Out & About: MN Stars 12/MN Suns 12

#3 posting 7.8.2008
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12U AAU NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
championship play back round
Rochester, Mayo Civic Arena
MN STARS 52, MN SUNS 50

The Minnesota Stars Farview squad eliminated the Minnesota Suns from the national AAU title chase by crashing the boards hard. The Stars scored 19 points on second chancers. They trailed 45-41 with 4:55 left. #22 (not identified in the program) scored three points, one on a free throw, and then after missing the second, scored after Allina Star got the rebound.

I went to this game because it was a national tournament in Rochester, it was an afternoon game and it featured two Minnesota teams. I hadn't seen the Suns yet. I open the spring/summer season with a look at the Stars. Looking at the websites the Suns were without two players at 6-2 and 5-11. They needed their help on the glass in this game. Unfortunately the Stars don't have their full roster in the $5 program they sell or on their own website. So some players that did well will be known as unknown.

This game was close the whole time. Neither team led by more than six. The first half featured six ties including halftime at 24 all. The Suns scored early with four of their first six possessions and led 8-6. The Suns then had a 1/10 sequence. The Stars edged in front 10-8 when the Suns went on an 8-0 run to lead 16-10. It was the Stars turn with an 11 possession drought. The Stars caught fire later with a 5/7 run to tie the game up at 24.

Just like the first half the second was tight. Again there were six ties. The Stars had their biggest lead early at 33-28. Angie Davison tied the game up at 36 with a three. The Suns led 40-36 when the Stars scored four points on one possession. Iyanna Turner scored the basket on an &1 situation, but missed the free throw. As they did all day the Stars got the second chance and #22 scored to tie it up. Again the Suns edged up 45-41. The Stars tied it again. The Suns scored on three of four possessions with Kayla Schmidt scoring two straight baskets. Her final basket made it Suns 50-49. That set up the final Suns possession with #22 making the free throw and winning basket after Starr got the offensive rebound. Schmidt had a last shot for the tie but it didn't drop. The loss eliminated the Suns from the playback round.

Later in the day the Stars were eliminated by the Illinois Wizards.

Both teams played zone with the Suns using 1/2/2; and the Stars 2/1/2.

You can see the entire MN Stars vs MN Suns 12u photo gallery at kevinanderson.photostockplus.com.

key: player, school, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
MN STARS
STARTERS
Adrianna Papagiannopoulos 2, 6, 33.3, .167
Allina Starr 13, 15, 86.7, .400 a workhorse on the boards. strong upper body, relentless.
#22 Unknown 15, 13, 115.4, .538 perimeter, liked to score off the drive.
#13 unknown 10, 14, 71.4, .286 point guard. quick
Breeyana Brittain 0, 0, 0.0, .000 jumped center, but didn't play that much
BENCH
Annamarie Schoeben 2, 4, 50.0, .250
Ifeoma Odor 3, 4, 75.0, .500
Sierra Leggett 0, 4, 0.0, .000
Ta'kendra Elbert 4, 4, 100.0, .500 hit a key corner shot to cut the margin late.
Iyanna Turner 3, 4, 75.0, .250 rugged inside banger

MN SUNS
STARTERS
Kyla Schmidt, Maple Grove 12, 10, 120.0, .600 post. scored a couple on press lay ups
Angie Davison, Maple Grove 10, 18, 55.6, .278 perimeter. sees the floor.
Kelly Olzenak, Maple Grove 5, 7, 71.4, .286 left handed 3 point shooter
Claire Thomas, Roseville 4, 5, 80.0, .400 guard
Allison Cordes, Roseville 2, 6, 33.3, .167 perimeter
BENCH
Anuli Okonkwo, Maple Grove 8, 10, 80.0, .300 was the main rebounder for the Suns. on offense will drive.
Erin Stromen, Woodbury 4, 4, 100.0, .500
Courtney Schiffler, Woodbury 3, 6, 50.0, .333
Jordan Hansen, St. Michael-Albertville 2, 3, 66.7, .333

TRENCH PLAYER
Allina Starr double double with D stops, plus kept the ball alive with offensive boards all day

BY THE NUMBERS
Stars 52, 68, 76.5, .353
Suns 50, 69, 72.5, .348
made 3s/&1s: Stars 2/0, Suns 1/1
ftm/fta-ft%: Suns 10/15-.667; Stars 8/17-.471
bench: Suns 17, Stars 12

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
MN STARS
Allina Star 11
#13 unknown 10
#22 unknown 5
Adrianna Papagiannopoulos 4
Breeyana Brittain 2
Iyanna Turner 2
Annamarie Schoeben 2
Ifeoma Odor 1
Sierra Leggett 1
Ta'kendra Elbert 1
totals: 39

MN SUNS
Anuli Okonkwo 7
Angie Davison 6
Allison Cordes 5
Courtney Schiffler 5
Kyla Schmidt 4
Claire Thomas 4
Erin Strommen 3
Kelly Olzenak 1
Jordan Hansen 1
totals: 36

ASSISTS
MN STARS
#13 unknown 5
Allina Starr 4
Adrianna Papagiannopoulos 3
Ta'kendra Elbert 2
#22 unknown 1
Annamarie Schoeben 1
totals: 16

MN SUNS
Angie Davison 7
Jordan Hansen 3
Kelly Olzenak 2
Anuli Okonkwo 2
Claire Thomas 1
Allison Cordes 1
Courtney Schiffler 1
totals: 17