2 Northern State Verbals; Young Transfers

#2 posting 8.31.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

2 MORE NORTHERN STATE VERBALS
Nicky Rausch, Hoven has made a verbal to Northern State. Rausch averaged 21.1 ppg for the 17-4 class B Greyhounds. Rausch played this summer with Dakota Hardwood Threat.
Rausch is the 7th player overall in the 2008 South Dakota class to verbal and the 3rd to go to a D2 school.

Also heading to Northern State is Alycia Dahl of Northern Freeze. Dahl goes to school at Marshall County Central in Minnesota, but her high school team is called the Northern Freeze. Dahl averaged 19.4 for the 15-11 class A Freeze last year. This summer Dahl played with the MN Stars Smith squad.
Dahl is the 17th player overall in the 2008 Minnesota class to verbal and the 9th to go a D2 school.

Earlier Emily Becken of Centennial and Jenna Higgins of Maranatha verballed Northern State.

YOUNG TRANSFERS
Jill Young of Mitchell Christian, the all time leading scorer in South Dakota girls basketball history with 3317 points, has left Creighton and will sit out this season. She will attend South Dakota State. Young averaged 29.1 ppg for 21-1 Golden Eagles this past season. Young was the inaugural gbbrecruit player of the summer in 2006.

Thanks to the readers for the help. Go to my profile to email me your news.

next up: tomorrow morning

D2 Winning %; Open Gyms, Summer 2008

#1 posting 8.31.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

WINNING %
Gene Roebuck of North Dakota is #1 in winning pct at the D2 level with .856. Curt Fredrickson of Northern State is #6 at .767. Paul Fessler of Concordia St. Paul checks in at #16 with .704. Here is the complete list of D2 winning %.

MORE OPEN GYM NEWS
43 Hoops Basketball Academy will hold their open gyms Thursdays from 6 to 9 pm starting next week. The cost is $30 for the players trying out for the 43 Hoops spring teams or $5 at the door.

SUMMER 2008
The Metro Stars Black has begun to offer roster spots for the 2008 season. Cost to play on the team will be $400 and the team plans to attend several of the top exposure tournaments hosted by Nike and AAU next spring and summer. If you would like to play for the Metro Stars please contact Andy Meinhardt ASAP as roster spots will go quickly. Information about the Metro Stars program can be found at www.mnmetrostars.com
Carl Scales has accepted the Metro Stars 16U head coaching position for the 2008 season. If you are interested in playing for the Metro Stars 16U team you can find contact information for Coach Scales on the Metro Stars website.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow, unless news breaks

Athletes X 2

#2 posting 8.30.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ATHLETES X 2
Kelly Roysland, former Gopher and Fosston basketball star is making the transition to D1 volleyball now that her basketball career has ended. Here is the KARE 11 report. Click on the video icon under the photo to watch. It last 1:34.

Jennifer Jorgensen, 2008 Southeast Webster-Grand, IA, has made a verbal to Pacific for basketball, but she also was named all state in Softball. She was named 1A player of the year. From the Fort Dodge Messenger.

COACHING NEWS
Kendra Faustin, from Hartland, Michigan, has been hired as head women's basketball coach at Niagara. Faustin was an assistant at Canisius.

CHEESE UPDATE
Hannah Cheese, Minneapolis South 2007, will be taking a year off from basketball. She still plans to play for Anoka-Ramsey CC. She is out in Maryland taking care of her mother. Her mother recently had a stem cell transplant for treatment of her cancer

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow, unless news breaks

Police Blotter X 2

#1 posting 8.30.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

POLICE BLOTTER X 2
Charlie Brookins, Hastings, MN assistant girls basketball coach has resigned. Hastings police are looking at a possible inappropriate relationship with a female student. Brookins was also the head basketball coach. From the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

HIRED
Former Park-Cottage Grove athlete Tiffani Calmes has been hired at Ellsworth, WI as an assistant girls basketball coach. From the Pierce County Herald.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: more news.

Blueprints for Success

#4 posting 8.29.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BLUEPRINTS FOR SUCCESS
John Millea of the StarTribune gives a blueprint for building a successful football program (in five steps), but you can substitute girls basketball and the results will be the same.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news email me by going to my profile.

Next up: tomorrow morning.

North Tartan Larson Exposed

#3 posting 8.29.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

NORTH TARTAN LARSON EXPOSED

North Tartan's 17U team, coached by program director Bill Larson, had the opportunity to play in the three top exposure tournaments in the nation this past spring and summer. These tournaments included the Boo Williams Invitational in Virginia Beach Virginia (April), The End of The Oregon Trail Tournament in Portland Oregon (early July), and the prestigious Nike Nationals in North Augusta South Carolina (end of July), a tournament in which only the top 24 Nike sponsored teams are invited each year. These 3 tournaments not only attract the best players and teams from across the country, but they are also attracting hundreds of college coaches, from the top college programs in the nation. The Nike Nationals had over 400 college coaches in attendance viewing 24 teams on 4 courts in one building.

The North Tartan team had the chance to play against many of the highest ranked teams and players in the country, and did extremely well representing the North Tartan program and the state of Minnesota. At the Boo Williams Invitational in April the team had the opportunity to play against Team Essence out of Florida (ranked #1 nationally by hoopgurlz.com). This is a team that features April Sykes (#1 ranked guard 2008 class, #2 overall by hoopgurlz.com), and Tiffany Hayes (#4 ranked guard 2008 class, #11 overall by hoopgurlz.com and committed to play at UConn), as well as Chelsey Lee (#6 ranked forward 2008 class, #36 overall by hoopgurlz.com). North Tartan played this team in the Silver Bracket quarterfinals and lost a hard fought game 59-53. Also, during pool play in this tournament North Tartan played DFW Elite Gold out of Texas (ranked #5 nationally by hoopgurlz.com) featuring Brooklyn Pope (#4 ranked wing 2008 class, #9 overall by hoopgurlz.com), and Destini Hughes (#2 ranked point guard 2008 class, #17 overall by hoopgurlz.com).

At The end of The Oregon Trail Tournament in Portland, North Tartan again represented themselves well, making it to the championship game of the Gold bracket. In this game, North Tartan played against Tennessee Flight Silver (ranked #2 nationally by hoopgurlz.com). In this game, North Tartan gave "The Flight" everything they could handle and then some, losing an extremely exciting game in overtime by a score of 61-60. The Tennessee Flight is loaded with major Division 1 prospects including LaSondra Barrett (#2 ranked forward 2008 class, #12 overall by hoopgurlz.com), Candace Wood (#16 ranked guard 2008 class, #49 overall by hoopgurlz.com committed to play at North Carolina), and Natalie Novosel (#13 ranked guard 2008 class, #43 overall by hoopgurlz.com and committed to play at Notre Dame). North Tartan played several other nationally respected programs at this tournament, including the East Bay Explosion Black team out of the California Bay area, which features several committed Division 1 prospects.

To end the summer AAU circuit, North Tartan was invited to play in what is regarded as the best tournament of the summer both from an exposure standpoint and a level of competition standpoint - Nike Nationals. This tournament is made up of 24 of the top AAU programs in the country, with teams being placed in one of 4 pools of 6 teams, where every team in your pool would be picked as the favorite to win most other tournaments. North Tartan's pool may very well have been the toughest from top to bottom of any of the 4 pools. In pool play, North Tartan competed against Boo Williams Summer League (ranked #4 nationally by hoopgurlz.com) featuring players such as Lynette Kizer (#1 ranked post 2008 class, #5 overall by hoopgurlz.com committed to play at Maryland), She'la White (#8 ranked point guard 2008 class, #45 overall by hoopgurlz.com committed to play at North Carolina), and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (5 star rated guard prospect class of 2009 by hoopgurlz.com). North Tartan nearly pulled of the upset of the summer, leading Boo Williams most of the game before falling in overtime. In other games, North Tartan played Cy Fair Shock 90 out of Texas (ranked #8 nationally by hoopgurlz.com) featuring Nneka Ogwumike (#1 ranked forward 2008 class, #6 overall by hoopgurlz.com), All Ohio Black (ranked #13 nationally by hoopgurlz.com) featuring Ayana Dunning (#3 ranked post 2008 class, #14 overall by hoopgurlz.com) and Amber Stokes (#21 ranked guard 2008 class, #63 overall by hoopgurlz.com) and the New York City Gauchos (ranked # 20 nationally by hoopgurlz.com) featuring the highly regarded 2009 prospects China Crosby and Markel Walker. North Tartan made it out of pool play at Nike Nationals to qualify for the Sweet Sixteen in the Silver bracket. They lost in bracket play to eventual Silver Bracket Champion New York City Gauchos in a close, hard fought game 44-37. By making it to the Sweet Sixteen, North Tartan assured itself of an automatic invite to next years Nike Nationals.

The North Tartan 17U team had a tremendous summer from April to the end of July. By playing a schedule like the one this team did, not only did the team and program receive exceptional exposure in front of hundred's of college coaches, but each player became better by playing against the best. Many of the players these young ladies competed against will be the ones basketball fans will be seeing on television in the coming years competing for national collegiate championships, Olympic gold medals, and even WNBA championships.

Thanks to the readers for the great help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: Tomorrow, unless news breaks

Wright Hired

#2 posting 8.29.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
Summer Wright has been hired as the new assistant women's basketball coach at Dakota State. From the Madison Daily Leader.

