Out & About: Princeton/Staples-Motley

#5 posting 11.1.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BREAKDOWN FALL LEAGUE
BECKER DIVISION
PRINCETON tigers 39,
STAPLES-MOTLEY cardinals 35 OT

Princeton rallied from 10 down in the second half to upend Staples-Motley 39-35 in overtime. Free throws were the name of this game, or lack of free throws. SM had 10 straight points left at the line with two two shot fouls sandwiching three missed front ends in the last possessions of the second half. Katie Loberg of Princeton, a future Gopher, had 18 points, 16 after half time in the win.

In keeping with the dramatic and 3 theme this game started off with three consecutive threes starting with Alli Johnson on Princeton's 4th possession. Cassie Pearson answered for SM, with Nicole Dehn finishing the firew0rks. Princeton led early 10-7 with 13 minutes left in the first half. They then fell into a seven possession hole and couldn't get out. SM capitalized on that with a 6-0 run and a 13-10 lead. SM held on to Princeton attempts to retake the lead and Cassie Pearson hit a three to wrap up scoring in the first half with SM in front 18-14. Pearson had half of SM points in the half.

SM threatened to blow the game open in the second half with four straight scores and led 30-20 with about 9 minutes left. Cassie Pearson again was leading the way for SM with four points. Then Princeton turned it up a notch and went on a 7/9 offensive sequence to finish regulation. Allie Johnson kicked the comeback with a three followed by six straight points by Loberg. In the meantime SM went stone cold at the line missing free throw opportunities. 10 points were left at the line and they weren't getting second chances as Princeton controlled the boards. With 17.8 seconds to go Toni Hall made the second of two free throws for the Tigers to tie it up at 34. Staples had plenty of time to get a shot off, but they were facing away from the clock and didn't really now the time or score situation. They never got a shot off. That made it six straight empty possessions for SM.

In overtime (which lasts a minute) Staples struck first breaking their long miserable drought at the line with the front side of two by Ashley Lisson. Loberg answered at the other end in the paint for the first Princeton lead since the first half. SM missed a 3 attempt and Dehn didn't for the final margin. Again SM had the ball at the end and never got a shot off.

photos: #1 Katie Loberg on a drive in the first half. #2 Allie Johnson launches a three. #3. The dangers of leaving your feet on defense. Johnson bought the fake and Savannah Hill of Staples-Motley looks to drive by. photos by kja

PRINCETON
STARTERS
Katie Loberg 18, 13, 138.5, .692 post player that is athletic (in the state high jump) mobile, quick and active. runs the floor very well. Comeback centered around her efforts. Broke free in the second half. looming presence inside.
Nicole Dehn 10, 10, 100.0, .400 point guard, scrappy, has focus, made two 3s, active hands.
Allie Johnson 8, 7, 114.3, .429 nice outside shot. made two 3s. led team in defensive rebounds. Leaves her feet on defense.
Anja Eichenger 0, 3, 0.0, .000
Krista Koebnick 2, 4, 50.0, .250 had three straight turnovers to start the second half.
BENCH
Toni Hall 1, 4, 25.0, .250 small guard, made a key free throw to send the game into overtime.
Jordan Hallin 0, 1, 0.0, .000

STAPLES-MOTLEY
STARTERS
Nikki Pearson 4, 8, 50.0, .250 perimeter, likes to drive. needs to deliver at the line with four missed opportunities late. also needs to be aware of time and score.
Savannah Hill 9, 7, 128.6, .571 part of the three person team that looked for each other. another perimeter shooter. hit a three.
Cassie Pearson 13, 9, 144.4, .556 perimeter, 3 range. can and will penetrate. runners. leader, didn't deliver at the line down the stretch with four misses
Liz Willgohs 4, 9, 44.4, .222 needs to be aware of time/score situations.
Kelsey Rice 0, 1, 0.0, .000
BENCH
Ashley Lisson 3, 6, 50.0, .333 needs to be ready for the ball.
Abby Smith 2, 3, 66.7, .333 needs to improve at the line.
Taylor Bissonette 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Jennissen 0, 0, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Katie Loberg

BY THE NUMBERS
Princeton 39, 42, 92.3, .429
Staples-Motley 35, 44, 79.5, .364
made 3s: Princeton 4, SM 4
made fts: Princeton 9, SM 7
bench: SM 5, Princeton 1

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
PRINCETON
Nicole Dehn 7.5
Katie Loberg 5.5
Allie Johnson 4
Anja Eichenger 4
Toni Hall 2
total: 23

STAPLES-MOTLEY
Savannah Hill 3
Kelsey Rice 3
Cassie Pearson 2
Abby Smith 2
Nikki Pearson 1
Liz Willgohs 1
Ashley Lisson 1
Jennissen 1
total: 14
defensively SM just wasn't as aggressive as Princeton 23-14 in stops.

Next up: later tonight close to 9:30