Out & About: St. Paul Central/Eastview

#2 posting 9.24.2006
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

Today was the second date, or half way through the MN Fall League.
Today I traveled to Robbinsdale Armstrong for the Blue or 1st league. Let me assure you that the 8 teams there are not the best teams in the state.

The first game I tracked was St. Paul Central and Eastview

ST. PAUL CENTRAL 36, EASTVIEW 30

SPC does have a divided squad. At Kennedy on Central 2 roster is Ebony Black, Kaira Buford, Megan Howard, Cyonna West. At Armstrong rostered are Angel Robinson, Theiarra Taylor, Georgie Jones and Abby Gust.

But in this first game Angel Robinson was a no show. It was early enough to interfer with religious obligations for some players. So the team was led by Theairra Taylor, a transfer in from Como Park. Jones is a newcomer from Highland Park. Jones got the scoring started on the first possession with a free throw, but for both teams the offense was sluggish. Central went 7 possessions without a score. During that time Eastview had seven unanswered points. Brittnye McSperron scored the first five points for Eastview on a 3 and a drive. Central got back with 7 points by Taylor with two 3s to tie it at 8. Eastview had their own 7 possession drought and most of these were on missed shots. The shooting eye isn't in form for any team yet. McSperron had a lay up to put Eastview up 10-8. Central scored three straight times to go up 14-10. Jones had four during the stretch. Eastview then scored on three straight to retake the lead 16-14. DaNae Moore had two in the stretch. They half ended with Eastview holding an 18-16 lead.

Central scored the first five points of the second half with Jones scoring three and Taylor two. The next two Eastview possessions went for scores including a three from Taylor Allen. That shot gave the Lightning the lead at 23-21. Two Central possessions later Taylor hit her own three. Eastview tied it on their next possession at 24. Central took the lead for good on Taylor's pull up jumper. The biggest margin SPC had was five until the end. Eastview did narrow it to three on a couple of occasions. the last at 33-30 on DaNae Moore's steal and layup. Aubrey Johnson finished the game with three free throws in two separate possessions to end it 36-30.

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

ST. PAUL CENTRAL
Abby Gust 0, 5, 0.0, .000 perimeter shooter RF that was firing blanks
Aubrey Johnson, 3, 8, 62.5, .375n 5 small quick guard. RF: small
Jessica Bartz 0, 7, 0.0, .000 a transfer from Roch JM. RF had to many turnovers with violations the main method
Theairra Taylor 19, 18, 105.6, .500 had a strong performance. was aggressive offensively, took control. hit the three, went to the hole, wasn't afraid to get hit. RF: can't hide and play in the shadows when Robinson, et al return.
Georgie Jones 11, 10, 110.0, .600 6-2 long and lean. once in the SPC system will develop nicely. RF: needs to get stronger physically
Damara Kirkland 1, 5, 20.0, .200 has a great ability to rebound. RF: needs to improve on everything related to offense & ball handling.

EASTVIEW
#44 0, 2, 0.0, .000 big post. shot blocker. RF: needs work on offense
Brittnye McSperron 7, 9, 77.8, .333 good ball handler, crossover favorite move, has pull up jumper, willing to attack basket. 3 range. RF: wasn't heard from most of the game after a quick start.
#11 2, 6, 33.3, .167
#10 Rachel Anderson 2, 3, 66.7, .333
#12 4, 10, 40.0, .300
#20 2, 6, 33.3, .167
DaNae Moore 6, 7, 85.7, .429 a perimeter player that can do some damage inside. anticipates well. will be counted on to do more. RF: needs to step up more as one of the main cogs
#42 0, 3, 0.0, .000
Taylor Allen 5, 5, 100.0, .400 3 point shooter, RF: small
#23 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000

TRENCH PLAYER
Theairra Taylor

BY THE NUMBERS
St. Paul Central 36, 53, 67.9, .358
Eastview 30, 52, 57.7, .288
Made free throws
SPC 13, Eastview 4
Made 3s
SPC 3, Eastview 2

As true last week the possession rate is hovering around 53 possessions. Running 20 minute halves with stop time the las.t two minutes may have something to do with it.
SPC was more aggressive to the basket and had better quickness. But the Floor% numbers need to improve. Maybe it was the early AM time slot.

Next up: Lakeville South/Armstrong