BADGER RECAP
Wisconsin head women's basketball coach Lisa Stone recaps the down under experience in the 12th blog posting of the trip.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: more news

Open Gym, Fall League, & Iowa Map

#1 posting 8.29.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

OPEN GYM
43 Hoops will run open gyms starting September 6th and through Nov 15.

FALL LEAGUE
Apple Valley will have a fall league

IOWA MAP
The lighted map that was a fixture in the old Veterans Memorial Auditorium during the girls state basketball tournaments is now on display again at the Hall of Pride. From the Des Moines Register.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: more news.

More Rooney

#3 posting 8.28.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MORE ROONEY
Here is the article in the Fond du Lac Reporter about Markesan's Jadee Rooney and her verbal to UW Parkside. Rooney averaged 17.5 ppg last season.

Thanks to the readers for the help. Go to my profile to email your news.

Next up: tomorrow morning.

Presidential Influence

#2 posting 8.28.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

PRESIDENTAL INFLUENCE
North Dakota State president Joe Chapman meets and greets potential recruits. Rachelle Eckmann, who recently verballed NDSU met the president of the University. From the Fargo Forum.

Thanks for the help readers.

Next up: tomorrow

Badgers Home & Incoming Freshman Highlighted

#1 posting 8.28.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BADGERS BACK HOME
Danielle Ward writes about the last leg of the Wisconsin Badger trip in New Zealand and the return home.

STONE VIDEO: Incoming Freshmen
The third edition of the Wisconsin Badger video series. Today Coach Lisa Stone talks about the incoming freshmen including Lin Zastrow from Jefferson, WI, Alyssa Karel, from Cretin-Derham Hall; Tara Steinbauer from Bloomington Kennedy. Competition for playing time will be at a premium. Stone also talks about recruiting. The total video lasts a little over 6 minutes.

Thanks to the readers for the great help in providing this site with information. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow morning, unless news breaks

Pat Patterson Tournament Set

#3 posting 8.27.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

HAMLINE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SET
The Pat Patterson Memorial tournament, a girls basketball tournament at Hamline is expanding the field this season to eight teams. The format will have two pools of four, so in effect their will be two winners.

There could be an epic showdown on Saturday in the West division championship if the gbbrecruit team of the summer07-- Centennial and the gbbrecruit team of the winter07, and defending State AAAA champ---St. Paul Central get past their first round games on Friday.

Here is the schedule:
Pat Patterson Tournament
At Hamline University
Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24
East======
Friday, November 23
1 pm Hopkins vs Andover
3 pm Cretin Derham Hall vs Minneapolis North
Saturday, November 24
11 am Third Place Game
1pm East Championship Game
West====
Friday, November 23
5pm Centennial vs Rosemount
7pm St. Paul Central vs Totino Grace
Saturday, November 24
3pm Third Place Game
5pm Championship Game

At 7:30 pm Hamline University plays Northwestern College MN

St. Paul Central beat Centennial in the championship last year.

Thanks to the readers for the great help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow morning...unless news breaks

New Zealand's Views of Wisconsin

#2 posting 8.27.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BADGERS IN NEW ZEALAND
I posted the Wisconsin side of the 65-62 loss to the New Zealand National team. Here is the NZ version of what happened. From Radio New Zealand.

Thanks to the readers for your great help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow morning unless news breaks

Metro Stars Add Finley; D2 Looking to Add Schools

#1 posting 8.27.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS ---2008
Ray Finley will coach the 14U Metro Stars for the 2008 AAU season. The only spot that has not been firmed up is one of the 16U teams now for the Metro Stars.

RECRUITING SCHOOLS TO D2
Chuck Ambrose, Pfeiffer University, is trying to get the word out that D2 is the place to be for schools---"just right," as Goldilocks would say. Not too big, Not too small. There are 15 teams in the process of transitioning to the D1 world. D2 is starting to recruit teams to their fold. From the Spread.

Thanks to the readers for the help in making this site a sight. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: Badgers in New Zealand

Chambers Choices

#2 posting 8.26.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

CHAMBERS CHOICES
Brittany Chambers of Jordan will be featured in the hard copy of the StarTribune tomorrow. She is torn between volleyball and basketball. They already have the story posted online and that is why I have linked it here. Is there a Kelly Roysland similarity here?

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow morning.

Badgers in New Zealand, Early Death

#1 posting 8.26.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BADGERS IN NEW ZEALAND
Ivana Mijalcevic had blog duties on day 9 as the Wisconsin Badgers traveled to New Zealand. Mariah Dunham wrote the day 10 blog in Christchurch. In game action Wisconsin lost to the New Zealand National team 65-62.
Earlier, in the third game of the tour, Wisconsin lost to the Sydney Uni Flames 93-81 in Australia.

EARLY DEATH
Former Kansas basketball player Valerie Quarles died recently of heart disease at 43. She was a teacher in the Madison, WI system. From the Capital Times.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news go to my profile and email me.

next up: Tomorrow morning

Shoot Out

#1 posting 8.25.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SHOOT OUT
The Minnesota Stars AAU program is hosting a Shoot Out at Hopkins high school on Saturday, September 29 from 8 am to 5:30 pm. Cost is $125.

The news is a little quieter today. I don't think there will be another posting until Sunday Morning.

Thanks to the readers for keeping this site percolating with news. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Beyer, Rooney Verbal

#8 posting 8.24.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BEYER, ROONEY VERBAL
Jadee Rooney, a 5-9 guard from Markesan; and Brittany Beyer a 5-9 guard from New London, WI have made verbals to UW Parkside.
Rooney averaged 19 ppg for the 23-2 D3 Hornets. Rooney played with Randolph this summer. Rooney made the gbbrecruit summer list of five players with too few games to make the all summer rankings.
Beyer averaged 13.3 ppg for the 24-3 D2 Bulldogs. New London lost to Grafton in the state finals.
Beyer and Rooney are the 4th and 5th player from the Wisconsin class of 2008 to verbal and the 3rd and 4th player to verbal UW Parkside.

Thanks to the readers for delivering knock out information.

Oney, McDowell Verbal

#8 posting 8.24.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ONEY VERBALS
Katelin Oney, Cedar Rapids Washington has made a verbal to Northern Iowa. The 5-7 guard averaged 15.9 ppg for the 22-3 4A Warriors. She will be joining teammate Kaitlin Armstrong at UNI. Oney played with IBCA Select I this summer and was named gbbrecruit's player of the year for the summer of 2007 on Sunday.
For the story in the Cedar Rapids Gazette go to the discussions on her scrapbook page.
Oney is the 7th player from the Iowa HS class of 2008 to verbal a D1 school.

MC DOWELL VERBALS
Jessica McDowell, a 6-0 forward for AGWSR also has verballed Northern Iowa. The difference is McDowell is from the 2009 class. McDowell played with IBCA Select II this summer. From the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.
McDowell is the third player from the Iowa HS class of 2009 to verbal a D1 School.

IBCA Select has four verbals from their family of teams.

MORE BETTIGA
Earlier this week I posted that Ashwaubenon guard Kaitlyn Bettiga was off to UW Parkside. Here is the Green Bay Press Gazette with more on that verbal.

whew

Thanks to the readers of the great help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: if more news breaks today, but probably tomorrow.

St. Olaf Hires Stromme

#7 posting 8.24.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information
College reports

COACHING NEWS
St. Olaf has hired 1983 alum Dave Stromme. Stromme was the interim coach at UM Duluth last year and also was an assistant with the Gophers.
The Duluth New Tribune also has a story on Stromme's new job.

BADGERS IN AUSTRALIA: Day 8
Sarah Ingison, former Concordia Roseville guard, has the blog duties for the Badgers on day 8 their last day in Sydney, Australia with Wombats and Beaches.

Thanks to the readers for the great information. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: verbals

Michigan Fall AAU

#6 posting 8.24.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information
Michigan Reports

FALL AAU SEASON
Michigan is preparing for girls basketball fall AAU season. The Michigan Magic is holding tryouts September 4-6 at Northern Michigan. From the Marquette Mining Journal.

Thanks to the readers for the help on this site. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: more news (still)

Super 80 Exposure Event

#5 posting 8.24.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

EXPOSURE EVENT
The Super 80 Exposure Event will take place Saturday, September 29 from 8 am to 4 pm at the 43 Hoops Basketball Academy in Hopkins. The event is sponsored by both 43 Hoops and North Tartan. Cost is $150.

Here is a registration form on the 43 Hoops site and from the North Tartan site.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: more news.

Basketball Leadership

#4 posting 8.24.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

CLINIC
The CommunityHoops Basketball Leadership Social has been moved to the Washburn Community Library on September 22. They have also added Minnesota Gopher coach Barb Smith as a speaker--topic to be determined.

Thanks for the news readers. Go to my profile to email your news.

next up: more news

Potter, Walker Transfer, Top 100s

#3 posting 8.24.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

TRANSFERS
Hana Potter, a 6-0 forward 2010 from Edina is headed to Hopkins. Potter averaged 5.2 for the 26-5 Hornets. Potter has moved residences. Potter played with Metro Stars 14s this summer.
Kara Elofson from Breck earlier this season had transferred to Hopkins.

Nakita Walker, a 5-3 guard, 2008 from St. Paul Highland Park is headed to Minneapolis Southwest. Walker averaged 9.4 for the 9-16 Scots. Walker played with Metro Stars White 16s this summer.

They are the 12th and 13th known transfers this season.

