Thursday, July 05, 2007

Out & About: Metro Stars Black/ECI Gold West

#4 posting 7.5.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

This game took place on Saturday, June 30
Dakota Showcase, Augustana, Sioux Falls
Championship
Metro Stars Black 59, ECI Gold West 55, OT

The Dakota Showcase Championship featured two teams with contrasting styles. The push it at every opportunity ECI Gold West team from North Dakota; and the deliberate, patient get a high percentage shot each time Metro Stars Black from Minnesota. In the world of the analogies it was the tortoise (MSB) vs the hare (ECIGW). Again chalk one up for the tortoises, but not without some nail biting moments in the second half.


Both teams started off with radar vision, of the first nine possessions eight found the bottom of the net. ECIGW opened the scoring with an inside bucket from Kylie Messer. Hanna Muegge answered for MSB with a drive. MSB led 9-8 when the initial flurry was over. Muegge had four for MSB, Messer had three for ECIGW. MSB did prevent ECIGW from their patented transition game by jamming their engine Ashley Privratsky and making sure they didn't get beat down court. I counted four points in transition in the first half, same as MSB. ECIGW did score four points off put backs. Muegge broke a 14 all tie with a three from the right wing. DaNae Moore added two free throws later for a 19-14 lead. ECI closed the half with two more scores, but they were not having good success at the line. They missed four points at the line while MSB didn't deliver one time.

There were seven ties in the second half. MSB broke free from the fifth tie at 32 with a basket from Laura Weber off a pass from Muegge. The zone defense ECIGW used allowed open spaces and Sarah Wiens found one to put MSB up five 37-32. They maintained that lead until the 6:20 mark when ECIGW broke free. It started with an "& 1" by Messer, but it was only worth two. However that started a seven possession scoring sequence and 15-2 run for ECIGW. Messer had 7 points in the run. ECIGW led 50-42 with 3:30 left. MSB took a time out to regain their composure and to stop the momentum. They also used it to remind the players ECIGW liked to run (which they were doing).

The time out worked and then some. The defense held. Tina Fisher started MSB back on the road to recovery with a rebound basket. That started a four possession 11-3 run. The zone allowed three straight 3s by three different MSB players: Carolyn Dienhart, Adrea Holler, and Courtney Boylan all delivered a rainbow. Boylan's tied the game at 53 with under a minute to go. Shawna Knife missed on a drive, Muegge rebounded. MSB took a time out, but on the ensuing pass in they stepped on the out of bounds line. ECIGW had one last crack but the pass from out of bounds went awry. Boylan's desperation 3 at the buzzer was off. Overtime.
In the two minute overtime ECI started with the ball. However a turnover ended their first possession. Weber scored on a put back to start MSB's three straight scores. Muegge made two free throws. Privratsky scored on a drive to make it 57-55. Boylan, in a fitting end, iced the tournament championship with two free throws. MSB had their second tournament trophy this season.
PHOTOS: #1 Stephanie Sension, MSB goes for a rebound. #2 Sara Wiens, MSB launches a trey vs the zone. #3 The ECIWG pass that went awry for Privratsky. #4 Boylan's last second 3 attempt. All photos by Teas. if you want to take a closer look at the photos, click on them.
player, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
METRO STARS BLACK
STARTERS
Hanna Muegge, Hopkins 14, 8, 175.0, .750 stepped up, delivered with all facets of the game
Courtney Boylan, Chaska 10, 9, 111.1, .444 another solid top level performance. kept her head when down and that helped keep MSB on an even keel.
Stephanie Sension, Hopkins 2, 3, 66.7, .333 runs the floor and jammed the passing lanes. boarded well on defense
DaNae Moore, Eastview 4, 6, 66.7, .333 athletic
Tina Fisher, Park-Cottage Grove 8, 6, 133.3, .667 post player had all 8 points in the second half
BENCH
Laura Weber, Eden Prairie 5, 6, 83.3, .500 post player. made key go ahead basket
Sarah Wiens, Burnsville 9, 11, 81.8, .273 3 point lefty. again all points in second half.
Adrea Holler, Eagan 4, 6, 66.7, .333 rangy lanky perimeter type
Carolyn Dienhart, Cretin-Derham Hall 3, 1, 300.0, 1.000 guard
ECI GOLD WEST
STARTERS
Kylie Messer, Bismarck St. Mary's 14, 10, 140.0, .800 inside presence. needs to be more consistent at the line.
Ashley Privratsky, Devils Lake 12, 10, 120.0, .500 their motor. wanted to
Shawna Knife, Bottineau 2, 4, 50.0, .250 perimeter
Sarah Feeney, Bismarck 2, 5, 40.0, .200 rangy post
Alex Feeney, Bismarck 7, 7, 100.0, .429 rangy post
BENCH
Mara Paulson, Fargo Shanley 7, 7, 100.0, .429 scored on put backs and 3s
Madey Hornung, Jamestown 3, 4, 75.0, .250 guard
Lauren Carew, Fargo Shanley 8, 9, 88.9, .444 another big player, needs to keep vision up when dribbling
TRENCH PLAYER
Hanna Muegge

BY THE NUMBERS
Metro Stars Black 59, 56, 105.4, .464
ECI Gold West 55, 56, 98.2, .464
made 3s: MSB 8, ECIGW 3
made fts: MSB 13, ECIGW 6
bench: MSB 21, ECIGW 18

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
METRO STARS BLACK
Hannah Muegge 4
Stephanie Sension 4
Laura Weber 4
Courtney Boylan 3
Tina Fisher 3
Sarah Wiens 1
Carolyn Dienhart 1
totals: 20
ECI GOLD WEST
Ashley Privratsky 6
Alex Feeney 4
Mara Paulson 3
Shawna Knife 2
Sarah Feeney 2
Kylie Messer 1
Madey Hornung 1
Lauren Carew 1
totals: 20
Next up: tomorrow morning