Friday, May 16, 2008

Out & About: NC Heat/MN Stars Borowicz

#3 posting 5.16.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

This game took place on Sunday, May 11, 2008
Cooper High School
Minnesota State AAU Tournament
JUNIOR ELIGIBLE CHAMPIONSHIP
NC HEAT 82, MN STARS BOROWICZ 72

NC Heat won their 6th straight Minnesota State AAU girls basketball title with an 82-72 win over MN Stars Borowicz. Tayler Hill put on a clinic with 34 points, 12 assists, and 9 defensive stops---all leaders with an exclamation point. Hill had 20 points at half time.

NC Heat took advantage of a slow starting MSB squad with a 16-2 lead with about 13 minutes to go in the first half. Hill started the fireworks early with a spin move in the paint followed in short order by two triples. She had 8 of the first 16. After two free throw by Leah Dietel on the second MSB possession, MSB went eight possessions without scoring. That gap held up most of the game. When playing top level competition it is hard to climb out of the hole. NCH's biggest lead in the first half was 33-15. Hill & company continued to hold that advantage at half time 42-27. MSB only had two three point field goals in the first half, one on a put back.

The second half saw a flurry of activity early. NCH scored on five of their first six possessions while MSB got hot a little later with a 6/7 sequence. The pattern, however, was set. MSB would creep up to the 12 margin and NCH would extend the lead back to 17. With 5:27 NCH led 71-52. For a brief time Hill had her first break in the game, but MSB kept scoring and cut the margin to 8 (78-66) with 2:35 left. Hill's break was over. Both teams at the end were sizzling. NCH had a 7/8 scoring sequence while MSB shook off their frigid start with nine straight scores. The icy MSB start combined with the wizardry of Hill gave NCH their 6th title in as many years.

For those that are history buffs here are the two other Minnesota State AAU tournaments I charted:
2006 when NCH beat Total Package 51-46. Hill had 28 in that contest. Current NCH players Jamelia Hudnell, and Brittany Dyshaw played with TP back then. Theairra Taylor also played for TP and is now with MSB.
2007 when NCH beat North Tartan Larson 77-61. Hill had a eerily similar 34 points then too.
Photos: #1 Megan Nipe soars through the lane with Rachelle Eckmann, Theairra Taylor and Kate Thompson observing. #2 Theairra Taylor grabbing a rebound away from Mandy Poke as Cassie Rochel is in the background. photos by Teas.

key: player, school, points, possession, pp100, floor %
NC HEAT
STARTERS
Tayler Hill, Mpls South 34, 20, 170.0, .750 the glue, the indispensable. It didn't matter who was guarding Hill for MSB she was unstoppable. They threw the kitchen sink at her and she washed her hands and threw it back. A tour de force performance. Hit three 3s, scored on drives, pull ups and went to the line seven times. A healthy 13/14 at the line. 12 assists too. That means 58 points (.707) had Hill's finger prints on them. Her undervalued defense led both teams. She understands the game and can read your mind. What a night.
Anne Berner, Forest Lake 7, 6, 116.7, .667 post player. Her size matched up well against the MSB posts. Still has that nagging wrist injury.
Mandy Poke, Richfield 10, 9, 111.1, .556 point guard. also delivered a couple of trey bombs.
Megan Nipe, Centennial 15, 15, 100.0, .533 another solid performer. went to the line six times including two &1 chances.
Katya Leick, Park-Cottage Grove 4, 5, 80.0, .400 rugged perimeter player with length and strength
BENCH
Kayla Larson, Hutchinson 2, 4, 50.0, .250 perimeter
Jamelia Hudnell, DeLaSalle 2, 2, 100.0, .500 guard
Tempestt Wilson, Elk River 6, 6, 100.0, .500 guard. used her size to post up on Tyisha Smith.
Sarah Bingea, Delano 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000 forward
Maggie Weiers, New Prague 0, 1, 0.0, .000 forward/post
Brittany Dyshaw, Eagan 0, 0, 0.0, .000 forward

MN STARS BOROWICZ
STARTERS
Rachelle Eckmann, St. James 5, 6, 83.3, .333 hard hat worker. has good length for the perimeter. Strong frame. did hit a 3.
Leah Dietel, Jordan 7, 5, 140.0, .600 another perimeter with good length.
Theairra Taylor, St. Paul Central 21, 16, 131.3, .563 has stepped up and ramped up her game this spring. Is taking over and giving her imprint on the game. has 3 range with two,. likes to drive and pull up. glides
Brittany Chambers, Jordan 19, 13, 146.2, .615 firecracker point guard. hustles, loves the thrill of battle. willing to mix it up. went to the line five times.
Cassie Rochel, Lakeville North 4, 3, 133.3, .667 long lean post. runs the floor. led team with 7 assists, some off rebound/outlet
BENCH
Amber Dvorak, Hinckley-Finlayson 3, 6, 50.0, .333 6-7 post. getting the feel for high intensity competition
Megan Waytashek, Centennial 2, 3, 66.7, .333 lean lanky perimeter. coming off a cold
Hannah Linz, Eden Valley-Watkins 2, 5, 40.0, .200 shooting guard. has not erupted...yet
Kate Thompson, Wayzata 3, 4, 75.0, .500 the leanest and lankiest of the perimeter players. giant wing span.
Tyisha Smith, Mpls South 6, 8, 75.0, .250 smallest of the perimeters. is another fighter, willing to challenge bigger players.

TRENCH PLAYER
You had to ask? Tayler Hill

BY THE NUMBERS
NC Heat 82, 69, 118.8, .580
MN Stars Borowicz 72, 70, 102.9, .457
made 3s/&1s: MSB 7/0; NCH 5/1
ftm/fta-ft%: NCH 27/35-.771; MSB 25/28-.893;
bench: MSB 16, NCH 12
Both teams had great nights at the line--a combined 52/63-.825

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
NC HEAT
Tayler Hill 9
Anne Berner 5
Mandy Poke 5
Megan Nipe 4
Maggie Weiers 3
Katya Leick 2
Jamelia Hudnell 1
totals: 29

MN STARS BOROWICZ
Theairra Taylor 6
Amber Dvorak 3
Megan Waytashek 3
Brittany Chambers 3
Cassie Rochel 3
Rachelle Eckmann 2.5
Kate Thompson 1
Leah Dietel 0.5
totals: 21

ASSISTS
NC HEAT
Tayler Hill 12
Mandy Poke 7
Katya Leick 4
Kayla Larson 3
Megan Nipe 2
Jamelia Hudnell 2
Tempsett Wilson 1
Sarah Bingea 1
Maggie Weiers 1
Brittany Dyshaw 1
totals: 34

MN STARS BOROWICZ
Cassie Rochel 7
Theairra Taylor 4
Leah Dietel 3
Mandy Waytashek 3
Brittany Chambers 3
Tyisha Smith 2
Hannah Linz 1
Kate Thompson 1

Next up: tomorrow morning. Also tomorrow morning---a late week that was.