TOP 100S
Hoopgurlz has a list of the top 100 players nationwide for the 2008 class. Three Minnesota players: Jackie Voigt, Park-Cottage Grove is #50; Kiara Buford, St. Paul Central is #78; Georgie Jones, St. Paul Central is #94. Hannah Draxten, Fergus Falls is an Honorable mention. Voigt, Buford and Draxten played with North Tartan Larson this summer while Jones played with MN Stars Hested. Jones was listed under Georgia.

Thanks to the readers for the great information. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: more more more as the song says

Ready for the 2008 Summer

#2 posting 8.24.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SUMMER 2008
FURY
The Minnesota Fury AAU Club is excited about the 2008 season after an outstanding inaugural season this summer! They will be looking for players ages 13U through 16U for next years teams.

The Fury have an impressive website (http://www.minnesotafury.com/) with a one-of-a-kind statistics package. Their top three priorities are College Exposure, Player Development, and Fun!

Teams are filling up fast. Email Nick Storm at nstorm@minnesotafury.com to be apart of the “Baby Blue & Gold.”

METRO STARS
Steve Reiter (Blaine High School) will be the head coach of the Metro Stars 15U team and Robert Grace (Mpls Southwest High School) will be the head coach of the Metro Stars 13U team for the 2008 AAU season.

Metro Stars team fees for the 2008 AAU season will be $400 per player at the 12U-19U age levels. Program director Andy Meinhardt says, "We encourage people to try and find better value for their dollar than the Metro Stars!"

THANK YOU MESSAGE
Rachelle Eckmann and Family sends a personal thank you to Scott Antl and Marcus Wilhelm for the hours of time that they put into the Minnesota Stars Program and working with all their Kids. "They are two great up and coming coaches, their leadership and guidance is priceless."

Now it is my turn to thank the readers. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: I figure there will be at least five more postings

Back to School Showcase

#1 posting 8.24.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SHOWCASE
Seneca Blue of the Blueprint Student-Athlete Services is holding a back to school showcase. Here is his report:

There are only 21 spots left for our Sept. 8th Back to School Showcase at the MAC Center in Verona, Wisconsin and we'd love to have some of your players. We also will be hosting our Midwest Elite Photoshoot that day as well. We will be doing feature articles on and shoots with some of the top HS/JUCO players in the Midwest. This special and other info will be viewed by colleges all over the country at every level. Devin Abshere, one of the best photographers in the Midwest, will be doing the photoshoots, etc. I really hope they can join us for the showcase/shoot, I'd love to have them as part of it!

Blueprint Student-Athlete Services presents our Sept. 8th Midwest Elite Back to School HS/JUCO Showcase.

BlueprintSAS, the only FREE and non-profit student-athlete service in the Midwest, invites you to our Sept. 8th Midwest Elite Back to School HS/JUCO Showcase at the MAC Center in Verona, Wisconsin.

BlueprintSAS has quickly become a leader in recruiting assistance and college exposure. Our showcases are regarded as some of best organized events in the Midwest. Our goal has always been to consistently attract outstanding talent and colleges from all over the Midwest to our showcases and provide the young women participating maximum college exposure and the colleges attending an outstanding recruiting/scouting opportunity.

In the past 3 years over 3,000 student-athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Georgia and even Canada have participated in BlueprintSAS showcases. Over 500 college coaches have attended!

I hope you will join us and other top HS/JUCO talent on Sept. 8th for a fun day of basketball, tremendous exposure opportunity and great competition. If you can not attend we still encourage you to go to www.blueprintsas.com to register for a FREE profile for colleges at every level all over the country to view. We'd LOVE to assist you and your family in the recruiting process in any way.

COST: ONLY $50 (Half the cost of other showcases) . Includes jersey and lunch!

AWARDS: Trophies are given for the top player in each class, Overall Showcase MVP, 3-point shootout champ and team champs. All-Showcase Team and Award Winners will be listed on our site and sent to colleges all over the country (D1, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO)

FORMAT: Unlike other showcases that just throw you on a team to run up and down the court, we try to provide a complete experience and various ways to "showcase" your skills. We have guest speakers on topics such as injury prevention, jump training, nutrition, etc. You'll go through drill stations such as post moves, catch and shoot, ball-handling, 3 on 3, etc along with games with your team to let colleges evaluate you in various ways!

REGISTRATION: Online registration is available at www.blueprintsas.com/eventregistration.asp . Payment can be made through paypal or check/money order may be sent to:
BlueprintSAS
5418 Katie Lane
Madison, WI 53704

We are only taking 80 young ladies for the showcase so get registered ASAP and spread the word to your HS/AAU teammates. Please feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns by phone at 608-770-3682 or by email at blue24553@aol.com. I look forward to seeing you at the showcase or receiving your profile info. Thanks for your time!

Next up: it has been a busy day. More news

Eckmann Again, Ridgewater Recruits

#5 posting 8.23.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

RECRUITING NEWS
As reported here earlier this week Rachelle Eckmann of St. James verballed North Dakota State. Now the Fargo Forum has a story on the verbal.

RIDGEWATER RECRUITS
Deep in the article in the West Central Tribune about the Ridgewater volleyball team you will find a list of players coming into Ridgewater for women's basketball.
Lisa Nielsen, Willmar, averaged 14.5 for the 15-12 AAA Cardinals
Patina Queenan, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, averaged 11.1 for the 15-11 A Saints
Brooke Busack, Yellow Medicine East (class of 2005) averaged 6.2 for the 24-4 AA Sting in 05.
Emily Mathiowetz, Cedar Mountain/Comfrey averaged 7.3 for the 25-3 A Cougars.
Lisa Chinander, PACT Charter, averaged 10.4 for the 13-14 A Panthers.

I have just updated the verbal list thanks to the help of good readers like you. Ohio now is in the lead with 22 verbals at the D1 level for the 2008 class. Indiana is second with 15. Minnesota has 8.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow morning.

Badgers in Sydney; Gophers at State Fair

#4 posting 8.23.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

WISCONSIN IN AUSTRALIA DAY 7
Rae Lin D’Alie has blog responsibilities for day 7. The Badgers are now in Sydney.

GOPHERS AT THE FAIR
The Minnesota Gophers women's basketball team will be at the state fair today from 2:30 at the U of M stage.

BIG 10 SCHEDULES
The Big 10 has released schedules. Wisconsin is happy only to see Purdue and Michigan State once. From the Wisconsin State Journal.
Minnesota will have 15 home games. Iowa faces 22 of 29 teams that made post season tournaments.
Michigan State is in the preseason WNIT.
Michigan only released the Big 10 portion.

Thanks to the readers for the help. Go to my email to send me your news.

Next up: later today.

Schill's Choices

#3 posting 8.23.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information
Wisconsin Reports

SCHILL'S CHOICES
Katie Schill, LaCrosse Aquinas is looking at UW Green Bay and Evansville. She played with Wisconsin Fastbreak Select this summer. Schill averaged 12.3 ppg last year. From the LaCrosse Tribune.

Thanks to the readers for the help. Go to my profile to email your news.

next up: more news.

Hofmeister Hired

#2 posting 8.23.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information
Iowa Reports

COACHING NEWS
Darin Hofmeister has been hired as the Lisbon, IA girls basketball coach. From the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.

Thanks for the help readers. Go to my profile to email your news.

Next up: more news.

Clinics, Queens, and Wahlin

#1 posting 8.23.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

CLINIC
The first North Central Minnesota Multi-Sport Coaching/Athlete Clinic will be held at Cass Lake-Bena on September 15-16. Speakers include girls basketball coaches Wendy Kohler, Alexandria and Randy Swanhorst, Crosby-Ironton among others. From the Lake Country Echo and the Alexandria Echo Press.

COACHING MOVE
Mark Henrich has been hired as girls basketball coach at Rush City. He previously was a coach at Alden-Conger. Jeremy Albright moved from the girls to the boys side at RC. RC was 1-22 last year. From the East Central MN Post Review.

QUEENS OF THE COURT
KSAX of Alexandria has a story on the North Tartan 14 team and their success this past summer. The End of the Trail tournament championship is featured. Local players Sari Noga, Parkers Prairie; Liza Torgerson of West Central; and Angela Christianson of Alexandria are the queens.

HOOPGURLZ
You will need to register to read the article on Jackie Voigt from Hoopgurlz. Hoopgurlz also has an end of summer wrap that is national in scope.

WAHLIN'S CHOICES
Kamille Wahlin of Crookston has narrowed her collegiate choices to: Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, North Dakota State and UW Green Bay.

Thanks to the readers for the help in making this site a sight. Go to my profile to email your news.

next up: more news.

Bettiga Verbals

#4 posting 8.22.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BETTIGA VERBALS
Kaitlyn Bettiga, 2008, point guard at Ashwaubenon High School in Wisconsin has made a verbal commitment to play basketball at UW-Parkside. Ashwaubenon is a D1 school (largest class) in Wisconsin and finished 17-7 last season.

Kaitlyn was the hero of Ashwaubenon's Division I State Title Game victory in March, 2006 when she stole the ball from Waterford's Rae Lin D'Alie (who now plays for UW-Madison) in the final seconds and scored the winning points on a lay-up.

Bettiga is the third player overall in the Wisconsin 2008 class to verbal and the second to go to UW Parkside joining Amy Selk of Sheboygan South.

Thanks to the great readers for helping out with the site. If you have news go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow ---unless there are more verbals.

Badgers in Australia Day 5 & 6

#3 posting 8.22.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BADGERS IN AUSTRALIA
Annie Crangle has blog responsibilities for day 5 of the Wisconsin Badger trip in Australia. Caitlin Gibson writes the blog for day 6. Most of the days were spent touring Melbourne.

