Out & About: Lakeville North/Owatonna

#9 posting 12.22.2006
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

LAKEVILLE NORTH panthers 55, OWATONNA huskies 53

In a Section 1AAAA battle it was Lakeville North behind 8th grader Rachel Banham's 3 with under a minute to go that put LN up 52-51. Then Latasha Wittmayer delivered three points at the line to make it 55-51. Anne Borgertpoepping hit two free throws with 0.1 seconds left for the final margin.

On a night celebrating the 2001 and 2002 Lakeville state championships, LN pulled a game from the fire. The game wasn't always so tight. It looked as if it were going to be a route with LN connecting on 10 of 11 possessions including 8 in a row to build a 23-9 lead. LN outscored their guests 17-4 during the seven minute stretch, seven of which came at the line. 3 players delivered 15 of those points. Kaiya Sygulla had six points, with Latasha Wittmayer and Cassie Rochel each getting 5. Owatonna then started to kick their offense into gear. They closed the half going 10/13 with their possessions. Anne Boergertpoepping came to life. She was held scoreless for the first 11:30 of the half, but erupted for 10 in the last 6:30. She scored six straight for Owatonna at the line, on second chance points, and a steal and lay up. Owatonna outscored LN 22-9 as they closed to 30-29 on two free throws by Kaite McKernon before Kristi Levin scored her only points of the night on a rebound basket as the first half ended. LN led 32-29.

Both teams had problems scoring in the first part of the second half. LN was 1/10, and Owatonna was 2/10 to start. Neither team could shake each other either. Owatonna took there first lead since 5-4 with a shot from the free throw line from Beth Christensen. Banham broke a 38 tie with a three and Cassie Rochel added a free throw two possessions later. That was LN's biggest lead in the second half at 42-38 which they matched at 44-40. Owatonna outscored LN 8-2 at that point. LN had a 1/12 offensive sequence. Boergertpoepping drove the lane and was fouled by Banham. She made one of two free throws for a 48-46 Owatonna lead. Rochel scored in traffic and was fouled. She nailed the free throw to put LN back in front 49-48. Boergertoepping answered right away with a kick out from Christensen. McKernon made a key steal and Owatonna ran time off the clock from 2:16 to under a minute. In that possession Lauren Barber was fouled. She made the first free throw, but missed the second. However McKernon was there again in the right spot with a rebound prolonging the possession. Boergertpoepping eventually was fouled with less than a minute to go. Her front end of the one and one missed fired and Rochel got the board. That set up Banham's 3 from the left corner to put LN up for good at 52-51. Barber's 3 attempt for Owatonna did not drop. Wittmayer picked up the rebound. Owatonna needed to foul and fouled twice before LN went to the line. Ashley Prather missed her one and one, but Wittmayer was there for the key rebound. She was fouled and she delivered one free throw, but missed the second. For the third time in that possession she picked up the rebound. This time when she was fouled she drained both with 10.0 seconds left. Owatonna came down and Boegertoepping drew a foul on a three point attempt. She made the first, but missed the second to make it 55-52. With only 0.1 seconds left it would have been hard to miss and kick it out for a 3 to tie. The point was moot as she made the third free throw for the final margin.

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

LAKEVILLE NORTH
STARTERS
Cassie Crego 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Kaiya Sygulla 8, 15, 53.3, .267 point guard. aggressive attitude. one runner on the day. RF: much better player when feet are stopped when shooting, and passing. forces offense at times. picked up the foul on Boergertpoepping with time running out. When you are up four it is best to stay out of the way. The only way, the only chance Owatonna could have had to tie the game was exactly what she did attempt the 3 with a foul.
Brittanie Olson 13, 18, 72.2, .444 lefty. nice stroke. anticipates well on d. RF: better outside of the paint. needs to work on footwork.
Latasha Wittmayer 8, 9, 88.9, .333 picked up big time offensive boards to keep the game in LN's hands. Then delivered the free throws. can feed Rochel the high/low. physical. RF: needs to smooth out regular shot
Cassie Rochel 15, 10, 150.0, .800 best big person around over 6-3. can run the floor. catch, footwork solid. aggressive. If picking a fantasy team #1 pick. RF: will have a hard time breathing on offense with all the attention
BENCH
Rachel Banham 6, 6, 100.0, .333 ice water in veins. big time shot from 8th grader. nice shot. RF: when running the show may stare down passes.
Micaela Goris 3, 6, 50.0, .167 3 point zone buster. delivered one 3. RF: small,
Kristi Levin 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000
Ashley Prather 0, 2, 0.0, .000 back up for Wittmayer

OWATONNA
STARTERS
Alix Fair 0, 0, 0.0, .000
Anne Borgertpoepping 21, 19, 110.5, .579 scrappy, engergetic, constantly looking for an opening. lefty. favors spin. moves down court fast. RF: needs to deliver knock out punch at the line. off balance on some shots when shooting on the move.
Lauren Barber 7, 14, 50.0, .143 has some moxy, and creativity. RF: careless with pass at times. forces shot at times. needs to understand what her teammates can and can not do, and what type of passes they can and can't catch.
Katie McKernon 5, 11, 45.5, .273 worked the d boards. made her points at the line. RF: nothing from the floor.
Beth Christensen 6, 8, 75.0, .375 likes to wheel and deal at the free throw line. went hard to the glass. is more comfortable now on offense than last year or last summer. RF: picked up fouls and played handcuffed. forced to sit much of the first half. got caught with footwork.
BENCH
Riley O'Connor 2, 4, 50.0, .250 hit elbow shot. RF: like most Owatonna players likes to shoot quickly. needs to clean up footwork.
Amy Kubat 2, 4, 50.0, .250
Alli Baker 10, 8, 125.0, .500 did drain some big shots, RF: however takes shots without white jerseys on the weakside at times, rushes things.

TRENCH PLAYER
Latasha Wittmayer, Three key rebounds in the last LN possession delivers the win. Just a hard hat with her lunch pail getting the job done, and the win.

BY THE NUMBERS
Lakeville North 55, 69, 79.7, .391
Owatonna 53, 68, 77.9, .368
Made 3s: LN 3, Owatonna 3
Made free throws: Owatonna 16, LN 14
Bench: Owatonna 14, LN 11

Owatonna takes shots quickly in their offensive set which means the defense has to play solid for 7 seconds, and makes sure they block out. Block outs were key for both teams. Both teams allowed a key missed free throw to slip from their fingers. It hurt Owatonna, but saved LN's hide on the offensive rebounding. LN is still very young. At one point they had 3 junior high players with two sophs. They will get much better with more experience. LN showed very good poise for a young team in crunch time. Owatonna was more scattered in their approach. The main ball handlers need to step up and be available, once they give it up..

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
defensive rebounds, steals, blocks, and forced turnovers leading to offensive possessions
LAKEVILLE NORTH
Cassie Rochel 9
Latasha Wittmeyer 4
Kaiya Sygulla 4
Britanie Olson 4
Ashley Prather 2
Rachel Banaham 2
Michaela Goris 1
Totals: 26

OWATONNA
Katie McKernon 9
Beth Christensen 7
Lauren Barber 5
Anne Borgertpoepping 4
Alix Fair 2
Kaylen Swanson 1
Alli Baker 1
Amy Kubat 1
Riley O'Connor 1
totals: 31

Next up: Tomorrow morning