Breakdown Cover

#3 posting 8.31.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BREAKDOWN COVER
The Breakdown Basketball Publication invited 50 players from all across the state to be included on this year's cover of The Breakdown. 25 girls and 25 boys represented Minnesota from all different graduating classes. In addition to the photo shoot, the players were guests of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, being honored on the court during the Minnesota Lynx/Washington Liberty WNBA game.

Here are the girls
Kara Elofson, SR, Hopkins
Jennifer Dowd, SR, Rogers
Leah Dietel, SR, Jordan (South Dakota State)
Nicole Smart, SR, Ada-Borup (North Dakota)
Tyisha Smith, JR, Mpls South
Tayler Hill, SR, Mpls South
Lizzi Naumann, SR, Totino Grace (Drake)
Megan Nipe, SR, Centennial
Brittany Chambers, SR, Jordan (Kansas State)
Kayta Leick, SR, Park of Cottage Grove (Nebraska)
Bree Holleman, JR, Hancock
Gabby Boever, JR, Worthington
Rachel Eckmann, SR, St. James (North Dakota State)
Brianna Tisch, JR, Chaska
Theierra Taylor, SR, St. Paul Central
Amber Dvorak, SR, Hinkley-Finlayson (Minnesota)
Jessie Althoff, SR, Becker (Bemidji State)
Sari Noga, JR, Parkers Prairie
Kayla Hirt, SO, Bemidji
Katie Loberg, SR, Princeton (Minnesota)
Rachel Banham, SO, Lakeville North
Tempest Wilson, SR, Elk River
Marissa Janning, FR, Watertown-Mayer
Hannah Linz, SR, Eden-Valley Watkins (North Dakota State)
Shakila Boler, JR, Bloomington Kennedy (Minnesota)

Next up: when news breaks or tomorrow morning whatever comes first

New Life Hires

#2 posting 8.31.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

NEW LIFE HIRES
Veteran coach Paul Mork has been hired as girls basketball coach at New Life. He is also coaching the Eagles in the first year of its new football program. Mork has had stints at White Bear Lake with both boys and girls, assisted at Blaine and coached Irondale to the girls state tournament in 2002.

Next up: tomorrow

College Basketball in Canada, Wiese Moves to MetroStars

#1 posting 8.31.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

CLINIC
The 10th Annual Knights Basketball Coaching Academy will be held at Bloomfield Hills Lahser in Michigan on Saturday, September 13. Speakers will include Grosse Pointe North's girls basketball coach Gary Bennett, Oakland University's men's coach Greg Kampe, and U Detroit's men's coach Ray McCallum. From Hometown Life.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IN CANADA
Even though it is August, Baylor and LSU are involved in an international tournament in Vancouver. Baylor beat Simon Fraser 86-67. LSU beat British Columbia 74-46. Earlier LSU beat Trinity Western 81-27. From the Province.

COACHING NEWS
Ellen B. Wiese (Ebwiese@aol.com) has been added to the coaching staff of the Minnesota Metro Stars where she will serve as head coach of the 15U team in 2009. This will be Coach Wiese's first season with the Metro Stars. She started coaching AAU teams in 2001, the last two years of which she took her teams to AAU Nationals in Salem, VA, in 2007, and Kings Island, Ohio this past summer. Last season's team finished second in the 15U division at the Minnesota AAU State Championship. Coach Wiese is also the Junior Varsity head coach at Maple Grove High School, coming off a very successful winning season. Coach Wiese is a former college basketball player who brings a great love for the game and a passion to inspire confidence in the girls. She is an attorney with her own law practice.

Next up: tomorrow

Fall 08 Out & About: Hopkins/Totino-Grace

#2 posting 8.30.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ROOSEVELT FALL LEAGUE
HOPKINS royals 37, TOTINO-GRACE eagles 22

Hopkins beat Totino-Grace in the first Saturday in the Roosevelt Fall League 37-22. Kara Elofson, playing in her first contest since the Ohio incident, had 14 points for the Royals and four D Wraps.

This was the opening day of the fall leagues, and the newest of the bunch at that. Roosevelt is running their events on Saturday mornings, and they opened on probably a hard sell Saturday as it is Labor Day Saturday. However the crowds at Roosevelt were good. The pp100 and execution wasn't as good as the crowds.

Hopkins had their main core at the game, TG did not. The problems with fall leagues---horrible uniforms, spotty attendance, other player commitments---were evident today. What also was evident was the turnovers. Hopkins forced 12 TG turnovers in the first half, and added 8 in the second half.

The Royals started off strong with six points in their first four possessions, but then Hopkins had a five possession drought. TG didn't score on their first five possessions, four of which ended as turnovers. TG later had a 14 possession drought. Besides the turnovers, free throw shooting was off or awful in the first half. Hopkins checked in with 4/11 or .364. TG didn't get to the line. Hopkins improved somewhat at the line in the second half. The Royals were 5/9 (.556). At halftime it was Hopkins up 20-9. There was no real mystery which team was going to win.

Before charting the Hopkins/TG game I caught a few minutes of the Burnsville vs Minneapolis South contest won by the Blaze 40-39 in overtime. Tayler Hill was playing for the Tigers, but Tyisha Smith wasn't there.
For all you fashion mavens out there: TH was sporting a new hair style and color.

You can see the entire Hopkins vs Totino-Grace photo gallery along with a few Mpls South vs Burnsville shots to start at kevinanderson.photostockplus.com.

stats to follow

Key: Player, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
HOPKINS
STARTERS
Jenna Lillemoe 2, 8, 25.0, .125 shooting guard. active on defense
Brianna Williams 5, 4, 125.0, .500 tough nosed guard
Kara Elofson 14, 8, 175.0, .875 out to prove something today. an animal on the boards, active on defense, looked to draw fouls. Was one of the few Royals that was north of 50% at the line.
Jasmine Mendes 0, 2, 0.0, .000 point guard
Hana Potter 0, 7, 0.0, .000 post
BENCH
Tori Joranson 7, 9, 77.8, .444 post. scored a couple of points on out of bounds plays.
Ebony Livingston 3, 2, 150.0, 1.000 likes to drive and was effective.
Julia Wiemer 0, 2, 0.0, .000 guard
Sydney Coffey 4, 4, 100.0, .500 guard
Jill Greenfield 2, 3, 66.7, .333 guard
Nia Coffey 0, 1, 0.0, .000 younger guard
Megan Westman 0, 0, 0.0, .000 forward type
#41 0, 0, 0.0, .000 the unknown player

TOTINO-GRACE
in general all players need to be stronger with the ball and make better decisions.
STARTERS
Erin Quinn 0, 5, 0.0, .000 perimeter
Kaeli Kraska 4, 8, 50.0, .250 guard, scored off the dribble.
Libby Norris 8, 9, 88.9, .444 guard
Keyana Mirbaghri 1, 5, 20.0, .200 perimeter
Kathryn Dillon 4, 5, 80.0, .400 forward, attacked the basket
BENCH
#14 0, 5, 0.0, .000 got knocked down and kept playing. guard.
Erin Daugherty 4, 7, 57.1, .286 scored on a second chancer.
Emma Ricky 0, 2, 0.0, .000 guard
Sami Surma-Heine 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Jessi Tyminski 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Tessa Oberle 0, 1, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Kara Elofson: making a statement

BY THE NUMBERS
Hopkins 37, 50, 74.0, .380
Totino-Grace 22, 49, 44.9, .224
made 3s/&1s: Hopkins 0/0; TG 0/0
ftm/fta-ft%: Hopkins 9/20-.450; TG 5/8-.625
bench: Hopkins 16, TG 4

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
HOPKINS
Jenna Lillemoe 5
Kara Elofson 4
Hana Potter 3
Jill Greenfield 3
Brianna Williams 2
Jasmine Mendes 2
Tori Joranson 2
Sydney Coffey 2
Nia Coffey 2
Megan Westman 2
Julia Wiemer 1
totals: 28

TOTINO-GRACE
Kaeli Kraska 6
Kathryn Dillon 4
Erin Daugherty 4
Libby Norris 3
Tessa Oberle 2
Jessi Tyminski 2
#14 1
totals: 24

ASSISTS
HOPKINS
Jenna Lillemoe 3
Julie Wiemer 3
Jasmine Mendes 1
Tori Joranson 1
Sydney Coffey 1
Jill Greenfield 1
totals: 10

TOTINO-GRACE
Kaeli Kraska 2
Erin Daugherty 2
Erin Quinn 1
#14 1
Keyana Mirbaghri 1
totals: 7

Next up: tomorrow

Roster Additions, Barracuda

#1 posting 8.30.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ADDING TO THE ROSTER
Eastern Michigan has added four junior college transfers to their roster for 2008-09:
Amanda Tretheway (San Francisco, Calif.-El Camino (Foothill C.C.)
Kayla Vantil (Mountain View, Calif.-Mountain View (Foothill C.C.)
De’Ja Wills (Anderson, Ind.-Anderson)
Sydney Huntley-Rogers (Cincinnati, Ohio-Purcell Marian)

Maja Gerlyng of Horsholm, Denmark has signed with Siena.

