The Week That Was #4: End of the First Quarter

#8 posting 12.17.2006
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THE WEEK THAT WAS #4
Six games in six days with each class seen this week.

TRENDS
The average team is checking in right now at 72.57 pp100 and .354 floor %. That is the middle of the pack or .500 13-13 type team. I have seen three teams more than once and here is how they stack up so far:
Central 81.4; .378
Centennial 92.2; .440
Hopkins 72.6; .373
Defensively
Centennial 63.57; .300
Hopkins 72.30; .338
St. Paul Central 69.87; .365
Central's two game I have seen have come against Hopkins; Hopkins: twice SPC and once Becker; Centennial against Mpls North and Coon Rapids.
The offenses are still trailing last season with AAAA schools checking in with 84.7 and .412 on average.
Championship teams were right around 90 pp100 and over .450 floor %. just as a measuring stick.

TEAM OF THE WEEK
This week solid performances for the most part with four teams making the top 10 pp100 for the year in this week's games; and three making the top 10 floor%. But for pure entertainment value and performance against top notch competition it is no question this week but St. Paul Central. They went into Hopkins' house on Thursday with the who's who of the basketball world watching delivered a statement with their defensive effort when Robinson was sitting on the bench with foul problems.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kachine Alexander, Benilde-St. Margaret's she had a power week with 31 on Tuesday in the win against Chisago Lakes and 32 against Holy Angels in the overtime loss on Friday. The rest of the squad all had strong games. Again #1. I had to see the player during the week. #2 the player, to be eligible for this team had to have 10 possessions, over 100 pp100, and over.500 floor %. some players get knocked out with one or the other filters so here is the rest of the team
First team:
Kachine Alexander, Benilde-St. Margaret's
Sasha Barnes, St. Paul Johnson
Georgie Jones, St. Paul Central
Krista Kaput, Hill-Murray
Chelsea Lyons, Coon Rapids
Second Team:
Ebony Black, St. Paul Central
Amber Dvorak, Hinckley-Finlayson
Anna Full, Marshall
Jackie Hiebert, Hopkins
Angel Robinson, St. Paul Central
If people say, wait a second...Didn't Robinson have sub 100s? The last possession of the game was just dribbling around the time line and Robinson had the ball. If we take that possession away she makes it with both pp100 and floor %. She didn't turn the ball over just held on for the win. She shouldn't have to suffer for doing the right thing.

DEFENDERS OF THE WEEK
Again it is wraps that count and this week had some solid efforts.
Leading off the team is the captain of the group
Jackie Hiebert, Hopkins
with Kachine Alexander, Benilde-St. Margaret's
Megan Nipe, Centennial
Chelsea Lyons, Coon Rapids
and Macie Michelson, Marshall rounding out the starting five defensively.
First off the bench: Sasha Barnes, St. Paul Johnson
A special mention should be given to Amber Dvorak, Hinckley-Finlayson who intimidates others from attempting shots and changes the game with her 6-6 presence.

I think it would be unfair to name the defensive team for the quarter, since I haven't labeled players from the beginning, but only have started labeling for two weeks. I do think it is instructive to see who is hungry for the ball.

Speaking of which leads us to the end of the first Quarter. Here is a list of what I think is going on:
SURPRISE TEAM: That has to go to Farmington. From their opening ambush of Owatonna 53-51 in the Rochester Century Section 1 battle to their win on Friday when Hastings held them to 10 points in the first half and then Farmington erupted for 35 while giving the hosts a 10 point taste in the second half. Farmington is averaging 71.57 a game after 7 games and allowing 35.57. One more win and they match last year's win total. They averaged 52.96 last year and allowed 55.12. Can they keep it up? Their next test will come at the Albert Lea Tournament. I haven't seen them, but will at some point down the line.

BEST GAME: there have been a few, but the game that stands out is Champlin Park vs Winona Cotter. That had big swings and momentum shifts. It was the game of the Rogers Breakdown Classic and so far the game of the year (that I have seen). One way to measure that is by the pp100 of the losing team and Cotter checked in that game with 82.9. A close second was the Hill-Murray/Marshall game on Saturday.

