a Cornelius turnover BS had a chance to cut the lead to two on Allison McKee's 3 pt attempt, it missed and Loberg gathered the board. Holleman missed two free throws. Two turnovers, one for each team left the game up for grabs. Taylor Lamberdie knocked down a huge three for BS with 25.6 seconds left and the game was a tight 40-38. Cornelius converted a lay up and Devyn Smith added two free throws on the next possession for the final margin 44-38 with 3.1 seconds left.

AAU ROSTERS

NUMBERS EXPLAINED

player, high school, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
PLAYER EVALUATIONS
NORTH TARTAN
STARTERS
Devyn Smith, Roseville 9, 8, 112.5, .500 can dial long distance. RF: experience
Kelsey Evans, Willmar 3, 8, 37.5, .250 RF: shot selection/consistency
Katie Loberg, Princeton 12, 13, 92.3, .538 big frame, can run the floor, fluid. As you can expect did the job on the boards. changes/alters shots with wing span. upside is good. RF: needs to make chips shots with consistency. Also free throw shooting needs improvement.
Holly Riesselman, Park-Cottage Grove 0, 3, 0.0, .000 big player RF: needs to be more aggressive and assertive
Bree Holleman, Hancock 3, 4, 75.0, .500 point guard. decent feel for the game. RF: size, needs to make the free throws in crunch time.
BENCH
Tessa Wells, River Falls, WI 6, 7, 85.7, .429 good anticipation. nice spin move.
Lindsey Fix, Andover 6, 5, 120.0, .600 RF: needs to stay lower on defense.
Tiffany Cornelius, Elk River 3, 5, 60.0, .400 RF: passing.
Callie Thompson, Becker 0, 3, 0.0, .000
Mimi Reif, Irondale 2, 6, 33.3, .167 RF: Tiny, too much spin dribbles

BRIGHTON STARS
STARTERS (no school was provided, Irondale may be the school)
Ali Schanender, 2, 7, 28.6, .143 RF: shot consistency
Kelli Schramm 2, 12, 16.7, .083 value is in boarding RF: shot consistency, body control
Megan Locke, 17, 18, 94.4, .500 active on boards, RF: too much lead on passes. Needs to knock down free throws.
Taylor Lamberdie 5, 10, 50.0, .200 bank was open on the 3. RF: passing/decisions
Sarah O'Dowd 2, 4, 50.0, .500
BENCH
Allison McKee 5, 6, 83.3, .333
Lindsay ???, 3, 4, 75.0, .500 RF: decisions

BY THE NUMBERS
North Tartan 44, 62, 70.9, .387
Brighton Stars 38, 61, 62.3, .311
I always had a rule when forming 14u teams or any age. This works down
16u---take as many all state players as you can
15u---take as many all conference players as you can
14u---take as many HS starters as you can
13u---take as many HS players that get clock
If you had an all state player as a 13u, that works out real well. Looking at this year's 14u teams at least in the quarterfinal round, the best was two starters for NT, LN. I think that with more HS experience you will get better #s.

Next up: tomorrow am. also one more game from the 14s: the championship between Metro Stars and MN Stars. Is it me or do I see stars every time I turn around.
This weekend the All State Teams, or All Tournament teams for the MN AAU season.