Out & About: Edina/Eden Prairie

#7 posting 3.9.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

2AAAA FINALS
EDINA hornets 56, EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 49

Edina rallied from a 6 point first half deficit to beat Eden Prairie 56-49. Lauren Young provided the lift for Edina with 26 points and 11 defensive wraps.

EP lead early with Tanya Hall scoring at the line twice to open scoring. But neither team was on fire early. Edina didn't score until their 6th possession, No team had a big advantage with EP leading 5-2 after a Kjersten Bradley 3. Edina led at 6-5 and 13-12. EP took the lead for good in the first half on a a pair of free throws by Dani Ramsey. That started a five possession string where EP outscored Edina 11-5. Bradley knocked down another 3 for an EP lead of 23-18 with 3:55 left in the half. EP missed two transition opportunities in their next three possessions failing to put more distance between themselves and Edina. Lauren Young scored on a post up to cut the lead to 23-20, but then EP scored one free throw by Carly Rothfusz and then a transition lay up by Lindsey Sather to go up 26-20, their biggest lead of the night. Lauren Young immediately answered. and then on the next Edina possession Megan Gaard drained two free throws for the final points of the first half. EP led 26-24 at the break.

Lauren Young opened scoring in the second half with a old fashioned three point play and Edina was once again in front 27-26. Bradley scored to hand the lead back to EP. But that was the last score for EP for the next 7 possessions. Combined with the tail end of the first half EP was in a 1/12 offensive sequence. When they snapped out of it Edina had outscored them 15-2. The key possession was when Natalie Pastor's 3 attempt was rebounded by Hall, but she was falling out of bounds and made a blind pass. Lauren Young was on the spot for the easy steal and lay up. That made it 33-28. That drew an EP time out. Edina showed discipline on offense with an average of 8.83 touches per possession while EP checked in at 3.29. Edina was on a solid roll with 9/13 offensive possessions and they led 43-33 with 6:42 left in the contest. EP, realizing the season was ticking away, cut the margin to 43-37 after Two post ups by Laura Weber, but that was her only points of the game, and her only possessions of the second half. EP never generated an inside game. With 2:17 to go Edina had 10 more possessions and converted on nine. So that 7 point lead was maintained throughout. In fact all 9 possessions were free throw possessions. EP tried their 3 game and hit two, and also looked to drive to stop the clock. But it wasn't enough to overcome that drought.

EDINA
STARTERS
Natalie Pastor 9, 14, 64.3, .429 point guard. speed. RF: needs to get stronger. travels at the start of her move.
Megan Gaard 7, 8, 87.5, .500 steady guard. works within system.
Taylor Young 6, 7, 85.7, .429 active, agressive offensively. a scraper. RF: travel at the start of her move.
Hana Potter 0, 1, 0.0, .000 post that is a defensive rebounder. RF: not involved on the offensive end.
Lauren Young 26, 22, 118.2, .591 stepped up, carried the team on her back. is athletic, lean, and can jump. She can hit the 3, but was strong in the paint. alert, aware, and was after the ball tonight. team leader. RF: faded on shot early, away from contact.
BENCH
Elise Biewen 8, 8, 100.0, .500 scored a crawler, and off a cut to the basket. RF: Bradley beat her on a cut.
Emily Warner 0, 1, 0.0, .000

EDEN PRAIRIE
STARTERS
Heather Cook 9, 10, 90.0, .400 3 shooter, scrapper. 3 shooter (deep).
Dani Ramsey 5, 7, 71.4, .286 guard. lefty. hit a 3 late
Kjersten Bradley 10, 7, 142.9, .571 sharpshooter. RF:
Tanya Hall 5, 14, 35.7, .143 ball of energy. likes to drive. RF; body moving faster than required, balance and rushing ensue. ball handling needs polish.
Laura Weber 4, 4, 100.0, .500 long lean post. RF: not seen or heard much of tonight. Did pick up early fouls.
BENCH
Lindsey Sather 4, 4, 100.0, .500 See Ramsey minus lefty
Lauren Wittman 3, 8, 37.5, .250 lefty. guard. RF: forced passes.
Michelle Tobin 5, 4, 125.0, .750 post player.
Carly Rothfusz 4, 2, 200.0, 1.000 long lean guard that delivered. Will make a big impact next season. hit a 3. RF; not enough court time
Kelsey Faber 0, 1, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Lauren Young

BY THE NUMBERS
Edina 56, 61, 91.8, .492
Eden Prairie 49, 61, 80.3, .377
made 3s: EP 5, Edina 1
made fts: Edina 17, EP 12
bench: EP 16, Edina 8
Edina has been in the finals of the section the last couple years bumping up against Hopkins. They wanted to take the next step. Eden Prairie had a strong year, but had not been in post season battles like the finals in a while. That experience and the senior leadership of Lauren Young helped Edina get the job done. Take a look at the execution by Edina in the second half.
Second half: 32, 28, 114.3, .643
first half 24, 33, 72.7, .364
Also Edina tried to get their shots in the paint more often than EP. And without the transition game EP was not as effective on offense.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
d rebounds, steals, forced turnovers, and blocks leading to offensive possessions
EDINA
Lauren Young 11
Taylor Young 8
Hana Potter 7
Megan Gaard 5.5
Elise Biewen 1.5
Natalie Pastor 1
totals 34

EDEN PRAIRIE
Laura Weber 6
Tanya Hall 4
Heather Cook 4
Dani Ramsey 3
Carly Rothfusz 3
Kjersten Bradley 2.5
Michelle Tobin 2
Lindsey Sather 1.5
Lauren Wittman 1
totals: 27

Next up: out & about part 2