Minnesota Elite Camp: Lynx/Comets

#4 posting 7.22.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MN ELITE CAMP
West Division
LYNX 49, COMETS 42

The Lynx beat the Comets 49-42 after trailing at halftime. Bridget Schuneman (Centennial) and Stormy Nesbitt (Roseville) combined for 12 points to lead the Lynx. For the second game in a row the scoring table missed out on three points, all in the first half for the Comets. I had the final 49-45.

Both teams struggled with droughts prevailing. The Lynx went empty for 8 possessions. As a result of the lack of offensive flow, the Comets led 8-5. The Comets stretched it out to 18-10 as they scored 9 points in five possessions. The Lynx didn't get their rhythm going until a bit later. They scored five times in six possessions on a 10-3 run to cut the margin to 23-20. Bridget Schuneman had four of those points on the way to 8 first half points. The Comets led 25-22 at the break.

The hot hands continued unabated at the start of the second half. The Lynx scored the first five times they had the ball with Nesbitt scoring 7 of the first 9 Lynx points, including the basket that put the Lynx up for good. The Comets had a 7 possession drought to halt their momentum. The Lynx stretched their lead out to 37-30 before the Comets regained their form. They did cut the margin to 41-38 after a bucket Kendra Harris with 7:54 left. That was as close as the Comets would get. The Lynx scored on five of their last six possessions to hold off any rally.

More story, photos, stats to follow

You can see the entire Lynx vs Comets photo gallery at kevinanderson.photostockplus.com

key: player, school, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
LYNX
STARTERS
Brooke Karst, Princeton 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Bridget Schuneman, Centennial 12, 12, 100.0, .500 force inside. got boards on both ends.
Carly Jensen, White Bear Lake 3, 2, 150.0, .500 three point shooter. Made her first shot early, but only had one more possession the rest of the night.
Laura Bruce, Hopkins 7, 8, 87.5, .500 big perimeter. warmed up in the second half.
Kayla Dallmann, ACGC 6, 6, 100.0, .500
BENCH
Stormy Nesbit, Roseville 12, 11, 109.1, .545 active, athletic forward. runs the floor. anticipates on defense
Alyssa Kerkhoff, NRHEG 0, 3, 0.0, .000 guard
Ellen Edison, Maple Grove 6, 7, 85.7, .429 handled point
Carly Rothstein, St. Michael-Albertville 3, 6, 50.0, .333
Whitney Novak, Stillwater 0, 1, 0.0, .000 guard that involves others

COMETS
STARTERS
Courtney Lynch, St. Cloud Apollo 10, 10, 100.0, .500 speed guard. needs to keep vision up even when going full speed ahead.
Kendra Harris, Cretin-Derham Hall 6, 11, 54.5, .273 post player that is extending her range.
Megan Bakken, Waterville-E-M 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Rachel Leitz, Champlin Park 4, 6, 66.7, .333 guard
Kylie Hanzlik, Northfield 9, 8, 112.5, .625 left handed guard
BENCH
Heather Kamps, Stillwater 2, 2, 100.0, .500
Samantha Zopfi, Providence 6, 7, 85.7, .429 more 3ish.
Lindsey Fix, Coon Rapids 2, 7, 28.6, .143 post player. needs to get stronger with the ball and initiate action
Kara Poirier, Eau Claire Regis 4, 3, 133.3, .500 point guard
Ellie Zeller, St. Anthony 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000 point guard. needs to take the ball further down in the half court game to the three point line.

TRENCH PLAYER
Stormy Nesbit, in a close call

BY THE NUMBERS
Lynx 49, 58, 84.5, .431
Comets 45, 58, 77.6, .397
made 3s/&1s: Comets 2/1; Lynx 1/0
ftm/fta-ft%: Comets 11/17-.647, Lynx 6/16-.375
bench: Lynx 21, Comets 16

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
LYNX
Bridget Schuneman 6
Stormy Nesbit 6
Laura Bruce 4
Ellen Edison 4
Kayla Dallmann 2
Brooke Karst 1
Carly Jensen 1
Alyssa Kerkhoff 1
Whitney Novak 1
totals: 26

COMETS
Kendra Harris 6
Courtney Lynch 4
Rachel Leitz 3
Lindsey Fix 3
Heather Kamps 2
Samantha Zopfi 2
Kara Poirer 2
Megan Bakken 1
Kylie Hanzlik 1
Ellie Zeller 1
totals: 25

ASSISTS
LYNX
Bridget Schuneman 4
Ellen Edison 4
Whitney Novak 4
Carly Jensen 2
Carly Rothstein 2
Brooke Karst 1
Laura Bruce 1
Alyssa Kerkhoff 1
totals: 19

COMETS
Ellie Zeller 4
Kendra Harris 3
Rachel Leitz 3
Kara Poirer 3
Kylie Hanzlik 2
Heather Kamps 1
Lindsey Fix 1
totals: 17

next up: Champlin Park Summer League Semifinals

Out & About: Comets/X Factor

#6 posting 4.15.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

This game took place on Saturday, April 12
Whitney Rec Center, St. Cloud
COMETS TOURNAMENT Platinum Division Semifinals
COMETS 63, X FACTOR 52