BEST MONEY PLAYER; Ashlynn Fuller of Champlin Park. Not only did she deliver in the Cotter game she also hit the game winner against Osseo.

BEST ONE GAME PERFORMANCE: Alyssa Karel against Barnesville. She wowed the crowd with her theatrics and delivered to rave revues. She may have even sold popcorn at half time.

BEST ATMOSPHERE: Glenwood City Wisconsin. Live band, not some canned music. good crowd, community feel. Warm smell of popcorn as you walk into the school.

BEST CROWD: Had to be at Hopkins vs St. Paul Central. Whole teams came to the event. Big time faces in the crowd. Tournament flavor. Most of the games I go to I could shoot a cannon off in the gym and no one would get hurt.

TEAM OF THE QUARTER: Minneapolis South. They have maximized their possessions and made life difficult for the opposing team. Of their six wins, five have come at the expense of teams that will be above .500 by the end of the year. Their lowest scoring game was 77. There closest game has been 32 against Holy Angels (97-65). South faces a wily rival in Mpls North this week. Will they continue to rack up the points?

PLAYER OF THE QUARTER; Many worthies, but for consistency day in and night out: Tayler Hill, Minneapolis South. She is averaging 28 ppg wih a range of 34-21. A smooth operator.

TEAM OF THE QUARTER
Tayler Hill, Minneapolis South
Alyssa Karel, Cretin-Derham Hall
Ashlynn Fuller, Champlin Park
Megan Nipe, Centennial
Kachine Alexander, Benilde-St. Margaret's

THIS WEEK
Monday Dec 18
Cannon Falls is at Red Wing in a cross class game. Defending AA champs CF lost for the first time on Friday. RW has dodged some bullets this season. Three star game
Tuesday, Dec 19
MN Valley Lutheran at Cedar Mt.-Comfrey. CMC was #1 and was beat by New Ulm Cathedral on Friday 40-38. MVL picked up a loss on Saturday. Neither want to have a two game losing streak. four star game because it is also a conference game and they are always more intense.
East Grand Forks is at Crookston. Both are undefeated. Both like to run. One will walk away with a loss. Key Section 8AA game. three stars
Norwood-Young America at Jordan. Both teams could be undefeated. NYA plays Monday. This is for the lead in the MN River and both are rated in the top 10. Jordan has some youngsters that are making serious noise and they also were vital cogs in their state volleyball championship. NYA is solid defensively. four stars this is the marquee matchup.
Hopkins is at Minneapolis Roosevelt. This is a cross class game, suburb vs city. two stars
Woodbury is at Park-Cottage Grove. This is a conference game, an inter school district rivalry game, Woodbury is a top 10 team, PCG is knocking on the door and has Jackie Voigt (2008) a future Gopher. Four Stars
Nothing on Wednesday
Thursday, Dec 21
Lakeville South is at DeLaSalle. a cross class game. It will be an interesting matchup with youngsters at LS vs DLS pressure. Two Stars
Cretin-Derham Hall at Hill-Murray. A battle of Catholic powers. Alyssa Karel takes her show on the road. Can she be slowed? HM will look to continue their momentum with their win over Marshall. Two Stars.
Minneapolis North vs Minneapolis South. conference game. North has Maurika Carlisle running the show. South has been maximizing their scoring chances and minimizing their opponents. This will be intense. Three Stars
Friday, Dec 22
Totino-Grace at Benilde-St. Margaret's. A Catholic battle in the North Suburban. Both are in the top 10. BSM lost last week to Holy Angels, and will not want to pick up two headed into the Hopkins tournament. Three Stars.
Owatonna at Lakeville North. an inter section game important for post season seedings. Big 9 vs Lake. Two Stars
Nothing on Saturday.

Thanks for the readers of this site that provide the information that make this the stickiest site on the girls basketball highway.

Next up: tomorrow morning