Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Out & About: Holy Family/Jordan

#11 posting 1.22.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

HOLY FAMILY fire 70, JORDAN jaguars 55

For the second night in a row, a higher rated team traveled to a hostile gym and came away with a loss. #7 AA Holy Family broke free from a a 43-42 game in the second half and went on a 17-3 run to burn Minnesota River leader, and #2 AA Jordan. The Fire was flaming hot in the second half and now both teams are tied for the conference lead.

This game was broadcast on the internet by Crystal Clear Sports. You can see for yourself the action as it is archived.

It took a while for either team to find the bottom of the basket as it took a combined 10 possessions before HF scored. HF maintained their lead throughout the first half. Jordan had to battle uphill all game. One thing that struck us was that HF was quicker to the ball as a team. It seemed to us that their were some rebounds that should have been to Jordan, but HF was hungrier. To sum it up the Fire had more desire. As it was HF built a 14-8 lead after a transition basket by Lindsay Bruns. Jordan cut the margin to one with five straight points from Leah Dietel. HF scored on their next possession and proceeded to go on a 6-0 run. HF maintained that lead the rest of the half. Jordan was using the long ball to stay in the contest. The Jaguars connected on four treys. It was HF up at half 29-24.

Jordan came out with more determination to start the second half. The Jaguars scored on four of their first six possessions with Brittany Chambers scoring four of the 8 Jordan points. Emily Clark knocked down two charity tosses as Jordan took their only lead 32-31. That did not last more than one possession. Ally Gerads drove in to give the lead back to HF. The first half didn't provide much offense, and now it seemed that the faucet was left running. Both teams traded points for 7 of 8 possessions. HF led 45-42 at that point with 9 minutes to go. Then the Fire caught fire. They ran off 7 straight scoring possessions as their transition game burned bright. Usually it was Becca Friestleben finishing the break. She had 7 points of the 15-3 run. Joining her in the hot streak was Lizzi Traxler with 6. Traxler had three of the five defensive wraps in the key surge. Stretching back it was an 8/11 offensive sequence as Jordan didn't have any fire extinguishers, or fire insurance. In the space of the space of three minutes the contest was decided. Jordan started making frustration plays, which didn't help matters. HF led 65-47 at the widest point with 3 minutes to go. Jordan had one last gasp where they cut the score to 65-53, but it was too little, too late. The last three HF possessions were spent at the line with five points added to their totals.

Jordan didn't look smooth on offense with the box & 1 preventing Chambers from running rampant. I already talked about how HF hustle and Fire Desire got to loose balls and rebounds while Jordan spectated. Both teams are in different sections with Jordan in 4 and HF in 5. If they were to meet again it would be in March in the State tournament.

Photos: #1 Lizzi Traxler goes up with a drive. #2. Brittany Chambers at the point of impact with Traxler. #3. Becca Friestleben leading the break. Photos by Teas.

key: player (grad year) points, possessions, pp100, floor %
HOLY FAMILY
STARTERS
Molly Bell (10) 7, 9, 77.8, .333 perimeter. can hit a three.
Lindsay Bruns (09) 6, 11, 54.5, .273 had a stronger first half. needs to be ready for the ball. was open and teammates delivered the ball. missed chip shots in the second half.
Kaylagh Hollen (10) 6, 8, 75.0, .375 assigned to guard Chambers. slowed her down enough to impact game. runs the floor.
Lizzi Traxler (08) 22, 15, 146.7, .733 point guard. played with intensity. work ethic was outstanding. saved balls that looked like they should have been Jordan's. Check out the defensive wraps. 19.5? If it is possible to be a ball hog on defensive wraps she is it. (by the way I have never heard of a player needing to sit down for rebounding or playing defense too much). went to the line four times. can score when hit. good athlete. hidden gem. handled the ball against Chambers' D. Delivered the ball to teammates.
Becca Friestleben (08) 22, 15, 146.7, .667 has a quick trigger. good defensive anticipation. finishes break well, 13 of her points on transition. 3 range. can stop & pop. competitor.
BENCH
Ally Gerads (09) 4, 5, 80.0, .400 perimeter
Megan Boyle (09) 3, 4, 75.0, .250 perimeter

JORDAN
STARTERS
Leah Dietel (09) 16, 15, 106.7, .467 can go in and out. prefers the perimeter and that will be her spot post high school. overcame a rough start. had a pair of 3s. moves with out the ball. has a good frame. needs to provide more D wraps
Brittany Chambers (09) 18, 22, 81.8, .455 point guard. has good vision, has solid instincts. was not freed from defense with screens that much. has range. goes after the ball hard. elbows got too far away when dribbling. lack of movement on offense forced her to dribble too much.
Amanda Dietel (08) 6, 14, .429, .143 three shooter. made all points in the first half. needs to relieve pressure on the above two.
Michelle O'Malley (09) 4, 4, 100.0, .500 needs to be more active and alert
Emily Clark (10) 9, 9, 100.0, .556 scored some from the wing. needs to step up and provide more defensive intensity.
BENCH
Kelsey Kes (08) 2, 5, 40.0, .200 perimeter. needs to be an offensive threat, and show more aggressive action on defense
Kelli Buesgens (09) 0, 0, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Lizzi Traxler with 19.5 defensive wraps almost a 20/20 game

BY THE NUMBERS
Holy Family 70., 67, 104.5, .493
Jordan 55, 69, 79.7, .391
made 3s: HF 4, Jordan 4
ftm/fta-ft%: HF 12/14-.857; Jordan 5/8-.625
bench: HF 7, Jordan 2




Again the free throw attempts show which team is more aggressive.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
HOLY FAMILY
Lizzi Traxler 19.5
Becca Friestleben 8.5
Molly Bell 4
Lindsay Bruns 1
Ally Geraads 1
totals: 34

JORDAN
Brittany Chambers 8
Leah Dietel 5
Amanda Dietel 4
Emily Clark 4
Michelle O'Malley 1
Kelli Buesgens 1
totals: 23

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
HF primarily used the box & 1 (the one defended was Chambers). Starting off with the 1 was Kaylagh Hollen. They also rotated others with Ally Gerads and Lizzi Traxler.
Once in a while HF used a 1/2/2 look that quickly reverted back to the box & 1.
Jordan played man most of the night.
Match ups (HF off/J D) Hollen/Amanda Dietel; Traxler/Chambers; Friestleben/Leah Dietel; Bruns/O'Malley; Bell/Clark

Next up: Tomorrow morning