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ROGERS royals 35, BECKER bulldogs 34
It was a happy birthday for Rogers' Jennifer Dowd as she made two free throws with 11.7 seconds left for the final margin in a battle between two well versed Mississippi 8 rivals. Dowd also had a key rebound with 3.1 seconds left. She also deflected an inbounds pass with 2.5 seconds left. This was Rogers second win over the defending AAA state champs. It is very likely they will both meet in the 5AAA finals.
Both these teams know each other inside & out. Both teams approached this game with heightened intensity. Maybe too much intensity. Both teams started the game with four straight traveling calls highlighting the adrenaline carousing through their veins. On the fifth combined possession the traveling string was broken....by a fumble. Camille Loughlin made two free throws for the first points of the game at the 16:32 mark. Rogers took their biggest lead of the night at 5-2 after a Dowd 3. Becker scored on three straight possessions, their longest string of the night and Brianna Mastey had four of the six points. That put the Bulldogs in front and they held that advantage most of the half. But points were hard to come by as neither team permitted the other to run rampant. There was not one transition basket the whole night. Rogers tied the game at 10 and proceeded to fall into a 7 possession drought. During that time Becker stretched their lead to 14-10. That lead held up at half 19-15. Brianna Mastey had 10 points at half.Becker enjoyed their biggest lead at 22-17 after Rachel Gilbert scored on an out of bounds play where she was like Moses and parted the Rogers zone as she came down the middle. On The Royals next possession Loughlin hit a three from the right corner. That started a Rogers 3 possession run with Dowd adding a 3 to give them their first lead in the second half 23-22. Mann made a cut on the third possession for the biggest Rogers lead in the second half 25-22. The pendulum swung back to Becker with a 6-0 run capped by a Brianna Mastey rebound 28-25. Rogers regained the lead at 29-28 after a basket by Amanda Chesness. This started a stretch with two ties and three lead changes. Reyan Robinson delivered a three on the next possession for a 31-29 Becker lead. Dowd tied it getting her own rebound on a drive, but on her put back she used her left hand. Jessie Althoff came outside and found Brianna Mastey inside for a 33-31 lead. Dowd was fouled and made both free throws to knot it up again at 33. In the next 9 possessions there were only two scores. There were many opportunities that slipped away in the last two minutes. It started with Brianna Mastey getting stripped by Mann. Rogers looked like they were going to hold the ball for the last shot. Loughlin was double teamed near the time line and lost the ball to Gilbert. Loughlin picked up her fifth foul with 23.7 seconds left. Gilbert made the front end of a one & one. Becker took a time out in the middle of the free throw. Gilbert missed the second. Dowd rebounded and found Chesness on the left side unde
r the basket. She missed her chip shot and Brianna Mastey gathered the rebound. She missed the front end and Dowd once again snagged the d board. She was fouled with 11.7 left and converted both for the final 35-34 margin. The game however wasn't over yet. Rogers took a time out. Becker got the ball in and Robinson was fouled. She also missed the front end and once again Dowd got the all important rebound with 3.1 left. The missed front end must have been contagious because she missed her shot. Robinson rebounded and the clock said 1.5. After a referee discussion it was decided to add 1 second to 2.5. Becker took a time out. The ball was to be thrown in from the left side 3/4 court area. Alex Crapser threw the ball in and Dowd, with her fourth defensive stop, deflected the pass and stole the ball to end the contest.Rogers is now 17-2, and 11-0 in the conference. It looks like they will take the Mississippi 8 title. Becker is now 14-5 and 8-2 in the conference. Rogers won the first match up 54-37 on Dec. 18. You can circle Friday, March 5th for the potential third meeting in the 5AAA finals.
Shelly Stemper, who has been out for over a month for Becker, was involved in the warm ups and is moving well. She will be ready for action soon. With her addition to the line up, the Bulldogs will be deeper.
photos: Coach Teas is back. #1. Brianna Mastey goes up on a baseline drive in the first half. #2. Dowd with the steal the sealed the deal. photos by coach Teas.
key: player (grad year) points, possessions, pp100, floor%
ROGERS
STARTERS
Camille Loughlin (08) 5, 6, 83.3, .333 had one 3 in the right corner. limited time due to fouls.
