Out & About: NC Heat/43 Lady Hoops Elite

#2 posting 6.21.2006
Your Daily Dose of Girls Basketball News & Information

This game took place on Sunday, June 18 at Bloomington Jefferson
HS Blue Division Second Round Playoff Game
NC Heat 42, 43 Lady Hoops Lady Elite 34

With two important parts of the puzzle lost in the byways of Bloomington to start the game, NCH had a rough start. They sputtered with 0/7 possessions to start and they were looking at a 6-0 lead by 43LHE. Another six possession dry patch in the middle of the half left 43LHE up 14-6. Theresa Thour had four of the six points to put 43LHE up 14-6. 43LHE also suffered through a dry spell, only four possessions, but that was enough of an opening for NCH to get back in the game. Brianne Edwards led NCH with four in the 6-0 run to trail 14-12. Thour & Rothfuz dialed a couple of long distance shots to go up 19-12. Then Fuller & Holmes arrived, were inserted into the game, and started the climb back up. Holmes hit a three on her first attempt and Fuller made one free throw to help NCH close a 6-2 run to trail at halftime 21-18.

For as rotten as they started the game, NCH was smoking early in the second half with a 6/7 possession run, with five in a row. That led to a 9-3 run and they were up 30-24. Fuller provided NCH with their first lead. Janie Burich scored on a put back to give 43HLE their last lead at 23-22. Tayler Hill was fouled on a put back attempt and her pair of free throws gave NCH the lead for good at 24-23. In the heart of the second half 43HLE had a 1/9 dry spell with 5 straight non scoring possessions that hurt their cause. NCH also had the same luck with a 0/6 stretch at the same time. But late in the game, when the game was still in doubt, 43HLE had another 0/6 period while NCH finished with a 4/5 stretch late in the game. All those possessions were ended at the free throw line as 43LHE was forced to foul.

NC HEAT
STARTERS
Tayler Hill, Mpls South 10, 13, 76.9, .385 made her living at the line 8/10. RF: shot was off with only one field goal in the game. Hand dropped on shot. Not as involved off ball offensively, or defensively.
Amy Miles, Mpls South 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Briane Edwards, Mpls North 6, 7, 85.7, .429 kept the ship afloat with Hill when the others were lost in the wilderness.
Megan Nipe, Centennial 2, 8, 25.0, .125 RF: not her best performance shooting
Gina Lange, Forest Lake 2, 5, 40.0, .200 RF: turnovers with violations
BENCH
Kiswana McCloud, Mpls South 2, 5, 40.0, .200 inside boarder, tough RF: not known for offensive skills
Ephesia Holmes, Mpls South 12, 7, 171.4, .857 like the calvary arrived to save the day as she, Fuller, McCloud arrived just before half time due to being lost. She wasn't lost on the court, however. She knew exactly where the basket was. has range, has handles. also the main ball handler freeing up Hill who had to take care of the ball in Holmes absence. RF: body type a la El-Amin. He had success, but there are limitations with size.
Ashlynn Fuller, Champlin Park 8, 7, 114.3, .714 provides another athletic slasher. RF: may have only been a help for this tournament only. Started the AAU season with SUGAA. It might not be good to get used to her if she is not going to be there when the bright lights are shining.

43 HOOPS LADY ELITE
STARTERS
Liz Shea, Mpls Washburn 2, 9, 22.2, .111 RF: better suited to off guard. had problems with ball handling vs pressure. relies on the spin dribble too much, no vision.
Katya Leick, Park-Cottage Grove 5, 10, 50.0, .300 Has some fakes in her bag of tricks. RF: passing decisions/execution
Carly Rothfuz, Eden Prairie 10, 12, 83.0, .417 gets after the ball. good range. has caught my attention each game. big guard. RF: shooting % not high today.
Janie Burich, Roseville 4, 5, 80.0, .400 has great upside. good movement, decent frame, RF: needs to demand ball. needs to get nasty
Courtney Kranz, Visitation 2, 5, 40.0, .200 big inside RF: needs to have a more vicious attitude. doesn't need the dribble before the shot.
BENCH
Sarah Hendricks, Cretin-Derham Hall 2, 4, 50.0, .250 RF: I get the feeling she should be doing, & producing more
Theresa Thour, Wayzata 9, 8, 112.5, .500 improving shot. RF: ball handling can improve.

TRENCH PLAYER
Ephesia Holmes

BY THE NUMBERS
NC Heat 42, 54, 77.8, .407 43
Lady Hoops Elite 33, 53, 62.3, .321

The terrible start proved not to be fatal for NCH. Holmes & Fuller riding to the rescue helped rejuvenate a stagnant offense for NCH. Made free throws was an advantage for NCH with 15 mad to 10, but it was 12 to 6 in the second half. This is the second time I have seen these two teams battle, and it the pp100 and floor % were remarkably similar. In the first contest NCH had 75.4 pp100 while 43 HLE was at 60. The odd thing is that Leick, Rothfuz, and Kranz are due to join NCH for nationals.

Both teams could even be better defensively with their foot work, knee bends, and weakside defense.

The Reliable source has come up with some good photos #1 has Courtney Krantz, 43HLE posting up Tayler Hill; #2 has Carly Rothfuz(#11) pulling up for a jumper in transition. #3 shows Hill going up for a block in transition.





#4 has Hill looking over the situation with Rothfuz looking on. #5 has Hill finishing a 3 attempt with Burich getting there after the shot is gone. #6 has Hill scoring her only field goal this game in transition.


#7 has Holmes firing away from the left baseline for two. #8 has Fuller (#15 NCH) drawing the foul and scoring the basket in transition. #9 has Katya Leick (#20) driving by Amy Miles.


The last photo has Sarah Hendricks going up for the pull up jumper after a drive against the zone. She missed the shot however.

Next up: tomorrow morning with the general news of the day. followed by North Tartan vs Iowa Select II in the Quarterfinals of the BJ tourney. I will get the Team WI 17/Green Bay Metro photos up tomorrow morning.