The Summer Week that was #3: Sam I Am

#2 posting 4.18.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

THE WEEK THAT WAS #3: Sam I Am
Last weekend was the first multiple weekend events and it kept me jumping from St. Louis Park to Hopkins to Sauk Rapids to St.. Cloud on Saturday. I spent Sunday in LaCrosse, Wisconsin for their tournament. Here are the breakdown of the numbers
Event, pp100, floor %
Weekend 80.18, .373
MN events 83.16, .380
WI events 77.75, .368
2008 overall 75.74, .357
HS overall 2008 81.53, .394
So the high school season is up overall, but if you segment the results, the MN results last weekend were a tad better (at least in the pp100 department).

More than anything this was the week of Sam (see the awards below)

COURT TIME
One of my big problems with off season ball is the players in waiting, younger brothers or sisters, or just run of the mill fans rush the court to take some shots during time outs or half time. It was so bad at St. Cloud’s Whitney Center on Saturday night that the teams were warming up with people milling about the floor. There is no respect for the game. The tournament officials or refs or whoever is in charge (apparently no one) did nothing either out of fear or negligence. You can tell how important the game is by the lack of control.
When I was coaching in traveling or summer ball we ALWAYS met under the basket preventing all the jack around shots. Reluctantly wannabees slinked off the court when our team claimed the paint.

FACTORY SYSTEM
There was a big outcry about running time for next year in high school, but running time rules in off season basketball—right from the start of the game 0-0. This is due to keep the schedule moving along and getting as many games in as possible. Games start at the top of the hour every hour. Fouls that would be called in a high school game don’t get whistled. As soon as one game is done 4 minutes of warm up time is given for the next game. Fans crowd around to take the choice seats on the folding chairs around the perimeter, or end zone. It is all industrial, all conveyor belt. Some times I feel if I am watching the scene in “Metropolis” where the workers trudge through the tunnels for the elevator.

READERS HELP
I can't do this site without the great help from you readers. Thanks to all those that contribute. Many have helped with the verbal/signing list. Here is what I have for 2008 signings. If I am missing anyone, go to my profile and email me.
The breakdown looks like this
Overall
1. Minnesota 92
2. Michigan 83

D1
Ohio 53
Illinois 34
Indiana 31
Minnesota 25
Michigan 18
Iowa 13
Wisconsin 9
South Dakota 3
North Dakota 2

D2
Minnesota 39
Michigan 24
Iowa 11
Wisconsin 10
North Dakota 7
South Dakota 4

I am also looking for All Conference lists for the area states. Click on your state and if I am missing anything, go to my profile and email me.

THIS WEEK
There are tournaments everywhere this weekend (April 19/20) as it is an NCAA viewing time. The Big events include the Boo Williams event in Virginia, The Super South Showcase in Rock Hill, SC, The Deep South Classic in the Golden Triangle of North Carolina., and Windy City in Chicago. Regional teams are involved in all of these events.
Closer to home there are tournaments in Menomonie, WI, a spring preview in Wahpeton, ND plus the MYAS events scattered around the Twin Cities.
Of course there are the Coaches All Star games at St. Thomas on Saturday and Sunday. Teams are divided by class. 1 will play 3 at 6 pm on Saturday followed by 2 vs. 4. Looking at the roster I have seen 35 of the 40 players during the 2008 high school year. I saw all the 4 and 3 players. I missed one 2 player—Renae Henjum of New London-Spicer who was out with a knee injury. The class with the lowest number of views is 1 with 6/10.

TEAM OF THE WEEK
Team WI Select Samuels won the LaCrosse Spring Fling Platinum division with rock solid defense. In both contests they held their opponents the Southern Stars (made up of southern MN players—Big 9, Hiawatha Valley) and the veteran Team WI Select White with players headed to college (ie Val Schuster off to Cincinnati). TWS Samuels has Nicole Griffin patrolling the middle and that has a huge impact on the defense (and mind set on the other team). The guards are aggressive and alert. Next up is this weekend in Menomonie.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sam Price of Team WI Select Samuels had a pair of strong performances, so strong she was named Trench player of the game in both of the games I saw. Price played with intensity and energy. She delivered on the offensive and defensive ends. Not only adept at finishing, she also is aware of who to get the ball to. In the championship game against TW Sr. White she led in all three categories—points, defensive wraps, and assists. In the semis she was at 200 pp100.

First off I have to see the player during the week in question. #2. the pp100 need to be over 100. #3 the floor % need to be over .500. #4 possession minimum during the summer is 6. Now there were 25 total players eligible this week. To narrow down the numbers I raised the bar a tad. Here are the 15.

FIRST TEAM
Jessie Althoff, Comets (Becker)
Erin Frase, Team WI Select 15s (Phillips)
Sam Price, Team WI Select Samuels (Eau Claire North)
Caitlin Robinson, X Factor (Staples-Motley)
Jessica Waldvogel, Team WI Select 15s (Wausau West)
SECOND TEAM
Bailey Carlson, Comets (KMS)
Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select Samuels (Milwaukee Vincent)
Amber Hames, MN Thunder (Blaine)
Laura Van Es, Team WI Select 15s (Eau Claire North)
Jamie Wollin, Comets (Litchfield)
THIRD TEAM
Jodi Batzel, Metro Stars White (Dover-Eyota)
T-Yanna Devericks, MN Stars Eckmann (West Central, SD)
Molly Duehn, Metro Stars Black (Burnsville)
Sam Hoyt, Team WI Select Samuels (Durand)
Apiew Ojulu, Southern Stars (Rochester JM)

DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Was there any question on this? Nicole Griffin of Team WI Select Samuels is a game changer and for good reason. With a long wing span and her 6-6 frame she prevents many shots just by walking on the court. She is looking more comfortable moving on the floor. Her feet are good and the coordination is catching up with her. And the scary thing is she looks like she will continue to get better.

FIRST TEAM
Jessie Althoff, Comets (Becker)
Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select Samuels (Milwaukee Vincent)
Kelsey Jacobson, ECI (Moorhead)
Katie Wolff, Team WI Select Doucette (Marshfield)
Morgan Lee, Team WI Select 15s (Hayward)

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Jessica Waldvogel of Team Wisconsin Select 15s is a guard with some length. She had a double double in the game against Viking Club Hurricane with 10 points and 10 assists. She runs the floor and can hit the three.

PAST WINNERS
TEAM
2. Minnesota Dynamite
1. IBCA Select Red

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
2. Haylie Darrington, Maroon South Central All Star (Blue Earth)
1. Trisha Nesbitt, IBCA Select Red (Ames)

DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
2. Kiara Strickland, Gold South Central All Star (Mpls Roosevelt)
1. Amber Kirschbaum, IBCA Select Red (Spirit Lake)

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
2. Kara Hofschild, Minnesota Dynamite (Andover)
1. Kionna Kellogg, IBCA Select Red (Ames)

POLLS
19s
1. Team WI Sr White
2. Team WI Sr Black

17u/JR ELIGIBLE
1. North Tartan Larson
2. MN Stars Hested/Borowicz
3. NC Heat
4. IBCA Select Red
5. Team WI Select Samuels
6. Metro Stars Black
7. Comets
8. Team WI Select Doucette
9. Metro Stars White
10. Southern Stars
11. MN Stars Eckmann
12. All Iowa Attack 17
13. X Factor
More teams will be coming next week

16u/MYAS DIVISION
1. MN Dynamite
2. MN Thunder

15u
1. North Tartan
2. Team Iowa
3. Team WI Select

14u
1. IBCA Select Blue
2. Southern MN Heat

12u
1. MN Stars Farview

Next up: tomorrow morning