Amanda Chesness (08) 4, 9, 44.4, .222 post player, roamed high post. steps out and relieves pressure on perimeter passing. Needs to finish chip shots
Jennifer Dowd (09) 16, 12, 133.3, .583 celebrated her birthday in style. has 3 range, can drive to the glass. seizes opportunities. good ball handler, good vision. is athletic and has extremely quick hands. good anticipation. gets up and has good timing on boards.
Casey Mann (08) 7, 16, 43.8, .250 shown respect as the "1" in the box &1. scores on drives to the glass. reversed dribble flummoxed defense. Her and Dowd look like twins and defensively they play like it. Mann also gets her hands on a lot of passes.
Heather Brunn (08) 2, 5, 40.0, .200 the third guard. another guard that is cut from the same cloth.
BENCH
Emily Dosmann (09) 1, 2, 50.0, .500 reserve post. It seemed she injured her hand in the first half. Didn't return
Gina Horn (08) 0, 0, 0.0, .000
Heather Johnson (09) 0, 0, 0.0, .000
BECKER
STARTERS
Chelsea Lieser (08) 3, 4, 75.0, .250 small guard. made a 3
Brianna Mastey (08) 19, 19, 100.0, .474 a work horse. can go in and out. can hit the pull up. likes baseline drives. doesn't get many free and easy looks from Rogers. Defensively long arms. once in a while plays the top on defense in the 1/2/2. gets up for boards.
Rachel Gilbert (09) 7, 11, 63.6, .364 guard.
Reyan Robinson (09) 3, 6, 50.0, .250 perimeter shooter. lefty. only one field goal. long wing span, also plays the top of the odd front zone.
Jessie Althoff (09) 2, 4, 50.0, .250 post player. limited touches. can pass
BENCH
Molly Brown (08) 0, 3, 0.0, .000 guard
Alex Crapser (08) 0, 4, 0.0, .000 3 shooter.
Nicole Mastey (08) 0, 1, 0.0, .000 second best defender for Becker with limited time. Is not aggressively looking for her shot or opportunities.
TRENCH PLAYERJennifer Dowd
BY THE NUMBERS
Rogers 35, 50, 70.0, .340
Becker 34, 52, 65.4,. .308
made 3s: Rogers 3, Becker 3
ftm/fta-ft%: Rogers 8/14-.571; Becker 3/10-.300
bench: Rogers 1, Becker 0
What is it about traveling calls & Fridays? Last week I saw 13 combined traveling calls. Tonight there were 14. So 13.7% of the possessions ended up with traveling calls. Not counting 2nd chancers there were only 17 2 point field goals, or 16.7%.
Both teams start their post players high against the zones..for example at the blocks. That compresses the zone and makes it tougher to get shots in the sweet spot in the middle. If the posts start near the baseline it will force the defense to stretch and open the middle.
DEFENSIVE WRAPS
ROGERS
Jennifer Dowd 9.5
Casey Mann 7.5
Gina Horn 1.5
Hather Brunn 1
Emily Dosmann 1
Heather Johnson 1
Camille Loughlin 1
Amanda Chesness 0.5
totals: 23
BECKER
Brianna Mastey 7
Nicole Mastey 4.5
Molly Brown 3
Reyan Robinson 2.5
Rachel Gilbert 2
Chelsea Lieser 1.5
Alex Crapser 1.5
totals: 22
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
Both teams relied on zones.
Rogers used their match up zone.
Becker would move from 1/2/2 to box & 1 with Mann the "1"
Becker used Brown, Lieser, and Robinson as the "1"
IN OTHER NEWS
St. Paul Central junior, Theairra Taylor scored her 1000th point at the 14:35 mark of the first half in Central's 87-20 win over Arlington. She joins Kiara Buford (1545 points) and Georgie Jones (1206 points) in the 1000 point club. Jones, who had 10 rebounds, now has 937 career rebounds.
next up: tomorrow morning