Thanks to the readers for the help. Go to my profile to email your news.

Next up: Tomorrow, unless it starts raining verbals again

Sonius Hired

#2 posting 8.22.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information
Iowa Reports

COACHING NEWS
West Hancock has hired Paul Sonius to replace Kevin Wilson as their girls basketball coach. Go towards the end of the article from the Forest City Summit Britt News Tribune.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: more news

Summer 08, Basketball Leadership Social

#1 posting 8.22.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SUMMER 2008
The summer of 07 is barely over, and the summer of 08 is on the horizon.
The Minnesota Metro Stars will start roster selection for their 15U and 16U teams starting on Labor Day. If you would like to join the gbbrecruit "Program of the Year" please contact Andy Meinhardt at andymeinhardt@hotmail.com Info about the Metro Stars program can be found at www.mnmetrostars.com

BASKETBALL LEADERSHIP SOCIAL
Community Hoops is sponsoring a clinic on September 22 at DeLaSalle from 11:30 am to 4:15 pm. Speakers will include DeLaSalle coach Brian Frye (the gbbrecruit "coach of the year summer of 07"). He will speak on "What do College Coaches and Recruiters look for in players along with my skills & academics?"
Also on the list is two time state AAAA champ Brian Cosgriff of Hopkins with the topic "You have been named as a captain for your team. Do you know what can be expected of you in this roll?"
Former Gopher Kim Bell will talk about "What are the real difference's in being on a high school team and a college team?"
Missy Lott, strength coach that has been with Notre Dame, Minnesota and the Lynx, will talk about "How important is nutrition and weight training while I am in high school?"
Players, coaches, and general fans can attend.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: other news of the day.

Dvorak Verbals

#6 posting 8.21.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

DVORAK VERBALS
The verbals are coming fast and furious.
Amber Dvorak, a 6-7 center from Hinckley-Finlayson class of 2009, has verballed Minnesota. She is the second player from the 2009 class to verbal the Gophers. Dvorak averaged a double/double last year for the 15-10 AA Jaguars. Dvorak played with Northern Lights and MN Stars this summer.
Dvorak is the third player from the Minnesota class of 2009 to verbal. She is the 9th overall in the coverage area from 2009 to verbal. Minnesota and South Dakota are now tied with three each.

Thanks again to the readers for unearthing the news.

Next up: tomorrow morning (unless more verbal)

Eckmann Verbals

#5 posting 8.21.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ECKMANN VERBALS
Rachelle Eckmann, 6-0 wing player class of 2009 for St. James, MN, has verballed North Dakota State. Eckmann averaged 14 ppg and 10 rebounds for 18-6 AA St. James Saints last season. Eckmann played with Minnesota Stars Antl this last summer.
Eckmann is the second 2009 player from Minnesota to verbal a D1 school.

Next up: tomorrow

Loberg Verbals

#4 posting 8.21.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

LOBERG VERBALS
Katie Loberg, 6-3 post player class of 2009 for Princeton, MN has verballed the University of Minnesota. Loberg averaged 18 ppg and 12.8 rebounds. AAA Princeton was 14-13 last season. Loberg played with North Tartan 15 and NT Larson this summer. She was one of five players to make the gbbrecruit "too few games to make the list" team this summer.
She is the first player in the 2009 class in Minnesota to make a commitment. She is the 7th 09 in the coverage area to verbal. South Dakota leads that class with three.

Thanks to the readers for the great help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow, unless news breaks

Badgers Split in Australia

#3 posting 8.21.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

WISCONSIN SPLITS
Wisconsin beat Dandenong Jayco Rangers 76-58 in their Australia trip. A day earlier they lost to Bulleen 87-55.
Brittany Heins of Postville, IA has the blog duties of day 4 in Australia.

Also Wisconsin coach Lisa Stone talks about the off-season schedule as it pertains to coaches and student-athletes in the second installment of their video series. The video lasts 5:50.

Thanks to the readers for the great help in making this site hum. Go to my profile to email your news.

next up: verbals

Kielpinski in Accident

#2 posting 8.21.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ACCIDENT
Jessica Kielpinski, 6-1 center from Mandan, ND class of '07, was involved in a car accident in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kielpinski will be a freshman at the University of New Mexico. She is cleared for practice, however her mother had more severe injuries. From the Bismarck Tribune.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news go to my profile and email me.

Next up: Wisconsin in Australia

Been There, Done That

#1 posting 8.21.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
Michigan is going through the their first year with girls basketball moving from the fall to the winter. North and South Dakota went through the same ordeal six years ago. How they dealt with the switch could help Michigan adjust. From the Saginaw News.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: more news.

Gilbertson's Final Four

#3 posting 8.20.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

GILBERTSON'S FOUR CHOICES
Winona Cotter's Jenny Gilbertson has narrowed the field to four schools: New Mexico, North Dakota State, UW Green Bay and U of San Diego.
Gilbertson played with North Tartan Larson the last two summers.
From the Winona Daily News.

Next up: tomorrow morning.

Badgers in Australia Day 3

#2 posting 8.20.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BADGERS IN MELBOURNE
It is day 3 of the Wisconsin Badger journey down under with a tour of Melbourne. Today's blog is from Teah Gant. There are photos at the end of each blog posting.

Thanks to the readers for the help in making this blog go. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow morning (unless news breaks).

Sheboygan Falls Wins Shootout

#1 posting 8.20.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

In case you missed it the jumbo sized end of summer girls basketball wrap was posted last night. I did forget a few minor items and will have to deliver the crumbs later.

LATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
The Wells Fargo Plymouth Girls Basketball Shootout was held last weekend. Sheboygan Falls beat Menasha St. Mary's Central for the title. From the Sheboygan Press.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news go to my profile and email me.

next up: college news

The Summer That Was: 2007 Awards

#6 posting 8.19.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

THE SUMMER OF 2007
This spring & summer I saw 144 games, two more than I saw in the winter. The difference is they are compressed into one day many times, not spread out over the week.

The season started off on a cold, rainy Saturday in March at Robbinsdale Middle School and ended at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph with the Sweet 16. In between I have been in all the surrounding states (twice in Menomonie, WI, Des Moines and Ames, IA; Sioux Falls, SD, and Medora, ND…OK there was no basketball in Medora). I have seen teams from 12 states and one Canadian province.

TRENDS
Verbals are getting earlier every year. At this point there have been 16 verbals from Minnesota to D1 & D2 schools. Last year at this time Minnesota had five players verbal to D1 schools. This year it is eight. Schools are already on the hunt for 09s. Even some of these players have verballed with South Dakota leading the pack with three. There has been talk of an earlier signing period. This is driven by men’s sports like football and basketball.
Does one need to play AAU? Stanley County's Samantha Ostrello went to Purdue for a camp and was offered a scholarship. Ostrello bypassed the whole summer event calendar. It didn't hurt that she was 6-2. But the myth that you need to play on a summer team and spend gobs of money burst in West Lafayette. If you are good enough, they will find you.

AAU vs. MYAS
More teams have drifted over to the MYAS side of the action, but they have tended to be more school oriented and were not the power multi-school teams (I refuse to call them all star teams since I don’t believe the roster is all stars). There was great acrimony in the Forest Lake scheduling fiasco in which heavyweight teams were not seeded. It didn’t look like the tournament was on the level.
The upshot is AAU will host a qualifier, a State tournament next spring and a regional event, but not the garden variety tournaments sprinkled throughout the early weeks of the spring season.

On to the awards
GYMS
Best site: Hopkins has it all.
Hottest gym: for the second year in a row the dubious distinction goes to Bloomington Kennedy. BYOF: bring your own fan. Williams Arena is also a steam bath.
Coldest gym: bring long pants and a jacket to Cooper’s Ice Box
Crackerbox palace: the side gyms at Richfield. Inhale or you may be part of the action.
Lights out (literally): Skyview Middle school and Robbinsdale Middle School.

TOURNAMENTS & EVENTS
Best run tournament: Again, hands down, the folks that put on the Dakota Showcase. Things move along nicely. They have refs being evaluated for the North Central conference. And their updated stat package is up on the internet with game by game information. Some tournaments have game results now, but not individual scoring. More information is always welcomed.
Worst case of scheduling: the Forest Lake qualifier that wasn’t a qualifier. Jamming MN Stars Hested, and NC Heat in the early Saturday bracket was plain wrong.
Crashing the MN State Tournament: the ‘Stangs from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Banished to the small table: IBCA Select I in the Summer Jam forced to play with the 16s when they should have been playing in the 19 tournament with the other power 16 teams.
Best Summer League: Lakeville North had more teams that will be in the top 10 than any I attended. Hopkins won that league.
Best Team camp: Since I only went to one of these it has to be Minnesota.
Best All Star camp: More players---MN Elite Camp at Concordia St. Paul.

