Out & About: Minneaplis South/Champlin Park

#15 posting 3.15.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MN STATE TOURNAMENT
AAAA SEMIFINALS
MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH tigers 73, CHAMPLIN PARK rebels 70

This was the best contest of the tournament from an artistic and competitive angle. It had drama, twists, turns, comebacks and rallies all in the space of two possessions. But it was a thrill ride for those in the stands.

CP started off with a 8-0 run with the big 3 each contributing for CP. Jenny Theisen opened with a 3 from the right corner. Natalie Gigler knocked down her shot in the paint, Ashlynn Fuller scored on a drive and one. South called time out to regroup. Both teams opened in 2/3 zone and that kept South off the boards early. Gabrielle Roberts scored on a put back for South's first points. CP's high water mark came twice with a 12 point lead, the last coming at 26-14. CP was stroking at 144.4 pp100 and .667 floor%. South at this point started their comeback. They outscored CP 20-9 for the last 7 minutes of the half. They checked in with 142.9 pp100 in their last 14 possessions. South took their first lead on Ephesia Holmes pull up 31-30. Tayler Hill padded it with a trey. But on CP's next possession they added five to their total with a drive by Burns. She was fouled for the and one, but missed the free throw. Heather Sampson grabbed the board and Ali Schmidt canned the trey to put CP back up 35-34.

To open the second half both teams continued their torrid pace. In fact CP's first three scores all were 3 point variety. Fuller nailed two 3s and then Sampson scored on an old fashioned play. That was CP's largest lead in the second half with a 5 point margin. Hill answered right back with her three to make it 44-42. There were 3 ties and 8 lead changes. South, on the 6th lead change took over on a Holmes drive to go up 57-56 with 8:23 left. South stretched that lead out to 64-56 with 4:16 left. CP then started a 7 possession scoring sequence. CP started off the string with six straight points from Fuller. Jenny Theisen scored on a 3 with 1:17 left and went to the line for the four point play, but it was off. Hannah Cheese got the board and eventually South was fouled by Burns. Hill missed her two free throws. On CP possession #6 Ashley Witte made two free throws after getting the rebound off the Hill miss. That made it 69-68. A violation put the ball back in CP's hand with 46.9 seconds left. Theisen was fouled and she converted the first, but missed the second. Roberts picked up the board for South now down 70-68. Hill drove down into the lane and drew the "and one" which she converted with 34.1 left. That proved to be the game winner. On CP's next possession the string ended. Gigler ended up turning it over on a pass and Hill was there to get the ball. Holmes finished up the scoring with two free throws. CP had once last crack with a desperation 3 from Theisen in the right corner, but it bounced away. Now it will be a replay of the Twin City Game won by Central 83-64 on a snowy Saturday late in February.

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

MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH
STARTERS
Tyisha Smith 6, 8, 75.0, .375
Ephesia Holmes 28, 18, 155.6, .611
Tayler Hill 28, 28, 100.0, .464
Jenny Houle 3, 1, 300.0, 1.000
Gabrielle Roberts 4, 6, 66.7, .333
BENCH
Hannah Cheese 4, 3, 133.3, .667
Taqouia Hammick 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Maresha Anderson 0, 1, 0.0, .000

CHAMPLIN PARK
STARTERS
Jenny Thesien 13, 10, 130.0, .500
Natalie Gigler 18, 21, 85.7, .476
Michelle Burns 2, 4, 50.0, .000
Ashlynn Fuller 26, 17, 152.9, .647
Heather Sampson 5, 4, 125.0, .500
BENCH
Laura Bruce 0, 4, 0.0, .000
Jessica Hoffman sr 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Ashley Witte 2, 4, 50.0, .500
Ali Schmidt 4, 2, 200.0, 1.0000

TRENCH PLAYER
To be the trench player you have to be ready to take the team across the finish line when the bullets are flying. When trailing with under 40 seconds left Tayler Hill made the drive and one, and then made the key defensive stop at the other end to secure the victory.

BY THE NUMBERS
Mpls South 73, 66, 110.6, .485
Champlin Park 70, 67, 104.5, .463
made 3s: MS 9, CP 7
made fts: CP 17, MS 10
bench: CP 6, MS 4

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH
Tayler Hill 7.5
Hannah Cheese 6.5
Tyisha Smith 5
Gabrielle Roberts 4.5
Ephesia Holmes 4
Jenny Houle 1
Taqouia Hammick 1
Mareshah Anderson 0.5
totals: 29

CHAMPLIN PARK
Ashlynn Fuller 7
Natalie Gigler 6
Ashley Witte 5
Michelle Burns 4
Heather Sampson 3
Jenny Theisen 2
totals: 27

next up: tomorrow morning.