Out & About: Alexandria/Rogers

#3 posting 6.23.2008
Your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ROGERS BREAKDOWN TOURNAMENT
BLUE DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
ALEXANDRIA cardinals 42, ROGERS royals 40

Summer is a good time to see how the next season will play out. Which players will step up? How will teams function without the graduating class of 2008? In Rogers’ case they are also playing for new coach Jeremy Digiovanni. One of the main differences was in the size of the players, Rogers players, especially on the perimeter were wispy, while the Alex players were solid.

A word about the timing: This tournament was 18 minute running time; stop time the last minute of each half.

Alexandria beat the hosts to take the Breakdown Rogers Tournament 42-40. Angela Christianson scored 24 points to lead the Cardinals. Christianson also had 12 defensive stops for a double/double on the day.

Alex got off to an 8-0 start as they scored on three of their first four possessions. Rogers didn’t score until their 9th possession and that was on a Jennifer Dowd steal and lay up. Rogers ran off three scores in a row to close to 11-8 with 9 minutes left in the half. Alex again got hot with four scores in five possessions as they scored 10 unanswered points. Rogers went through another dry patch, this time 10 possessions before stopping the Alex momentum. At half it was 21-10. Chistianson had 8 at this stage.

Alex’s Gracie Bruzek scored from the top of the key with a three to make it 24-10, the largest Cardinal lead after one possession in the second half. The lead hung around 11 to 9. After an Angela Christianson 3, Alex led 37-25 with 6:20 left. Rogers turned on the after burners at about this time. They scored seven times the last nine possessions on a 15-5 run. Jennifer Dowd led the hard charging Royals with 8 points down the stretch. Rogers closed to 37-36 when Christianson responded with an acrobatic lay up &1. Christianson later added two more free throws on Alex’s next possession to finish the Cardinal scoring. Dowd scored on a put back to end the game, a little short for Rogers.

Both Christianson and Dowd play on North Tartan teams in the summer—Christianson with the 15s, Dowd with North Tartan Larson.

photos: #1 Kate Gearman goes up for a lay up with Jennifer Dowd and Heather Johnson defending. #2. Rogers' Kingren goes up for a lay up with Gearman defending. photos by kja

Here is the whole photo gallery from kevinanderson.photostockplus.com

Key: player, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
ALEXANDRIA
STARTERS
Kate Gearman 2, 6, 33.3, .167 passing needs to improve
Angela Christianson 24, 19, 126.3, .579 taller perimeter. Plays with confidence and authority. All eyes turned to her for the needed play and she delivered. Also was a main factor on defense playing the middle of the 2/3 zone.
Ally Teclaw 1, 3, 33.3, .333
Gracie Bruzek 9, 16, 56.3, .188 point guard. Made three 3s mostly up top. Had five turnovers on passing.
Alicia Montbriand 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000
BENCH
Katie Brown 0, 4, 0.0, .000
Courtney Richardson 4, 4, 100.0, .500 was a banger in side. Scored on a put back.

ROGERS
STARTERS
Heather Johnson 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Jennifer Dowd 14, 11, 127.3, .545 guard, runs the floor, scored off her defense, hit a pair of threes. this is her team and when the chips were down made the effort to lift Rogers. Will need to play with that energy/urgency right from the start this season.
Britni Tokheim 2, 6, 33.3, .167 needs to be stronger with the ball.
Maria Laughlin 6, 8, 75.0, .375 runs the floor. Scored on pull up.
Emily Dosmann 2, 3, 66.7, .333 post player. Will need to step up and deliver more on both ends.
BENCH
Caitlyn Coleman 10, 11, 90.9, .455 perimeter. was the only player to get to the line for Rogers. Exposes the ball.
Kingren 0, 3, 0.0, .000 exposes the ball
Sarah McDonough 2, 1, 200.0, .500
Amy Stone 0, 3, 0.0, .000
Erin Rossen 2, 3, 66.7, .333
Megan Coleman 2, 2, 100.0, .500 hit a shot from the left corner

TRENCH PLAYER
Angela Christianson

BY THE NUMBERS
Alexandria 42, 54, 77.8, .352
Rogers 40, 53, 75.7, .358
Made 3s/&1s: Alex 4/1; Rogers 2/0
Ftm/fta-ft%: Alex 6/9-.667; Rogers 4/4-1.000
Bench: Rogers 16, Alex 4