Kentucky has added Keyla Snowden of Lexington Catholic, KY and Sarah Rowe of Rockcastle County, KY to their roster. Snowden is a transfer from Akron. Rowe will be a walk on.

Tolu Omotola, Antoinette Thompson, and Amanda Sims have arrived on campus at Texas Christian.

COACHING NEWS
Rick Niemi has been hired as the new girls basketball coach by Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in Michigan. He had been a women's assistant coach at Siena Heights. From the Monroe News.

Kristen Buckley has been named an assistant at Brown. Buckley was the head coach at Colorado Christian. Buckley is a Drake 1998 grad.

SCHEDULE
Boise State has released their 2008-09 schedule.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW
Iowa State catches up with former player Brittany Wilkens class of 2006.

PICNICS
Colorado State will hold a picnic on September 7 to meet the team and first year coach Kristen Holt.

POLITICS
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was picked by John McCain to be his vice president choice. She was the point guard on the Alaska state champion Wasilla in 1982 when her nickname on the court was Sarah Barracuda. From NPR.

Next up: after the Roosevelt Fall League

Riley Suspended, Bluder Extended

#1 posting 8.29.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

2012
Among the Army 2012 class is Lauren Lybbert of Davenport Assumption.

SUSPENDED
Oklahoma State guard Andrea Riley has been suspended by the NCAA for a fight in OSU's last game last season. From the USA Today.

COACHING NEWS
Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder has signed a contract extension through 2013.

PRO SIGNING
Lacey Haugian, a 6-foot-2 forward from Black Hills State has signed a one year contract to play in Sweden. From the Dickinson Press (scroll down).

SCHEDULES
Wichita State has released their 2008-09 schedule.

SEASON SWITCH
The MHSAA is looking to off set the basketball season by two weeks. From the Grand Rapids Press.

TRIPS
The Gophers have said good bye or arrivederci to Italy.

CHEMISTRY
Rethinking Basketball re-examines team chemistry with the WNBA.

Next up: tomorrow or when news breaks

Anderson Waived

#1 posting 8.27.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

WAIVED
Former Wisconsin Badger Jolene Anderson has been waived by the Connecticut Sun. The former South Shore, WI player will head to Northern France in September to play in the Euro League. From the Duluth News Tribune.
KBJR has video.

TRANSFER
Jenna Plumley has left Oklahoma for Lamar. From the Beaumont Enterprise.

COACHING NEWS
Sharri Brumfield has been named women's basketball coach at Kalamazoo College. From the Kalamazoo Gazette.

It will be teacher vs pupil as Brad DeWitt of Fenton faces former player Becki Moore, the new coach at New Linden, Michigan. From the Flint Journal.

SCHEDULES
Iowa State has released their 2008-09 schedule.

Illinois will be in Cancun over Thanksgiving.

Dayton has released their non-conference schedule.

CAMP & CABLE
The Michigan High School Athletic Association and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan will be holding a camp for 100 boys and 100 girls. From MLive.
Also the MHSAA is starting a cable channel. From the Detroit News.

TRIP
Julie Henderson had one last hurrah with Hope. From the Grand Rapids Press.

JACKED
The Indiana Hoosiers want you to get "Jacked."

ONE ON ONE
The Wisconsin Badgers' Lin Zastrow goes one on one with a Q&A session.

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE
Steven Froemming has a report on the Minneapolis South Tigers.

Next up: Tomorrow or when news breaks

Theut Verbals

#2 posting 8.27.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

THEUT VERBALS
Sammy Theut of Marine City Cardinal Mooney, Michigan has verballed UW Milwaukee. The 5-7 guard averaged 15.4 ppg for the 24-3 Cardinals last year.

Theut is the 7th player from the Michigan 2009 class to verbal and the 5th headed to a D1 program.

Kimee Chandler of Pecatonica, Wisconsin has verballed UW Milwaukee in the 2010 class.

From the Port Huron Times Herald.

Hill Saga, Gophers Romp in Italy, Two Fennellys

#1 posting 8.27.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

HILL
Tayler Hill will probably not be a Gopher. She is taking trips to Duke, Texas, Marquette and Rutgers. From the StarTribune.

METRO STARS OPEN TRYOUTS
The Minnesota Metro Stars will be holding open tryouts for their 16U Black and 16U White teams for the 2009 AAU season. Tryouts will be held at Bloomington Jefferson on September 14th and 21st. Over a period of years Metro Stars has established itself as one of the top basketball clubs in the midwest. If you feel that you can compete at the highest level we would love to see you at tryouts. Tryout info can be found here.

GOPHERS IN ITALY
The Minnesota Gophers finished their Italian trip with a stop at Lake Como. Tanisha Smith and Marisa Moseley have blog wraps. The Gophers were 3-0 on their trip with a 108-18 win over a Swiss team

MORE KNIFE
There is video of Shaunna Knife who has recently verballed Mary. From KXMB.

PREVENTING KNEE INJURIES
The Kalamazoo Gazette looks at a program that helps prevent ACL knee injuries.

CONFERENCE NEWS
The Downriver League is in the works in Michigan breaking apart the Mega Conference. From the Detroit Free Press.

FENNELLY: BILL & BILLY
Iowa State women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly has a blog entry.

Son Billy has moved from Maryland to Northwestern. He is now the Director of Basketball Operations for the Wildcats.

COACHING NEWS
Heather Vulin has been hired as an assistant at Villanova. Vulin was a grad assistant at North Dakota State and is a 1999 UM Morris grad.

SCHEDULES
Here are the list of teams that have released their 2008-09 schedule: Denver and Southern Illinois.

TICKETS
You can now get Summit basketball Tournament tickets. The event will be in Sioux Falls this March. From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Tired of the Game, 25 Breakdown & Over There

#1 posting 8.26.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

DELLA DONNE SAGA CONTINUES
The #1 recruit from 2007-08 6-5 Elena Della Donne says "Once I arrived at UConn I just saw what was going to be required every day, and I thought I wouldn't be able to give that." and "I just know when I step on the basketball floor now, I feel burnout. It's nothing in particular. It's just the game — I'm tired of it."
She is able to handle the load for Delaware Volleyball.
From the Hartford Courant.

BREAKDOWN COVER
The Breakdown has picked 25 girls and 25 boys to be featured at the Minnesota Lynx game on August 30th at 7 PM. Players were selected from all corners of the state and also represent different graduating classes. The players will also be featured on the covers of this year's edition of The Breakdown . Players will be introduced during the game as the Lynx take on Washington. Come out and support the Lynx and also see some of the best players to be playing for Minnesota High School Basketball Teams this season. Basketball Fever is gaining momentum already.

MELTDOWN VIDEO
SportsBrain has uploaded the Metro Stars/Suns gold division game to YouTube after pausing to move back on campus. Don't be alarmed when you see the opening shot. Video is 1:05 long.
There is audio problems with the NC Heat vs MN Stars Borowicz game and that may not make the internet.

SCHEDULES
Here are the schools that released their 2008-09 schedules yesterday:
Creighton, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa,

SUMMIT BATTLE
IUPUI players have worked out this summer looking to take the next step in the Summit.

