Out & About: Mpls South/Eastview

#8 posting 3.9.2007
your daily dose of girls basektball news & information

6AAAA FINALS
MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH tigers 67, EASTVIEW lightning 55

South dominated the first half with their swarming, pesky defense harrassing every movement up court. Eastview led twice in the early going, the last coming at 7-6, but South's superior quickness and their ball handling--it is like they have three point guards on the floor--gave them match up advantages. South never had a great string on offense, but they did go on a 16-5 run over the last portion of the first half to lead 31-16 with under a minute to go. Tyisha Smith was creating all sorts of problems for Eastview's ball handlers with five steals and when she wasn't picking their pocket, she was breathing hard down their necks and nipping at their heels taking them out of their offensive flow. Offensively it was Tayler Hill delivering 15 first half points from the opening drive on the first possession to 3s, to the free throw line.

South's defense in the second half was not as effective and not as air tight as in the first half. Perhaps Eastview made adjustments. Perhaps Eastview's player figured out what they needed to do, but there was a huge difference in the level of intensity on the defensive side of the ball. South still was delivering on the offensive end with regularity. Eastview did score on 7/8 possessions at one stretch. Brittnye McSperron tried to keep Eastview in the contest with 19 second half points, 11 of which came at the line as she continually drove into the heart of the South defense. McSperron found gaps, and the help wasn't there, or if it was it was late, once she had a step around her defender. South's biggest lead came at 20 a couple of times in the second half, the last coming at 63-43 with 4:07 left. Eastview outscored South 12-4 to close the game. From the 6 minute mark on Eastview scored on 9/11 possessions. McSperron had 11 of her points at that time.

MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH
STARTERS
Tyisha Smith 10, 9, 111.1, .556 a true pirahna. tough, small, harrassing, pesky, thief. Also can hit the pull up jumper, can snap quick passes to open receivers as she sees the floor. RF: size, but then again Ivory Latta is not a giant either.
Jenny Houle 0, 1, 0.0, .000 3 point shooter. RF: built for zone offense. didn't provide any wraps on defense.
Ephesia Holmes 20, 16, 125.0, .625 overlooked, but dangerous. the spirit of Khalid El-Amin. good ball handler good vision. and has good jumping ability.
Gabrielle Roberts 0, 5, 0.0, .000 post. RF: too many fouls hampered her game. complained about calls.
Tayler Hill 29, 23, 126.1, .652 such a smoooooth stroke. glides on the floor. can hit pull ups, 3s, and can also post up. RF: left points at the line
BENCH
Hannah Cheese 4, 3, 133.3, .667 tough enforcer, rebounder.
Mareshah Anderson 4, 5, 80.0, .400 RF: had offensive fouls away from the action.

EASTVIEW
STARTERS
Sam Mehr 6, 5, 120.0, .400 3 point shooter, and hit some jump shot 3s. RF: foul problems with the quickness of South
DaNae Moore 7, 12, 58.3, .333 active defensively. moves on offense. Scored on a pull up. RF: needs to work on ball handling skills against pressure. was called for throwing an elbow.
Brittnye McSperron 29, 25, 116.0, .600 point guard. went hard to the basket all second half drawing many fouls and shooting many free throws. can elevate. has 3 range. RF: shot with her feet on the 3 line for a long 2. showed frustration by slamming her hand on the floor after being stripped. Complained to the refs about calls.
Jenny Wesser 6, 11, 54.5, .273 assigned to guard Hill. scored all her points in the second half. Baseline drives favorite.
Cassie Sheppard 2, 3, 66.7, .333 RF: needs to look at the basket.
BENCH
Siri Hill 5, 4, 125.0, .750
Jenna Ulrich 0, 1, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Tyisha Smith. She was a buzz saw on defense and frustrated Eastview all night, disrupting their offense, especially in the first half as South built the lead. She also had a good floor game on offense.

BY THE NUMBERS
Mpls South 67, 62, 108.1, .548
Eastview 55, 61, 90.2, .459
made 3s: MS 3, Eastview 3
made fts: MS 20, Eastview 20
bench: MS 8, Eastview 5
There was a big contrast between the first and second half on South's defense.
First half 18, 28, 64.3, .321
Second half 37, 33, 112.1, .576
Eastview was much more aggressive in driving to the basket (Brittnye McSperron) in the second half. It was almost as if South put the game on cruise control on defense. They will need to find the energy level they gave in the first 18 minutes on defense and duplicate that over the last 18 minutes in the State quarters on Wednesday.
Eastview just didn't have the quickness to match with South over the long haul. Their pressure never really bothered South.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH
Tyisha Smith 11
Tayler Hill 8
Ephesia Holmes 6
Hannah Cheese 3
Gabrielle Roberts 2
totals: 30

EASTVIEW
DaNae Moore 11
Brittnye McSperron 4
Sam Mehr 3
Cassie Sheppard 1
Siri Hill 1
Kelsey North 1
totals: 21

Next up: scores from the section finals.