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
ALEXANDRIA
Angela Christianson 12
Courtney Richardson 4
Alicia Montbriand 4
Kate Gearman 3
Ally Teclaw 2
Gracie Bruzek 2
Katie Brown 2
Totals: 29

ROGERS
Jennifer Dowd 6
Caitlyn Coleman 3
Maria Laughlin 3
Emily Dosmann 3
Heather Johnson 2
Megan Coleman 2
Britni Tokheim 1
Sarah McDonough 1
Totals: 21

ASSISTS
ALEXANDRIA
Kate Gearman 4
Gracie Bruzek 4
Alicia Montbriand 3
Angela Christianson 1
Totals: 12

ROGERS
Jennifer Dowd 3
Heather Johnson 2
Maria Laughlin 2
Megan Coleman 2
Britni Tokheim 1
Caitlyn Coleman 1
Kingren 1
Totals: 12

Next up: Rogers Gold Championship Becker vs Maple Grove

Out & About: Alexandria/Brainerd

#8 posting 1.17.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ALEXANDRIA cardinals 47, BRAINERD warriors 43

Alexandria snapped a five game losing streak with a 47-43 win over Brainerd in a Central Lakes & Section 8AAAA contest. Alex trailed by 8 in the second half before mounting their comeback. Angela Christianson delivered 27 points for the Cardinals.

The story of this intense, contest everything game, was free throws. Brainerd left 14 points at the line and were only 26.3 from the charity stripe. The Warriors were physically bigger across the line, but at the line they couldn't tow the line.

In football they keep track of time of possession. It this game Brainerd would have won that stat. Every possession was an exercise in looking for the right shot. However, if you look at the floor % you will see the right shot did not drop. Brainerd had some great looks, as did Alex, but they couldn't connect on wide open bunnies. Alex's problems were more in transition/spacing angles. Both teams played hard contesting every movement. The early advantage went to Brainerd, after both teams sputtered along at 4-2 after 8 possessions each, the Warriors caught fire. They scored four straight times and eventually built a 17-8 lead. Of their first 17 points, 11 came via second chancers. Angela Christianson then almost single handily brought Alex back to life. She scored on five of six possessions to reclaim the lead 19-17. She delivered all 11 points in the run. During this stretch Brainerd was in offensive sleep mode with 9 straight no scores. The odd thing was only two were turnovers. Alex wasn't immune to their offense freezing up. They finished the half with 7 empty possessions, 3 of which ended up as turnovers. That window gave Brainerd the chance to take the lead again and they finished the half with a 6-0 run to lead 23-19 at the break. However they left a potential seven points at the line or the margin would have been greater.

In the second half the free throw ailments continued to plague the Warriors right off the bat. On the first possession Kayla Huether missed two shots. Neither team was even luke warm to start the half with only three combined scores after 15 possessions. Emily Thesing drained a three to give Brainerd their widest lead in the second half 28-20. That is when the searchlights went out again to signal Christianson to come to the rescue for Alex. She started the Cardinal comeback with a free throw, and then added a pull up jumper and a catch and shoot 3 to make it 28-26 Brainerd. That was in the midst of a 7/9 offensive sequence and 13-2 run for Alex. Brainerd was in a 1/8 offensive sequence. Their last possession was three missed free throws by Megan Bates. Alex took the lead on a slithery drive by Gracie Bruzek 31-30. Alex stretched that lead out to 37-32 with 5:17 left. They then froze up for five possessions with 3 of them turnovers. That opened the door for Brainerd to come back in. Thesing scored after catching a pass from Huether in midair after getting the ball off the Brainerd press. Both teams traded the lead with Alex marching to the line, and unlike Brainerd, converting. Brainerd's last lead came after a Thesing drive in the paint at 40-39. Bruzek gave the lead back to Alex with two free throws with 1:55 left and they never shared it again. Alex scored their last six possessions, all at the line. Brainerd's best chance to tie came after a free throw by Nicolette Grauman made one free throw and missed the second. The ball was kicked out to Huether on the right side and she missed a three. Backhaus rebounded and made one free throw to make it a four point game with 31 seconds to go. Bates scored with 19.8 ticks left. Christianson finished the scoring with two free throws.

