#9 posting 2.27.2008
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2AAAA QUARTERFINALS
RICHFIELD spartans 62, EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 60
Richfield rallied from a 9 point halftime deficit to beat Eden Prairie 62-60. The two met in the Apple Valley tournament and EP beat Richfield 79-60. However Pamela (and younger sister Jessica) January were on vacation. Pamela had 20 tonight to make up the difference, and the Spartans, with their more boisterous crowd moves on to the semis.
Eden Prairie won the tip and Kjersten Bradley started this game with a three from the right wing. Richfield came back and answered on their first possession with a basket by Amy 
Peterson. EP led 11-8 after a Carly Rothfusz jumper. Richfield pulled in front 13-11 on a three by Jamie Noonan in the left corner. EP took control with six straight and 9/10 scoring possessions, a 19-7 run to lead 31-20. Mikayla Clark hit consecutive 3s for EP in the run and had 8 total during that time. The rest of the half was played fairly even as EP enjoyed a 39-30 lead at the break. Laura Weber for EP tallied 12 by half, and Pamela January had 10 to lead the Spartans at half.
Richfield didn't pressure full court in the first half. They increased the heat in the second. Also EP picked up four offensive fouls in their first 15 possessions, 3 in their first 7. Two of the fouls were illegal screens, two full steam ahead type offensive fouls. Pamela January held her ground on two of the offensive fouls. Richfield started the half with a 5/6 scoring sequence and 12-6 run to cut the margin to 45-42. Mandy Poke had 7 in the run. EP put more distance between the two teams with an &1 by Tobin and a pair of free throws by Lauren Wittman to make it 50-42. Poke drilled another 3 to cut the margin back to five and two possessions later Pamela January stole the ball and scored the lay up to put it back at 50-47. EP had a five possession drought after Wittman's free throws, four of which ended as turnovers. Jamie Noonan tied it at 51 with 7:20 left. EP had their last lead at 53-51 on a pair of free throws by Mikayla Clark. Then EP went through another dry spell, this time 1/7, but this time they couldn't connect and they were limited to one shot. Jessica January had two wraps in this sequence as did Poke. 
Richfield led 59-55 after a Pamela January shot from the right side. EP had a late flurry with one free throw by Wittman and a lay up by Laura Weber. That made the score 59-58. Richfield was in a delay-cautionary mode and threw the ball away. EP had a chance to take the lead with 1:30 left, but Weber's shot was off and Poke grabbed the rebound. Richfield moved the ball around and Pamela January found Shelby Clarke all alone for a lay up as EP extended their defense. That made it 61-58 with less than a minute to go. Carly Rothfusz made two free throws for EP's final points. Noonan added a free throw for Richfield with 23.3 seconds left. EP had a chance to tie or 
win with a three. They took a time out with 16.3 seconds left. The Richfield defense held, and Clark was only able to get off a 3 from well beyond the arc. After the contest the Richfield faithful swarmed the court. 
Many may have doubted Richfield's ranking, but they proved they could play with their backs to the wall and they delivered when it mattered. Richfield earned some respect tonight. If they want to earn the 2AAAA title they need to win two more hard fought contests.
photos: #1 Laura Weber of Eden Prairie making a move to the hoop, Pamela January defending. #2. What proved to be the game winner by Shelby Clarke. #3. Mikayla Clark's long 3 attempt with 1.3 seconds left. #4 The party begins for Richfield at mid court. Coach LeeAnn Wise finds Pamela January. photos by Teas.
key: player (grad year) points, possessions, pp100, floor %
RICHFIELD
STARTERS
Amy Peterson (08) 4, 2, 200.0, 1.000 post player. Not a lot of touches. fouled out.
Mandy Poke (09) 14, 16, 87.5, .375 point guard. sparked the second half rally early with 3s. looks to drive
Pamela January (09) 20, 17, 117.6, .588 perimeter/high post type. strong, good jumper. scores off the drive/pull up. took two key charges.
Jamie Noonan (09) 9, 9, 100.0, .444 perimeter, 3 point shooter. made two on the night.
Shelby Clarke (08) 8, 8, 100.0, .500 post. sealed and used body well. 0 defensive rebounds.
BENCH
Hannah Nelson (09) 6, 5, 120.0, .600 back up post
Jessica January (13) 0, 3, 0.0, .000 young (7th grade) sister of Pamela. Is playing major minutes now. is quick to the ball and caused headaches on defense. is physical and aggressive. plays like a veteran.
Kierra Jeffers (08) 1, 2, 50.0, .500 guard
Stephanie Skoog (10) 0, 0, 0.0, .000 post
EDEN PRAIRIE
STARTERS
Kjersten Bradley (08) 3, 3, 100.0, .333 hit a three in the first 15 seconds, but after that never was in the offensive flow.
Serenae Levine (08) 4, 12, 33.3, .167 point guard. out of control on offense (3 offensive fouls).
Carly Rothfusz (09) 11, 11, 100.0, .455 long perimeter. lefty. can drive, has 3 range and can hit pull up. went to the line three times.
Laura Webber (08) 21, 18, 116.7, .611 post player. established herself on offense and defense in the paint. can run the floor. led both teams in d wraps.
Michelle Tobin (09) 5, 4, 125.0, .500 post player. scored inside. only scored once in half court offense, the other was a second chancer.
BENCH
Mikayla Clark (09) 10, 10, 100.0, .400 started EP' flurry in the first half. had two 3s. didn't score from the floor in the second half. showed frustrations with defensive heat.
Lauren Wittman (09) 6, 6, 100.0, .667 lefty. went to the line three times.
TRENCH PLAYER
Pamela January
BY THE NUMBERS
Richfield 62, 62, 100.0, .484
Eden Prairie 60, 64, 93.8, .453
made 3s: Richfield 5, EP 3
ftm/fta-ft%: EP 15/23-.652; Richfield 7/15-.467
bench: EP 16, Richfield 7
Richfield's defense forced 9 second half turnovers, 15 for the game.
Richfield had 10 first half turnovers on offense. 15 for the game. So it was a flip flop of turnovers the turned the game to the Spartans.
DEFENSIVE WRAPS
RICHFIELD
Mandy Poke 6
Pamela January 5
Jessica January 4
Jamie Noonan 3
Hannah Nelson 3
Kierra Jeffers 3
Amy Peterson 2
Shelby Clarke 1
Stephanie Skoog 1
totals: 28
EDEN PRAIRIE
Laura Weber 10
Serenae Levine 4
Michelle Tobin 4
Carly Rothfusz 3
Mikayla Clark 2
Kjersten Bradley 1
Lauren Wittman 1
totals: 25
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Both teams used man. EP would use a half court trap after a time out.
match ups. EP off/Rich def: Weber/Peterson-P January-Clarke; Levine/Poke-Noonan; Bradley/P January-Poke; Wittman/Noonan-Peterson; Rothfusz/Clarke (when these folks were in: Clark/J January)
Rich off/EP def: P January/Bradley; Poke/Levine; Clarke/Tobin; Noonan/Rothfusz; Peterson/Weber (Clark/J January)
next up: 2AAAA Quarterfinal
Despite beating Hermantown earlier in the year, Hibbing was the #3 seed and it was their size and strength overcoming the speed and athletic ability of Hermantown 58-53.
TRENCH PLAYER
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