Out & About: De La Salle/Totino Grace

#7 posting 11.29.2006

DE LA SALLE islanders 51, TOTINO GRACE eagles 45

New De La Salle coach Brian Frye had a successful debut with a hard fought win at Totino-Grace. With 7 minutes to go, TG led 36-31. Then Anna Kovalchuk scored two 3s, one from the left wing, and one from the top of the key to start a 14-0 run and propel the Islanders to a 51-45 first game win.

Neither team really had any major advantage early in the game. Both opened defensively in man. DLS was having success with the high/low game and also they were in foul trouble. That forced them into the zone. DLS did shake free and led 22-16 after a Kovalchuk three with 4:52 to go in the half. Totino Grace turned it around with a 8-2 run to finish the half. TG beat DLS down court, and would beat the defense with back cuts. DLS was stuck in a 1/10 finish with six turnovers. The score at half was 24 all.

TG came out aggressive and attacking the basket in the second half. They pulled ahead 28-24. On DLS's 9th possssion they struck points and Rachel Booth scored her first points of the game on a put back and one. So DLS was 1/18 over two periods of play. TG went on a quick burst with lay ups and back cuts to take a 36-31 lead. Then DLS, counter intuitively took their own sweet time to get the shot they wanted. That halted the momentum TG was building DLS had the ball for over 1:30. Now they took some shots in that sequence, but TG let DLS get shots four different times on that one possession. In fact DLS didn't even score on the possession, but the big mo TG was building was now deflated. Instead of the aggressive attacking action, they were more tenative, and not getting the back cuts they were previously. TG started an unlucky 13 possession string of which 10 were turnovers. Kovalchuk started the DLS comeback with 8 points on four possessions with back to back 3s and a transition lay up off the DLS pressure D. At this point the TG players lost their composure and had turnovers with out any real pressure on them. DLS built a 45-36 lead. TG started their own mini rally with a 7-0 run capped by Jessica Meyer's only basket of the night, a trey from the right corner. That closed the DLS lead to 45-43 with under a minute left. Kovalchuk answered on the next DLS possession with a lay up off the press. DLS finished the game at the line and walked out of the gym 51-45.

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

DE LA SALLE
STARTERS
Aneshia Starks 5, 8, 62.5, .375 point guard. would like to do the pull up jumper. kept composure when DLS was in danger of getting blown out. drew a key charge. likes transition game. RF: a bit off balance on that manuevere.
Akilah Hersia, 3, 7, 42.9, .143 aggressive on the offensive board, stripped a rebound, RF: defensively was beat many times on the back cut as she lost track of her player. offensively footwork when pressured.
Rachel Booth 9, 11, 81.8, .364 is more physical and plays better defense than last year. scored when needed in the second half. scored of her 9 points 7 came off put backs. RF: foot work, ball handling, decision making in the open court need polishing. Needs to score in the half court initial offense.
Anna Kovalchuk 22, 16, 137.5, .563 best outside shooter four on the night from different spots. moved better in the full and half court. More aggressive too. RF: passing needs to be stronger, quicker. Needs to be lower on defense when guarding the ball. reaching fouls
Aaryn Booker 4, 11, 36.4, .273 will drive from the high post. strong physical battler. hard hat type. works the high low game well. seals well. RF: needs to use both hands to get possession. camped in the lane at times. needs to work on free throws since she will be shooting more.
BENCH
Frances Wehrwein, 4, 5, 80.0, .400 scrappy, gets after loose balls. RF: threw ball off balance when trapped.
Jamelia Hersia, 2, 9, 22.2, .111 RF: pressure ball handling skills need polish. not balanced on shot. exposes ball. ran away from ball when other players being trapped.
Carissa Wolyniec, 2, 3, 66.7, .333
Alex Bledsoe, 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Michelle Harris, 0, 3, 0.0, .000

TOTINO-GRACE
STARTERS
Ellie Becker, 2, 8, 25.0, .250 beat players on back cuts. RF: needs to finish
Veronica Scott, 5, 11, 45.5, .273 speed and aggressive. RF: passing execution needs improvement. forced passes that didn't exist. shot off the back rim--hold follow through longer.
Lizzi Naumann, 9, 9, 100.0, .444 big force, RF: too many fouls put her on the pine. didn't use glass when opportunity presented itself.
Sasha McHale, 11, 10, 110.0, .600 Former Celtic and current TWolf GM Kevin McHale's daughter. in position on offensive boards. long arms. RF: need to improve at the line.
Jessica Meyer, 3, 9, 33.3, .111 point guard. penetrated and dished early with Naumann. RF: had no angle on a pass another time
BENCH
Caroline Haik, 12, 15, 80.0, .400 broke totally free on a missed defensive assignment. RF: picked up a charge by spinning and backing into the defense.
Samantha Laventure, 3, 11, 27.3, .091 lefty. RF: passing too far; pressure situations need work.
Laura Hentges, 0, 2, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Anna Kovalchuck

BY THE NUMBERS
De La Salle 51, 74, 68.9, .329
Totino-Grace 46, 75, 61.3, .307

DLS kept their composure, TG didn't during pressured situations. Both teams had their share of turnovers when pressured. DLS has to improve on their defense with players losing track of players. Unfortunately, neither team was able to play with consistency on offense.

This closed the trio of games looking at rookie coaches on the road. CH and AV both lost their openers, DLS was the one to break the cycle.

The crowd was a nice size, but it was the OGIT. They got to see a competitive game with many twists and turns.

next up: tomorrow morning