Photos: #1 Megan Bates of Brainerd shoots with Molly Deitz defending. #2. Kenny Tvrdik goes up in transition with Megan Bates defending. photos by Teas.

key: player, (year), points, possessions, pp100, floor %
ALEXANDRIA
STARTERS
Laura Vanderwerf (08) 2, 5, 40.0, .200 smaller guard
Angela Christianson (10) 27, 25, 108.0, .480 6-0 perimeter player. can score off the dribble, pull up, and catch and shoot. she didn't have opportunities to go to the rack. she was defended by Bates, another 6-0 perimeter type. Christianson has good body control. She also was a big factor on defense, with good timing on blocks and more rebounds. her turnovers are the result of dribbling too much at times. fouls were bump- excuse me fouls near mid court. She needs to avoid those types of calls.
Amy Briol (08) 3, 5, 60.0, .400 forward, needs to be ready for the ball.
Bria Backhaus (08) 8, 9, 88.9, .556 important defender. inside presence. wetn to the line four times. needs to convert more at the line
Gracie Bruzek (10) 5, 7, 71.4, .429 point guard. only basket was the drive through the lane
BENCH
Amber Bartholomew (08) 0, 4, 0.0, .000 guard. Needs to be ready for the ball.
Molly Deitz (08) 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000 back up post
Kenny Tvrdik (08) 0, 2, 0.0, .000 The first name is not a typo
Katie Brown (10) 0, 2, 0.0, .000

BRAINERD
STARTERS
Megan Bates (08) 8, 11, 72.7, .273 long lean guard. shared point guard duties. liked to take 3s in the corner. moves and has some instinct. needs to finish in the paint. assigned to Christianson. by the same token Christianson guarded her. needs to be better at the line.
Stephanie Neugebauer (08) 2, 4, 50.0, .250 another guard. nothing from the floor
Karlye Barron (08) 6, 9, 66.7, .333 post player. eventually fouled out. all her points came in the first half. needs to be much more effective at the line. Her shot is short which means she needs more leg.
Kayla Huether (08) 5, 10, 50.0, .300 guard. has some flair for the game, but never really got clean looks and never got into shooting rhthym
Emily Thesing (09) 12, 16, 75.0, .313 also shared point guard responsibilities. likes to dribble left, spin and pull up in the lane. will also take 3s, and deep. is athletic--caught and scored mid air. faded on some shots instead of going through people. elbows out on dribble.
BENCH
Kylie Stanfield (09) 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000
Tess Rahto (10) 4, 3, 133.3, .667 post player. has some size. needs to be ready for the ball.
Jessie Marolt (08) 2, 4, 50.0, .250 smaller guard. needs to keep the ball lower on the dribble. needs to hold follow through
Sara Parsons (09) 1, 1, 100.0, l1.000
Nicolette Graumann (09) 1, 1, 100.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Angela Christianson

BY THE NUMBERS
Alexandria 47, 60, 78.3, .400
Brainerd 43, 60, 71.7, .333
made 3s: Brainerd 4, Alex 2
ftm/fta-ft%: Alex 15/22-.682; Brainerd 5/19-.263
bench: Brainerd 10, Alex 2

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
ALEXANDRIA
Angela Christianson 12
Bria Backhaus 6
Gracie Bruzek 3.5
Amy Briol 2.5
Laura Vanderwerf 2
Molly Dietz 1.5
Kenny Tvrdik 1
Katie Brown 1
Amber Bartholomew 0.5
totals: 31

BRAINERD
Karlye Barron 5
Kayla Huether 5
Megan Bates 4.5
Tess Rahto 3
Sara Parsons 3
Jessie Marolt 2
Emily Thesing 1.5
Stephanie Neugebauer 1
Kylie Stanfield 1
totals: 26

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Both teams used man to start. Alex stayed with it the entire game.
Brainerd used 1/2/2 in the half court, also a 2/2/1 full court press.

Side note: We almost missed the start of this game. Coach Teas drives on the northern excursions and he took us to the middle school. We made it past the start time of 7:30, but the teams were still warming up when we arrived at the destination I had indicated when we got to Alex.

Next up: tomorrow morning