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Minnesota Elite Camp Crossover
MERCURY 52, MIRACLE 46
The Mercury handed the Miracle their first loss in the Minnesota Elite Camp. The Miracle was 6-0 prior to this game. The Miracle were up early 9-4. Cassie Dorschner had five points as the Miracle connected on four straight possessions. The Miracle had a 5/6 offensive string later in the first half capped by a three by Jessica Benson. The Mercury were in close pursuit and they closed with a 5-2 run. The Miracle had a 28-27 lead at the half. Benson had 8 for the Miracle, while Kia Johnson topped the Mercury with 6.
On the very first possession in the second half Jessica Finck scored on a put back to put the Mercury in the lead. Dorschner gave the Miracle their last lead at 30-29. After that the Miracle was out of Miracles for six possessions. The Mercury kept rising with a 7-0 run, or an 11-2 overall run. Aaryn Booker provided four of those points for the Merc. The Mercury biggest lead came at 40-32 after a driving basket by Sadiqah Jihad. Kiarah Strickland dropped a three bomb to cut the margin to 46-43. On the very next possession Whitney Wisecup drilled her own three to bump that margin back to six with 5:30 left. Hannah Iaizzo had a potential old fashioned three point play, but she missed the &1. Kasey Kolnberger, as she did most of the second half, scooped up the rebound. The Miracle still had hope as that Iaizzo basket made it 49-47*. Sadiqah Jihad nailed a three with 2:22 left for the final scoring. The Mercury didn't finish strong with a 1/7 string, but it was more than enough as their defense didn't crack. *The scoreboard said 52-47, but my notes couldn't find the missing point. They may have been given credit early for a three, but I didn't see it.
photos: #1 Kiara Strickland, maroon, runs into a Kelsi Kiecker and Jessica Finck. #2 Strickland blocks an attempt by Aaryn Booker (24 gold). photos by kja
MERCURY
STARTERS
Sarah Luse, Orono 4, 6, 66.7, .333 post,
Alyssa Kerkhoff, NRHEG 2, 6, 33.3, .167
Whitney Wisecup, Winona Cotter 7, 4, 175.0, .750 key three provided breathing space
Aaryn Booker, DeLaSalle 10, 8, 125.0, .625 tough, physical, relishes contact, and gives as well as gets. has a drive from the high post.
Kia Johnson, St. Bernard's 7, 7, 100.0, .571 likes to attack the basket.
BENCH
Sadiqah Jihad, Minneapolis South 7, 6, 116.7, .429 point guard, for one so young handled the responsibility. has confidence. Hit the big breather 3 late. can use either hand.
Danielle Anderson, Wrenshall 2, 4, 50.0, .250
Jessica Finck, Bertha-Hewitt 8, 7, 114.3, .571 nice shot.
Kasey Kolnberger, Forest Lake 3, 7, 42.9, .143 a force on the boards. she ramped and amped up her performance with each increasing physical bump. And it was a physical game.
Kelsi Kiecker, Win-E-Mac 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000
MIRACLE
STARTERS
Tyisha Smith, Minneapolis South 4, 12, 33.3, .167 speedy guard. elbow was getting too far away on the dribble
Kiara Strickland, Minneapolis Roosevelt 9, 9, 100.0, .444 continuing to make her presence felt. defenses are taking away the left drive. gets up.
Jessica Benson, Grand Meadow 10, 8, 125.0, .500 nice outside shot. good size on the perimeter.
Jengeih Tamba, Park Center 1, 3, 33.3, .333
Kaitlyn Houser, Zimmerman 2, 3, 66.7, .333
BENCH
Cassie Dorschner, Kasson-Mantorville 8, 9, 88.9, .444 guard that has decent shooting eye.
Sarina Baker, DeLaSalle 8, 6, 133.3, .667 another youngster that has proved her ability to mix it up with the big girls. competitive fire.
