Out & About Hibbing/Hermantown

#8 posting 2.29.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

7AAA SEMIFINALS
HIBBING bluejackets 58, HERMANTOWN hawks 53

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.

Neither team gained much of an advantage in the first half. Hibbing held leads at 14-10. Hermantown did have a 2/12 offensive sequence but Hibbing was only one scoring sequence better at 3/12. Hibbing led 24-21 at half time. Laicee Grahek had 11 for Hibbing at half while Bri Davis had 10 for Hermantown at the break.

Hibbing scored on their first possession of the half for a five point advantage. Hermantown tied it at 26. A six straight scoring sequence pushed Hibbing to a 40-32 lead. Alia Cook had 7 of the 12 points including a three from the top of the key. The Bluejackets stretched the lead to 10 with 9 minutes to go. A five possession drought by Hibbing opened the door for Hermantown. The Hawks cut the margin to 46-42. Laura Kesti had four points for Hermantown in the run. Hibbing snapped out of it and scored four straight times to give them an 11 point lead 53-42 with 1:55 left. Ahna Metsa hit two 3s and provided 8 of the last 11 Hermantown points. The margin did get as close as 56-53 with under 10 seconds left but time ran out on the comeback.

photos: #1 four look for the board while two players are on the deck. (Hermantown's #23 Ahna Metsa, #53 Laua Kesti, #15 Bri Davis, and Hibbing's #50 Alia Cook, #30 Kate Lange). #2. Alia Cook goes over Bri Davis. photos by Teas.

key: player (grad year) points, possessions, pp100, floor %
HIBBING
STARTERS
Laicee Grahek (10) 15, 12, 125.0, .583
Alia Cook (08) 17, 15, 113.3, .600
Melissa Nyberg (09) 6, 10, 60.0, .300
Kate Lange (10) 6, 6, 100.0, .500
Breanna Chamernick (08) 4, 6, 66.7, .333
BENCH
Hillary Bungarden (10) 5, 6, 83.3, .500
Misa Matetich (09) 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Beth Marklowitz (08) 5, 4, 125.0, .750

HERMANTOWN
STARTERS
Bri Davis (08) 19, 15, 126.7, .667
Ahna Metsa (08) 19, 19, 100.0, .474
Megan Mullen (10) 2, 4, 50.0, .250
Kristen Gates (09) 2, 4, 50.0, .250
Kaylee Steen (09) 2, 4, 50.0, .250
BENCH
Laura Kesti (09) 8, 8, 100.0, .500
Erika Bergstedt (08) 0, 3, 0.0, .000
Anna Danielson (08) 1, 3, 33.3, .333
Margaret Tierney (10) 0, 1, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Alia Cook

BY THE NUMBERS
Hibbing 58, 61, 95.1, .492
Hermantown 53, 61, 86.9, .443
made 3s: Hibbing 2, Hermantown 2
ftm/fta-ft%: Hibbing 14/33-.424; Hermantown 9/14-.643
bench: Hibbing 10, Hermantown 9

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
HIBBING
Kate Lange 8
Laicee Grahek 5.5
Alia Cook 5.5
Melissa Nyberg 5
Misa Matetich 3
Beth Marklowitz 3
Breanna Chamernick 2
Hillary Bungarden 1
totals: 33

HERMANTOWN
Kaylee Steen 7.5
Laura Kesti 5.5
Ahna Metsa 4
Bri Davis 3
Megan Mullen 2
totals: 22

Next up: tomorrow morning