In the final game I saw Saturday the Comets led from start to finish. in the semifinals in their own Comet tournament. The Comets started the game with 5/7 scoring possessions including the first two as they built up a 10-4 lead. The Comets stretched the lead to 12-4 when X Factor started their first of many comebacks. The X went on a 9-2 run to make it 14-13. That was as close as the X would get all game. That seemed to get the Comets moving again with three straight scores, four of which came on second chancers to make it 21-13. The biggest stretch point this time for the Comets was again 9 points at 27-18. Two straight 3s by XF's Caitlin Robinson cut the margin to 27-24. The Comets bounced right back to the 8 point margin with three straight scores to make it 34-26. Jamie Wollin had 12 at half time for the Comets.

The Comets enjoyed leads ranging from 12 to 8 most of the second half. Their largest margin came at 55-40 after a Wollin back cut with 6:12 to go. In less than two minutes that lead was chopped down to 55-49 with 3:58 left. Four straight scores helped XF make the game a bit more interesting. They had a chance to cut the margin even further but both teams combined had a four possession turn over sequence. A missed pair of free throws and another turnover kept XF stuck at 49. The Comets were not streaking either mired as they were in a seven possession drought. Jessie Althoff ended the stalemate with a basket and the Comets finished up with a 8-3 run to win 63-52.

The Comets beat MN Stars Eckmann for the title on Sunday.

photos: #1. Jessica Finck goes sailing out of bounds trying to save the ball. #2. Sarah Carlson looks to drive past Bridget Martini. photos by kja

key: player, school, point, pp100, floor %
COMETS
STARTERS
Jessie Althoff, Becker 10, 7, 142.9, .714 post player. more animated and aggressive than during the HS year. was pro active. worked the D boards. led team in D wraps. Passed well out of the post.
Kailee McDonald, Cambridge-Isanti 7, 11, 63.6. .273 guard.
Jamie Wollin, Litchfield 18, 14, 128.6, .643 perimeter. crashed the offensive board with 6 points via second chancers. good size for guard. decent speed.
Briana Herbst, Foley 4, 5, 80.0, .400 forward big hands
Lindsay Hamilton, Elk River 4, 7, 57.1, .286 needs to make strong, clear decisions with the ball. needs to keep vision up.
BENCH
Demi Young, KMS 4, 3, 133.3, .667 forward type
Bailey Carlson, KMS 10, 8, 125.0, .500 guard. plays with reckless abandon. went to the line three times and was converted two &1s.
Gabrielle Boser, Pierz 6, 5, 120.0, .600 post, runs the floor.
Sarah Carlson, KMS 0, 0, 0.0, .000 guard

X FACTOR
STARTERS
Missy Kassube, Eagle Valley 5, 6, 83.3, .333 guard. scored when hit.
Megan Strese, Brandon-Evansville 12, 13, 92.3, .385 rugged post. stepped out and shot 3s.
Jessica Finck, Bertha-Hewitt 3, 9, 33.3, .111 guard. will sacrifice body diving head first out of bounds for the ball. needs to make better decisions with the ball.
Betsy Olson, Sebeka 2, 5, 40.0, .200 guard
Bridget Martini, Sebeka 5, 8, 62.5, .250 guard. led both teams in assists.
BENCH
Sara Van Denheuvel, Bertha-Hewitt 4, 4, 100.0, .500 guard
Kendra Stokes, Bertha-Hewitt 8, 6, 133.3, .667 smaller post type.
Caitlin Robinson, Staples-Motley 11, 6, 183.3, .667 made three 3s.
Hannah Phillips, Upsala 2, 3, 66.7, .333 guard

TRENCH PLAYER
Jessie Althoff

BY THE NUMBERS
Comets 63, 60, 105.0, .500
X Factor 52, 60, 86.7, .367
made 3s: XF 4, Comets 0
ftm/fta-ft%: Comets 11/11-1.000; XF 8/11-.727
Turnovers: Comets 16, X Factor 15
Steals: X Factor 10, Comets 7,
bench: X Factor 25, Comets 20

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
COMETS
Jessie Althoff 7
Gabrielle Boser 6
Kailee McDonald 5
Lindsay Hamilton 5
Jamie Wollin 4
Demi Young 2
Briana Herbst 1
Sarah Carlson 1
Totals: 30

X FACTOR
Megan Strese 7
Jessica Finck 4
Betsy Olson 4
Missy Kassube 3
Caitlin Robinson 3
Sarah VanDenheuvel 1
Kendra Stokes 1
Hannah Phillips 1
totals: 26

ASSISTS
COMETS
Jessie Althoff 4
Kailee McDonald 4
Bailey Carlson 4
Jamie Wollin 3
Lindsay Hamilton 2
Briana Herbst 1
Gabrielle Boser 1
totals: 19

X FACTOR
Bridget Martini 5
Sarah VanDenheuvel 4
Jessica Finck 3
Caitlin Robinson 3
Missy Kassube 2
Betsy Olson 1
Hannah Phillips 1
totals: 19

next up: tomorrow morning