Out & About: Concordia STP SL Championship

#3 posting 7.12.2006
your daily dose of girls basketball news and information

Minnehaha Took the Concordia STP summer league title with a pair of wins against Hastings in the semifinals and vanquishing Concordia Roseville in finals. Concordia Roseville reached the finals with a pair of wins over Elk River.

For those that aren't up to speed on the rules of the CSL each game is a sequence of 13 minute periods with the team that wins two of the three periods moves on. Fouls are worth two points if shooting, one for nonshooting.

First the semis, then the finals

Concordia Roseville 2, Elk River 0 (11-9, 19-15)
It seems like I am reporting on volleyball with the scoring system in place. One bad thing about summer leagues is the full team is never really there. Camps, other tournaments, other activities take players out of commission. Concordia Roseville had two of their two year starters absent tonight: Breanna Schneidermann, and Kelsey Carlson. CR was able to beat Elk River without them. The first game didn't start out that way. ER had a 6-0 lead as CR had an 8 possession drought, most of that dry spell due to turnovers. Once CR got it rolling they scored on four straight possessions and took a 10-7 lead on a 10-1 run. That would be the effort to take them to victory in game one.
CR didn't wait before taking the lead in tame two. They established their lead early and went on a four possession string and led 8-2. ER three times during the later part of the contest scored and was fouled, but instead of getting 3 for the effort they only were awarded two points. ER closed with 3/4 scoring possessions, but the lack of the 3 point plays changed the score from 19-18 (if the extra free throw was allowed) to 19-15.

Another bad thing about summer ball is uniforms. Neither team had numbers on front and back. CR had no numbers at all. ER had some with numbers, but only on one side, and one with one number in the front, another in the back. That is why you won't see the player evaluations.

BY THE NUMBERS
Concordia Roseville 30, 31, 96.8, .419
Elk River 24, 32, 75.0, .375

In the other semifinal Minnehaha beat Hastings in two games with a 21-8 score in game two.

CHAMPIONSHIP
Minnehaha 2, Concordia Roseville 0 (22-11, 28-9)

In a battle of TriMetro rivals Minnehaha bested Concordia Roseville in convincing fashion. Henderson nailed two 3s to open scoring. Hannah Naefke put CR on the board with five points. Abby hit a 3 to give CR their only game at 9-8. Minnehaha rattled off five straight scoring possessions to blow the game open with a 12-0 run. Martin scored four points in the surge. Each team would score one more time to finish the game.

In the deciding game Minnehaha got on the board first and kept the habit up with four straight scoring possessions. They got on the board with a trey from Sarah Peterson. The MA press caused two quick turnovers and two quick layups for MA. On the third turnover MA worked it around and Peterson again found the bottom of the net from behind the line. MA was up 10-0. On the next CR possession they scored four points--one on a foul in the backcourt and then a trey. Both teams were started droughts with MA at 4, but CR had 6. MA had another five possession scoring stretch later in the half. Transition was the theme of this run with MA outscoring CR 11-2. CR closed out the game with a 2/12 possession streak.

Minnehaha had numbers and then they will be the only team evaluated
MINNEHAHA
Amanda Sicoli 4, 9, 44.4, .222
Mari Henderson 6, 5, 120.0, .400 two 3s in game one
Sarah Peterson 12, 12, 100.0, .417 drained some 3s. big on press, causing players to change passing angles.
Karin Driggers 2, 4, 50.0, .250
Rachel Hansen 11, 9, 122.2, .556 runs floor. moves well without ball. outside range.
Calla Nassif 2, 3, 66.7, .333

TRENCH PLAYER
Rachel Hansen

BY THE NUMBERS
Minnehaha 50, 46, 108.7, .413
Concordia Roseville 20, 46, 43.5, .196

MA not only made their shots, but their intensity on defense was a difference maker. They used a 1/3/1 and used a variety of traps in the half court constantly trying to neutralize Megan Erlandson. The press in game two caused plenty of problems and created many easy shots.
Minnehaha has made a statement to the rest of the TriMetro that they will be a team to be dealt with in the 2006-07 season. The youngsters are growing up.

Next up: tomorrow morning general news.