Sweet 16 Out & About: Bloomington Kennedy/New Prague

#5 posting 8.3.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SWEET 16
CHAMPIONSHIP
BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY eagles 47,
NEW PRAGUE trojans 40

If you asked the average fan Kennedy would not have been their first choice to win the Sweet 16 tournament this weekend. However Kennedy capped off the weekend by claiming the title despite injuries and absences. The unlikely champs used their grit and determination to seize the crown. They didn't back down from any challenge and proved to the basketball community that Kennedy has a few players that can rise to the occasion.

New Prague had been racing to fast starts in their other games in this tournament. In the championship Kennedy played a 2-3 zone and NP struggled from the floor at the start. Kennedy imitated NP's fast starts with six straight points on their first three possessions. NP didn't score until their 6th possession. At the quarter it was JFK up 11-5.

In the second stanza NP cut the margin to 14-13 after a Maggie Weiers basket with 4:17 to go. That was as close as NP would get the rest of the night. Kennedy was stuck in a 1/8 sequence at the time. Kennedy finished the half strongly with a 9-3 run. Aubrey Davis capped the half with a coast to coast spinning lay up at the buzzer for a 25-16 lead at the break.

Both teams were anemic to start the second half. NP was the only team to score in the first 12 combined possessions. Also Kneeland started to find the range from behind the arc to cut the margin to 27-21. Brittany Zins did one better drilling twice from behind the line to push the Kennedy lead out to 35-23.

In the last nine minutes NP made another charge to close the gap to 39-35 after another Kneeland three. Kennedy met the challenge, handled the pressure, converted on five of their last seven possessions to take the title. NP down the stretch sputtered with only two scores in seven chances.

Bailey Lund of Kennedy had 18 points in the win.

you can see the entire Bloomington Kennedy vs New Prague photo gallery at kevinanderson.photostockplus.com. Coach Teas is behind the camera.

key: player, year, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY
STARTERS
Aubrey Davis, so 6,11, 54.5, .364 handled the point guard responsibilities. controlled the pace/tempo of the game. went to the line to four times. finished the half with a full court spinning lay up at the buzzer.
Bailey Lund, jr 18, 12, 150.0, .667 was the "4", gritty, hard hat type. went to the line five times. always seemed to be in the scrums on loose balls. makes sure she has space
Kaylani Edwards, so 4, 7, 57.1, .286 the "5" uses her physicality.
Raven Boone, so 5, 7, 71.4, .286 guard. did make a three.
Brittany Zins, sr 10, 7, 142.9, .571 the "3" and can also shoot the 3. likes the left corner. Made back to back threes in the third quarter to give JFK space. All her points came in the second half. Needs to keep awareness and eyes on the big prize and not get caught up in minor sideshows. needs to stay balanced on defense, keep hands to herself.
BENCH
Kim Campbell, fr 4, 5, 80.0, .400 guard
Jade Martin 8th 0, 5, 0.0, .000 young post type. needs to get stronger with the ball against high school competition. when she didn't get a call she did have a foot stomping incident.
Tanisha Duwearachi, fr 0, 2, 0.0, .000 small guard
Shamara Duwearachi, so 0, 0, 0.0, .000 small guard
Heather Bachman, fr 0, 1, 0.0, .000 taller reserve post
Tonoia Wade, 7th 0, 0, 0.0, .000 guard

NEW PRAGUE
STARTERS
Maggie Weiers, jr 8, 12, 66.7, .333 fluid post player. needs to stay balanced on shot, drifts at times. Defensively gets looked up and caught behind.
Brit Rynda, sr 5, 7, 71.4, .286 "3" perimeter player, can feed inside.
Rena Kneeland, jr 8, 8, 100.0, .375 handled the point, made two 3s in the second half after being shut out in the first half.
Hannah Strop, jr 4, 11, 36.4, .273 big perimeter player. can go inside too. main rebounder for NP. shots were short.
Amanda Wagner, sr 7, 7, 100.0, .429 guard. tough nosed scrapper. prefers to drive. did hit one three. picks up some useless back court fouls.
BENCH
Kayla Gill, sr 2, 3, 66.7, .333 perimeter
Molly Tikalsky, sr 6, 3, 200.0, 1.000 perimeter
Maggie Seter, so 0, 5, 0.0, .000 taller point guard.
Taylor Rookaird, so 0, 1, 0.0, .000 perimeter

TRENCH PLAYER
Bailey Lund

BY THE NUMBERS
Bloomington Kennedy 47, 57, 82.4, .386
New Prague 40, 57, 70.2, .333
made 3s/&1s: BK 3/1; NP 4/1
ftm/fta-ft%: BK 16/25-.640; NP 6/13-.462
Turnovers: BK 22, NP 14
bench: NP 8, BK 4

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY
Bailey Lund 9.5
Brittany Zins 7
Aubrey Davis 5
Kaylani Edwards 3.5
Jade Martin 3
Raven Boone 2
Kim Campbell 1
totals: 31

NEW PRAGUE
Hannah Strop 6
Brit Rynda 3
Amanda Wagner 3
Maggie Seter 3
Maggie Weiers 2
Rena Kneeland 2
Molly Tikalsky 2
Taylor Rookaird 1
totals: 22

ASSISTS
BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY
Aubrey Davis 4
Raven Boone 3
Brittany Zins 3
Jade Martin 3
Bailey Lund 2
Kim Campbell 2
Kaylani Edwards 1
totals: 18

NEW PRAGUE
Brit Rynda 5
Rena Kneeland 3
Maggie Seter 3
Amanda Wagner 2
Hannah Strop 1
Kayla Gill 1
Taylor Rookaird 1
totals: 16

Next up: backfilling both today's and yesterday's games.