Metro Stars Back to Back Champs

#4 posting 7.8.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

METRO STARS BLACK STRIKES AGAIN
For the second week in a row Metro Stars Black has won a regional girls basketball tournament. Last week it was the 32 team Dakota Showcase in Sioux Falls. This week it was the 16 team Mid-America Championships at Hopkins. MSB beat ECI Minnesota to open the tournament then East Metro Elite in the quarters. In the semis today they beat MN Stars Borowicz by five. It was a one point game with a minute to go according to my sources. In the finals MSB beat the hosts MN Stars Hested 59-52. This last poll MSH was rated #4; MSB #6

MSB had a lead most of the game. They took the lead at 8-6 and held the lead (except at 18-17) until late in the game when MSH took a 48-47 lead with three minutes left. Both teams went back and forth for the next two possessions. Emily Becken hit a three for a 51-49 lead for MSH. On the next MSB possession Adrea Holler tied it from a pass from Courtney Boylan. A MSH turnover was all the opening MSB needed. Boylan was fouled after she stole the ball and dropped both free throws. The MSB defense held on the next Hested possession. On the next MSB possession Stephanie Sension scored on a key put back after a Carolyn Dienhart missed 3. Tina Fisher stood her ground for MSB and picked up the charge from Brittnye McSperron. In the ensuing MSB possession Sension drained two free throws. There still was 1:27 left. Both teams traded two non scoring possessions. Brianna Mastey was fouled with 17 seconds left and made one free throw. Sension added two more free throws for the final points 59-52.
Courtney Boylan led MSB with 17, with Stephanie Sension chipping in with 13 and Adrea Holler 10.
For MSH Brianna Mastey had 16. She was the only player in double digits.

MSB is the most improved team since June 1. They are winning with execution, patience, persistence, and rock solid defense. They are playing their way. If others were doubting of the Sioux Falls experience last weekend, this performance should make believers.

On top of that the whole Metro Stars Family had a productive weekend.
Metro Stars White won the 16u bracket at the Mid-American Tournament with a convincing 48-25 win over Southern Minne Magic Black. Last weekend in Sioux Falls MSW won their bracket after pool play which was good for 17th place. So MSW also finished the weekend with a win.

Metro Stars 15U took 3rd place in the 16U bracket with a win over MN Stars Antl.

In Kearney, NE in the Big Show tournament the Metro Stars 14s finished second. The Kansas Belles won the tournament 54-42. So the whole Metro Stars Family was 24-2 this weekend---a .923 winning %.

Also of note in the 17 semifinals MN Stars Hested beat the ECI Gold West 66-51. ECIGW finished second to Metro Stars Black in Sioux Falls.

Getting back to the Mid-American tournament, in the 15u championship it was the Omaha Crusaders defeating Minneapolis Lady Cats 59-46. MLC is a 13u team usually, but with the addition of Tyeshia Smith and Keke Greenlee they are a 14u team. Even so MLC was playing up.

OUT & ABOUT SCHEDULE
Here are the games I watched at Hopkins and the reporting Out & About Schedule
MONDAY
15 semifinals: Minneapolis Lady Cats 66, MN Stars Schmitz 62
15 finals: Omaha Crusaders 59, Minneapolis Lady Cats 46
TUESDAY
16 semifinals: Southern Minne Magic Black 54, MN Stars Antl 48
16 finals: Metro Stars White 48, Southern Minne Magic Black 25
WEDNESDAY
17 seminfals: MN Stars Hested 66, ECI Gold West 51
17 finals: Metro Stars Black 59, MN Stars Hested 52

Here is an odd fact for you in the games I watched in this touranment, the team that I saw win, lost their next game.

Next up: tomorrow morning