GAMES
Best Championship: Metro Stars Black topping ECI Gold West in the finals at the Dakota Showcase in Sioux Falls 59-55 in overtime.
Did not live up to the hype: The second NC Heat vs. North Tartan Larson in the MN State championships won by the Heat 77-61. Also NTL was on the winning side in a 75-53 thumping of MN Stars Hested in the finals of the summer jam. Perhaps you could also throw in the Centennial vs. St. Paul Central championship in the Sweet 16 won by Centennial 79-55. Maybe all these championship games had fatigue factor in.
Best Shocker: MN Stars Borowicz trumping North Tartan Larson in the finals of the Forest Lake Tournament. NTL just came off an emotionally draining win over NC Heat in the semis.
Atmosphere: North Tartan Larson vs. NC Heat at Forest Lake. NTL vs IBCA Select I in the Meltdown showcase game.
Comeback: Metro Stars Black when trailing late against ECI West Gold.
Dramatic: Hannah Linz, North Tartan Larson hitting the game tying shot at the buzzer vs. NC Heat in the Forest Lake Semifinals. NTL won 65-64.
Best revenge match: Metro Stars Black beating MN Stars Hested in the Adidas Mid American tournament at Hopkins
Games I wished I could see, but they never played: IBCA Select I vs. All Iowa Attack
Games that were played, but I picked the wrong court: ECI Gold West vs. IBCA Select down to the wire quarterfinal in Sioux Falls
Battle of the heavyweights: North Tartan Larson vs. IBCA Select I
Best Transfusion of talent: North Tartan Larson with Katie Loberg being pulled up from the 15s vs. IBCA Select I.
Best day of games: Saturday, June 30 at the Dakota Showcase capped off with a classic final won by Metro Stars Black 59-55 in overtime.

Best Uniforms: IBCA Select I--they have clear numbers, front & back (some teams today in 2007 still haven’t figured out to put numbers in the front) plus they have their names on the back. If you want to promote add names to the back.
Most Colorful uniforms: Sultan Prospects of Canada with a set of Pinks, and one of Rusts. They never have to worry about switching uniforms.
Best T shirt slogans: hand made Frye Squad for Metro Stars Black

TEAMS:
Best Chemistry: Metro Stars Black
Most improved: Metro Stars Black, anytime a team can rise up after getting thumped by 43 and then beat that very team has greatly improved.
Grittiest performance: Osseo’s JV team playing in the Champlin Park championship when their varsity went to the Minnesota Gopher team camp. Maple Grove beat Osseo JV 37-33.

PLAYERS
Best shooting exhibition: seven 3s by Taylor Voss of Albany on the way to 32 points in a 67-61 loss to Centennial.
Best Playmaker/Passer: Hannah Quilling of Team WI Select 17.
Best at pushing the ball up court: Ashley Privratsky of ECI West Gold.
Most Versatile: Hannah Draxten of North Tartan Larson.
Player under 5-5: Tyisha Smith, Mpls Lady Cats, Bobcats, Total Package
Player over 6-5: Amber Dvorak, Northern Lights (Hinckley-Finlayson)
Grunt Player: Megan Howard, MN Stars Antl, St. Paul Central. Plays with a hard hat and a lunch pail.
Get the Ball to: Tayler Hill, NC Heat
Shot blocker: Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select 15
Hustler: you could give this to the entire Mpls Lady Cat team, but when Sarina Baker gets horizontal through the air late in the game to save a ball when they are drilling a team by 40+, it has to be her.
Overlooked: Kayla Blom, Metro Stars White, and Centennial
Breakthrough: Amber Dvorak, Northern Lights---from a faint blip on the radar screen to the bright lights.
Toughest Break: ACL injury to Alexis Yackley, Dakota Hardwood Threat (Sully Buttes)
5 Minutes from now: Kayla Hirt, Gym Rats 14s
Best cost effective recruiting plan: Sam Ostrello, Stanley County SD going to the Purdue camp.
No, I am not stalking (most times I saw a player): Emily Becken with 16 games including MN Stars Hested, Centennial, and various All Star camps.
Stock is Rising: Courtney Boylan, Metro Stars Black.

And now for the Golden Four Awards: Program, Coach, Team and Player.
Before I get to these awards. I would like to thanks the die hard fans of this site that have continually sent in their nominations and suggestions. They are appreciated and cause me to recheck some items. Some of your ideas have been incorporated here.

PROGRAM
The Program of the year (family of teams) goes to the Metro Stars. Here is what their teams accomplished--
19s: State champs
16s: Metro Stars Black won the Dakota Showcase in Sioux Falls and then the next week won the 17u Adidas Mid American Tournament in Hopkins.
Also winning that tournament was their sister team Metro Stars White at the 16u level.
15s: State champs for the fourth straight year.
14s: second place and gave North Tartan 14s their only loss in MN at the Summer Jam. They finished second in the Big Show tournament for younger teams in Kearney.
Director of the Metro Stars is Andy Meinhardt.

COACH
Brian Frye of Metro Stars Black turned the fortunes of his team around after a thumping by MN Stars Hested in the State 3rd place game followed by a narrow loss to their younger sister team in the Summer Jam in mid June. The focus was on defense and the players responded. They wrapped up the year with championships in the Dakota Showcase and Adidas Mid American Tournaments. They also had a strong showing in the Summer Showcase in Chicago.
When games were tight or looked like might spin out of control Coach Frye responded with calm, steady, confidence and direction. That approach permeated the MSB and they pulled out the victories. They never panicked.
There was a genuine bond on that team. How often do you see t-shirts with the coach’s name emblazoned on them?
Frye is the coach at DeLaSalle.

TEAM
This team may look familiar because they were the team of the week last week: Centennial. Why a high school team? They simply were never beat over the summer.
Centennial didn't end the high school season the way they wanted and have been on a mission. They won the team camp at MN State Mankato with wins over Champlin Park, Albany, St. Paul Johnson and Worthington in the finals. They won the Forest Lake Summer League and did it with a split team. They played themselves in the final. At the two All Star Camps their players dominated with Emily Becken, Kayla Blom and Bridget Schuneman winning the team title and making the All Camp team. Those three plus Megan Waytashek made the top 40 all star team at the MN Elite camp the next week. Centennial won the Rogers tournament with wins over host Rogers and Albany. They then came back a couple weeks later in the sweet 16 and won with exclamation points. Their pp100 was humming at 111.5 and their defense was tight at 72.6 pp100. Centennial was doing this against the finest high school teams around, not the Little Sisters of the Poor. Albany (2nd AA and winners of an Australian tournament) Becker (1st AAA) and St. Paul Central (1st AAAA) all fell victim to the Centennial juggernaut.
Their players did play on summer teams
Kiara Allums and Emily Becken played with MN Stars Hested
Megan Nipe with NC Heat
Kayla Blom and Bridget Schuneman with Metro Stars White
Megan Waytashek and Haley Hoffland with MN Stars 15s
Centennial won the team of the week award week 16 and 19.
Their players were trench players of the game a total of 7 times.
Their players were on the first team of the week six times and made one of the teams 15 times.
Centennial has put the state on notice that they won't accept anything less than the best come March.

Here is how I selected the players below--
#1 I only measured these players in the games I saw.
#2 the player had to play in at least five games. That would mean the player would have to be seen at least over two weekends, some times more. That fact would establish a consistency of a high level of performance.
#3 the golden rule applies over 100 pp100 and over .500 floor %. Plus a 10 point per game average is required. In other words a player could be over 100 but only have about three possessions.
#4 the list will be top heavy with 16s. I haven’t spent much time watching the younger teams.
The higher numbers indicate to me that these players know how to take care of the ball; know the difference between a good and a poor shot; and squeeze the most out of ever possession.

PLAYER
Katelin Oney, IBCA Select I only knows one way to play and that is all out. Driven, focused, and cut throat, she was a catalyst for her team as the summer wore on. Her moves are sharp, clean and crisp and all designed to beat you. The Tasmanian Devil cartoon character would have a hard time keeping up. Oney enjoys the contact that comes with the physical game and can dish out some herself. Oney has the ability to put her will on the game. She is an impact player on both ends of the court. IBCA Select I had a strong summer also with a 32-4 record winning the Iowa State AAU tournament, the Summer Jam at Bloomington Kennedy, North Tartan Meltdown, and the Miss Basketball Showcase at Kearney. IBCA also had a strong showing at the End of the Trail tournament. Oney was All tournament at the End of the Trail and MVP of the Miss Basketball Showcase. Oney was Player of the week for week #18 and was a first team player two weeks and on one of the teams three weeks.
Oney topped the list with a pp100 for the year (7 games total) with a 137.3 and .627 floor %.

The Rest of the FIRST TEAM



Courtney Boylan, Metro Stars Black (Chaska) had a strong finish to the summer. A strong leader. Aware, competitive.
Hannah Draxten, North Tartan Larson (Fergus Falls) steady, reliable, consistent, effective
Tayler Hill, NC Heat (Mpls South) explosive scorer. Had 38 points in the State semis; and 34 points in the finals.
Katelin Oney, IBCA Select I (Cedar Rapids Washington) see above
Amber Wollschlager: Dakota Hardwood Threat (Milbank) physical, good touch, good concentration.

SECOND TEAM
Kelly Krei, IBCA Select I (Iowa City) long wing span on the perimeter.
Brianna Mastey, MN Stars Hested/Becker. A workhorse.
Megan Nipe: NC Heat/Centennial. Quick release fatal for other teams.
Chelsea Poppens: All Iowa Attack (Aplington-Parkersburg) physical, creates space, get rebounds.
Val Schuster: Team WI Select 17 (Wausau Newman). Physical inside presence.

THIRD TEAM
Aaryn Booker: MN Summit Blue (DeLaSalle) pit bull attitude inside.
Leah Dietel, MN Stars Borowicz (Jordan) rangy perimeter, good hands
Tia Mays, All Iowa Attack (Des Moines East) can run, jump and is physical
Kamille Wahlin, North Tartan Larson/Crookston slow start, strong finish as she became more used to the NTL system.
Amanda Zimmerman, All Iowa Attack (Ballard) lefty inside threat.

Tayler Hill and Megan Nipe made 2nd team in the Winter '07 season. Brianna Mastey was 1st team in the winter.


