Out & About: Northern Lights/Northern Storm

#7 posting 6.10.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

Rogers MYAS Tournament
17/19 Championship
NORTHERN LIGHTS 50, NORTHERN STORM 39


In the championship game of the Rogers MYAS Tournament it was another multi school team against a single school and the multi school team won. Beyond that, Northern Storm (better known as Cambridge-Isanti during the winter season) only had an iron five. After a 20 all tie at half it was Lights out in the third quarter as Northern Lights pulled away steadily led by the towering presence of Amber Dvorak.

Northern Storm made it to the finals with a tight 40-37 win over the Minneapolis Lady Lakers.

Just as in the first game Northern Lights trailed and accelerated as the first quarter moved on. Marie Hanson scored the first points of the game on a transition lay up after a missed NL shot. Allie Benham scored the next four points for NL. NL had an 11-2 run in the first quarter with a 5/7 sequence. At the break it was 11-6 NL.

The second quarter had more give and take. NS took a 14-13 lead after a pair of Kailee McDonald free throws. Danielle Anderson hit a long two to reclaim that lead for NL. Jordan Vavra knocked down a trey to put NS up 17-15. Slygh answered on the next possession to tie it all up. NL hit three free throws on one possession as Benham made the first of two and then Shelby Slygh got the rebound, was fouled, and then delivered two free throws. Hanson tied it up right before half with a free throw.

Just as in the semis, Northern Lights had a strong third quarter. The Northern Storm wasn't held scoreless yet NL had a 12-2 run to put a comfortable distance between the two teams. Dvorak put her stamp on the quarter with the first three points on the first two possessions, plus she added five defensive rebounds. NS did manage to cut the lead to 7 a couple of times and had a chance to lower it even more after an "&1" by Vavra missed and the rebound was maintained by NS, but the shot didn't fall. It was 36-27 going into the fourth.

NL maintained their lead throughout the fourth. NS did test the lead at 44-37 and 46-39 with under a minute to go. The full court pressure was bothering NL as they had two straight turnovers. NS couldn't get their shots to drop however. The last two NL possessions were in the scoring column to make it 50-39.

Photo: Samantha Anderson goes up on the right baseline for Northern Lights for a pull up jumper.

NORTHERN LIGHTS
STARTERS
Much of what I said earlier applies again.
Amber Dvorak, Hinckley-Finlayson 12, 10, 120.0, .700 delivered for the second game in a row. Stepped up in the third to steer the game NL's direction.
Katelyn Thompson, East Central 7, 8, 87.5, .250 3 range.
Trisha Frye, Cotton 4, 6, 66.7, .333 guard. tied for most assists for NL.
Shelby Slygh, Mesabi Range CC (Cotton) 8, 8, 100.0, .500 was more active on the offensive end on her shot. penetrated, exploited opportunities. keeps good vision. has good hands.
Allie Benham, Deer River 9, 6, 150.0, .667 got fouled. guard. RF: needs to be aware of ball on defense.
BENCH
Danielle Anderson, Wrenshall 4, 6, 66.7, .333 guard. RF: takes long 2s.
Samantha Anderson, Wrenshall 6, 6, 100.0, .500 follow through needs to straighten up. likes baseline drives.
Emma Grover, Wrenshall 0, 6, 0.0, .000

NORTHERN STORM
STARTERS
Kailee McDonald, Cambridge-Isanti 12, 23, 52.2, .261 point guard. RF: would take shots in the half court offense when no one else touched the ball.
Marie Hanson, Cambridge-Isanti 14, 13, 107.7, .500 lefty. perimeter, likes to score off the dribble. has pull up.
Jordan Vavra, Cambridge-Isanti 10, 11, 90.9, .455 not afraid of getting hit. had two &1 opportunities. RF: needs to deliver consistently at the line. passes sail high.
#1, Cambridge-Isanti 3, 6, 50.0, .333 lefty perimeter. scored off second shot opportunities.
#13, Cambridge-Isanti 0, 4, 0.0, .000 inside. forced to guard Dvorak.


TRENCH PLAYER
Again it goes to Amber Dvorak

BY THE NUMBERS
Northern Lights 50, 56, 89.3, .429
Northern Storm 39, 57, 68.4, .351
made 3s: NL 1, NS 1
made fts: NL 9, NS 7
assists: NL 15, NS 3
bench: NL 10, NS 0

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
NORTHERN LIGHTS
Amber Dvorak 13
Shelby Slygh 8
Katelyn Thompson 2
Trisha Frye 2
Alli Benham 2
Samantha Anderson 2
Danielle Anderson 2
Emma Grover 1
totals: 32

NORTHERN STORM
Kailee McDonald 7
Marie Hanson 7
Jordan Vavra 4
#1 3
#13 3
totals: 24

Next up: tomorrow morning.