Out & About: Champlin Park/Centennial

#8 posting 1.26.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

CHAMPLIN PARK rebels 80, CENTENNIAL cougars 76

Champlin Park trailed 39-22 in the first half, but rose from the dead and tagged Centennial for their first loss since November, and their first in the NW Suburban. Now both teams have one loss in the conference. This also was a key 7AAAA game for seeding purposes.

CP's Jenny Theisen was 18/18 at the line. She ended up with 29 points. CP made 39 free throws on the night, 31 in the second half. Three Centennial players fouled out: Kellie Schuneman, Kiara Allums, and Megan Nipe.

Ashlynn Fuller started the game with a 3 from the top of the key. CP, after the first 3, went into a 7 possession drought. After that it was Centennial's half. Kiara Allums had 11 of the first 15 points for Centennial. She was active on the boards and in the paint. She also dropped in a 3. Centennial had a 6 straight offensive scoring streak during this time. In fact they were 11/12 in an offensive sequence outscoring CP 23-10. At that point it was 29-13. Emily Becken had 7 in that run. Centennial maintained that 16 point margin with 37-21 the last high water mark. That was with 4:02 left in the half. CP outscored Centennial 8-5 the rest of the half, Jenny Theisen delivered 7 of the points. Centennial put a stamp on the end of the half with Becken's coast to coast lay up at the buzzer. Centennial led 42-29 at half.

CP started the second half with converting their first two possessions. Heather Sampson made a diving save of a missed Theisen 3 and Gigler scored to start the rally. By the 14 minute mark CP had cut the Centennial lead to 5 at 46-41. Ashley Witte scored the last four points of the 12-4 run. Centennial met that challenge and went back up 50-41. CP charged back to close to 54-49, but Bridget Schuneman for Centennial was matching them point for point. Bridget Schuneman came off the bench and scored the next 12 Centennial points. Centennial led 62-53 after her offensive burst. Centennial led 65-58 with 5:30 to go on a transition lay up by Joelle Waytashek from Becken's rebound off a CP miss. Centennial then got stuck in a 10 possession drought that lasted four minutes. They missed five shots, and turned it over five times. When they scored again they would trail 69-65. CP was making its coin at the free throw line. Seven straight points at the line tied the game at 65. Witte scored the go ahead basket on a pass from Bruce. Theissen added two free throws at 1:43 to go. Allums then broke the drought with a 3 from the right wing. Burns drove down and scored a runner from the left side. Centennial had five shots on their next possession when Megan Nipe cut the margin to 71-70. But CP was in the middle of a 7 possession scoring spree and Fuller, Theisen each made their pair to make it 75-70. Fuller stole a Becken pass and Bruce was fouled intentionally by Nipe her 5th. Bruce made one and then in the pass in Gigler was fouled by Allums, her 5th. So a three point possession with 25.1 seconds to go made it 78-70. Waytashek and Blom nailed 3s on the next two Centennial possessions, but CP kept draining free throws. 31 made in the second half, 41 for the game. In a bit of irony Fuller missed two free throws on CP's last possession, but it was over with 1.5 ticks left. CP had a comeback win to savor 80-76.

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

CHAMPLIN PARK
STARTERS
Michelle Burns 5, 7, 71.4, .286 point guard. is playing again with more confidence. has better vision, and is aware of the floor more. took the ball to the rack with authority. RF: passes trail receiver, and are too high. Also dribbles a bit too high.
Heather Sampson 1, 6, 16.7, .167 made great save on offensive rebound. RF: fouled out, defensively out of position, needs to convert at the line.
Ashlynn Fuller 19, 19, 100.0, .421 speed, flash, elevation, drew charge. quickness on defense. RF: can get caught in charge situations.
Natalie Gigler 9, 10, 90.0, .500 finesse, post player. quick off the floor. RF; needs to get more physical on defense. Needs to gain strength
Jenny Theisen 29, 18, 161.1, .722 took the free throws to the bank. 18/18 . cool, calm and collected. moves without the ball, also 3 range with 3 on the night. RF: needs to chin the ball after rebound. picked up foul.
BENCH
Laura Bruce 4, 3, 133.3, .667 likes runners. RF: speed, quickness. ball handling needs to be stronger.
Ali Schmidt 7, 8, 87.5, .625 likes runners. RF: picked up offensive charge.
Jessica Hoffman (SR) 0, 3, 0.0, .000 RF: needs to know range, and shot time.
Ashley Witte 6, 6, 100.0, .500 active on the boards, rangy, scored on drives, in the last two minutes had 4 key defensive wraps. RF: needs to hold her ground on screens.