HIGH HONORABLE MENTION
Emily Becken, MN Stars Hested/Centennial
Kiara Buford, North Tartan Larson/St. Paul Central
Maggie Malloy, Dakota Hardwood Threat (Parkston)
Hannah Quilling, Team WI Select 17 (Eau Claire North)
Tyisha Smith, Mpls Lady Cats, Bobcats, Total Package (Mpls South)
Shelly Stemper, MN Stars Hested, Becker
Theairra Taylor, MN Stars Hested/St. Paul Central
Indy Uhlenhopp, IBCA Select I (North Butler)
Jackie Voigt, North Tartan Larson (Park-Cottage Grove)

HONORABLE MENTION
Kiara Allums, MN Stars Hested/Centennial
Maggie Bryant, North Tartan Crosby, Sartell
Kaylee Cardinal, Team WI Select 17 (Arrowhead)
Brittany Chambers, MN Stars Borowicz (Jordan)
Molly Geske, North Tartan Crosby (Cretin-Derham Hall)
Megan Howard, MN Stars Antl/St. Paul Central
Hannah Linz, North Tartan Larson (Eden Valley-Watkins)
Alex Montgomery, MN Stars Hested (Cannon Falls)
Mara Paulson, ECI Gold West (Fargo Shanley)
Cassie Rochel, Lakeville North
Stephanie Sension, Metro Stars Black/Hopkins
Brittany Thiesfeld, MN Stars 15s/Glencoe-Silver Lake

TOO FEW GAMES TO MAKE THE LIST
But still they pack a punch
Amber Dvorak, Northern Lights (Hinckley-Finlayson)
Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select 15 (Milwaukee Vincent)
Katie Loberg, North Tartan 15s & Larson (Princeton)
Ashley Privratsky, ECI Gold West (Devils Lake)
Jadee Rooney, Randolph (Markesan)

DEFENSIVE TEAM
First Team
Courtney Boylan, Metro Stars Black and Chaska
Katie Bushman, Team WI Select 17 (Phillips)
Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select 15 (Milwaukee Vincent)
Katya Leick, NC Heat (Park-Cottage Grove)
Laura Weber, Metro Stars Black and Eden Prairie
Second team
Beth Christiansen, North Tartan Crosby (Owatonna)
Megan Howard, MN Stars Antl and St. Paul Central
Katelin Oney, IBCA Select I (Cedar Rapids Washington)
Chelsea Poppens, All Iowa Attack (Aplington-Parkersburg)
Tyisha Smith, Mpls Lady Cats, Bobcats, Total Package (Mpls South)
Third Team
Indy Uhlenhopp, IBCA Select I (North Butler)
Leah Dietel, MN Stars Borowicz (Jordan)
Brooke Dunsmoore, Swish (St. Cloud Apollo)
Megan Nipe, NC Heat and Centennial
Stephanie Sension, Metro Stars Black and Hopkins

MULTIPLE TRENCH WINNERS
This is a list of players that had more than one game as a trench player. Some players played with different teams
Player, team they were trench player (high school {if different from trench team})
4:
Courtney Boylan, Metro Stars Black (Chaska)
3:
Tayler Hill, NC Heat (Mpls South);
Tyisha Smith, Mpls Lady Cats, Bobcats (Mpls South);
2:
Kiara Allums, Centennial
Emily Becken, MN Stars Hested & Centennial
Amber Dvorak, MN Northern Lights (Hinckley-Finlayson)
Kelly Krei, IBCA Select I (Iowa City)
Katie Loberg, North Tartan 15 & Larson (Princeton)
Brianna Mastey, MN Stars Hested (Becker)
Hanna Muegge, Metro Stars Black & Hopkins
Megan Nipe, NC Heat & Centennial
Hannah Quilling, Team WI Select 17 (Eau Claire North)
Jordyn Sears, Swish & at 100 Expo Camp (St. Cloud Tech)
Theairra Taylor, MN Stars Hested (St. Paul Central)
Jackie Voigt, North Tartan Larson (Park-Cottage Grove)
Brianna Williams, Mpls Lady Cats (Hopkins)
Amber Wollschlager, Dakota Hardwood Threat (Milbank)

PAST WEEKLY WINNERS
Team...Player of the Week/D player
19: Centennial….Emily Becken, Centennial/Laura Weber, Eden Prairie
18: IBCA Select I….Katelin Oney (Cedar Rapids Washington) IBCA Select I/
17: Centennial….Shelly Stemper (Becker) Fire & Gold All Star MN Elite Camp/Megan Howard (St. Paul Central) MN Elite Camp
16: U Conn (Top 100 Expo)…Kiara Strickland (Minneapolis Roosevelt) LSU/Jennifer Noordmans (Hancock) North Carolina Top 100 Expo
15: Metro Stars Black…Courtney Boylan (Chaska) Metro Stars Black/Brianna Williams (Hopkins) Mpls Lady Cats
14: Metro Stars Black....Courtney Boylan (Chaska) Metro Stars Black/same
13: Team WI Select 17.…Hannah Quilling (Eau Claire North) Team WI Select 17/Katie Bushman (Phillips) Team WI Select 17
12: North Tartan.....Jackie Voigt (Park-Cottage Grove) North Tartan/Cody Vandenheuvel (Cadott) Team WI Select 16
11: Totino-Grace....Amber Dvorak (Hinckley-Finlayson) MN Northern Lights/same
10: NC Heat.....Tayler Hill (Mpls South) NC Heat/same
9: Team WI Select 17.…Val Schuster (Wausau Newman) Team WI Select 17/Nicole Griffin (Milwaukee Vincent) Team WI Select 15
8: MN Stars Borowicz.....Kiara Buford (St. Paul Central) North Tartan/Katya Leick (Park-Cottage Grove) NC Heat7: MN Metro Stars Black....Courtney Boylan (Chaska) MN Metro Stars Black/Kayla Hirt (Bemidji) Gym Rats 14
6: MN Stars Hested.....Theairra Taylor (St. Paul Central) MN Stars Hosted/Cassie Rochel (Lakeville North) Lakeville North 15
5: NC Heat....Tayler Hill (Mpls South) NC Heat/Katya Leick (Park-Cottage Grove) NC Heat
4: MN AAAA All Stars....Angel Robinson (St. Paul Central) AAAA/Janessa Wolf (Park Rapids) AAA
3: Team WI Select 17....Katie Bushman (Phillips) Team WI Select 17/same
2: Mpls Lady Cats..... Sarina Baker (DeLaSalle) Mpls Lady Cats/Aubrey Davis (Blm Kennedy) Mpls Lady Cats
1: IBCA Select I.....Indy Uhlenhopp (North Butler) IBCA Select I/same

POLLS
19
1. Metro Stars
2. Gym Rats
3. Southern Minne Magic-

16/17-Junior Girls
1. NC Heat
2. North Tartan Larson
3. MN Metro Stars Black
4. IBCA Select I
5. Nebraska Bison Judds I
6. MN Stars Hested
7. ECI Gold West
8. Dakota Hardwood Threat
9. Team WI Select 17
10. All Iowa Attack
11. MN Stars Borowicz
12. Pinnacle Bank Nebraska
13. Metro Stars White
14. Iowa Elite I
15. Quest

15
1. MN Metro Stars
2 NE Judds
3. All Iowa Attack
4. Team WI Select 15
5. North Tartan 15
6. MN Stars
7. Lakeville North
8. WI Heat
9. Southern Stars
10. MN Fury
11. MSB

14
1. North Tartan 14
2. MN Metro Stars
3. Mpls Lady Cats*
4. 43 Hoops Williams
5. MN Suns Gold
6. MN Fury
7. MN Suns White
8. MN Stars Blue
9. Gym Rats
10. MN Stars Red

13
1. Midtown Lady Monarchs
2. Mpls Lady Cats
3. MN Suns
4. Team WI Select 13
5. St. Paul Central
6. Farview
7. North Tartan
8. Rochester Shock
9. Olympic Ice
10. Metro Stars

LAST YEAR’S WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jill Young, South Dakota Elite (Mitchell Christian)
TEAM OF THE YEAR
North Tartan Larson
Brianna Bauer, Sioux Falls Lincoln
Hannah Draxten, Fergus Falls (2008 grad)
Jenny Gilbertson, Winona Cotter (2008 grad)
Alyssa Karel, Cretin-Derham Hall (Wisconsin)
Macie Michelson, Marshall (South Dakota State)
Caitlin Rowland, Hopkins (2008 grad)
Tara Steinbauer, Bloomington Kennedy (Wisconsin)
Janessa Wolff, Park Rapids (Penn State)
Bri Zabel, Northfield (Florida Gulf Coast)

Interesting fact: Young and every player from NTL did not reach their state tournaments in the winter in 2007.

thanks fans for your patience.
Next up: tomorrow morning.

A REAL National Tournament

#5 posting 8.19.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

No this isn't the Summer Award Posting

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Canada has a NATIONAL tournament. Here is how they run it. Each province sends a team of their best players to a tournament run by Basketball Canada, the national organization.
America has NO national tournament (despite what organizations have to say).

It would be outstanding if each STATE could send their best players to play for a national tournament like Canada. That way which state is the best could be decided. Summer teams wouldn't be split 10 different ways and the level of play would be that much higher.

Will it happen in America? I doubt it. I don't know why the USA Basketball doesn't get the ball rolling. Perhaps they are afraid to step on too many toes. Maybe USA Basketball doesn't have the power.

