#10 posting 2.24.2008
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MCCC CHAMPIONSHIP
ROCHESTER yellowjackets 63, ANOKA-RAMSEY rams 49
In a rare (for winter) Sunday out & about, Rochester won their first MCCC Championship with a 63-49 win over AR. AR had finally had some of their players healed from nagging injuries. The Yellowjackets had a strong start, but fell into a severe drought. They battled through that dry spell to lead at half time 27-23. When two Rams fouled out it looked like clear sailing with a 46-29 lead. However AR refused to go quietly. They closed to six points with a minute to go, yet 
Rochester hung on with five straight scores to finish the game.
Rochester took control with two consecutive Anne Breland threes. The Yellowjackets led 12-3 with Breland providing 8. Then it was a 14 possession wandering in the wilderness. And play turned sloppy with eight possessions ending as turnovers. AR took advantage of the down time to go on a 14-0 run. Both Sonja Ellingson and Amanda Reh had five points in the run. Then it was AR's turn to go into the deep freeze. They had 10 empty trips as Rochester fought to tie it up at 21. Breland broke the tie with a pair of free throws and then hit a shot from the corner. The Yellowjackets led at half 27-23.
AR scored on their first possession, but then it was nothing but bad news until the 8 minute mark. They had another 10 possession drought and a 1/17 sequence. On top of that floor general Amanda Reh picked up foul #4 on an over the back call with 14:44 left. She didn't come out and was soon tagged with #5 on a charge with 12:05 left. At that point Rochester was feeling their oat and up 37-27. More bad news came at the 8:50 mark as Jessica Cichy picked up #4 and #5 within seconds of each other. With two aggressive offensive players out it 
appeared Rochester could coast. They couldn't. Ellingson started a run with a three. That started a string of four straight scores (not possessions) of 3s for AR. Love Washington stepped up and delivered three of them. She had an opportunity for another three point play the old fashioned way. That free throw rimmed out. The very next AR possession Megan Hambleton drained a 3 and the seemingly comfortable 46-29 for Rochester had evaporated to a very much in doubt 53-46 game with 4 minutes left. AR hung around at that level until, with Carri Roline was called for a charge with under a minute to go. Roline made the basket which of course was waved off. AR wouldn't score again and Rochester won their first title in four tries.
key: player, high school, (grad year) points, possessions, pp100, floor %
ROCHESTER
STARTERS
Anne Breland, Rochester Lourdes (11) 24, 19, 126.3, .526 big perimeter. not only has the 3 touch (4 on the day) but was 6/6 at the line. Also did a big job on the d boards.
Kasie Heimer, Rochester Century (10) 13, 10, 130.0, .600 post that can step out. hit a 3. can drive. even reverse.
Kristina Thompson, Elk River (11) 6, 9, 66.7, .333 perimeter. 4/4 at the line.
Courtney Jones, Kingsland (11) 5, 10, 50.0, .300 point guard. looks to distribute
Lisa Bicknese, Kingsland (10) 4, 7, 57.1, .286 smaller post.
BENCH
Erin Maurer, McLeod West (11) 0, 3, 0.0, .000 reserve guard
Amanda Degnan, St. Charles (11) 7, 11, 63.6, .364 reserve post. had a drive
Kendra Heitkamp, Rosemount (11) 4, 7, 57.1, .286 perimeter with almost 3 range--steped on line.
ANOKA-RAMSEY
STARTERS
Kate Bement, Princeton (11) 2, 6, 33.3, .167. perimeter
Jessica Cichy, St. Francis (11) 4, 13, 30.8, .154 post player/forward type. Her fouls also hurt the AR cause.
Sonja Ellingson, Maple Grove (10) 14, 17, 82.4, .353 can face the basket. In the second half was posting. Was more effective in the first half.
Amanda Reh, Monticello (10) 10, 13, 76.9, .385 point guard. communicates, feisty. foul problems and fouling out with over 12 minutes left left her team hurting
Love Washington, Blaine (10) 11, 12, 91.7, .333 almost singlehandedly brought AR back from the dead. With Reh done she took over point guard duties.
BENCH
Carri Roline, St. Francis (11) 1, 4, 25.0, .250 perimeter
Megan Hambleton, Anoka (11) 3, 8, 37.5, .125 forward
Kelley Olson, Centennial (11) 4, 4, 100.0, .250 forward
TRENCH PLAYERAnne Breland
BY THE NUMBERS
Rochester 63, 76, 82.9, .395
Anoka-Ramsey 49, 77, 63.6, .273
made 3s: AR 6, Rochester 5
ftm/fta-ft%: Rochester 20/22-.909; 9/13-.692
bench: Rochester 11, AR 8
DEFENSIVE WRAPS
ROCHESTER
Anne Breland 16.5
Kasie Heimer 7
Kristina Thompson 4
Lisa Bicknese 4
Kendra Heitkamp 3
Courtney Jones 2
Amanda Degnan 1.5
totals: 38
ANOKA-RAMSEY
Sonja Ellingson 8
Amanda Reh 6
Jessica Cichy 5
Kate Bement 3
Megan Hambleton 3
Kelley Olson 3
Love Washington 3
Carri Roline 2
totals: 33
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Rochester used man often.
AR was in a 1/2/2 match up.
match ups (AR off/Roch def) Reh/Thompson; Hambleton-Bement/Breland; Olson-Ellingson/Bicknese; Rolinep-Washington/Jones; Cichy/Degnan-Heimer
next up: tomorrow morning.
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