Out & About: Hopkins/Becker

#10 posting 12.2.2006
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ROGERS BREAKDOWN TIP OFF
HOPKINS royals 45, BECKER bulldogs 27

Becker started off the game strong with a 5/6 scoring sequence. Adjustments were made. Hopkins trailed 13-7 with over 11 minutes to go when they collectively rose up and slammed the door in Becker's face. Becker went 13 possessions without a score and their six point lead evaporated to an 8 point deficit. Hanna Muegge got things rolling with a trey from the right wing and on the next possession drove in for the deuce. In that stretch Becker was forced into seven turnovers. They also missed four free throws. Cerebral Caitlin Rowland had 9 points during the move to the top with drives, pull up jumpers, 3s, whatever the defense was allowing. Shelly Stemper finally broke through for Becker with a three from the top of the key. Rowland answered right back with her own. The half ended with Hopkins enjoying a 26-18 lead.

Hopkins' Jackie Hiebert came out of the half and scored on the first two possessions as they ran signature Hopkins plays to make it 30-18. A disputed call after Becker's Chelsea Lieser made a free throw resulted in a technical on the coach Justin Hegna. My guess is it had something to do with the coaching box and not being in it. The call in question could have been a Becker caused turnover, but the refs didn't see it that way. Hopkins' Rowland cashed in at the line, band then Heibert finished the possession with another basket and Hopkins led 34-18. Becker had six possessions with four turnovers in the mix before they scored again. Hopkins didn't really exploit the situation as they had their own four possession dry spell. Becker's last basket came on a three point play on a Rey Robinson drive and one with 6:11 to go. Hopkins scored three points the rest of the way when Becker was in their game ending 8 possession drought.
Becker had droughts of 6, and 8 in the second half never really cracking the Hopkins defense. Gopher recruit Brianna Mastey had a frustrating night only scoring five points.

HOPKINS
STARTERS
Hanna Muegge 7, 11, 63.6, .273 much more relaxed offensively now that point guard responsibilities belong to Rowland. was more into the flow. RF: still had some turnovers, some due to balance issues.
Jackie Hiebert 11, 9, 122.2, .667 inside and smooth. Tougher than last year. aggressive to the glass. moves without the ball. RF: too tight to her defensive player on the weak side. Should be more in the middle, or cheatin more to the ball side. also doesn't know where the ball is at times on defense. needs to drop down further to see both ball and player. picked up fouls out of position.
Ana Garcia 0, 3, 0.0, .000 RF: needs to just relax and play. overthinking
Caitlin Rowland 17, 14, 121.4, .571 takes over at the point. Makes good decisions, makes things happen all within the system. no wasted motion. leader. keeps composure. RF: foot speed/quickness
Stephanie Sension 8, 11, 72.7, .364 inside presence. makes solid moves inside, up and unders RF: defensively see Hiebert's RF the same applies. picked up offensive foul at the block dropping shoulder.
BENCH
Hannah Oliverius 0, 5, 0.0, .000 played more than in the SP Central game. big body off the bench.
Jenna Lillemoe 2, 2, 100.0, .500
Rachel Johnson 0, 1, 0.0, .000

BECKER
STARTERS
Rachel Gilbert 3, 8, 37.5, .250 RF: picked up two quick fouls and may have hampered Becker's ability to have their offense run efficiently. turnover on carries.
Rey Robinson, 3, 10, 30.0, .100 Scored late in the game off a drive. was more active in the second half. lefty, big perimeter. RF: needs to improve ball handling skills against high intensity defense. Needs to be consistent from beyond the arc. out of position on defense. too high defensively.
Brianna Mastey 5, 20, 25.0, .100 good athlete headed to the Gophers. RF: hounded on the floor all night. Frustrated at lack of ability to do what she wanted. picked up frustration offensive fouls forcing things. needs to get her feet set shooting. needs to do more rhthym shooting. needs to get to the line more than once in a game. Fades from contact.
Nicole Mastey 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000 twin sister of Briana also headed to the Gophers. scored on the first possession. RF: never heard from again.
Shelly Stemper 9, 9, 100.0, .444 an aggressive big perimeter. not afraid of contact. gets after it. RF: needs to get quicker to keep up with quicker guards. too high defensively.
BENCH
Jessie Althoff 2, 2, 100.0, .500 big strong post. RF: needs to get feet set on screens.
Chelsea Lieser 3, 5, 60.0, .400 quick guard. RF: small
Jaclyn Novak 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Alex Crapser 0, 1, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Caitlin Rowland

BY THE NUMBERS
Hopkins 45, 56, 80.3, .393
Becker 27, 57, 47.4, .228
3s: Hopkins 2, Becker 1
Made FT: Hopkins 7, Becker 6
Bench: Becker 5, Hopkins 2

Hopkins put on a clamp down defensive frustrating Becker after the initial minutes. Hopkins much more relaxed as a team, but focused. Their defense won the state tournament last year. It looks like Hopkins will again be strong in that department making life miserable for all sorts of teams. The Royals had a game earlier in the week against Mounds View where they held MV to zero shots as they built a 16-0 lead.
Becker will use this as a measuring stick. Their offense will be better after more polish. Their defense wasn't bad. Their ball handling against heat has to improve to get past Rogers in their conference.
The game was intense and had the feel of playoffs which is what made it fun.

Next up: Wisconsin Friday results