INTERNET GAMES FREE
The Northern Sun will broadcast all women's basketball games over the internet for free viewing.

OVER THERE
Mollie Keith was scheduled to coach girls basketball this fall at at Bueker Middle School in Marshall, Missouri, but is now in Iraq. She is originally from Aurelia, Iowa. From the Cherokee Chronicle.

TRAINING
Holli Schaible is the new women's basketball athletic trainer at Wisconsin.

Next up: when news breaks or tomorrow morning.

Knife Verbals

#3 posting 8.25.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

KNIFE VERBALS
Shaunna Knife of Bottineau, North Dakota has verballed the University of Mary. The 5-11 guard averaged 15.3 for the 29-0 North Dakota B champions in 2007-08.
Knife played with ECI West the past two summers.


Knife is the second player from the 2009 North Dakota class to verbal and the first headed to a D2 program.

next up: when news breaks or tomorrow morning.

How I Spent the Summer: Coach Teas

#2 posting 8.25.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACH TEAS & SUMMER

Where was coach Teas this summer? He writes about his experiences:

I have been fishing and golfing! KJA works all of the time, I don't.

Taking time off is a great idea for basketball photographers, coaches, players and fans. There are other activities that provide enjoyment and add to life. Spending too much time on a single activity can make a person a bit stale. I do, however, look forward to the start of the basketball season later this fall. I really hope you enjoy what we do.

I like jigging for walleye with a crawler or leaches. Lively rigging works great too from time to time. Catching sunfish is great and the fight of a 19 inch small bass will always be as much fun as a no dribble fast break lay up. Trolling with plugs is about as fun as basketball games in the snow.

25 years ago I was a boggy golfer. Now I am happy when I break 100. We have many great courses to play here in Minnesota. Many of them very affordable. Pars and the rare birdy still excite me. On most days just making a few nice shots is all I need to enjoy the game. KJA, unfortunately, does not partake in either.

How will coach Teas spend his fall? He is now an assistant volleyball coach at Mpls. Henry with KJA.

Next up: tomorrow.

Luze Signs, Della Donne Released, SE Signings

#1 posting 8.25.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

LUZE SIGNS
Maria Luze of Brookings, South Dakota has signed with South Dakota School of Mines. Luze is a 5-8 guard. From the Brookings Register.

Luze is the 24th player overall from the SD 2008 class to sign, and the 15th headed to NAIA.

SOUTHEASTERN SIGNINGS
Here is a list of Southeastern Community College of Keokuk, Iowa signings for the upcoming year:
Kelsey Hickey, 5-9 guard from Keokuk, IA
Amanda Winters, 5-10 forward from Clark County, MO
Lindsey Jameson, 5-7 guard from Kindred, ND (transfer from Concordia Moorhead)
Alicea Mason, 5-11 forward from Jefferson City, MO
Gabbie Binnion, 5-7 point guard from Davenport Assumption
Alexys Hatcher, 5-8 guard from Mesquite John Horn, TX
Cobi Wires, 5-3 guard from Quincy, IL (transfer from Mineral Area CC)
Tiffany Williams, 6-5 center from Edmond Memorial, OK
Bernista Frost, 5-8 guard from Putnam City West, OK
Brittany Brown, 6-2 center from Milwaukee King, WI
Kelsey Whitaker, 5-8 guard from Keokuk, IA

DELLA DONNE RELEASED
UConn has released 6-5 prize recruit Elena Della Donne from her scholarship. EDD will now be able to play any sport. EDD is enrolled at Delaware and it appears will be playing volleyball. From ESPN.

Delaware Online looks at the recruiting process, the pressure, the turmoil. Diana Taurasi is quoted: "If you're not ready for the big time, the pressure, the training, the mental toughness, then you're probably better off not going. You'll be broken. It's only for the tough people."

LLITERAS
Kelsie Lliteras is featured in the Chadron News. Lliteras played with CSS Bison this summer. Four potential colleges are listed.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
The Grand Forks Herald looks back at former North Dakota player Colleen Chaske. Chaske will be inducted into the UND Hall of Fame.

Next up: Coach Teas & Summer

Schechinger Verbals, Fargo Split, Olympic Gold, Gophers in Italy

#1 posting 8.24.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SCHECHINGER VERBALS
Katie Schechinger of IKM-Manning has verballed Drake on August 1. The 6-2 forward averaged 22.9 ppg for the 15-10 Hawks. Schechinger played her summer ball with IBCA Select Red. Schechinger was the MVP at the Dakota Showcase this summer.

Schechinger is the 9th Iowa player from the 2009 class to verbal, all are headed to D1 programs.
Schechinger is the 5th IBCA Select Red player to verbal.

FARGO SPLIT
They are already starting to split Fargo South in anticipation of the new school Fargo Davies coming in 2010-2011. The Davies Eagles will not open their school until 2011 and will share Fargo South. From the Fargo Forum.

OLYMPIC MEDALS
Lynxster Seimone Augustus says the gold medal is "icing on the cake." From the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
An ex Lynxster, Katie Smith, also picked up a gold.

Becky Hammon of South Dakota (not South Ossetia) is happy with her bronze. From the Rapid City Journal.

GOPHERS IN ITALY
Minnesota beat an all star Lombardy team in Florence, Italy 101-40. The Gophers are now 2-0. Zoe Harper led the squad with 22 points. Katie Ohm and Ashley Ellis-Milan each had 17 points.
Ohm and Sylva contribute their blogs from Florence.

Next up: tomorrow

Nesbitt Verbals, Wayne State Additions

#1 posting 8.23.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

NESBITT VERBALS
Trisha Nesbitt of Ames has verballed Iowa. The 5-7 guard averaged 14.7 ppg for the 15-7 Ames Little Cyclones. Nesbitt played with IBCA Select Red for the past two summers. She will join former IBCA teammates Jamie Printy and Kelly Krei at Iowa City.

A 4-year varsity starter, Nesbitt plans to redshirt her first year with the Hawks to better prepare her for the physical Big Ten play
Nesbitt chose Iowa over several other Division I schools who offered scholarships because of the relationship developed with the Hawkeye coaching staff. "I'm really looking forward to being a Hawkeye," commented Nesbitt. "I'm excited for the challenges of playing in a great conference like the Big Ten."
She is a 2-time first team all-CIML Iowa selection. Nesbitt also was named to 1st team all-state by the IGCA in 2008. She helped the Little Cyclones to a state tournament berth in 2007 and has helped compile a 52-16 record in three years at Ames High School. "She's a tireless worker who's competitiveness and leadership skills will make her a true asset to the Hawkeyes," said Joel Sullivan, Ames High's Head Coach. "Iowa is getting a great basketball player and more importantly, a fantastic person."
She will sign her National Letter of Intent in November. From the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune.

Nesbitt is the 8th player from the Iowa 2009 class to verbal, all 8 headed to a D1 program.
Nesbitt is the fourth player from the IBCA Select Red team to verbal.

WAYNE STATE SIGNINGS & TRANSFER
Wayne State has added four players for the 2008-09 season: Quintell Foster, Detroit Community; Stephanie Hoskin, Detroit King; Karlisa Love, Detroit Crockett; and Felicia Thomas, Kalamazoo Central. On top of that Brittany Smith (Milwaukee Riverside) has transferred from Syracuse to WS (she actually did that in January).

COACHING NEWS
Ken Parladg has resigned as girls basketball coach at Port Huron to take an Athletic Director job. From the Port Huron Times Herald.

SCHEDULE
Nebraska has released their schedule. The Huskers will play UN Kearney at Grand Island on November 5th.

Next up: when news breaks

Kzoo Central Hires, Lyons Leaves, Kuhlmann's Award

#2 posting 8.22.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
Kalamazoo Central has hired John Buchanan as girls varsity basketball coach. From the Kalamazoo Gazette.

TRANSFER
Lacey Lyons has transferred from Coastal Carolina to Winthrop. Lyons led CC with 12.5 ppg last year. Both are D1 schools. From Myrtle Beach Online.

