Out & About: Albany/Eden Valley-Watkins

#5 posting 2.11.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ALBANY huskies 90,
EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS eagles 78

Last Monday defense ruled. Tonight, if you enjoy high octane offensive fireworks, Eden Valley was the place to be for a heavyweight AA battle. 168 points were scored as #2 Albany finished the contest with a 17-2 run over the last 2:43 to beat host #3 Eden Valley-Watkins. With the pace of the game, and fouls, EVW eventually ran out of gas. They finished the night with a 9 possession drought.

This game also featured good half/bad half. Hannah Linz of EVW had 30 points for the game, 25 in the first half. Jennie Noreen of Albany had 27, 21 in the second half. Sam Larsen had 24, 18 in the first half. So EVW didn't have the corresponding match in the second like Albany. Fouls also played a huge part with EVW's Amber Junker taking a seat with 6:18 left. Joining her at 4:08 was Larsen. But the game really pivoted on the 5th foul by EVW's Ellen Becker with 2:43 left. The game was tied at 76 after her foul. After she left EVW only scored two more points. Albany finished the game with a 10/11 scoring run.

As you can imagine with such a high scoring contest both teams came out of the gates flaming. There was no need for a shot clock as Noreen launched with less than six seconds gone. In the first 16 possessions both teams scored 11 times. That is a floor % of .688. The game was tied at 12 at that point. Albany was the first to run into a dry patch with a 1/10 sequence, six of the nine non scoring possessions were via turnovers. EVW had a 13-2 run (they trailed 12-8) with Linz delivering 7 of her 25 first half points. Albany quickly tied it up at 21, while EVW leap frogged them to lead 32-24 in a blink. By this time I was on my second pen there was so much ink being used. Last week the games were more sedate. Both teams tonight were flying, testing every opportunity for transition. EVW had foul issues however. Junker picked up #3 with 6:35 left and was forced to sit. Albany closed to 32-30. EVW pushed the lead out to four. With 2:57 left in the half Noreen finally got into the scoring column with a pair of free throws. She then tied it up at 40 on a drive. Linz scored the next five for EVW off a drive and then a post up &1. The half ended 47-42 with EVW up. Last Saturday Duluth East had 47 for their total points against Osseo.

EVW had their second 8 point lead after a Kelley Theis 3 on their opening possession of the second half. A 10-3 Albany run cut the margin to 53-52. A key pivot point came at the 14:01 mark when Junker was fouled. She made her first free throw and then picked up foul #4 going over the back as Noreen got the rebound on the missed second shot. That took away a big part of the EVW offense with inside presence. EVW led 54-52 when Junker sat down. After the score was tied at 58, Albany took advantage of the foul situation with 8-2 run. EVW took a time out at 66-60. EVW bounced back and tied the game at 66. However Junker picked up #5 with 6:18 as Noreen picked up an offensive board. There were four more lead changes with EVW going back up 70-69 after a put back by Kelsey Stenger. Then Linz, who was silent up to this point in the second half, nailed a three with 5:20 left. This put EVW up 73-69. Larsen soon joined Junker on the bench as EVW had a 74-71 lead as Stenger made one free throw. That set up the final 3 minutes in which Albany pulled away.

Photos: #1 Sam Larsen of Albany goes above Ellen Becker, Kelley Theis and Amber Junker. #2 Hannah Linz launches a three. Photos by Teas.

key: player (grad year) points, possessions, pp100, floor %

ALBANY
STARTERS
Jennie Noreen (08) 27, 33, 81.8, .455 handled point responsibilities. In the second half Noreen wouldn't let Albany lose. She aggressively attacked the basket all night. She went to the line seven times (11/14). She scored off drives and transition primarily. She also was strong on offensive rebounds. has a tendancy to drive and pick up charging fouls. She had 2 fouls, both charging. quick hands on defense
Sam Larsen (08) 24, 17, 141.2, .706 athletic and flies down the court. quick in the paint. draws fouls--went to the line four times. defensively likes to jump and block shots. Here is the problem defensively--leaves her feet too often. picks up fouls when out of position.
Taylor Voss (08) 16, 15, 106.7, .467 perimeter. another aggressive offensive performer. went to the line four times. has 3 range, but was more effective in transition and in the paint.
Hannah Hylla (09) 15, 13, 115.4, .538 post player. likes elbow shots, decent size, doesn't draw the attention the other three seniors do, but is an important wheel in the Albany express. didn't get in foul trouble. important on the offensive glass.
Holly Terres (08) 6, 7, 85.7, .429 perimeter. quietly does job. her put back put Albany up 82-78.
BENCH
Katrina Hendrickson (08) 0, 3, 0.0, .000
Sarah Jepsen (09) 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000 came in after Larsen fouled out. had some big offensive rebounds.

EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS
STARTERS
Hannah Linz (09) 30, 26, 115.4, .500 perimeter, 3 point shooter. sweet shot. best no look passer we have seen this year. creative, deceptive. and teammates are ready. also posted up. Had more success on the left block. liked drop step. also alert defensively. stripped ball & scored in transition. didn't have same outburst in the second half. best rebounder for EVW tonight.
Amber Junker (08) 18, 20, 90.0, .500 post player. was able to score on fakes and drives in the paint. hit deep two in the left corner. needs to avoid foul problems.
Justine Hilsgen (09) 12, 17, 70.6, .353 scored on back cuts post ups. needs to shorten passes.
Ellen Becker (09) 2, 5, 40.0, .200 point guard. picked up too many fouls.
Kelley Theis (08) 5, 5, 100.0, .400 hit a three
BENCH
Keshia Wiechmann (10) 2, 7, 28.6, .143
Kelsey Stenger (10) 9, 8, 125.0, .625 back up post. scored mid range in the paint.
Jill Albright (08) 0, 1, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
This was a tough call. To me a trench player has to be involved when the game is in the balance. Jennie Noreen may not have had great numbers in the first half, but she was vital to the Albany win in the second half.

BY THE NUMBERS
Albany 90, 89, 101.1, .506
Eden Valley-Watkins 78, 89, 87.6, .427
made 3s: EVW 4, Albany 1
ftm/fta-ft%: Albany 27/35-.771; EVW 10/16-.625
bench: EVW 11, Albany 2

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
ALBANY
Sam Larsen 12
Jennie Noreen 10
Taylor Voss 7
Hannah Hylla 6
Holly Terres 3
Sarah Jepsen 3
Katrina Hendrickson 1
totals: 42

EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS
Hannah Linz 14
Justine Hilsgen 7
Ellen Becker 6
Keshia Wiechmann 5
Amber Junker 4
Kelley Theis 2
Kelsey Stenger 1
Maddie VanderMey 1
totals: 40

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Both teams did a little of each. more zonish in the second half.
Match ups: (EVW off/Albany def) Hilsgen/Noreen; Becker/Terres; Linz/Voss; Junker/Larsen; Theis/Hylla
(Albany off/EVW def) Larsen/Junker; Noreen/Hilsgen; Voss/Linz; Terres/Becker; Hylla/Theis

Next up: tomorrow