Hanna Iaizzo, White Bear Lake 4, 3, 133.3, .667
Sarah Berlin, Mound-Westonka 0, 3, 0.0, .000
TRENCH PLAYER
Aaryn Booker
BY THE NUMBERS
Mercury 52, 56, 92.9, .446
Miracle 46, 56, 82.1, .393
made 3s: Miracle 4, Mercury 3
made fts: Mercury 10, Miracle 2
bench: Mercury 22, Miracle 20
MERCURY
STARTERS
Sarah Luse, Orono 4, 6, 66.7, .333 post,
Alyssa Kerkhoff, NRHEG 2, 6, 33.3, .167
Whitney Wisecup, Winona Cotter 7, 4, 175.0, .750 key three provided breathing space
Aaryn Booker, DeLaSalle 10, 8, 125.0, .625 tough, physical, relishes contact, and gives as well as gets. has a drive from the high post.
Kia Johnson, St. Bernard's 7, 7, 100.0, .571 likes to attack the basket.
BENCH
Sadiqah Jihad, Minneapolis South 7, 6, 116.7, .429 point guard, for one so young handled the responsibility. has confidence. Hit the big breather 3 late. can use either hand.
Danielle Anderson, Wrenshall 2, 4, 50.0, .250
Jessica Finck, Bertha-Hewitt 8, 7, 114.3, .571 nice shot.
Kasey Kolnberger, Forest Lake 3, 7, 42.9, .143 a force on the boards. she ramped and amped up her performance with each increasing physical bump. And it was a physical game.
Kelsi Kiecker, Win-E-Mac 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000
MIRACLE
STARTERS
Tyisha Smith, Minneapolis South 4, 12, 33.3, .167 speedy guard. elbow was getting too far away on the dribble
Kiara Strickland, Minneapolis Roosevelt 9, 9, 100.0, .444 continuing to make her presence felt. defenses are taking away the left drive. gets up.
Jessica Benson, Grand Meadow 10, 8, 125.0, .500 nice outside shot. good size on the perimeter.
Jengeih Tamba, Park Center 1, 3, 33.3, .333
Kaitlyn Houser, Zimmerman 2, 3, 66.7, .333
BENCH
Cassie Dorschner, Kasson-Mantorville 8, 9, 88.9, .444 guard that has decent shooting eye.
Sarina Baker, DeLaSalle 8, 6, 133.3, .667 another youngster that has proved her ability to mix it up with the big girls. competitive fire.
Hanna Iaizzo, White Bear Lake 4, 3, 133.3, .667
Sarah Berlin, Mound-Westonka 0, 3, 0.0, .000
TRENCH PLAYERAaryn Booker
BY THE NUMBERS
Mercury 52, 56, 92.9, .446
Miracle 46, 56, 82.1, .393
made 3s: Miracle 4, Mercury 3
made fts: Mercury 10, Miracle 2
bench: Mercury 22, Miracle 20
One key difference: the Mercury was much more aggressive in attacking the basket. Also the Mercury's defense prevented the Miracle from penetrating. That forced the Miracle to take lower percentage outside shots.
DEFENSIVE WRAPS
MERCURY
Kasey Kolnberger 9
Sarah Luse 5
Kia Johnson 4
Whitney Wisecup 3
Jessica Finck 3
Alyssa Kerkhoff 2
Aaryn Booker 2
Danielle Anderson 2
Kelsi Kiecker 1
totals 31
MIRACLE
Hanna Iaizzo 6
Tyisha Smith 4
Jessica Benson 4
Sarina Baker 4
Kiara Strickland 3
Jengeih Tamba 2
Cassie Dorschner 1
Sarah Berlin 1
totals: 25
DEFENSIVE WRAPS
MERCURY
Kasey Kolnberger 9
Sarah Luse 5
Kia Johnson 4
Whitney Wisecup 3
Jessica Finck 3
Alyssa Kerkhoff 2
Aaryn Booker 2
Danielle Anderson 2
Kelsi Kiecker 1
totals 31
MIRACLE
Hanna Iaizzo 6
Tyisha Smith 4
Jessica Benson 4
Sarina Baker 4
Kiara Strickland 3
Jengeih Tamba 2
Cassie Dorschner 1
Sarah Berlin 1
totals: 25
One of the interesting subplots in this game this afternoon was the fact that three players were on the Mpls Lady Cats this summer (and they will be in this weekend's tournament). Sarina Baker and Tyisha Smith were facing teammate Sadiqah Jihad. Jihad had the upper hand.
next up: another crossover game in the Minnesota Elite Camp
next up: another crossover game in the Minnesota Elite Camp