OLYMPICS
Katie Smith had 5, and Seimone Augustus 4 as the Americans beat Russia 67-52. Becky Hammon of South Dakota (not South Ossetia) had 3 points.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kami Kuhlmann of Charter Oak-Ute, Iowa is the Omaha World Herald's Female Athlete of the Year. Kuhlmann is headed to Northwestern, IA for college.

HALL OF FAME
Carolyn (Frisk) Capriglione Stillwater grad of 1989 will be inducted into the St. Croix Valley Athletic Hall of Fame on September 17. Frisk was Minnesota's Miss Basketball in 1988. From the Stillwater Gazette.

WADE WATCH
Here is the link to Alyssa DeHaan of Michigan State, on the Wade watch.

ON CAMPUS
Kansas has their freshman duo on campus--Angel Goodrich and Aishah Sutherland.

Next up: tomorrow morning.

Gunning Verbals, Endisch Signs, Gophers in Italy

#1 posting 8.22.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

GUNNING VERBALS
Nikki Gunning of Howell, Michigan has verballed Indiana State. Gunning is a junior (2010) point guard. Howell was 9-11 last year. From the Livingston Daily.
Gunning is the first Michigan player from the 2010 class to verbal and the first off to a D1 program.

Earlier this month we reported on Emily Guenther of Southeast Polk's verbal to South Dakota. Here is the Des Moines Register story.

ENDISCH SIGNS
Jenna Endisch of Muskego, Wisconsin has signed with Alaska Anchorage. Endisch averaged 14.6 ppg for the 17-6 Warriors last year. She also played in the all star game.
Endisch is the 57th player from the Wisconsin 2008 class to decide on a college and the 16th headed to a D2 program.
From My Muskego.

COACHING NEWS
Amy Sander and Sarah Tracy have been hired as assistant coaches for Pam Gohl's staff at MSU Mankato. Sander was the head coach at Nebraska Wesleyan and Buena Vista. Tracy was an assistant at Grand View in Des Moines.

GOPHER TRIP
The Minnesota Gophers started their Italian trip with the sites of Rome. Zoe Harper, Kristen Dockery and Barb Smith give their thoughts on the Roman portion of the trip. As far as basketball goes---The Gophers romped over Palestrina 104-31 with Katie Ohm notching 27 points.

SCHEDULE
South Dakota will travel to North Carolina for a game in March in the transition to full fledged D1 status. From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Next up: later today with more news.

Milczark Signs, Roosevelt Fall League, Rising Star

#2 posting 8.21.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MILCZARK SIGNS
Tess Milczark of Cambridge-Isanti has signed with Rochester CTC. The 6-0 post averaged 13.8 ppg for the 15-12 Bluejackets in the 2008 season.

Milczark is the 134th player in the 2008 Minnesota class to verbal and the 15th player headed to a two year program.

FIRST FALL LEAGUE
The Minneapolis Roosevelt Fall League starts next Saturday. The first weekend's games include
8 am: St. Croix Lutheran vs Burnsville
9 am: St. Paul Johnson vs Mpls Edison
10 am: Hopkins vs Totino-Grace
11 am: tba vs Mpls South
12 am: Mpls Roosevelt vs Columbia Heights

RISING STAR CAMP
Bluestar Basketball Rising Star Camp
Where: Bloomington Kennedy HS (Bloomington, MN)
When: August 23, 2008 (THIS SATURDAY!)
Who: 7th, 8th and 9th grade girlswww.bluestarbb.com - for registrations

Registration begins at 9am at Bloomington Kennedy
Camp ends at 5:30 pm.
Last chance to sign up!

Next up: when news breaks or tomorrow

Muskego Switch, Stone Unplugged

#1 posting 8.21.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
Duane Mlachnik has left the girls for the boys basketball team at Muskego, Wisconsin. He coached the girls for the past three years. From My Muskego Now.

Eric Giblin is the new girls basketball coach at Mount Vernon, SD.

Karin Nicholls has been hired as the new assistant at UN Kearney.

UNPLUGGED
Wisconsin coach Lisa Stone unplugged in a video.

GONE
Dvera Tolbert has left the Montana. From the Missoulian.

SCHEDULE
Louisville and Utah State have released their 2008-09 schedule.

MONEY
The MHSAA (Michigan's MSHSL) is not going bankrupt or out of business. From the Saginaw News.

WEIGHT ROOM
Park-Cottage Grove players Tina Fisher, Holly Riesselman and Secellia Riley have been hitting the weight room. From the South Washington County Bulletin.

LATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
SE Minnesota Heat U14 took first in the USSSA National Championships in Tampa. From the Rochester Post Bulletin (halfway down).

Next up: tomorrow or when news breaks

Wade List, Bluder's Expectations

#1 posting 8.20.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

WADE LIST
The 25 player preseason Wade Trophy list has been released. Three players from the coverage area make the list:
Allysa DeHaan, Michigan State
Krystal Ellis, Marquette
Jantel Lavender, Ohio State.

BLUDER'S EXPECTATIONS
Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder has high expectations for the incoming freshman. Kamille Wahlin will be a back up guard, while Hannah Draxten will battle for playing time at small forward. From the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

VERBALS
The Grand Forks Herald looks at the recent North Dakota State verbals Janae Burich and Hannah Linz.

MORE DELLA DONNE
Rethinking Basketball looks at the Elena Della Donne situation with a look at the college recruiting process. The internal vs external pressures are examined.

SCHEDULE
North Dakota will battle Northwestern in their first season in transition to D1 status. From the Grand Forks Herald.

IPFW has released their 2008-09 schedule.

PROFESSIONAL
Rachel Folcik of Carney-Nadeau, Michigan has signed a professional contract with Clube Desportivo da Povoa in Portugal. The 6-1 center played her college ball at Ferris State. Folcik will room with Tina Thompson. From the Escanaba Daily Press.

Former Iowa State player Lindsey Wilson has signed a professional contract with Teo Vilnius in Lithuania.

TRIP
St. Thomas is in Brazil and is 1-0 so far. Coach Ruth Sinn and the team are blogging about the trip.

OLYMPICS
The Americans bumped off Korea 104-60. Seimone Augustus had 7 points, and Katie Smith had two points.
Next up for team USA: Russia with Becky Hammon of Rapid City, South Dakota. From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Next up: tomorrow unless news breaks

Irish Eyes, Della Donne to Delaware

#1 posting 8.19.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

IRISH EYS SMILING ON IOWA STATE
Iowa State has signed 5-10 guard Claire Rockall from Oranmore, Ireland.

DELLA DONNE SAGA
UConn recruit Elena Della Donne has landed at Delaware, but has not been released of her scholarship. EDD may or may not play again. Rumors of volleyball are in the air. Former Husky Kara Wolters says, "What a waste." from the Hartford Courant.

ONE ON ONE
Caitlin Gibson goes one on one with a Q&A on the Badger site.

GIRL SCOUTS
Ohio is teaming up with the girl scouts this season.

SCHEDULES
Cleveland State has released their 2008-09 schedule.

TRIPS
Weber State is 1-1 in France.

INJURIES
Freshman Jessica Capers of West Virginia will miss this year due to an ACL injury. From USAToday.

ACADEMICS
Theresa Crance of UM Crookston received an Inaugural Academic Achievement Award.

CONFERENCE NEWS
The Aberdeen American News looks at the expanded Northern Sun Conference. Each school gets a capsule look.

Thanks to all the great help from the readers. Without your assists this site wouldn't be what it is.

Next up: tomorrow or when more verbals fall.

Linz Verbals

#2 posting 8.18.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

LINZ VERBALS
Hannah Linz of Eden Valley-Watkins has verballed North Dakota State. The 5-8 guard averaged 27.6 points per game and 8 rebounds for the 24-4 Eagles last year.
Linz was first team AP All State, first team All Area on the St. Cloud Times, and All Conference in the Central Minnesota this past winter.

Linz played her summer ball with MN Stars Borowicz.

Linz is the 22nd player overall in the Minnesota 2009 class to verbal and the 14th headed to a D1 program.

