Out & About: Winona Cotter/Crookston

#8 posting 1.13.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

WINONA COTTER ramblers 58, CROOKSTON pirates 56

For the second time in two days a #1 bit the dust. The marquee match up lived up to the hype and #2 Winona Cotter showed their resilliance in bouncing back from a 47-37 deficit with 8 minutes to go to go on a 21-9 run to close out the game.

Both teams scored on their opening possessions with Cotter going inside to Jenny Gilbertson and Crookston using the 3 ball with Sydney Epema delivering. Crookston led 9-5 with Kamille Wahlin stroking the next three scores for Crookston, all on her signature pull up jumper. Cotter reclaimed the lead at 13-11 with Gilbertson showing her range with a 3 in the 8-2 run. Cotter led 18-15 after a Devin Bowlin steal and Renee Pecarina lay up. Crookston struck back with three straight scores to take a 21-18 lead. Cotter took a time out to stop the momentum at 4:54. Cotter took the lead again at 22-21 on a rebound basket by Gilbertson. Crookston closed the half with four straight scores and an 8-2 run. Four different Pirates delivered either from the floor or line. It was Crookston 29-24 at half.

Crookston scored the first six points in the second half and pushed the lead to their biggest at 37-28 after a Epema 3 from the right wing. Cotter took a time out at 14:45 after the 8-2 run. Cotter did narrow the margin to 41-37 with a Allison Kirkvold basket a long possession for these teams with 14 touches. Crookston had six unanswered points to push it back to a double digit lead 47-37 with 8 minutes to go. There was a stretch in the Cotter rally where they were 6/7 on their possessions. Laura Erickson had six, including a 3 in the run. Cotter took their first lead on a Bowlin drive. Crookston took their last lead at 53-52 on a pair of free throws by Wahlin. That was answered right away by Bowlin with a 3 from the top of the key. Epema tied it and Cotter took a time out with 1:26 to go. Erickson hit what proved to be the game winner from the left short corner. On Crookston's next possession Wahlin was double teamed and traveled. Cotter milked the clock down and Pecarina went in for a drive, but missed the lay up. Crookston had one last chance to tie it with 19 seconds left. Taylor Davis was fouled. She made her first and missed her second. Kirkvold grabbed the rebound for Cotter. Pecarina was fouled with 7.5 seconds left. She missed the one and one, but got her own rebound. She was immediately fouled again and hit the front end with 1.3 seconds left for the final margin 58-56

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

WINONA COTTER
STARTERS
Devin Bowlin 9, 17, 52.9, .294 point guard. fought through rough patch and delivered when it counted. constantly looked to push the ball. aware. good anticipation. RF: passes too far,
Renee Pecarina 6, 11, 54.5, .364 had defensive responsibilities on Wahlin.
Laura Erickson 11, 14, 78.6, .429 hit the game winner, delivered in cruch time.
Allison Kirkvold 9, 10, 90.0, .500 lefty, better rebounder than earlier in the year.
Jenny Gilbertson 23, 20, 115.0, .550 big strong frame. has 3 range. changes match ups. strong rebounder. defense collapsing on her constantly freed up shots for others.
BENCH
Chelsi Larson 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Whitney Wisecup 0, 1, 0.0, .000

CROOKSTON
STARTERS
Kamille Wahlin 16, 20, 80.0, .400 point guard. good vision, quickness. confidence. strong passes. pull up jumper her favorite shot. good elevation. good body control. matched up with Bowlin on defense. technically had knees bent and in position. RF: turnovers late in the game, but her teammates deserted her making long passes.
Molly Simmons 2, 10, 20.0, .100 rebounded well defensively. scored on baseline drive. RF: forced passes too far.
Sydney Epema 18,12, 150.0, .667 also has a strong pull up jumper. good range. decent ball handler. RF: needs to come back to the ball when teammates are stuck. footwork with the ball.
Macy Hanson 4, 6, 66.7, .333 active on defense. RF:
Taylor Davis 12, 15, 80.0, .467 had to guard Gilbertson. blocked her on a transition lay up. moved aggressively to score. RF: needs to be ready to catch the ball. size post hs for position.
BENCH
Brea Aamoth 4, 7, 57.1, .286 RF: needs to work on footwork
Marley Hanson 0, 2, 0.0, .000 reserve post
Sam Plooster 0, 2, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Jenny Gilbertson

BY THE NUMBERS
Winona Cotter 58, 75, 77.3, .413
Crookston 56, 74, 75.7, .378
Made 3s: Winona Cotter 3, Crookston 2
Made fts: Crookston 10, Winona Cotter 7
Bench: Crookston 4, Winona Cotter 0
The last 8 minutes Cotter checked in with 131.3 pp100 and .688 floor %, the Cotter defense held Crookston to 56.3 pp100 and .313. You can credit the relentless pressure full court defense that hounded every advancement of the ball. Cotter did show patience on offense when the transition wasn't available, but that is the first thing they check, even on a made basket.
The warning for Cotter would be at the line. They left at least eight points at the line.

Crookston has decent shooters, but not all the cylinders were firing today. But players without the ball need to come to the ball hungry. They have a tendancy to drift away making passes longer. They too like to run and push the ball.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
d rebounds, steals, forced turnovers, blocks leading to offensive possessions
WINONA COTTER
Jenny Gilbertson 8
Allison Kirkvold 8
Devin Bowlin 6
Renee Pecarina 4
Laura Erickson 3
Whitney Wisecup 1
Totals 30

CROOKSTON
Molly Simmons 10
Macy Hanson 7
Kamille Wahlin 5
Taylor Davis 5
Brea Aamoth 5
Sydney Epema 4
Marley Hanson 1
totals: 37

next up: tomorrow