By the way Ontario won the 17 and 15 tournaments in Canada. You can look at the results and webcast here for the 17s here for the 15s. Yes you can watch every game if you want.

Next up: later, much later today for the end of summer awards

genuine, not an echo

Becken Verbals

#4 posting 8.19.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BECKEN VERBALS
Emily Becken, Centennial has made a verbal to Northern State. Becken averaged 9.6 points per game and 5.4 assists per game last year for the 25-3 Cougars. Becken played summer ball with MN Stars Hested. She was the player of the week the 19th week this summer.

Becken is the 16th 2008 Minnesota player to verbal a college, the 8th to go D2, and the second to go commit to Northern State joining Jenna Higgins of Maranatha.

Thanks to the readers for the help. Go to my profile to email your news.

Next up: later today with the end of summer wrap with tons of awards.

Authentic, not an imitation

Badgers in Melbourne

#3 posting 8.19.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BADGERS DOWN UNDER
Chris Spencer writes the blog for the Badgers for day 2 of their trip in Melbourne.

Next up: more news. Later today the end of summer review with a cornucopia of awards.

Michigan Season Switch Battles

#2 posting 8.19.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MICHIGAN BATTLES
If you haven't heard yet, Michigan is changing their basketball season to the winter. How the switch happened (lawsuit by Jay Roberts-Eveland founder of the Communities for Equities) and the reaction of the stakeholders (schedules, gym space, refs) are recounted in the Saginaw News.
The Saginaw News also has a story on why the girls basketball season was moved to the fall back in 1973 in the first place.

Oddly enough junior high seasons did not switch. Also from the Saginaw News.

Thanks to the readers for the great help. That is why this site is the first stop for many to find out what is happening. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up; more news. Later today the end of summer wrap with awards galore.

Fall Basketball League Information

#1 posting 8.19.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

FALL LEAGUE
Fall Basketball Leagues are starting soon enough.
MYAS will run their Gopher State Fall league starting Sunday, September 23 through October 14. There are various sites through out the metro.

In mid to late October, the Breakdown will be offering their two Fall Leagues. Their leagues run from Sunday, October 14 through November 11.
Becker and Lakeville South are the 2007 locations.
Deadline for the leagues are Oct 6th.
Quick Notes about the Fall League
*2 Locations: Becker and Lakeville South
*Team Rate: $475 per team, $400 if you have two or more teams
* Varsity, JV and 9th grade divisions.
* T-Shirts given to every player
* Breakdown Staff on sight every weekend
* We start later, so coaches and players can get adjusted to the new school year.
* Play 2 games back to back
* Certified officials and trainer available
* Schedules, results, announcements done over website so communication is first rate.

Becker League had over 40 teams last year. State tournament teams Becker, Albany, Champlin Park, Norwood Young America, attended plus several more schools attend every year.

Lakeville South League: New location. There are commitments from Minneapolis South, Tartan, Chaska, Lakeville South, Red Wing and many from the Rochester and Mankato areas. This league will develop into the best in the south metro, southern and central Minnesota.

BUDGETS
The Fargo Forum looks at the budgets of local teams. Moorhead spent $149,232 on transportation last year.

Thanks to the readers for the help. Go to my profile and email your news.

Next up: more news. Later today the gigantic, enormous best of the summer posting.

Higgins Verbals

#5 posting 8.18.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

HIGGINS VERBALS
Jenna Higgins, Maranatha Christian Academy (2008) has verballed Northern State. The 6-3 center averaged 10.4 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game last year for the 20-9 Class A Mustangs. Higgins played with the MN Suns this summer.

This marks the 15th player overall from the Minnesota class of 2008 to verbal, and the 7th to verbal a D2 school.

thanks to the readers for the great help.

next up: tomorrow with general news. Later tomorrow, drum roll please, the huge award list from the summer/spring season. Many fans have emailed in their nominations on a variety of things from uniforms to tournaments to games. If you haven't you have about 12 hours to get it done.

Korger Hired

#4 posting 8.18.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
Osseo-Fairchild High School in Osseo WI has Hired Matt Korger as Varsity Girls Basketball Coach to replace Tony Calo who resigned as teacher and girls basketball head coach. Osseo-Fairchild was 24-2 last year 24-2 last year losing in the state tournament to Amherst.

Korger was JV boys basketball coach and teaches in the OF system. Korger is a grad of Augusta HS in Wisconsin and Viterbo College.

Oddly enough today Matt Korger is marrying Hollie Speltz today in LaCrosse. However this is not the coach at OF, but a cousin.

Thanks for the help readers. You put this site on a higher level. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: more

Byrns Hired

#3 posting 8.18.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
Stephanie Byrns has been named coach at Gogebic Community College in Michigan.

Thanks to the readers for the great help.

Next up: more news

Basketball Now in the Winter

#2 posting 8.18.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SEASON SWITCH UPDATES
Michigan was forced to move their high school girls basketball season from fall to winter. The Gaylord Herald Times looks at the change over. Gaylord coach Kelli Parker has her views.

Thanks to the readers for the help in making this site a sight. If you have news, go to my profile.

next up: college reports

Kalin Athlete of the Year

#1 posting 8.18.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

KALIN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jacqui Kalin, Sioux City North, has been named athlete of the year in the Sioux City Journal. SCN won the Iowa State 4A title this season. Kalin is headed to Northern Iowa.

Thanks to the readers for the help. Go to my profile to email your news.

next up: Michigan outlook

Lien Hired

#1 posting 8.16.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
Dick Lien is the new assistant women's basketball coach at Colorado State. Lien was an assistant at Woodbury, MN with the boys side and was the men's basketball coach at UW Green Bay in the early 1980s. Lien also was an assistant at Minnesota. From the Green Bay Press Gazette.

Thanks to the readers for providing breaking news. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow. On Sunday the jumbo sized Summer Season awards. If you haven't nominated players or teams you still have a few days before posting. go to my profile to get it done.

Wisconsin Busy

#3 posting 8.16.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

QUOIE AT CONCORDIA ST. PAUL
Zoraa Quoie is now at Concordia St. Paul. The Woodbury grad (2006) spent last season at Iowa.

WADE TROPHY
Jolene Anderson of Wisconsin is under consideration for the Wade Trophy.

WISCONSIN PREVIEW
The Badgers have a video preview of the upcoming season and it lasts five weeks. Here is the initial installment looking back at the WNIT run.

BADGERS IN AUSTRALIA
Here is the Wisconsin Badger itinerary for their Australian trip. Janese Banks has the blog duties for day one.
Rae Lin D'Alie has recovered from her broken hand and is raring to go. From the Capital Times.

SCHEDULE RELEASES
Iowa State plays 9 teams that were in the NCAA tournament last year, and 3 in the WNIT. From the Des Moines Register.

South Dakota State will face eight straight teams that were in the RPI top 100 this year. Also the article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader mentions the verbal Steph Paluch, Pierre.

Thanks to the readers for the great help. If you have news go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow.

Top Prep Programs

#2 posting 8.16.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information
Iowa reports

TOP PROGRAMS
The Des Moines Register has listed the top programs in each class. State champ Cedar Rapids Xavier is tops in the Medium school category.

Thanks to the readers for the help. Go to my profile to email me your news.

Next up: more news.

Metro Stars Alumni, 8 Lady Cats

#1 posting 8.16.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

METRO STAR ALUMNI UPDATES
Yesterday we ran a story on Megan Vogel from South Dakota State who is up for Woman of the Year from the NCAA. Vogel played high school basketball at St. Peter, MN and played during the summer with the Metro Stars. The Metro Stars have alumni updates on their successes.

8 MPLS LADY CATS
gprep.com has listed their top players and the Minneapolis Lady Cats have 8 players listed.

Thanks to the readers for their help in making this the go to site for basketball information. If you have news go to my profile and email me your news.

Next up: more news.

Vogel up for Award, Parsley to Platteville

#1 posting 8.15.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

AWARDS
Megan Vogel, South Dakota State 2007, is one of 30 athletes up for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Vogel was drafted by the Washington Mystics, and will be a grad assistant with SDSU this season.

COACHING NEWS
Jackie Parsley will be a new assistant women's basketball coach at UW Platteville. Parsley, North Dakota State grad 1993, was the head girls basketball coach at Paynesville, MN. That makes at least 35 new coaching changes in Minnesota in the upcoming season. There are now at least six open with Edina being the biggest school open.

Thanks to the readers for your help in making this site the first choice for news. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow. On Sunday the end of summer recap with players, coaches and other awards. If you haven't emailed your nominations you still have time.

Piepho Heads to Detroit

#3 posting 8.14.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
Long time Howell coach Lee Piepho resigned to become an assistant at University of Detroit Mercy. Piepho's team reached the 1996 A finals. Columnist Tim Robinson looks back at the Piepho era. The Livingston Press & Argus has more.

Thanks to the readers for the great help. If you have news go to my profile and email me.

next up: tomorrow morning

Randolph Wins Rockford Tourney

#2 posting 8.14.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

LATE SUMMER TOURNEY
Rockford, Illinois ran a tournament this past weekend. The Randolph, Wisconsin girls basketball club won the Varsity Girls Tourney/Wildcat Tournament beating the Lady Scholars in the finale.

Thanks to the readers for keeping the basketball community informed. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: more news.

Metro Stars Coaching Roster

#1 posting 8.14.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

AAU COACHING NEWS
The Metro Stars have confirmed these coaches for next season:
Metro Stars 19U: Brian Frye (DeLaSalle High School)
Metro Stars Black: Andy Meinhardt (Bloomington Jefferson High School)
Metro Stars 12U: Brian Cosgriff (Hopkins High School),
The rest of the coaching roster will be filled out soon.