NDSU has been busy in recent days with Janae Burich verballing last night and Paige Beck verballing last week. Earlier this summer Danielle DeGagne made a verbal. Last fall Rachelle Eckmann verballed the Bison.

Photo: Linz at the North Tartan Meltdown. photo by kja.

Next up: tomorrow morning.

Huschle, Off Season Training, Stopping Transfers

#1 posting 8.18.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
The St. Cloud Times profiles new Sartell girls basketball coach and former St. Cloud State player Katie Huschle.

OFF SEASON TRAINING
Sioux Falls personal basketball trainer Cerci Mahone says, "The will to prepare should be stronger than the will to compete." One of his projects is Sioux Falls Washington sophomore Rachel Walters. There is video on the training from KELO.

TRANSFER PROBLEMS
Charlotte, NC has hot line to report players "lying about their residency to play for elite high school teams." From USA Today.

REBUILT ROSTER
Southern Illinois has rebuilt their roster with five junior college transfers. SIU had eight players leave the program in the spring including five freshman (2011s). From the Daily Egyptian

OLYMPICS
The American women continued their dominance in Beijing with a 96-60 win over New Zealand. Lynxster Seimone Augustus scored 12 points and former Lynxster (and Buckeye) Katie Smith added 13.
Rethinking Basketball looks at the Team Dynamics for the Olympic basketball teams.

Go back one posting to read the mammoth Summer 2008 wrap. Plus there were two verbals yesterday.

Next up: tomorrow or when more verbals drop.

The Summer That Was 2008

#4 posting 8.17.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

THE SUMMER THAT WAS 2008
Another Summer has come and gone. Week after week the story was building. Not all weeks were created equal. Not all stories were created equal. The Summer (and spring) of 2008 saw high drama, outstanding performances, and memories that will linger until November.
All these awards and comments are from what I saw over the course of the summer. If I didn't see it I didn't pass out awards.

TRENDS
VERBALS
Verbals continue the trend of getting earlier and earlier. There was a flurry of D2 verbals in the early spring before the AAU season got under way. Now that North Dakota and South Dakota are moving to D1 status accounts for the bump of three for Minnesota at this stage this year.
Other, more cautionary tales this summer include the Ohio/Kara Elofson situation. With coaching changes how good is the verbal? The problem with Ohio was a matter of communication. Ohio made told Elofson of their decision after the prime summer viewing period. North Dakota State has kept the verbals they inherited.
And then yesterday, the #1 recruit in the country, Elena Della Donne, said no to UConn and College basketball. Burnout is a possibility. Balance is needed.

Minnesota Verbals
2008—20 (12/8)
2007—16 (8/8)
2006—5 (5/0)

How will this pan out for the final 2009 total? If the past is prologue--
State (07-08-09)
IOWA 11-13-7
MICHIGAN 36-24-4
MINNESOTA 15-27-12
NORTH DAKOTA 1-2-1
SOUTH DAKOTA 5-3-5
WISCONSIN 20-10-8

It is curious that Wisconsin and Michigan saw a steep drop from 2007 to 2008. However Wisconsin looks to easily pass the 2008 total this year.
There are some big names still on the tree. Look for the numbers to go up.

The 10s haven’t been flying off the shelf. Last year at this time, South Dakota had three players already verballed. This year there are only three throughout the entire coverage area.

PP100/FLOOR %
How did this summer stack up with other seasons? Are players more skilled now? Are teams more efficient? The answer---yes, slightly. In fact the summer of 2008 edged past the high school 2007-08 season, again it was Michael Phelps close (in medal #7).
Season Year, pp100, floor %
Summer 2006 81.04, .391
Summer 2007 80.4, .387
Summer 2008 81.91, .388
High school 2007-08 81.53, .394

Not everyone is created the same. If you look at the different types of summer ball you will find the older the player, the better the results (for the most part). The top of the line performers are the All Stars as you would expect. Their pp100 was 92.1, 10.2 above the average, and a solid 27 points above 12 year olds.
Here are the different breakdowns
12s 65.1, .317
13s 76.9, .372
14s 74.0, .360
15s 85.4, .406
16/17s 82.7, .391
19s 80.81, .371
Add in the specialty events
All Star games (2008s): 92.1, .444
All Star Camps (2009s and under) 78.72, .380
High School Tourneys 77.67, .371
Summer Leagues 87.01, .385
Remember summer leagues have modified rules, especially on free throws, so the numbers tend to be inflated there.
If you notice in the age category the 15s are the highest. So the trend is on the upswing there.
At the 16/17 level I have separated the states.
Iowa 96.5, .447
Nebraska 87.5, .419
Minnesota 81.4, .388
South Dakota 78.5, .358
Wisconsin 77.6, .368
Iowa and Nebraska are top heavy with IBCA Select Red and CSS Bison making up the majority of the viewing. Both states only had 15 and 14 viewings. That compares with the 83 viewings of Minnesota teams.

If you are wondering AAU teams have higher pp100s than the MYAS. Overall the numbers are close with AAU better by one point, but if you look at the top level teams the pp100s are miles apart (or 20 points apart).

PHOTOS
One of the big moves this summer was the purchase of a new lens. Looking back at the older photos I can see they are extremely dark. That is because they were taken on a 5.6. The 2.8 lets in more light. The other change was moving to kevinanderson.photostockplus.com for sales and for all the shots (good & bad) of the games. I was going to feature the top photo that was viewed over the summer, but it was too blurry for my taste. (It was Rachel Banham taking a pull up shot on the baseline vs DeLaSalle in the Sweet 16). I will be taking down some of the photos soon to increase storage space for the fall and winter seasons. If you are going to order, do it soon because you won’t be able to order once they are gone.

NEXT
The next thing coming is a move to a full fledged website. A team of folks have been helping greatly to move to a website. Tests are being run. Kinks are being worked out. This should happen within a month. I can't have the famous black out that happened at the end of April again.

AWARDS
All these awards are based on what I saw. It does not include tournaments from around the country.

GYMS
Best: St. Thomas
Best lighting: Woodbury
Worst lighting: Lakeville North’s second gym
Coolest: or the best Meat Locker—Augustana’s alternative gym. The main gym was cold too. You did need a jacket watching the games at the end of June in the Dakota Showcase. The first day I was chilled, the second day I was better prepared.
Warmest: Bloomington Kennedy. True to form the Meltdown lived up to their appropriate name. It wasn’t like 2006, but you could feel the heat.
First gym: UW LaCrosse field house.
Worst Electrical situation: the black out at the Champlin Park summer league. At least I was only five minutes away, not 3 hours away.

RECRUITING
Least favorite phone call to get in August: From an Ohio coach.
Most seen college coach in gyms: Adam Johnson, UW Superior. Seen at Delano, and Hopkins for obscure MYAS events, plus many, many other Summer tournaments.

TOURNAMENTS & EVENTS
Best run tournament: For the third straight year it goes to the Dakota Showcase. You get updates and full fledged stats. No other site comes close.
Best Tournament field: Minnesota State AAU Tournament (top to bottom).
Sirens: The Memorial Day Classic at Menomonie, The tornado sirens went off, and the games went on.
Early Bird Tournament: MYAS event at Delano started at least 15 to 30 minutes ahead of schedule messing up my viewing.
Best Summer League: Lakeville North
Best All Star camp: for sheer volume Minnesota Elite Camp.
Best 3 straight weekends of tournaments: Summer Jam (Bloomington Jefferson), All Iowa Attack (Ames, IA), and Dakota Showcase (Sioux Falls, SD).
AAU STATE TOURNAMENT WINNERS
Iowa: IBCA Select Red
Minnesota: NC Heat
Wisconsin: Team WI Select Samuels