CENTENNIAL
STARTERS
Emily Becken 9, 13, 69.2, .308 point guard. had a strong first half offensively. drained 3. Went coast to coast. had a nice pull up. RF: in the second half didn't attack like in the first half. Content at the 3 line.
Megan Nipe 12, 12, 100.0, .583 strong, aggressive, active on d boards. decent pull up. tough inside. RF: head faked and left her feet on defense. free throws need improving
Joelle Waytashek 11, 12, 91.7, .417 nice sharp cut to the lane. has 3 range. RF: needs to be more active on defense.
Kiara Allums 15, 19, 78.9, .421 strong beginning, ready and roaring to go. monster on the boards early, float, sails, power, & thrust. ready to pounce on defense. RF: fouls, fouls, fouls, spent more time on the bench. That destroyed her rhthym. Needs to deliver at the line, left points at the line.
Kellie Schuneman 11, 11, 100.0, .455 guard, runs the floor, aggressive offensively, RF: not aware of teammates at times. came down on the fouls with hands, instead of up underneath. needs to pass with her feet on the ground.
BENCH
Kayla Blom 6, 4, 150.0, .500 guard reserve. Makes good choices. has 3 range. RF: size, Defensively needs to keep her hands by her ears to make herself bigger defensivley.
Katie Huston 0, 2, 0.0, .000 post reserve. strong defensive rebounder and physical. RF: took shots that may not have been in her range. Needs to deliver at the line. was faked on defense and left her feet.
Bridget Schuneman 12, 7, 171.4, .857 again was solid in the post. scored 12 straight for Centennial. seals well, has decent interior moves. active on the boards. RF: limited to one half. needs to be quicker on defense.

TRENCH PLAYER
Jenny Theisen ice water in the veins at the line

BY THE NUMBERS
Champlin Park 80, 80, 100.0, .488
Centennial 76, 80, 95.0, .463
made 3s: Centennial 6, CP 5
made fts; CP 41, Centennial 14
bench: Centennial 18, CP 15
In a tale of the two halves:
CP 1st half 29, 37, 78.4, .378
CP 2nd half 51, 43, 118.6, .581
Centennial 1st half: 42, 37, 113.5, .568
Centennial 2nd half: 34, 40, 85.0, .400

CP was in the bonus with 9:50 to go in the second half. for the game CP was 39/48 at the line--.813%. Centennial was 14/21---.667. But it was the missed chances in the first half that hamstrung Centennial. they left 8 points at the line.
CP made 9 field goals in the second half.
CP has had a habit, and probably not a healthy habit, where they trail in the first half recently. They were able to come back against Blaine, Osseo and now Centennial, but it is living on the highwire and some team will not let them up for air when down. Coon Rapids had enough to survive the comeback and that is how CP has their only loss. They need to be ready to go at the opening tip.
Centennial obviously was hurt by fouls, but they also were hurt by their offensive rushing/forcing shots that were not there, lack of inside attack, and players not helping each other getting open. When they move sharply they are tough to beat. Centennial did not need to take the 3s late in the game when they were up by 7 yet they still attempted them. They need to understand time/score situations.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
d rebounds, steal, forced turnovers, and blocks leading to offensive possessions
CHAMPLIN PARK
Ashlynn Fuller 9
Ashley Witte 8
Natalie Gigler 7
Michelle Burns 7
Jenny Theisen 4
Heather Sampson 1
Laura Bruce 1
Ali Schmidt 1
Jessica Hoffman (SR) 1
Totals: 39

CENTENNIAL
Kiara Allums 8.5
Emily Becken 8
Megan Nipe 6.5
Katie Huston 6
Kellie Schuneman 3
Joelle Waytashek 2
Kayla Blom 1
Bridget Schuneman 1
totals: 36

Next up: a special report, and then tomorrow morning.