Out & About: Triple Threat/ECI East

#4 posting 7.2.2006
Your Daily Dose of Girls Basketball News & Information

This game took place Friday, June 30
Dakota Showcase, Sioux Falls, Pool Play
Triple Threat 55, ECI East 35

ECI East led once, after Emily Black's 3 on their 3rd possession of the game at 3-2. After that TT put the hammer down. They scored on three straight possessions to build a 8-3 lead. ECIE closed to 8-6 on Mara Paulson's 3 free throws (stretched out over two possessions). TT strung together 4 straight possessions and went on an 8-0 run to push the lead to 16-8. Brittany Mayclin had six points in the outburst including a trey. TT had another run with 5/6 scoring possessions on a 10-4 run. Kachine Alexander had four points on that stretch. ECIE never had a severe drought, but they did go 1/7 at one point late in the half. TT was in command at half 31-21. Paulson had 7, with 5 at the line, for ECIE. Mayclin had 8 for TT.

TT continued to maintain their comfortable margin in the second half. Alexander scored TT's first 8 points to start the second half. The droughts became more frequent and more severe for ECI E in the second half with 5 and a 7 possessions dry spells to close out the game. Neither team was sharp towards the end of the game with TT going 4/12 and 3/12 to close out a game with no mysteries.

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

TRIPLE THREAT
STARTERS
Porsha Zimmerman, Mpls Roosevelt 6, 7, 85.6, .429 quick point guard. zips by defenders. good cross over. RF: foul issues
Brittany Mayclin, Benilde-St. Margaret's 8, 8, 100.0, .500 Best performance (under my eye) with TT. Had good surge in first half. more comfortable. RF: pick a side, better angle, on the breakaway layup. snappier passes.
Kiara Buford, St. Paul Central 10, 14, 71.4, .429 playing with a bit more energy after going through nagging injuries early in AAU season. Moves much better. good in transition. RF: needs to gain weight and strength. I would prefer going into the player with the shot rather than the fade away. draw contact, make the basket, and make the free throw. Milk the possession for three points, don't be satisfied with two.
Kachine Alexander, Benilde-St. Margaret's 15, 11, 136.4, .636 great energy, in right spot at right time. does damage inside without being 6-1. great speed with transition game. active on defense. took a charge. seems to be on the floor after loose balls all the time. RF: I want to see perimeter spot up shots.
LaToya Williams, Benilde-St. Margaret's 10, 9, 111.1, .556 bruiser inside. enforcer, and not afraid to use body for advantage. RF: needs to be aware of lines. made a very long 2.
BENCH
Brittany Holeman, Columbia Heights 0, 3, 0.0, .000 RF: needs to have better vision when dribbling.
Laura Miller, Mpls Southwest 4, 6, 66.7, .333 RF: a bit undersized post HS for position
Megan Howard, St. Paul Central 2, 2, 100.0, .500

ND ECI East
STARTERS
Emily Black, Devils Lake 3, 9, 33.3, .111
Dominique Schuler, Breckenridge, MN 5, 7, 71.4, .286 was the player that seemed to be the most active. good anticipation on snatching wayward passes. RF: vision
Lauren Carew, Fargo Shanley 2, 5, 40.0, .200 RF: needs to develop quicker moves, shot release.
Megan Talley, Kindred 4, 12, 33.3, .167 RF: passing execution/decisons
Mara Paulson, Fargo Shanley 9, 11, 81.8, .455 7 of 9 points made at free throw line.
BENCH
Stacey Nygaard, Adams-Edmore 6, 6, 100.0, .333 3 point range.
Hope Keller, Minnewaukan-Leeds 2, 3, 66.7, .333
Jada Meiklejohn, LaMoure 4, 6, 66.7, .333

TRENCH PLAYER
Kachine Alexander

BY THE NUMBERS
Triple Threat 55, 60, 91.7, .467
ECI East 35, 60, 58.3, .267

The month off of competition didn't seem to slow down TT. Even with Patrice Thomas at home TT had their top floor % in games I have watched this year. They were more aggressive and attacked the basket with gusto. Their transition game left ECI E in the dust. It was TT's second best defensive performance (under my eyes) with a .250 defensive floor % against Sourthern Minne Magic in the MN State Qualifier the best.
My guess is ECI E has not faced the quickness they saw with TT in the HS ball in ND. The decisions, the shot release, the defense all came at a faster speed.
In the height & weight race TT won both with a slight edge in height 5-9.6 to 5-9.4, but they definitely won the weight battle with 153.8 per player to 144.4 for ECIE a difference of 9.4 pounds.

If you are wondering about photos....they won't be up until the special currier delivers the goods from my reliable source. Rest assured you will see the photos when they arrive.

Next up: tomorrow morning with the general news of the day. followed by two more Out & Abouts: 1. ECI West vs Northern Lites. & 2. MN Metro Stars Black vs Iowa Elite, a most peculiar game.