Out & About: Albert Lea/Alexandria + more

#3 posting 7.19.2006
your daily dose of girls basektball news & information

This game took place on Saturday, July 14
Rogers Showcase White Championship
Albert Lea 44, Alexandria 26

Albert Lea had control right from the start with Nikki Hendrickson's basket. They converted on 7/8 possessions to start the game with six possessions in a row in the mix. They scored on good movement by players and nice passing. Alexandria was just the opposite of hot as they were 0/9 to start the game and only made a free throw on the 10th possession. They hit their first basket on the 16th possession. By that time AL had a 15-1 lead. There was no real mystery left in the game. AL wasn't hot the entire half. They did have a five possession drought in the middle of the half. AL was up 21-6 at half.

AL expanded that lead to 25-6 which proved to be the largest of the day. Alex scored on five straight possession after that with a 12-3 run. Alex did cut the lead to 28-18. AL at the time was mired in a six possession drought and 1/11. The game basically stayed at that level until the end when AL put together another four straight scoring possessions. The final points were deposited by Nikki Hendrickson on an intentional foul with seconds left.

NUMBERS EXPLAINED
player, points, possessions, pp100, floor %

ALBERT LEA
STARTERS
Cara Thorn 6, 5, 120.0, .600 point guard, deceptive passing including no looks. RF: needs to limit turnovers.
Jacqueline Rehemke 4, 5, 80.0, .400
Elizabeth Thompson 6, 5, 120.0, .600 RF: picked up offensive foul
Nikki Hendrickson 13, 8, 162.5, .750 athletic, keeps good floor spacing. RF: needs to finish in transition.
Hailey Hendrickson 8, 12, 66.7, .333 runs the floor well. Athletic. alert, moves without the ball.
BENCH
Alise Rehemke 2, 6, 33.3, .167 RF: not aware of the floor taking a long two.
#35 0, 4, 0.0, .000
Ali Demmer 5, 4, 125.0, .500 big frame post. can run the floor-scored in transition.

ALEXANDRIA
STARTERS if you have the names send them to me
#7 2, 6, 33.3, .167
#9 3, 5, 60.0, .400
#21 7, 8, 87.5, .375 This may be Caitlin Dunn, but I don't know for sure.
#1 6, 4, 150.0, .750
#13 2, 5, 40.0, .200
BENCH
#5 0, 3, 0.0, .000
#3 3, 6, 50.0, .167
#11 0, 3, 0.0, .000
#8 0, 2, 0.0, .000
#10 3, 3, 100.0, .333
#2 0, 3, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Nikki Hendrickson

BY THE NUMBERS
Albert Lea 44, 49, 89.8, .447
Alexandria 26, 48, 54.2, .250

Albert Lea controlled the boards early and therefore controlled the game. AL was more aggressive and sharp offensively, defensively they used their size, experience and press to good effect.
At the same time as Albert Lea/Alexandria for the White championship the Blue Championship between Mississippi 8 rivals Rogers (the host) and St. Michael-Albertville was taking place. I chose AL/Alex because I don't get a chance to see them too often during the year. But the R/STMA game was much closer and much more entertaining with subplots aplenty. Since I wasn't there for the regulation, but only the overtime I will fill you in on what happened:

The regulation ended up at 38. STMA won the tip and #11 scored from the right side. Chesness took Rogers shot and it was flat. STMA rebounded and scored with #5 again on the right side. Dowd scored one free throw for Rogers on their next chance and the score was 42-39. STMA turned it over on their next possession, but Heather Brunn missed her chance for Rogers. #21 rebounded but on the offensive end they had a five second call. Stephanie Williams launched a three, but it missed the mark. Rogers had the ball with 2 seconds left and it ended with the visitors taking the title.

Up next: the morning rundown of today's happenings.