GAMES
Best Championship: All Iowa Attack final with Team WI Select Samuels beating CSS Bison.
Best Championship I didn’t see: NC Heat over MN Stars Borowicz in the MN State AAU Qualifier.
Worst case of scheduling: Scheduling the MN State qualifier championship simultaneously with the Miss Basketball banquet.
Did not live up to the hype: North Tartan Larson vs MN Stars Borowicz in the final of the Summer Jam at Jefferson
Best Shocker: 2A All Stars beating the 4A All Stars in the Minnesota All Star Series Semis. It was the first time the 4A All stars failed to reach the final.
Atmosphere NC Heat vs MN Stars Borowicz. So much talent on the floor. The crowd at the Meltdown was the biggest (for colleges)
Comeback: NC Heat vs Metro Stars 19--the Tayler Hill lucky 13. Second—Team WI Select Samuels five point comeback in the last minute to tie Team WI Select Doucette in the finals of the Memorial Day Tournament in Menomonie.
Dramatic: North Tartan Larson's win over IBCA Select Red on the last second shot by Amanda Zimmerman. That game went back and forth the entire second half.
Changing of the guard: North Tartan 15 rallying to beat Metro Stars 19 in the semis of the Summer Jam.
Most disappointing final: The Summer Jam. The semis were golden—edge of your seat, bite your fingernails. The finals were not in the same category. North Tartan Larson took the title.
Best Defensive End Play: Shakila Boler’s block of a last second shot by Rachael Moen of Metro Stars Black at the buzzer preserving the win for North Tartan Larson.
Best revenge/civil war match: Team WI Select Samuels overtime win over Team WI Select Doucette.
Games I wished I could see, but they never played: NC Heat vs Team WI Select Samuels.
Games I wished I could see, but I wasn’t there: NC Heat vs CSS Bison in April.
Games that were played, but I picked the wrong court: Metro Stars White upset of Metro Stars Black in April at Kennedy among many others.
Battle of the heavyweights: Any time NC Heat played MN Stars Borowicz. NCH was 4-0 vs MSB on the summer.
Best day of games: Sunday semis at the Summer Jam at Jefferson. The magic didn't carry over to the championships.

TEAMS
Best Chemistry: IBCA Select Red. They genuinely supported each other’s successes.
Most improved as the summer moved on: MN Stars 15
Grittiest performance: Bloomington Kennedy in the Sweet 16. Down two starters they looked for ways to win and did.
Best Transfusion of talent: Amanda Zimmerman and Chelsea Poppens from Iowa to North Tartan Larson.
Most dangerous “second team in the program”: Metro Stars White
Best for one event: Minnesota 2A All Stars
Best Uniforms: IBCA Select, with CSS Bison close behind. They both have names on the backs of the uniform. Perhaps more will get the idea next summer.

PLAYERS
Best shooting exhibition: Sari Noga, North Tartan 15
Most unorthodox shot: Sam Abens, All Iowa Attack (Knoxville)
Best 3 point start: Rena Kneeland, New Prague vs Centennial in the Sweet 16.
4 letter words for scorers: Hill, Nipe and Noga
Best at pushing the ball up court: KK Houser, CSS Bison
Most Versatile: Tayler Hill, NC Heat
Player under 5-5: Still Tyisha Smith, MN Stars Lady Cats Jihad
Player over 6-5: Still Amber Dvorak, MN Stars Borowicz
Grunt Player: Erica Gress, Metro Stars 15
Get the Ball to: Tayler Hill, NC Heat. This was not even close.
Shot blocker: Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select Samuels.
Hustler: Amanda Johnson, Ashby (at the Top 100 camp at St. Cloud)
Best rebound one hand snatch and grab: Tori Rule, Midtown Lady Monarchs & DeLaSalle
Under the radar: Sara Peterson of MN Fury and Minnehaha
Wasn't on the radar: Amanda Johnson, Ashby (at the top 100 camp)
Breakthrough: Laura Peterson, Team WI Select Samuels (Osseo-Fairchild, WI)Toughest Break: Shakila Boler, North Tartan Larson
Best Comeback: Chelsea Poppens, North Tartan Larson. She survived the Parkersburg, IA tornado.
Best move: Kayla Hirt, North Tartan 15. She made a steal near the top of the key against MN Metro Stars 15 in the MN AAU Qualifier, got control of the ball, went full speed with a behind the back dribble in stride and scored the lay up plus was fouled.
Best almost dunk: Chelsea Poppens, North Tartan Larson vs MN Stars Borowicz.
5 Minutes from now folks will be noticing: Jackie Johnson, North Tartan 14
Get your camera ready for: Suriya McGuire, North Tartan Larson
No, I am not stalking (most times I saw a player): Cassie Rochel of MN Stars Borowicz and Lakeville North
Stock is Rising: Kayla Hirt, North Tartan 15
Poised for a good High School year: Emily Kaus, MN Fury
Best player not to play AAU (MN): Nicole Smart, Ada-Borup
Best player not to play AAU (Area): 6-3 Jordan Hooper, Alliance, NE
Where for art thou—Players I wish I could have seen, but they never were in the same gym: Taylor Wurtz of Ripon, WI.

GOLDEN FOUR AWARDS
PROGRAM
North Tartan took the state titles at 13, 14, and 15 and with that trifecta NT takes the program honor for 2008. At the older ages NT Larson and NT Crosby were competitive and successful too. Once NTL had their line up together at full speed in June they won the Summer Jam. They pushed a strong team from the Dallas area in the Chicago tournament in July. Once Shakila Boler went down with a knee injury, NTL had to make adjustments.
NTC’s high water mark early came in the MN AAU Qualifier as they led NC Heat in the first half of the semifinals. Later in the summer NTC made it to the semifinals of the Meltdown.
The team that turned heads was the 15s. They competed with and defeated higher level teams. Their biggest win came in the Summer Jam quarters as they beat Metro Stars 19s. The rest of the summer they had a second place finish in the gold bracket at the End of the Trail and a second place finish in the Orlando Tournament. NT15 did that without Sari Noga and they were also missing Rachel Banham in the final game in Orlando. At the Meltdown their team had a few more players pulled up to NTL. NT15s response? Win the tournament.

COACH
As always there were many fine coaching performances this summer. Paul Hill of NC Heat and Gerard Coury of North Tartan 15s had strong summers. This summer the honor goes to Royce Samuels of Team Wisconsin Select Samuels. At the 16/17 level TWSS did not have any player on the roster that was on the Wisconsin AP All State team (there are six teams in the WI AP list) or the honorable mention list. Samuels took that group and melded them into an effective force. Their focus was defense with 6-6 Nicole Griffin patrolling the middle. The rest of the squad was just a bunch of hard working grunts that overachieved. Samuels is enthusiastic and intense and got the most out of his squad this summer. Two wins that stood out for this group included the comeback win against sister team Team WI Select Doucette in overtime and then the win over CSS Bison in the All Iowa Attack Tournament in June. TWSS also was named gbbrecruit team of the week four times this summer.
In other events TWSS won the USJN tournament early in July at Cincinnati, the AAU Junior Olympic tournament in Detroit, and finished 6th in the Nike Showcase in Chicago.

TEAM
The summer is hot, and NC Heat was definitely hot this summer. Undefeated in Minnesota, at the national stage NCH found success too. NCH finished 2nd in the tournament of champions in Atlanta; 2nd in the National AAU tournament in Orlando; NCH won the diamond bracket in the River City tournament in Memphis.
NCH has had a core group together for six years. They have won the State tournament every year. They made some key additions this year that gave them more depth and versatility.
The Heat's trademark is defense. NCH used presses, double teams, and plain grunt work to stymie and frustrate opponents.
Of course with Tayler Hill on the floor NCH was never out of any game. Anne Berner anchored the middle. Katya Leick was another defensive cornerstone. Megan Nipe provided her sharpshooting. All at one point were named to All Tournament teams in the out of state tournaments.
NCH was gbbrecruit team of the week three times during the course of the summer. Will there be an NC Heat next year? The word is NC Heat is looking to be a full fledged program and will run teams at every age level. I am sure more details will be coming.

