Out & About: MN Stars Showcase Game 2

#3 posting 10.2.2007
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MINNESOTA STARS SHOWCASE
GAME 2
SPARTANS 74, BLUE DEVILS 52

In the battle of the giants, the contest went to Cassie Rochel's Spartans over Amber Dvorak's Blue Devils. But the players beyond the arc determined the winner of this event. The Spartans knocked down nine 3s in the game to one for the Blue Devils, a 24 point advantage.

It was Dvorak scoring on the first possession, but that was the only lead the Blue Devils would have the whole game. The Spartans soon thereafter scored on five straight possessions to go up 10-3 and the game wasn't seriously in doubt after that point. Cassie Rochel had six of the first 10 points. The lead soon was ten. The Blue Devils whittled away at the margin, getting as close as 31-29 late in the half. Already the 3 ball was working its wonders for the Spartans. They drained five in the opening stanza. It was 33-30 in a less frenetic game than the first.

The Spartans broke free from a 38-36 game with defense. They held the Blue Devils to 1/15 possessions and limited them to only one shot on may occasions. If you tack on the other results it was a 3/22 stretch or a 27.3 pp100 stretch. Far below the gold standard of 100 pp100. Rochel was snatching many of her defensive boards in the futile effort to comeback. Also it was in the second half Kelsie Ammann left the game with an knee injury. That left the Spartans with an iron five. They took care of the ball despite the defensive efforts to harass the guards. In the end it was the Spartans prevailing 74-52.

Photos: #1 Amber Dvorak (45 white) finds the path to the basket blocked by Cassie Rochel (137 red). #2 the ball belongs to no one. photos by kja

SPARTANS
STARTERS
Tyisha Wright, Mpls Roosevelt 6, 10, 60.0, .300 guard, has some quickness.
Cassie Rochel, Lakeville North 19, 15, 126.7, .667 6-4 post player, lean, agile, runs well, long shot blocking capabilities. defensive game changer.
Kate Thompson, Wayzata 8, 13, 61.8, .308 tall perimeter. has range, can drive.
Kelsie Ammann, Lakeville North 10, 7, 143.9, .571 had two 3s on the day and also scored off drives and transition. Left the game after her knee collided with another player. It is not expected to be long of a recovery.
Tanya Dickey, White Bear Lake 16, 10, 160.0, .600 cashed in four 3s on the day as defense was drawn inside
BENCH
Allison Schumacher, Crookston 9, 10, 90.0, .400 guard, made one 3 on the day.
Emmy Eschrich, Prior Lake 6, 4, 150.0, .500 another 3 point shooter with two made on the day. left at halftime.

BLUE DEVILS
STARTERS
Amber Dvorak, Hinckley-Finlayson 13, 12 108.3, .583 6-7 post player, is still learning the game, has good hands. needs to keep playing in events like these against quicker, bigger players. will run the floor.
Brianna Edwards, Mpls North 5, 8, 62.5, .250 forward. Needs to be ready to seize the moment.
Chelsea Garcia, Hopkins 0, 11, 0.0, .000 guard. offense forced.
Tyisha Smith, Mpls South 15, 14, 107.1, .571 guard. lightning in a bottle quick. explosive. Also fearless, combative and competitive. fierce determination.
Brittany Dyshaw, Eagan 7, 12, 58.3, .250 lanky perimeter player.
BENCH
Erin Quinn, Totino-Grace 4, 5, 80.0, .250 guard
Laura Hansen, St. Paul Central 2, 2, 100.0, .500 guard
Abby Weiss, Martin County West 4, 5, 80.0, .400 guard
Elizabeth Zilverberg, Minnetonka 2, 5, 40.0, .200 guard

TRENCH PLAYER
Cassie Rochel

BY THE NUMBERS
Spartans 74, 71, 104.2, .465
Blue Devils 52, 74, 70.3, .351
made 3s: Spartans 9, Blue Devils 1
made fts: Spartans 4, Blue Devils 4
bench: Spartans 15, Blue Devils 12
Even with more bodies on the pine the Blue Devils couldn't win the bench battle.
The Blue Devils had 5 players with varsity experience, the same as the Spartans.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
SPARTANS
Cassie Rochel 11
Kate Thompson 6
Emmy Eschrich 6
Tyisha Wright 5
Allison Schumacher 4
Kelsie Ammann 1
Tanya Dickey 1
totals: 34

BLUE DEVILS
Amber Dvorak 4
Chelsea Garcia 4
Tyisha Smith 4
Brittany Dyshaw 4
Brianna Edwards 3
Luara Hansen 3
Erin Quinn 2
Abby Weiss 1
totals: 25

Next up: more verbals