Out & About: Mpls South/St. Paul Central

#8 posting 2.2.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH tigers 72
ST. PAUL CENTRAL minutemen 52

The South Tigers got revenge for two losses last year to the defending AAAA State Champs in a 72-52 win at South. The key point came with a 14-0 run in the second half when Central went into a 9 possession drought. A big difference came at the line. South made 29 at the line--40.3% of their points. Central made 12 or 23.1% of their point total. The two will probably meet in the Twin City Championship game on February 23. That game will be at Central.

South took the lead on their 2nd possession and never trailed. Tayler Hill, who ended up with 27, started her day with a runner off a steal. South pushed the lead to 7-1 on a drive and dish from Tyisha Smith to Taquoia Hammick. Central scored their first basket on Georgie Jones basket with three minutes into the game. The twin themes of the game, transition off turnovers established themselves early. Central had four turnovers in their first 17 possessions and South cashed in six points. South also went to the line three times in the first portion of the first half. South continued to build on their margin. The Tigers had an 8-2 bump to take their first double digit lead at 28-18. Central managed to cut that down to 35-31 with under two minutes to go in the half on a three by Buford. Hill finished up the half with four free throws, she was 10/10 in the half, and the Tigers went to the break with a 39-31 lead. Central had two of their big guns under the gun with foul problems. Taylor picked up her 3rd with about 6 minutes to go, Buford had her 3rd with 43.7 seconds left.

The early theme of the second was offensive foul calls. Of the first six possessions three were three. One belonged to Buford and that hamstrung Central's chances. South wasn't immune to foul trouble. Both their post players--Gabby Roberts and Hammick picked up their fourth. Roberts at 14:43 and Hammick at 13:14. The difference is the Central players are counted on to carry the offensive load more the the South players with four. Central hung around to 46-40 when the drought struck. Taylor picked up her 4th with 11:51 left so their one-two scoring punch were spectators on the pine. South started the 14-0 run with a rebound coast to coast drive & 1 to go up 49-40. It was 60-40 when Central scored again. Both Buford and Taylor returned to the contest and Buford managed to score four points to cut the lead to 60-44. The South bench helped out with Ameshia Kearney striking from behind the arc on the left corner. South scored five more times the rest of the game, four of those times came at the line. South scored 8 two point field goals in the second half. Only three of those came in the half court offense, all in the paint. Transition buckets and free throws were their bread and butter. They had 13 transition points via Central turnovers and 10 transition points via Central missed shots. That is 23 of the 36 second half points. South didn't score the last three minutes as they closed the game with a six possession drought. Their last basket came at the 5:30 mark.

photos: #1. Tyisha Smith shows her elevation in a transition lay up in the first half. Kyana Johnson is also in the frame. #2. Tayler Hill goes up in transition with Johnson again in the frame. photos by Teas.

key: player (grad year), points, possessions, pp100, floor %
MPLS SOUTH
STARTERS
Tyisha Smith (10) 14, 19, 73.7, .316 one of the three headed monster that is the South perimeter game. her superhero name is the blur. can drive and hit open players with zippy passes. has 3 range. is aggressive, combative, anticipates. Once she gets the ball she is gone. Went to the line three times.
Tayler Hill (09) 27, 19, 142.1, .684 one of the three headed monster that is the South perimeter game. scored off the drive when she scored from the floor. went to the line 10 times. was 18/19 at the line. did make a three. great anticipation on defense, reads eyes/hands/feet well. defensively did a great job on the glass. had 17.5 wraps. worked hard at both ends.
Taquoia Hammick (08) 4, 5, 80.0, .400 post player. battled inside. fouls put her on the bench.
Ephesia Holmes (08) 18, 23, 78.3, .391 one of the three headed monster that is the South perimeter game. more the point guard of the three. likes to penetrate. looks for Hill & Smith often. also scores off the drive. went to the line five times.
Gabby Roberts (09) 0, 0, 0.0, .000 post player. fouls put her on the bench.
BENCH
Ameshia Kearney (10) 5, 4, 125.0, .400 perimeter player. can shoot the 3. is looking more comfortable in the South system.
Europe Guy (09) 2, 4, 50.0, .250 left handed back up post
Mallory Cramer (09) 2, 3, 66.7, .333 back up post
Jenny Houle (09) 0, 3, 0.0, .000 three point shooter

ST. PAUL CENTRAL
STARTERS
Theairra Taylor (09) 3, 12, 25.0, .167 athletic perimeter. rough day shooting. picked up too many fouls hampered her flow. four turnovers on passing.
Kiara Buford (08) 19, 19, 100.0, .474 strong first half with 10 points, but the early 4th in the second half handcuffed her and put her on the pine. also four passing turnovers.
Cyonna West (08) 3, 6, 50.0, .333 quick guard.
Georgie Jones (08) 10, 12, 83.3, .417 continues to show improvement in the paint. is initiating contact and is aggressive going to the basket.
Megan Howard (08) 8, 5, 160.0, .800 strong post, made three baskets on put backs.
BENCH
Kyana Johnson (09) 3. 8, 37.5, .125 point guard. defense gave her space. likes to take 3.
Tasha Garrett (08) 2, 5, 40.0, .200 rough and tumble perimeter. has aggressive, attacking attitude.
Brittany Dorsey (08) 0, 2, 0.0, .000 perimeter.
Samantha Robinson-Ricks (09) 2, 7, 28.6, .143 perimeter, passing decisions.
Maja Cyrus (11) 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Briana Reeves (11) 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Catavia Jones (09) 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000

TRENCH PLAYER
Tayler Hill

BY THE NUMBERS
Mpls South 72, 80, 90.0, .400
St. Paul Central 52, 80, 65.0, .325
made 3s: MS 3, SPC 2
ftm/fta-ft%: MS 29/32-.906; SPC 12/20-.600
bench: MS 9, SPC 9
South's three headed monster scored 81.9% of their points, 76.3% of their possessions, had 68.3% of their defensive stops, and 100% of their free throw attempts.
The Central bench had 15 stops, the starters 17. The starters need to avoid foul problems and ramp up the defense.
75% of the Central 28 turnovers were due to passing. Usually too far, too high, and receivers not coming to meet the ball.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
MPLS SOUTH
Tayler Hill 17.5
Tyisha Smith 5.5
Ephesia Holmes 5
Taquoia Hammick 4
Mallory Cramer 3
Europe Guy 2
Gabby Roberts 2
Ameshia Kearney 1
Jenny Houle 1
totals: 41

ST. PAUL CENTRAL
Georgie Jones 11.5
Tasha Garrett 4
Brittany Dorsey 4
Kiara Buford 2.5
Theairra Taylor 2
Kyana Johnson 2
Megan Howard 2
Cyonna West 1
Samantha Robinson-Ricks 1
Briana Reeves 1
Catavia Jones 1
bench: 32

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
South used 2/3 zone with 2/2/1 and 1/2/1/1 presses.
Central used 2/3 most of the game. at times they boxed 1 Hill.

Next up: tomorrow morning.