Thanks to the readers for the help in keeping the basketball community informed. If you have news, go to my profile to email me.

next up: more news

Teas Strikes Again

#4 posting 8.13.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

WHAT COACH TEAS LIKES TO SEE
Last week we ran #5-8 on things Coach Teas likes to see in a team. Now for #4-1. Take it away Coach Teas--

#4. I hate to see players looking up in the crowd to a former coach, parent, or someone else for support during a game. Your attention must be on the game, your teammates on the floor, and coaches of your team. Looking elsewhere during play sends out all kinds of bad messages to all especially someone who may be recruiting you.

#3: When a coach extends their hand when you come out of the game, touch it. If you don't, it looks bad to fans and players. It does not help the team when you are way into yourself. Coaches make substitutions. Show you understand that and that you care about your team.

#2: A big plus is when a player comes out of the game for whatever reason and they remain positive and are visible about it. In other words, pull for your team. Your team needs you on the floor AND on the bench.

#1: Players who touch each other after one of them makes a good pass leading to a score, especially when a substitute is touched by a starter or leader on the team. It does build unity and good feelings. It is probably more important if something has just gone wrong. It helps to know that there is support.

next up: tomorrow morning

College Differences

#3 posting 8.13.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN D1, D2, & D3
The Fargo Forum identifies the differences between D1, D2 and D3. Some of it is scholarship money. Some of it is the number of sports a school must sponsor.

CHOOSING MICHIGAN
Junior Carly Benson explains why she chose Michigan over UW Green Bay a couple of years ago. Ironically then UWGB coach Kevin Borseth is now at Michigan. Also head coach Borseth and assistant Dawn Plitzuweit explain why they moved to Ann Arbor. From the Michigan Daily.

thanks to the readers for the great help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: Coach Teas later today

Blint Athlete of the Year

#2 posting 8.13.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information
Iowa Reports

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jena Blint of New London, Iowa has been named Athlete of the year in the Burlington Hawkeye. Blint topped the 1000 point mark during the year, one of at least 12 Iowa players to achieve the milestone.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news, go to my profile and email me.

next up: more news

Kalpin Moves Jobs

#1 posting 8.13.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information
Minnesota Reports

COACHING NEWS
Osakis girls basketball coach Pat Kalpin is now the Athletic Director at Pierz. From the St. Cloud Times.

Thanks to the readers for the help. If you have news go to my profile to email me.

next up: more news

The AAU Week That Was #19: Sweet 16

#3 posting 8.12.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

THE AAU WEEK THAT WAS #19: SWEET 16 (or is it 19?)
The summer season wrapped up last weekend with the crowning of a new Sweet 16 champ. The Minnesota Basketball News has put this event on for at least 15 years and Centennial took the title. Four of the top teams in each class met at the College of St. Benedict to crown one champ unlike the winter months. This year the larger classes had a 21-6 record good for .778. Cinderella was left at home scrubbing the floor. One team that stepped up and answered the call was Eden Prairie. They made the commitment to come to the tournament on Tuesday. That made it five AAAA teams. They were the first to grab on to the chance when presented and did not have their full squad. Even so they competed and won their first game.
In one game that unfortunately did not get to witness, New Life topped Winona Cotter in four overtimes for the most dramatic contest of the weekend.

In this tournament the varsity coaches were on the sidelines. There was a lot of squirming in the games as they had no control of the decisions.

A lot of summer is experimental--seeing what works, what needs improvement, what needs to be overhauled. With summer done, and the winter season (in Minnesota) now about 13 weeks away, we now enter the fall cycle. We will see if the seeds planted this summer bare fruit.

TEAM OF THE WEEK
This should come to no surprise: Centennial, the winners of the Sweet 16. Centennial averaged 111.5 pp100 and gave up and average of 72.6 pp100 (from the three games I saw). Centennial not only won convincingly, but they won against the best. If you look at last year's winner Champlin Park numbers Centennial was +7 in pp100 and +.018 in floor %. But it was defensively that Centennial really put their foot down. They improved on CP's mark with -14.9 pp100 and -.063 in the floor %.
The combined w-l % of the teams they faced was 11-5, 11-1 if you don't count games against Centennial. St. Paul Central finished 2nd; Becker 3rd; Albany 7th; and Rogers 9th. Centennial opened with a tour de force against Rogers. They beat Rogers by four a couple of weeks ago. This tournament it was 40. To top the tournament off they beat the runner up in 2AA last year in the quarters (Albany) and the defending AAA (Becker in the semis) and AAAA champs (St. Paul Central in the finals).
In the past the winners of the tournament have had success in the high school season. Centennial won the tournament but was NOT a full strength. That is not good news for the rest of the state.
This is Centennial's second weekly honor this summer, the only high school team to capture two weekly awards. In fact they are only one of five teams to win multiple awards. Three of the players (Becken, Blom and Schuneman) were also on the UConn top 100 team that won in week 16.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Emily Becken, Centennial had a strong weekend with a combined three game total of 173.9 pp100. She got things off to a strong start with an almost unheard of 280 pp100 vs Rogers. She followed that up with a 135.7 vs Becker and 175 vs St. Paul Central. Becken obviously squeezed the maximum out of her possessions. She did miss a few shots in these games, however she took shots with weak side rebounders in position. Her composure and confidence helped keep Centennial on an even keel. They trailed early against Becker, but fought through the doldrums. Her ball handling is underrated. She has excellent vision and makes good choices. She doesn't stare down the pass and keeps all her teammates involved, sometimes with no looks. She is aware of what is happening. Point guards are measured in wins and Becken measures up. She has had a strong finish to the summer. She was MVP of the Top 100 Expo in St. Cloud, made the top 20 all star game at the MN Elite Camp. This is Becken's third time she has been listed on one of the weekly teams, her second first team honor and first player of the week award. The cherry on top of a solid summer.

FIRST TEAM

Emily Becken, Centennial

Kiara Buford, St. Paul Central

Megan Nipe, Centennial

Shelly Stemper, Becker

Kamille Wahlin, Crookston

SECOND TEAM

Kiara Allums, Centennial

Megan Howard, St. Paul Central

Brianna Mastey, Becker

Caitlin Rowland, Hopkins

Bridget Schuneman, Centennial

DEFENSIVE TEAM

Kiara Allums, Centennial

Kiara Buford, St. Paul Central

Megan Nipe, Centennial

Stephanie Sension, Hopkins

Laura Weber, Eden Prairie captain

PAST WEEKLY WINNERS
Team...Player of the Week/D player
18: IBCA Select I….Katelin Oney (Cedar Rapids Washington) IBCA Select I/Kara Elofson, Hopkins
17: Centennial….Shelly Stemper (Becker) Fire & Gold All Star MN Elite Camp/Megan Howard (St. Paul Central) MN Elite Camp
16: U Conn (Top 100 Expo)…Kiara Strickland (Minneapolis Roosevelt) LSU/Jennifer Noordmans (Hancock) North Carolina Top 100 Expo
15: Metro Stars Black…Courtney Boylan (Chaska) Metro Stars Black/Brianna Williams (Hopkins) Mpls Lady Cats
14: Metro Stars Black....Courtney Boylan (Chaska) Metro Stars Black/same
13: Team WI Select 17.…Hannah Quilling (Eau Claire North) Team WI Select 17/Katie Bushman (Phillips) Team WI Select 17
12: North Tartan.....Jackie Voigt (Park-Cottage Grove) North Tartan/Cody Vandenheuvel (Cadott) Team WI Select 16
11: Totino-Grace....Amber Dvorak (Hinckley-Finlayson) MN Northern Lights/same
10: NC Heat.....Tayler Hill (Mpls South) NC Heat/same
9: Team WI Select 17.…Val Schuster (Wausau Newman) Team WI Select 17/Nicole Griffin (Milwaukee Vincent) Team WI Select 15
8: MN Stars Borowicz.....Kiara Buford (St. Paul Central) North Tartan/Katya Leick (Park-Cottage Grove) NC Heat

7: MN Metro Stars Black....Courtney Boylan (Chaska) MN Metro Stars Black/Kayla Hirt (Bemidji) Gym Rats 14
6: MN Stars Hested.....Theairra Taylor (St. Paul Central) MN Stars Hosted/Cassie Rochel (Lakeville North) Lakeville North 15
5: NC Heat....Tayler Hill (Mpls South) NC Heat/Katya Leick (Park-Cottage Grove) NC Heat
4: MN AAAA All Stars....Angel Robinson (St. Paul Central) AAAA/Janessa Wolf (Park Rapids) AAA
3: Team WI Select 17....Katie Bushman (Phillips) Team WI Select 17/same
2: Mpls Lady Cats..... Sarina Baker (DeLaSalle) Mpls Lady Cats/Aubrey Davis (Blm Kennedy) Mpls Lady Cats
1: IBCA Select I.....Indy Uhlenhopp (North Butler) IBCA Select I/same

The polls didn't change over the last week

19s: Metro Stars

16/17s: NC Heat

15s: Metro Stars

14s: North Tartan

13s: Midtown Lady Monarchs

Here is the High School poll

1. Centennial

2. Becker

3. St. Paul Central

4. Hopkins

5. Eastview

6. Albany

Next week I have the end of the year wrap up with players, teams, events, games and so on honors. I have received nominations from the readers. You have a few days left to nominate before I go into production.

Next up: tomorrow morning