PLAYER
Tayler Hill of NC Heat was the gbbrecruit player of the year in the 2007-08 winter season and she takes her second straight honor with a hands down performance throughout the summer. Her signature performance this summer took place in one minute against the Metro Stars 19 team at the Woodbury Battle of the Hardwood. Hill scored a lucky 13 points in one minute as she lifted her squad on her back and carried the Heat across the finish line. Hill’s 3 point shooting is getting to be more consistent. She has always been a slasher and is adept to the line. Besides her scoring and will to win Hill has other aspects of her game that are overlooked---her defense is top notch as she can read what the opposition is thinking and her passing ability is also top flight-- she knows who to get the ball to, and when to get the ball to them. Hill will be going for the triple crown in the winter of 2008-09.
Hill was gbbrecruit player of the week three times and led the summer with 6 trench player honors. By the way her pp100 for the summer was a 142.97, and her floor % was .641.
To solidify her repution she is the only player that made all three teams—overall, defensive, distributor--and they were all first team selections.

FIRST TEAM
Shakila Boler, North Tartan Larson & Bloomington Kennedy
Tayler Hill, NC Heat (Minneapolis South)
Megan Nipe, NC Heat & Centennial
Sari Noga, North Tartan 15 (Parkers Prairie)
Laura Peterson, Team WI Select Samuels (Osseo-Fairchild, WI)
SECOND TEAM
Kiara Buford, MN 4A All Stars & Gym Rats 19*
Angela Christianson, North Tartan 15 & Alexandria
Kionna Kellogg, IBCA Select Red (Ames, IA)
Marissa Kastanek, CSS Bison (Lincoln Southeast, NE)
Cassie Rochel, MN Stars Borowicz & Lakeville North
THIRD TEAM
Amber Dvorak, MN Stars Borowicz (Hinckley-Finlayson)
Sam Hoyt, Team WI Select Samuels (Durand, WI)
Trisha Nesbitt, IBCA Select Red (Ames, IA)
Sam Price, Team WI Select Samuels (Eau Claire North, WI)
Jaime Printy, IBCA Select Red (Linn-Mar, IA)
HIGH HONORABLE MENTION
Kayla Hirt, North Tartan 15 (Bemidji)
Alyssa Kamphaus, CSS Bison (Seward, NE)
Sam Mehr, Metro Stars Black (Eastview)
Britta Syverson, MN Finishers (Mpls Southwest)
Brianna Tisch, Metro Stars Black (Chaska)
HONORABLE MENTION
Erin Green, Fridley
Kelsey Evans, North Tartan Crosby (Willmar)
Bailey Lund, Bloomington Kennedy
Katie Loberg, North Tartan Larson (Princeton)
Brittany Zins, Metro Stars Black & Bloomington Kennedy
* only 2008 player to make the list.

MULTIPLE TRENCH PLAYER WINNERS
6:
Tayler Hill, NC Heat
4:
Sari Noga, North Tartan 15
3:
Shakila Boler, North Tartan Larson & Bloomington Kennedy
2:
Sam Abens, All Iowa Attack (Knoxville, IA)
Jessie Althoff, MN Comets & Becker
Taylor Bare, Triple Threat (Anoka)
Angela Christianson, North Tartan 15 & Alexandria
Mallory Cramer, Minneapolis South
Aubrey Davis, MN Stars Lady Cats-Jihad & Bloomington Kennedy
Amber Dvorak, MN Stars Borowicz
Karin Gibson, Metro Stars White (Eden Prairie)
Kara Hofschild, MN Dynamite (Andover)
Sam Hoyt, Team WI Select Samuels (Durand, WI)
Marissa Kastanek, CSS Bison (Lincoln Southeast, NE)
Emily Kaus, MN Fury 16 (Eastview)
Dani Mangen, MN Stars Borowicz & Osseo
Trisha Nesbitt, IBCA Select Red (Ames, IA)
Megan Nipe, NC Heat & Centennial
Laura Peterson, Team WI Select Samuels (Osseo-Fairchild, WI)
Sam Price, Team WI Select Samuels (Eau Claire North, WI)
Jaime Printy, IBCA Select Red (Linn-Mar, IA)
Carissa Wolyniec, Metro Stars White & DeLaSalle
Brittany Zins, Metro Stars Black & Bloomington Kennedy

DEFENSIVE TEAM
Nicole Griffin of Team WI Select Samuels casts a long shadow over the lane. At 6-6 Griffin controlled the paint. Her mobility is good. I would characterize her frame as wiry. She is stronger than she looks. It is the wing span that is her signature card. She is also getting more aggressive after loose balls. Going to the floor numerous times this year and coming up with the ball.
FIRST TEAM
Nicole Griffin, Team WI Select Samuels (Milwaukee Griffin).
Tayler Hill, NC Heat (Mpls South)
Tori Rule, Midtown Lady Monarchs and DeLaSalle
Sarah Peterson, MN Fury 16 and Minnehaha
Cassie Rochel, MN Stars Borowicz and Lakeville North
SECOND TEAM
Emily Cady, CSS Bison (Seward, NE)
Jade Geif, MN Suns 15 Greg and Lakeville South
Erica Gress, MN Metro Stars 15 (Apple Valley)
Katya Leick, NC Heat (Park-Cottage Grove)
Chelsea Poppens, North Tartan Larson (Aplington-Parkersburg, IA)
THIRD TEAM
Taylor Bare, Triple Threat 16 (Anoka)
Anne Berner, NC Heat (Forest Lake)
Abby Busch, MN Stars Eckmann & GFW
Chiamaka Okonkwo, Osseo
Bridget Schuneman, Metro Stars White & Centennial

DISTRIBUTOR
Shakila Boler of North Tartan Larson and Bloomington Kennedy gets the assist title. NTL knows her value. They felt the effects of her absence after her injury in July. Boler is effiecent and heady.
FIRST TEAM
Shakila Boler, North Tartan Larson & Bloomington Kennedy
Tayler Hill, NC Heat (Minneapolis South)
KK Houser, CSS Bison (Lincoln Southeast)
Kaiya Sygulla, North Tartan Crosby & Lakeville North
Katie Wolff, Team WI Select Doucette (Marshfiled)
SECOND TEAM
Brittany Chambers, MN Stars Borowicz (Jordan)
Steff Comer, Minnetonka
Sam Hoyt, Team WI Select Samuels (Durand)
Kate Thompson, MN Stars Borowicz (Wayzata)
Amanda Wagner, MN Stars DeWitt & New Prague

NEWCOMER
These awards go to players I had not seen until this summer.
: Played High School ball. Kionna Kellogg of IBCA Select Red won the first newcomer honor this summer in the Iowa AAU State tournament and then took the player of the week honor at the end of the Dakota Showcase. Kellogg is 6-1 has good length and speed. She is ahead of the play

: Yet to Play High School ball: Jackie Johnson of North Tartan 14. Johnson will be a freshman at Eden Prairie. She is 6-1 and a lefty.

PAST SUMMER WINNERS
TEAM
2006: North Tartan Larson
2007: Centennial

Is there a gbbrecruit jinx? Each one of the NTL players in 2006 did not reach the state tournament in the 2006-07 high school season. Centennial didn’t make the state tournament in the 2007-08 high school season. NC Heat will look to snap this odd coincidence.

PLAYER
2006: Jill Young, South Dakota Elite, Mitchell Christian (South Dakota State)
2007: Katelin Oney, IBCA Select, Cedar Rapids Washington (Northern Iowa)

Young’s team didn’t make the state tournament her senior year. Oney’s team CRW did make the Iowa 4A State finals and lost to Iowa City on a last second lay up.

COACH
2007: Brian Frye, Metro Stars Black

PROGRAM
2007: Metro Stars Black

Whew.
Now I need to rest.

Next up: tomorrow.

Burich Verbals

#3 posting 8.17.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

BURICH VERBALS
Janae Burich of Roseville has verballed North Dakota State. The 6-5 center averaged 12.3 for the 12-15 Raiders last winter. Burich is a player who runs the floor well.
Burich played her summer ball with North Tartan Crosby.

Burich is the 21st player overall from the Minnesota 2009 class to verbal and the 13th to verbal a D1 program.

North Dakota State has verbals from
Paige Beck of Sioux Falls Roosevelt
Rachelle Eckmann of St. James
Danielle DeGagne of Brandon Crocus Plains (Manitoba)

Next up: The Summer that Was (close to 9 pm)

January Verbals

#2 posting 8.17.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

JANUARY VERBALS
Pamela January of Richfield has verballed South Dakota. The 5-8 forward averaged 12 ppg for the 24-4 Spartans last winter.
January played her summer ball with MN Suns Fassett. She was the gbbrecruit player of the week during week 11 this summer.

