Out & About: Centennial/Becker

#3 posting 8.7.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SWEET 16 TOURNAMENT
College of St. Benedict, Semifinals
CENTENNIAL cougars 54, BECKER bulldogs 48

Centennial overcame a slow start, built up a comfortable margin, and then hung on to defeat defending AAA champs Becker 54-48 in the Sweet 16 semifinals. Megan Nipe and Emily Becken provided 19 points each to knock the Bulldogs out.

After the first nine possessions it was Becker up 8-3. Centennial was mired in a seven possession slump, their longest of the tournament. At this rate their pp100 would have been 33.3. They didn't take their first lead until Becken scored on a drive off a Becker turnover. Centennial never trailed after that. Becker was also having offensive stagnation with a seven possession dry spell in Centennial's 6-0 run. Becker early on was in the double bonus, but they couldn't exploit the situation as they missed eight first half free throws. On top of that woe, Centennial started to rev up their motors with second chance points paving the way. Centennial had 16 points on second chancers in the first half. Centennial had a 7/8 offensive sequence on a 15-2 run. Becken had 6 while Nipe delivered 5 points in the outburst. It was at this time Centennial had 14 points on second (or third) chancers. It was 28-15 at this point. Becker did shave some of the margin off to close the half 30-21.

Centennial came out hot at the start of the second half with three straight scores to go up 35-21. Becker bounced back with four straight scores of their own coupled with another Centennial drought, this time six possessions. Brianna Mastey had four of the points in an 8-0 run to cut the margin to 35-29. Becker couldn't move past that mark. Their offense slowed to a 2/9 offensive sequence as Centennial gathered steam again and went back in front 44-33. Centennial built their lead back to 48-35 with minutes to go. Becker, with their back to the wall started executing better. They finished with a 5/7 sequence on a 13-6 run including three 3s, two by Brianna Mastey. Centennial scored all six of their last points at the line. Time ran out for the Bulldogs and Centennial moved on to the championship game.

photos: #1 Tie up with Centennial's Raylee Buffalo and Amanda McAuley sandwiching a Becker player. #2 Shelly Stemper, 45 blue, drives around Emily Becken, 20 red. photos by Coach Teas.

CENTENNIAL
Bridget Schuneman 4, 4, 100.0, .500 rough and ready post player. uses her body to create space.
Emily Becken 19, 14, 135.7, .571 another strong performance for the point guard. was unruffled, calm, and steady. does crash the offensive boards
Kiara Allums 8, 12, 66.7, .333 quickness disconcerting to opposition. defensively picked up 7 boards.
Megan Nipe 19, 19, 100.0, .579 did major damage on the offensive boards early. has quick release. good elevation. strong. needs to finish better at the line. also had 7 d boards.
Kayla Blom 1, 4, 25.0, .250
BENCH
Megan Waytashek 3, 7, 42.9, .286 fouls hampered her ability to go in this game.
Raylee Buffalo 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Amanda McAuley 0, 1, 0.0, .000

BECKER
Rey Robinson 4, 12, 33.3, .167 lefty 3 point shooter. needs to be stronger with the ball physically and make better choices. is playing tentative
Brianna Mastey 17, 16, 106.3, .438 drew a lot of fouls the first half, not as much the second half. has 3 range, strong inside.
Shelly Stemper 12, 11, 109.1, .636 active, aggressive. plays with abandon. gets on the floor. led team with five defensive boards. can handle the point position. went to the line three times. needs to finish better at the line.
Jessie Althoff 5, 5, 100.0, .400 has 3 range. another big body. however she needs to play as big as she is. more defensive boards are a must.
Chelsea Lieser 0, 6, 0.0. .000
BENCH
Nicole Mastey 3, 3, 100.0, .333 needs to show more initiative and gumption on offense. has good instincts. good tools.
Alex Crapser 5, 4, 125.0, .500 was more aggressive and assertive on the outside. 3 point shooter.
#15 2, 2, 100.0, .500
#22 0, 1, 0.0, .000
#11 0, 1, 0.0, .000
#55 0, 2, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Megan Nipe

BY THE NUMBERS
Centennial 54, 62, 87.1, .452
Becker 48, 63, 76.2, .349
made 3s: Becker 5, Centennial 2
made fts: Centennial 10, Becker 10
bench: Becker 10, Centennial 3
Second chance points lifted Becker to the championship with 16 first half points coming after missed first opportunities. Oddly enough Centennial didn't have any second chancers in the second half.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
CENTENNIAL
Kiara Allums 9
Megan Nipe 9
Emily Becken 7
Bridget Schuneman 5
Megan Waytashek 3
Kayla Blom 2
Raylee Buffalo 1
totals: 36

BECKER
Shelly Stemper 6.5
Brianna Mastey 5
Rey Robinson 4
Chelsea Lieser 4
Nicole Mastey 3
#22 2
Jessie Althoff 1.5
totals: 26

This game feature summer teammates from MN Stars Hested: Centennial's Kiara Allums and Emily Becken faced Becker's Shelly Stemper and Brianna and Nicole Mastey.

Next up: tomorrow morning. later tomorrow the finals from the Sweet 16. On Sunday the week that was #19 and then on August 19 (two Sundays from now) the end of the summer awards. If you have nominations, go to my profile and email your ideas.