Out & About: Centennial/St. Paul Central

#6 posting 8.8.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SWEET 16 TOURNAMENT
College of St. Benedict, Championship
CENTENNIAL cougars 79,
ST. PAUL CENTRAL minutemen 55

Centennial knocked off defending AAAA champion St. Paul Central in the championship game of the Sweet 16 tournament. Centennial again showed why they will be a team to be reckoned with in the winter with depth and talent, and a variety of scoring options. It was the third game Centennial scored over 70 points in this tournament against the better teams around.

Centennial didn't hesitate at the start jumping off to a six point lead which soon stretched out to 14-2. Megan Nipe and Bridget Schuneman each had four points in the initial run. SPC started off with a six possession drought, and was 1/10 on their first possessions. Centennial did have a dry patch too coming up empty on five possessions and also 1/10. SPC got as close as seven down at 26-19 at this point after a Georgie Jones basket with five minutes left. Centennial snapped out of the doldrums with five straight scoring possessions at the end of the half. Just like against Becker, Centennial crashed the offensive boards hard in the first half and came up with 16 second (or third) chance points. Centennial led at half 36-25. Nipe had 11 at the break, followed closely behind by Allums with 10.

That 11 point advantage soon ballooned out to 19 with a 13-6 start to the second half by Centennial. In what was a signature moment of the game, Kiara Allums raced past a Central player who was jogging after what looked to be a normal over and back call. Allums took control of the ball at the other baseline and proceeded to get the lay up. That hustle play personified the Centennial effort that day. It also gave them a 53-33 lead and the game was all but wrapped up. Centennial pulled their starters with a 62-37 lead with 8 minutes left. The next five for Centennial were no slouches on the floor. Initially SPC got hot with five straight scores on a 9-2 run, but Centennial played even 17-18 the last eight minutes. Holly Hofland had 12 points in this flourish including two 3s. Centennial proved to be more active and aware plus played with verve and a sense of urgency. SPC was flat footed most of the game. Now summer is over, the book is closed. November and the start of the 2007-08 season awaits. It looks as if there will be a few contenders for the crown Central is wearing.

photos: #1 Kiara Allums, 32 red, goes up for a lay up surrounded by Megan Howard, 11; Theairra Taylor, 3; and Kiara Buford. #2 Megan Nipe goes up for a second shot against Georgie Jones. photos by Coach Teas.

CENTENNIAL
STARTERS
Kiara Allums 20, 18, 111.1, .611 hustle play signified the difference in the game. moves without the ball. scored on drives and second chancers. runs the floor. went to the line four times alone in the first half.
Megan Nipe 17, 16, 106.3, .500 nose for the ball. quick release. not afraid to go inside and body people.
Megan Waytashek 4, 5, 80.0, .400 lanky tweener. runs floor well.
Emily Becken 7, 4, 175.0, .750 another strong performance. active and alert. good footwork. nails her 3s.
Kayla Blom 5, 5, 100.0, .400 quietly does little things well. very aware of action. movements crisp and sharp.
BENCH
Bridget Schuneman 9, 6, 150.0, .833 banger inside. physical
Lauren Becchetti 2, 2, 100.0, .500
Hannah Steele 0, 3, 0.0, .000
Holly Hofland 12, 6, 200.0, .833 guard in the wings.
Amanda McAuley 3, 2, 150.0, .500

ST. PAUL CENTRAL
STARTERS
Kiara Buford 17, 19, 89.4, .421 nine of her points came after the Centennial starters were sitting down
Theairra Taylor 5, 11, 45.5, .273 was bothered by an ankle injury suffered in the Hopkins game.
Megan Howard 3, 5, 60.0, .200 limited to one put back &1.
Georgie Jones 13, 9, 144.4, .778 played with more energy. went to the line four times.
Kyanna Johnson 9, 10, 90.0, .556 scored off the drive.
BENCH
Brittany Dorsey 8, 9, 88.9, .444 another with a pull up shot.
Tasha Garrett 0, 4, 0.0, .000
Cyonna West 0, 0, 0.0, .000 invisible on offense

TRENCH PLAYER
Kiara Allums

BY THE NUMBERS
Centennial 79, 67, 117,9, .567
St. Paul Central 55, 67, 82.1, .418
made 3s: Centennial 4, SPC 1
made fts: SPC 18, Centennial 11
bench: Centennial 26, SPC 8
A potential crack in the Centennial operation: Central went to the line 11 time and made 18 free throws. Centennial has depth, but I don't believe they want to watch a free throw parade develop.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
CENTENNIAL
Kiara Allums 7.5
Megan Nipe 6.5
Megan Waytashek 6
Bridget Schuneman 4
Kayla Blom 4
Emily Becken 3
Hannah Steele 1
Amanda McAulay 1
totals: 33

ST. PAUL CENTRAL
Kiara Buford 6
Megan Howard 6
Georgie Jones 6
Theairra Taylor 2
Kyanna Johnson 2
Brittany Dorsey 2
Cyonna West 1
Totals: 25

Next up: tomorrow morning