Out & About: North Tartan Larson/MN Stars Hested

#5 posting 6.21.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

This game took place on Sunday, June 17
Summer Jam AAU Tournament
Bloomington Kennedy
19u championship
NORTH TARTAN LARSON 75, MN STARS HESTED 53


In the 19u girls basketball championship it was a pair of 16 teams playing for the title. The game featured two of the powers in the 16 division, and oddly enough they hadn't faced each other yet this season. Both teams lost to NC Heat in the State tournament two weeks earlier, MSH in overtime in the semis, NT in the finals. North Tartan Larson came out prepared, focused and ready for battle. It appeared they were on a mission. NTL started off strongly and didn't let up as everything clicked this day. Eight of the 10 players were at the gold standard of 100 pp100 for NTL.

MSH had the early lead at 2-0 after Cory Montgomery scored on the first possession. Hannah Draxten knocked down a three on NTL's second possession. Montgomery scored a put back for a MSH lead of 4-3, their last of the game. NTL went on a 14-0 run with a 7/8 scoring sequence. Kiara Buford and Jenny Gilbertson each had four points in the run for NTL. MSH had an 8 possession drought during the same period. However MSH turned it around quickly with six straight scores as they inched back into the game at 21-17. Leading the 13-4 charge was Brianna Mastey with four. MSH, as fast as they got hot, turned cold with another 7 possession drought. It came down to missed shots on their possessions. Only once in that sequence did they get a second crack at scoring. NTL did not cool down, but revved it up. They were 7/9 in their offense sequence with the last five in a row. NTL had a 13-0 run with Kamille Wahlin leading it off with four straight points. NTL had balance and everyone was contributing. It was 38-20 with still over 3 minutes left. NTL led at half 44-27. Wahlin and Draxten each had 8 at half.

NTL maintained their focus and ravenous appetite as they started the second half. They scored the first four times they touched the ball, a 9-2 run. The game really was never really in doubt in the second half. MSH did get the margin to the 14 point range 65-51. The only blemish on NTL was the 8 possession drought in the later portion of the second half. They righted the ship with five straight scores to close the game. NTL made their statement and got a form of redemption with the win.

MSH did not have Georgie Jones play in this game. She suffered a slight fracture of the tibia plateau. She will be seeing an orthopedic doctor next week. The injury is NOT ACL related.

Also this game featured some high school teammates battling each other. St. Paul Central had NTL's Kiara Buford facing MSH's Theiarra Taylor. Becker's Rey Robinson, NTL faced three players for MSH: Brianna and Nicole Mastey plus Shelly Stemper.

Beyond that future Gophers teammates Brianna Mastey and Jackie Voigt guarded each other too.

Photos: #1 Kiara Buford, NTL blocks an attempt by Cory Montgomery, MSH. #2. Buford soars above the crowd to lay the ball in.
The fact was there were plenty of good photos to pick from in this high level game. The lighting was great and I am starting to understand the camera better.

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

NORTH TARTAN LARSON
STARTERS
Kiara Buford, St. Paul Central 15, 15, 100.0, .467, elevation. transition has always been a strength. 3 range. fluid. bares down hard.
Hannah Draxten, Fergus Falls 10, 5, 200.0, .800 perimeter. 3 range. with rainbows.
Jackie Voigt, Park-Cottage Grove 12, 10, 120.0, .600 does everything and everything well and consistently. steady. passes well. gets after boards. RF: perhaps vision when ball handling
Kamille Wahlin, Crookston 8, 5, 160.0, .800 point guard. has turned a corner. handled the full court pressure better than earlier this season. kept vision. distributed ball to the players. can also hit her own shots when needed. is much more comfortable, confident and playing with authority over earlier in the year.
Amanda Viehauser, Armstrong 4, 6, 66.7, .750 post player. RF: if you look at the numbers you see a .750 floor % and only four points off six possessions. That is due to 50% free throws.
BENCH
Jenny Gilbertson, Winona Cotter 6, 6, 100.0, .500 runs the floor, posts, 3 range.
Hannah Linz, Eden Valley-Watkins 6, 6, 100.0, .500 left handed (as are three others on the team). didn't get 3, but drove right by defense for lay ups.
Caitlin Rowland, Hopkins 8, 6, 133.3, .667 perimeter. good decisions, doesn't beat herself. makes use of the free throw line.
Rey Robinson, Becker 6, 4, 150.0, .750 scored on offensive put backs.
Michelle Hugelen, Rosemount 0, 2, 0.0, .000 post

MN STARS HESTED
STARTERS
Alexis Montgomery, Cannon Falls 16, 16, 100.0, .563 with Jones out, she is now the main post focus. played with more energy inside. was active on the boards.
Kelsey Jacobson, Moorhead 0, 5, 0.0, .000. guard, 3 shooter. RF: shot not on today. defensively was too high and too tight on close out and that let offensive player to drive right by.
Shelly Stemper, Becker 5, 6, 83.3, .333 big guard, hit a 3. plays without fear. RF: left feet on fake on defense
Kiara Allums, Centennial 8, 10, 80.0, .400 quiet first half, more active in the second. uses glass at the angle. RF: needs to square up on shot. when things aren't going well needs to rally the troops. needs to touch teammates when things aren't going well. That will get them back and connect teammates.
Brittnye McSperron, Eastivew 6, 8, 75.0, .375 point guard. quick. had 4 at the line. RF: needs more than one assist. has a tendency to carry and pick up charges.
BENCH
Brianna Mastey, Becker 7, 6, 116.7, .500 steady performer. RF: always has good numbers, now needs to assert herself more with of a presence on offense. needs to be more vocal.
Emily Becken, Centennial 2, 4, 50.0, .250 point guard. RF: defensively needs to be ready to move to help when a player beats teammate.
Theairra Taylor, St. Paul Central 9, 11, 81.8, .364 glides, floats, body control, 3 range. RF: the reason her floor % numbers are low is the missed second free throw and then MSH gets a second chance at scoring and it takes away her possession.
Nicole Mastey, Becker 0, 0, 0.0, .000 RF: can play. can deliver. is hiding and trying to fit in. It is time to take the bull by the horns and be a difference maker.
Brittany Lewis, Red Wing 0, 0, 0.0, .000 guard

TRENCH PLAYER
Another game where a multitude could receive the honor. Today it is Kamille Wahlin.
here passing to Hannah Draxten.

BY THE NUMBERS
North Tartan Larson 75, 65, 115.4, .569
MN Stars Hested 53, 66, 80.3, .379
made 3s: NTL 4, MSH 2
made fts: MSH 21, NTL 15
assists: NTL 16. MSH 7
bench: NTL 26, MSH 18
MSH went to the line often and knocked down 21. But they only were able to score 7 field goals in the first half. Of those 7, 1 was in transition, and three were second chancers. One was a three so only two were standard field goals in the half court game.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
NORTH TARTAN LARSON
Jackie Voigt 6
Kiara Buford 4.5
Hannah Linz 4
Caitlin Rowland 4
Kamille Wahlin 4
Amanda Viehauser 2.5
Jenny Gilbertson 2
Rey Robinson 1
totals: 30

MN STARS HESTED
Alexis Montgomery 6
Kiara Allums 3
Brittnye McSperron 3
Brianna Mastey 3
Theairra Taylor 2
Shelly Stemper 1
Emily Becken 1
totals: 20

Next up: tomorrow morning. Later tomorrow the week that was #12 with polls (there will be changes), player and team of the week.