January is the 20th overall from the Minnesota 2009 class to verbal and the 12th headed to a D1 program.
Other South Dakota verbals for 2009 include
Sam Mehr of Eastview
Emily Guenther of Southeast Polk, IA

Next up: In about 2 hours (9:15 pm central) the summer that was

Delle Donne Done, Skriba Verbals, Bjork to MD

#1 posting 8.17.2008
y0ur daily dose of girls basketball news & information

DELLE DONNE DONE
The #1 recruit in the nation in the 2008 class 6-5 Elena Delle Donne of Delaware has decided not to play college basketball. She will not be attending UConn. Here is a timeline of Delle Donne and her UConn connection. From the Hartford Courant.

VERBAL
Anne Skriba of Fond du Lac has verballed Concordia St. Paul. The 5-7 guard averaged 3.6 ppg for the 15-8 Cardinals last winter. Skriba played with HLC in the summer season.
Skriba is the 13th player overall in the Wisconsin 2009 class to verbal and the 5th to verbal a D2 program.

RECRUITING
The Lincoln Journal Star looks at the Nebraska girls class of 2009 over a variety of sports. The basketball portion is midway down the article.

TRANSFER
Lori Bjork of Johnston, IA left Illinois earlier this spring. She has landed at Maryland. From the Des Moines Register ---last item.

AWARDS
Stacy Schutjer of WCLT, IA was named female athlete of the year by the Mason City Globe Gazette. She is headed to Simpson for her collegiate experience.

RECOVERY
Kaitlyn Kopke of Hope College has made good progress on her knee surgery. From the Grand Rapids Press.

SCHEDULE
Alaska Anchorage and Colorado State have released their 2008-09 schedule.

NORTHERN SUN
Augustana is now in the Northern Sun and will be looking for new rivals. The likely choice---Northern State.

Next up: later today with the Summer of 2008 wrap up. I hope to have it up near 9 pm

Laskowski Verbals, Mailey Transfers, Boike Hired

#2 posting 8.16.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

VERBALS
Karisa Laskowski of Pulaski has verballed UW Parkside. The 5-9 guard started for the 14-8 Red Raiders last year and played with the Legends Program out of Green Bay.

Pulaski is the 12th player from the 2009 Wisconsin class to verbal and the 4th to verbal a D2 program.

COACHING NEWS
Laurie LaCross has been hired as the new girls basketball coach at Sutton's Bay, MI. From the Leelanau Enterprise.

Crookston has a new girls basketball coach Lon Boike. Previous coach Kris Evje resigned for a position at Waseca. From KROX.

TRANSFER
Ashley Mailey has transferred to Dakota Wesleyan from Dakota State. The 6-0 forward played her high school ball at Dell Rapids. From the Mitchell Daily Republic.

SCHEDULES
New Mexico has released their 2008-09 schedule.

OLYMPICS
The American women haven't really been challenged yet in Beijing. The USA knocked off Spain 93-55. Lynxster Seimone Augustus had 7, and former Lynxster Katie Smith had 2. From the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

TRIPPING
The Gophers are ready to head to Italy. They will only have a roster of eight. Emily Fox is just returning from a stress fracture. From the StarTribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Hope College beat Boxtel of the Netherlands 81-37. From the Holland Sentinel.

EXPOSURE
North Tartan and 43 Hoops are glad to announce that it will once again provide one of the best exposure events of the fall--the Super 80. This event is open to the first 80 players looking to gain an advantage on the upcoming season and be seen in front of college coaches from across the United States. Feel free to contact either: Bill Larson North Tartan 651-558-1127 or Coach Carr 43 Hoops 612-860-0043 with any questions

Next up: tomorrow, unless another verbal falls.

Robinson to Como Park

#1 posting 8.16.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MORE BECK
Here is the Fargo Forum report on the Paige Beck (Sioux Falls Roosevelt) verbal to North Dakota State.

COACHING NEWS
John Robinson has been hired as the new girls basketball coach at St. Paul Como Park. Robinson was an assistant at Central the last three seasons. His daughter Angel was Miss Basketball in 2007 and plays with Marquette.

Mitchell Christian is looking for a coach. Former coach George Erdahl is pursuing his masters at Dakota Wesleyan. From the Mitchell Daily Republic.

TAYLER AND TAYLOR
Tayler Hill and Theiarra Taylor have narrowed their choices. High on the TH list are Duke and Texas. TT's list is found in the Robinson story above.

Tomorrow is the end of the summer wrap up with awards and review of the Summer 08 season.

Next up: more news.

Eide Verbals

#1 posting 8.14.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news

EIDE VERBALS
Ashley Eide of Sioux Falls Washington has verballed South Dakota State. She will walk on and red shirt in 2009-10, and start receiving scholarship money the following year. The 5-9 forward averaged 16 ppg for the State AA champs last year. From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Eide is the 7th player in the South Dakota 2009 class to verbal and the 6th headed to a D1 program.

SDSU has received four other verbals from Leah Dietel of Jordan, MN; Tara Heiser of Watertown, SD; Katie Lingle, of Pierre, SD; and Steph Paluch of Pierre, SD.

MORE VERBAL NEWS
Carly Rothfusz, who is headed to North Dakota, gets a story in the Grand Forks Herald.

Cassie Nauholz from Cedar Rapids Washington class of 2008 has verballed to DMACC in Des Monies. Cassie played AAU Panther ball with Katelin Oney, Kaitlyn Armstrong and Micha Mims from 4th-8th grades as well has High school ball but suffered two ACL tears in back to back seasons some time during her Sophomore and Junior seasons at Washington. She recovered and played Varsity her senior year. She did not play on any summer AAU teams during her high school career.

PROFESSIONAL
Alysa Klein has signed a professional contract with the Perik Jumpers in Tubbergen, Netherlands. Klein played her high school ball at Okoboji and college ball at UMKC.

COACHING NEWS
Josh Wieme is taking over the girls basketball job at Goodhue, MN. From the Red Wing Republican Eagle.

HALL OF FAME
Colleen Chaske (1987-89) will be inducted into the University of North Dakota Hall of Fame.

TRIP
The Gophers completed day 4 of their practices prior to the Italian trip.

AAU
The Minnesota Metro Stars will be holding their annual post season coaches meeting to discuss the 2008 AAU season and chart a course for the 2009 season on August 21st. Look for announcements about coaches selections and player selection/tryouts in the coming weeks.

CAMP
The Bluestar Basketball Rising Star Camp will be held at Bloomington Kennedy HS (Bloomington, MN) on August 23, 2008 for 7th, 8th and 9th grade girls.
Click on http://www.bluestarbb.com/ - for registrations.
Registration begins at 9am at Bloomington Kennedy
Camp ends at 5:30 pm.
Come and learn new skills and show them off in the pick up games. All players will receive a NIKE reversible jersey or tee shirt.
Schedule:
9:00-10:00 Camp Registration
10:05 Staff introductions
10:10 Camp Stretch - Staff
10:25 Break up into groups – by height
10:30 Stations – Ball Handling, Shooting, Passing, Post Play, Defense, Rebounding
11:30 1 on 1 play w/in groups (4 dribble max – winner stays) 15 min – Top 2 from
each team
11:55 Jamboree (30min run time) 1 v 4 2 v 3
12:30 Jamboree (30min run time) 1 v 3 2 v 4
1:00 Lunch Break
2:15 College Recruiting Lecture
3:00 Team Competitive Shooting – Money Basket
3:15 Full Court Stations – Olympic Shooting / 3v2 – 2v1 / 11-Man Break
4:00 Game 1 - (30min run time) 1 v 2 3 v 4 (Man-Man Play)
4:30 Game 2 - (30min run time) 1 v 3 2 v 4 (2-3 Zone Play)
5:00 Game 3 - (30min run time) 1 v 4 2 v 3 (Post Touch Play)
5:30 CM Closes Camp - Camp Ends

Next up: tomorrow or when the next verbal hits