The AAU Week That Was #3: Menomonie

#4 posting 4.20.2007
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THE AAU WEEK THAT WAS #3: Menomonie

Of the big events that took place last week I headed to the nearest site: Menomonie, Wisconsin for the Midwest Exposure Classic. The events around the Twin Cities were usually populated with school teams. I did see some of those games too. But the bigger programs were at UW Stout in Menomonie or further afield.

NUMBER CRUNCHING
The average so far in the AAU season is 81.83 pp100 and .386 floor %. If we take only the 15s and above teams the numbers are 83.63 pp100 and .396. If we go further and take the top level programs for each state it breaks down like this:
Wisconsin 95.64, .441
Iowa 91.09 .428
Minnesota 88.03 .415
Right now the AAU teams are ahead of the HS teams which is a change from last year. The HS teams averaged 78.64 and .383 for the year. Even the AAAA class is bypassed this spring with 83.72 and .408 for their scores.

OTHER WINNERS OF THE WEEK
In the Deep South Classic NC Heat won the 16 sponsored title with Tayler Hill, Mpls South the MVP.
The MN Suns 14s were champions down at the Windy City Classic with a last second three over the Mpls Lady Cats. All Iowa Attack got on track in Chicago too with a win in their upper division.
Also in Menomonie the North Tartan 14s won the 15 Gold bracket with four wins They opened with a 50-44 win over 43 Hoops 15s. In the second game they beat Team WI 16 White 61-38. NT then beat Team WI Red 15s 62-23,and NT won the championship as they beat the MN Metro Stars 15s 46-36.

This week the action is local again with a dash of All Star action in MN.

TEAM OF THE WEEK
For their victory in the MEC and their convincing 68-34 championship win the team this week is Team WI Select 17. The bigger, stronger, faster, TWS17 team averaged 105.74 and .484 in the two games I saw---against MN Metro Stars White and Team WI Select 16. I didn't see the pool play, but Pool A was loaded with Randolph and MN Metro Stars Black in the mix.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the third straight week the best player on the best team is the player of the week. Katie Bushman, the 6-1 center from Phillips, dominated the paint, rebounded with authority, ran the floor, was a strong physically intimidating presence for TWS17. She looked like a Woman amongst girls.

Here are the rules of how I select the team: #1 I had to see them during the week (or weekend). #2 players have to have at least 6 possessions; #3 100pp100 and .500 floor % minimums. #4 older over younger if applicable.
FIRST TEAM
Aaryn Booker (DeLaSalle) MN Summit Blue
Katie Bushman (Phillips) Team WI Select 17
Molly Duehn (Burnsville) MN Metro Stars 15
Nicole Griffin (Milwauke Vincent) Team WI Select 15
Jadee Rooney (Markesan) Randolph
SECOND TEAM
Maggie Bryant (Sartell) North Tartan 16
Kaylee Cardinal (Arrowhead) Team WI Select 17
Krista Pelkey (Oshkosh West) Randolph
Val Schuster (Wausau Newman) Team WI Select 17
Katie Toellner (Mayville) Randolph

Now you might ask "what about Hannah Quilling?" Well her numbers didn't add up on the scale, but she was the top assist giver and so gets the inaugural
TABLE SETTER Award. She had 9 assists in the championship game.

DEFENSIVE TEAM
Katie Bushman (Phillips) Team WI Select 17
Beth Christiansen (Owatonna) North Tartan 16
Nicole Griffin (Milwaukee Vincent) Team WI Select 15
Jadee Rooney (Markesan) Randolph
Kayla Wendt (Coleman) Team WI Red 17

PAST TEAM & PLAYER/DEFENDERS OF THE WEEK
2: Mpls Lady Cats..... Sarina Baker (DeLaSalle) Mpls Lady Cats/Aubrey Davis (Blm Kennedy) Mpls Lady Cats
1: IBCA Select I.....Indy Uhlenhopp (North Butler) IBCA Select I/same

POLLS
16/17
1. NC Heat
2. Team WI Select 17
3. IBCA Select I
4. All Iowa Attack
5. MN Stars Hested
6. North Tartan 17
7. Randolph
8. East Metro Elite
9. Iowa Elite I
10. MN Metro Stars Black

15
1. MN Metro Stars
2. Team WI Select 15
3. MN Stars
4. MSB

14
1. North Tartan
2. MN Suns
3. Mpls Lady Cats
4. MN Metro Stars

13
1. Midtown Lady Monarchs

Next up: tomorrow morning