Out & About: MN Metro Stars 15s/Total Package

#2 posting 6.16.2006
Your Daily Dose of Girls Basketball News & Information

This game took place on Sunday, June, 11 at the Mpls Midtown Y
MN Metro Stars 15s 67, Total Package 63

MMS15s took some revenge on Total Package in the HS Blue Division. In the State AAU Quarterfinals on May 22, TP beat MMS15s 60-52. It was a tale of two halves for each of the teams: MMS15s had the 3ball going for them early. There first five baskets were 3s as they took a commanding 15-2 lead. TP looked like they weren't ready to go and were sluggish on offense. They had three mini droughts in the first half of four possessions three times. Also on one possession they had 8 shots, but nothing fell. MMS15s on the other hand were hot, hot, hot. Their first half offensive clip was at 126.5 pp100, and .559 floor %. They had 8 3s for the half, made by four different players. When they weren't toeing the 3 line, they were toeing the free throw line. They made 9 in the first half compared to TP's 6. MMS15s took a 40-23 lead Ali Johnson's 3. That was to be the biggest lead of the game. MMS15s led 43-28 at half.

The cobwebs seemed to have been shaken free in the second half for TP. They scored on 7 of their first 10 possessions at whittled that huge lead down to 47-43 as they outscored their rivals 15-4. Now the game was transformed from a blowout to a battle royale. MMS15s answered the call with Bridget Scheunemann's basket to add to the margin 49-43. Theairra Taylor scored on a put back to bring the margin right back to 49-45. Schuenemann again was the source of MMS15s points, this time an old fashioned 3 point play to make it 52-45. It stayed at about 8 points until Brittany Dyshaw scored on two straight possessions including a steal and lay up to cut the lead to 58-53. MMS15s milked some time off the clock and once again went to Schuenemann who made one free throw for a 59-53 lead. Megan Molitor scored on a spin move, and then Nicole Anderson scored a lay up to make the score 59-57 MMS15. Then everyone went cold as both teams did not score the next five possessions. Taylor scored on a drive to tie at 59. Brianna Londeen scored off a cut to bring the lead back to MMS15. Carolyn Mobley was fouled, but didn't convert any free throws. Shannon Thompson delivered a knock out punch with a 3 from the left side and a 64-59 lead. In the battle of #1s it was Taylor's turn with a driving lay up from the left side. Thompson, after going through the delay game, was fouled and made both free throws 66-61. Taylor again drove in and scored with 33.2 seconds left to make it 66-63. Each team turned it over. Thompson was fouled and finished off the scoring with 13.9 seconds to go with one free throw.

AAU ROSTERS

NUMBERS EXPLAINED
player, high school, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
MN METRO STARS 15S
STARTERS
Brianna Londeen, Bloomington Jefferson 11, 9, 122.2, .556 one of the rocket launchers, made two 3s on the day. RF: Defensive positioning. Some passes too floaty, easy to intercept.
Kayla Bloom, Centennial 3, 7, 42.9, .143 Saw the openings. distributed the ball well. RF: shot consistency.
Ali Johnson, St. Louis Park 9, 8, 112.5, .375 hot early from the left side. 3 3s in the first half. RF: I would like to see more offense capabilities
Bridget Schuneman, Centennial 15, 15, 100.0, .533 used body well, set some shot opening screens. active on the offensive boards getting and slipping into good position.
Laura Neal, Breck 0, 1, 0.0, .000 long and lanky, sister is headed to Colorado State. RF: needs to grab my attention.
BENCH
Kylie Hanzlik, Northfield 6, 3, 200.0, .667 Lefty with good 3 pt range.
Shannon Thompson, Apple Valley 18, 13, 138.5, .692 good command of the game. Decent vision, knew when to attack and when to wait for the numbers. Has 3 game, drive game. was definitely in control late in the game.
Cassie Sheppherd, Eagan 5, 4, 125.0, .750 solid, decent frame, strong. RF: D positioning off ball knees bent.
Courtney Kelly, Blaine 0, 6, 0.0, .000

TOTAL PACKAGE
STARTERS
Nicole Anderson, Cannon Falls 8, 7, 114.3, .571 steady performer. Scrappy. RF: can, but hasn't taken command of the game
Carolyn Mobley, North St. Paul 2, 8, 25.0, .125 has ability, and speed. RF: needs to develop consistent shot. foul problems
Akilah Hudnell, DeLaSalle 5, 4, 125.0, .750 good athlete. RF: not noticed in second half.
Theairra Taylor, St. Paul Como Park 17, 13, 130.8, .615 offensive engine. explosive first step. gets to hole quickly. great hops. RF: defensively lost players
Danielle Daniels, North St. Paul 11, 8, 137.5, .625 nice pull up jumper. good speed. RF: lost track of player on D
BENCH
Ari Johnson, Tartan 4, 5, 80.0, .400 RF: foul problems
Megan Molitor, PACT 4, 10, 40.0, .200 more aggressive, good spin move for a score. RF: needs to finish layups
Jamelia Hudnell, DeLaSalle 6, 7, 85.7, .429 good hang time. good anticipation. RF: shot selection
Brittany Travis, Chaska 0, 1, 0.0, .000 RF: develop hands/catching.
Brittany Dyshaw, Eagan 6, 5, 120.0, .600 has greatly improved. stepped up her game. more poised. more active defensively, more aggressive to the glass. RF: feet moving faster than body

TRENCH PLAYER
Shannon Thompson

BY THE NUMBERS
MN Metro Stars 15 67, 67, 100.0, .463
Total Package 63, 68, 92.6, .456
TP's second half was 39-24 over MMS15. TP scored at a 118.2 rate and .515 floor %. It was a great game to watch if you were a fan. Great shooting, transitions galore, athletic drives to the glass. However the defense was not stellar. TP left too many players open...wide wide open. Both teams did not have great technique in the half court defense. You will see in the photos players that are straight up and down, not with the knees bent. This is more for off the ball defense. Just closing out was too little too late. If the defender did close out, they were off balance and that invited the drives to the glass.
Dropping 11 3s show the kind of eye MMS15 have. But they were set up by dribble penetration and kick outs. Also screens on the out of bounds plays.
TP needs to play with the sense of urgency they had in the second half. MMS15 need to keep being aggressive on offense. It appeared that they were playing not to lose during a stretch of the second half.

A word about the photos: I liked a ton of them and today I am bringing in the first half photos. Tomorrow morning I will add the second half. I would like to thank a reliable source for these photos. So MMS15 offense/TP defense is up now; It will be switched tomorrow morning.
In Photo #1 Bridget Schueneman sets a screen for teammate Brianna Londeen's 3. #2 has Ali Johnson, almost from the same spot scoring without a blue jersey any where near. Photo #3 has Schueneman getting fouled, she made the free throws.






In photo #4 Schueneman is fouled by Taylor. photo #5 Londeen drives for a lay up. photo #6 Shannon Thompson is knocked off her feet.




#7 has Schueneman using her body to keep Travis away from blocking her shot. She scored on the play. Photos 8, 9, & 10 has MMS15 launching 3s. 8-Thompson; 9, Sheppard (not quite a 3); and Hanzlik for 3.



#11 Schueneman is wide wide open after quick ball reversal, and Bloom finds her for two. #12 Taylor Blocks Londeen cleanly. #13 Thompson penetrates and kicks the ball to the left corner.



#14 Johnson cans the opportunity. Thompson goes up and is fouled by Daniels.

Newt up: Tomorrow with a Look at the Lynx from San Antonio & the second half photos of the MMS15s and Total Package game.