Out & About: Champlin Park/Cedar Mountain-Comfrey

#2 posting 8.10.2006
your daily dose of girls basektball news & information

this game took place Sunday, August 6
St. Benedict's College, St. Joseph, MN
Sweet 16 Championship
Champlin Park 70, Cedar Mountain-Comfrey 60

CP scored first as Natalie Gigler scored on an out of bounds play. But, as was the case in the previous three games, CP found itself trailing early on 12-4 as CMC came out hard and aggressive scoring on five of its first six possessions. CMC's Nikki Schultz scored five points on second chances. Then CMC went cold converting 1 of 10 possessions to close out the first quarter, four of which were turnovers. CP had a six possession drought during the tailend of CMC's initial run. CP did finish with a 8-2 run to build momentum for the next quarter. CMC led 14-12 at the break.

CP tied the game at 19 on Jenny Theisen's two free throws. CP was never to trail after that. The game was tied at 21 and 23. Gigler made the front end of two free throws, and Laura Bruce picked up the rebound. Later, in the same possession Ashley Witte nailed two free throws. CP led 26-23 after that. Bruce and Witte, two players off the bench, made important contributions for CP's win as this possession showed. At half it was CP 34-29.

CMC had one last push as Schultz scored on a put back, and on a three to start the second half. With her help CMC tied the game at 34. That was the last time CMC was to threaten. CP had six unanswered points with four counters coming from Ashlynn Fuller. CP would push the lead to nine, but Schultz with a free throw and later with a 3 would cut it to five 47-42. The quarter ended 51-44 CP.

CP opened up the throttle in the fourth with four consecutive scoring possessions on a 10-2 run. Jenny Theisen put her stamp on the game with 8 of those points in the onslaught. It was 63-46 at this stage. The margin never got higher than 16 with CP up 67-51 late. CMC did out score CP in the end 9-3.

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

CHAMPLIN PARK
STARTERS
Michelle Burns 3, 3, 100.0, .667 point guard, did what a pg is supposed to do deliver the ball (8 assists) with only one turnover. Not flashy, steady. RF: size
Ashlynn Fuller 11, 9, 122.2, .667 slasher to glass. puts pressure on defense, keeping them on their heels and drawing fouls.
Jenny Theisen 18, 16, 112.5, .500 signature shot a 3 from the corners. a very effective free throw shooter as she canned 8/8.
Heather Sampson 4, 4, 100.0, .500 solid forward. RF: exposes the ball.
Natalie Gigler 12, 15, 80.0, .400 light on her feet, darts around the lane. RF: more rebounding, clean up passing, and make the free throws.
BENCH
Briana Szabla 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Ashley Witte 10, 8, 125.0, .625 effective shot.
Ali Schmidt 4, 4, 100.0, .500 back up point. scored off the dribble
Laura Bruce 8, 5, 160.0, .800 recipient of Burns drives & dish

CEDAR MOUNTAIN-COMFREY
STARTERS
Brittany Kokesch 8, 8, 100.0, .500 prine outside shooter.
Stephanie Ochs 3, 7, 42.9, .286
Whitney Seifert 12, 8, 150.0, .750 inside pesence, scored off drives and offensive boards. RF: noted that she needed to square on a shot.
Nikki Schultz 21, 12, 175.0, .750 simply plays hard. quick lefty, can handle perimeter responsibilities. had four 3s on the day. crashes the offensive boards. good anticipation on defense. RF: plays in a small town away from the bright lights.
Shana Grejtak 6, 13, 46.2, .231 big, lefty, cand drive, decent body control. RF: off day shooting, looked like she was trying instead of letting it happen.
BENCH
Emily Mathiowetz 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Megan Madsen 4, 6, 66.7, .333 post player that may develop.
Sadie Kelly 2, 5, 40.0, .200
Katie Zimmer 4, 3, 133.3, .667
Dani Serbirs 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Laura Heiling 0, 1, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
I don't usually pick a player from the losing squad, especially in a championship game, but Nikki Schultz did everything except sell popcorn at halftime.

BY THE NUMBERS
Champlin Park 70, 66, 106.1, .530
Cedar Mountain-Comfrey 60, 67, 89.6, .433

CMC's five starters all were at Cedar Mountain last year. Comfrey has two returning players that started, but they started these games on the bench. Cedar Mountain has a more aggressive style and all the kids play hard, or they don't play. Comfrey players need to get up to speed with the Cedar Mt all out culture.

CMC was the first A team to make the finals. With their play hard, don't quit attitude they may be playing at the Target Center in March.

Champlin Park had good bench support which will come in handy this winter. CP made 22 free throws showing their offensive aggressiveness to the 14 of CMC. But they need to come out right away from the start and dominate, they can't play catch up all the time. Some day a team won't relinquish the lead. But it looks like they have got an understanding that defense will get them places this winter. It has been the achilles heal for this team in the past. They are looking to keep the Sweet 16 tradition of champions duplicating the feat in March.

BONUS
While this game was going on Hopkins beat Becker 57-42 for third place.
Here is the Hopkins scoring
Caitlin Rowland 21, Rowland had 93 points in the four games
Jackie Hiebert 14
Ana Garcia 11
Hanna Muegge 4
Jenna Lillemoe 3
Rachel Johnson 2
Kacey Wyttenhove 2
Hannah Oliverius 1
Tori Joranson 1
Claire Burmeister 0
Lesley Hacker 0
Whitney Nelson 0
Becky Eischens 0
Katie Goodroad 0
Tess Komarek 0

Here are the Sweet 16 brackets from the Hopkins gbb website.

Thanks to all the readers that make this site the first and last source of girls basketball news. Keep up the good work. Keep me fed.

Next up: tomorrow morning with the general news of the day.
Later on Sunday the Girls Basketball Recruit Summer Awards Edition. Teams, players, tournaments all will be given awards. It isn't a formal affair yet.
Next week I will be comparing AAU vs HS ball; I also will be giving recommendations on how to improve summer ball.