Out & About: NC Heat/MN Metro Stars Black 16s

#2 posting 6.24.2006
Your Daily Dose of Girls Basketball News & Information

This game took place on Sunday, June 18
HS Blue Semifinals, Bloomington Jefferson Tournament
NC Heat 66, MN Metro Stars Black 16s 53

NC Heat put on a shooting show early in the second half. Once they had the advantage, they milked the clock for the shot they wanted. The end result was a win for the 15u State champion.
NC Heat led at the beginning as MMSB had 5 non scoring possessions to open, two of which ended on turnovers. MMSB did snap out of it and put together a four possession string topped off with Elle Queen's basket for their biggest lead of the day at 11-8. That lead was short lived as Megan Nipe scored and was fouled after she knocked in a missed free throw. She didn't miss hers and the game was tied. After a turnover by MMSB, Nipe scored again on a put back. NCH was never to trail after that. NCH never had any great offensive stretch in the first half, but had 3 mini runs of three possessions each. The half ended with a pair of treys, one by Tayler Hill followed by Lauren Young's version. NCH led 31-26 at half. Elle Queen piled on 10 points for MMSB in the first half to lead all scorers.

The game broke open as NCH was Treyriffic with four consecutive 3s going back to Hill's long distance bomb in the first half. Hill added two right away giving her three consecutive possessions dropping the bomb. Her sidekick Ephesia Holmes kept the string alive with her own bomb from the top and what was a 31-26 game was now 40-26 without too much time elapsed. NCH scored on their next two possessions, but they were in front of the arc this time. They led 43-29 after the outburst, a 12-3 run. All in all it was a six possession run over two halves. MMSB tried to get back in the contest but the mountain was a bit too high. NCH worst drought was only two a couple times in the second half. MMSB did string four possessions late in the game, but they were never to get closer than 12.

NC HEAT
STARTERS
Ashlynn Fuller, Champlin Park 12, 15, 80.0, .467 speedy and a distraction when she plays defense.
Briane Edwards, Mpls North 7, 5, 140.0, .600 athletic role player.
Tayler Hill, Mpls South 15, 11, 136.4, .545 took her dagger out to end MMSB hopes.
Ephesia Holmes, Mpls South 11, 10, 110.0, .600 confident with the ball.
Megan Nipe, Centennial 7, 5, 150.0, .600 key offensive rebounds early gave momentum to NCH.
BENCH
Gina Lange, Forest Lake 4, 2, 200.0, 1.000 took shots in range on balance.
Kiswana McCloud, Mpls South 10, 8, 125.0, .625 enforcer type. physical and likes contact. picked up charge. RF: not as polished offensively

MN METRO STARS
STARTERS
Jenny Theisen, Champlin Park 5, 4, 125.0, .500 likes the 3 spot. RF: defense positioning needs fine tuning.
Courtney Boylan, Chaska 7, 10, 70.0, .300 good use of head fakes, no looks. RF: still likes to pass with her feet in the air, this could lead to charges.
Rachel Booth, DeLaSalle 0, 4, 0.0, .000 RF: MMSB needed production out of her to do well.
Lauren Young, Edina 16, 14, 114.3, .500 played in and went to the line, prefers the 3 line. can do both, will be on the outside post HS. RF: needs to balance and square up on the power baseline move.
Alyssa Benson, Minnetonka 2, 6, 33.3, .167 RF: needs better court awareness.
BENCH
Elle Queen, Minnetonka 12, 10, 120.0, .600 great first half. can score with either hand. nice leaper. RF: invisible in the second half, not even one possession.
Abby Rittenhouse, Burnsville 10, 6, 166.7, .833 strong second half. not afraid of contact.
Chelsea Lyons, Coon Rapids 1, 4, 25.0, .250 RF: decisions/execution

TRENCH PLAYER
Tayler Hill

BY THE NUMBERS
NC Heat 66, 56, 117.9, .571
MN Metro Stars Black 53, 58, 91.4, .431

Two factors were at play in the NCH win: 1. They had 27 points (17 in the first half) on second chance points. Basically points not scored on the initial shot. MMSB had 19 points in this manner, so NCH had an 8 point advantage. 2. NCH also never had a severe drought outbreak. Their longest time without scoring was only two possessions.
Free throws and 3s were about the same with NCH cashing in 18 free throws to 15 for MMSB. Both had exactly four 3s, but NCH strung theirs together for dramatic effect.


Photo #1 MMSB's Courtney Boylan prepares to launch her 3.

Sequence :Photo #2 Boylan comes down on the break & sizes up her options. #3 She draws Holmes to her and dishes off to Queen coming down the left side. #4 Queen finishes the transition.


#5 Jenny Theisen shoots a 3 right by the camera. #6 Queen gathers an offensive rebound. #7 McCloud takes the charge against Queen.


#8 Queen shows her range. #9 Queen elevates on a put back. #10 Lauren Young launches her trey at the end of the half.



The 3s that broke the back of MMSB. #11 Hill from the left corner; #12 Hill from the right wing; #13 Holmes over Queen in the battle of 11s.

Next up: Tonight with a look at the Lynx--the defensive edition--vs NY Liberty. I will get the last story from the BJ tournament up tomorrow later. For those of you keeping track it will be Iowa Select I vs MN Metro Stars 19s