Out & About: Albany/Eden Valley-Watkins

#5 posting 2.11.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ALBANY huskies 90,
EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS eagles 78

Last Monday defense ruled. Tonight, if you enjoy high octane offensive fireworks, Eden Valley was the place to be for a heavyweight AA battle. 168 points were scored as #2 Albany finished the contest with a 17-2 run over the last 2:43 to beat host #3 Eden Valley-Watkins. With the pace of the game, and fouls, EVW eventually ran out of gas. They finished the night with a 9 possession drought.

This game also featured good half/bad half. Hannah Linz of EVW had 30 points for the game, 25 in the first half. Jennie Noreen of Albany had 27, 21 in the second half. Sam Larsen had 24, 18 in the first half. So EVW didn't have the corresponding match in the second like Albany. Fouls also played a huge part with EVW's Amber Junker taking a seat with 6:18 left. Joining her at 4:08 was Larsen. But the game really pivoted on the 5th foul by EVW's Ellen Becker with 2:43 left. The game was tied at 76 after her foul. After she left EVW only scored two more points. Albany finished the game with a 10/11 scoring run.

As you can imagine with such a high scoring contest both teams came out of the gates flaming. There was no need for a shot clock as Noreen launched with less than six seconds gone. In the first 16 possessions both teams scored 11 times. That is a floor % of .688. The game was tied at 12 at that point. Albany was the first to run into a dry patch with a 1/10 sequence, six of the nine non scoring possessions were via turnovers. EVW had a 13-2 run (they trailed 12-8) with Linz delivering 7 of her 25 first half points. Albany quickly tied it up at 21, while EVW leap frogged them to lead 32-24 in a blink. By this time I was on my second pen there was so much ink being used. Last week the games were more sedate. Both teams tonight were flying, testing every opportunity for transition. EVW had foul issues however. Junker picked up #3 with 6:35 left and was forced to sit. Albany closed to 32-30. EVW pushed the lead out to four. With 2:57 left in the half Noreen finally got into the scoring column with a pair of free throws. She then tied it up at 40 on a drive. Linz scored the next five for EVW off a drive and then a post up &1. The half ended 47-42 with EVW up. Last Saturday Duluth East had 47 for their total points against Osseo.

EVW had their second 8 point lead after a Kelley Theis 3 on their opening possession of the second half. A 10-3 Albany run cut the margin to 53-52. A key pivot point came at the 14:01 mark when Junker was fouled. She made her first free throw and then picked up foul #4 going over the back as Noreen got the rebound on the missed second shot. That took away a big part of the EVW offense with inside presence. EVW led 54-52 when Junker sat down. After the score was tied at 58, Albany took advantage of the foul situation with 8-2 run. EVW took a time out at 66-60. EVW bounced back and tied the game at 66. However Junker picked up #5 with 6:18 as Noreen picked up an offensive board. There were four more lead changes with EVW going back up 70-69 after a put back by Kelsey Stenger. Then Linz, who was silent up to this point in the second half, nailed a three with 5:20 left. This put EVW up 73-69. Larsen soon joined Junker on the bench as EVW had a 74-71 lead as Stenger made one free throw. That set up the final 3 minutes in which Albany pulled away.

Photos: #1 Sam Larsen of Albany goes above Ellen Becker, Kelley Theis and Amber Junker. #2 Hannah Linz launches a three. Photos by Teas.

key: player (grad year) points, possessions, pp100, floor %

ALBANY
STARTERS
Jennie Noreen (08) 27, 33, 81.8, .455 handled point responsibilities. In the second half Noreen wouldn't let Albany lose. She aggressively attacked the basket all night. She went to the line seven times (11/14). She scored off drives and transition primarily. She also was strong on offensive rebounds. has a tendancy to drive and pick up charging fouls. She had 2 fouls, both charging. quick hands on defense
Sam Larsen (08) 24, 17, 141.2, .706 athletic and flies down the court. quick in the paint. draws fouls--went to the line four times. defensively likes to jump and block shots. Here is the problem defensively--leaves her feet too often. picks up fouls when out of position.
Taylor Voss (08) 16, 15, 106.7, .467 perimeter. another aggressive offensive performer. went to the line four times. has 3 range, but was more effective in transition and in the paint.
Hannah Hylla (09) 15, 13, 115.4, .538 post player. likes elbow shots, decent size, doesn't draw the attention the other three seniors do, but is an important wheel in the Albany express. didn't get in foul trouble. important on the offensive glass.
Holly Terres (08) 6, 7, 85.7, .429 perimeter. quietly does job. her put back put Albany up 82-78.
BENCH
Katrina Hendrickson (08) 0, 3, 0.0, .000
Sarah Jepsen (09) 2, 1, 200.0, 1.000 came in after Larsen fouled out. had some big offensive rebounds.

EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS
STARTERS
Hannah Linz (09) 30, 26, 115.4, .500 perimeter, 3 point shooter. sweet shot. best no look passer we have seen this year. creative, deceptive. and teammates are ready. also posted up. Had more success on the left block. liked drop step. also alert defensively. stripped ball & scored in transition. didn't have same outburst in the second half. best rebounder for EVW tonight.
Amber Junker (08) 18, 20, 90.0, .500 post player. was able to score on fakes and drives in the paint. hit deep two in the left corner. needs to avoid foul problems.
Justine Hilsgen (09) 12, 17, 70.6, .353 scored on back cuts post ups. needs to shorten passes.
Ellen Becker (09) 2, 5, 40.0, .200 point guard. picked up too many fouls.
Kelley Theis (08) 5, 5, 100.0, .400 hit a three
BENCH
Keshia Wiechmann (10) 2, 7, 28.6, .143
Kelsey Stenger (10) 9, 8, 125.0, .625 back up post. scored mid range in the paint.
Jill Albright (08) 0, 1, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
This was a tough call. To me a trench player has to be involved when the game is in the balance. Jennie Noreen may not have had great numbers in the first half, but she was vital to the Albany win in the second half.

BY THE NUMBERS
Albany 90, 89, 101.1, .506
Eden Valley-Watkins 78, 89, 87.6, .427
made 3s: EVW 4, Albany 1
ftm/fta-ft%: Albany 27/35-.771; EVW 10/16-.625
bench: EVW 11, Albany 2

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
ALBANY
Sam Larsen 12
Jennie Noreen 10
Taylor Voss 7
Hannah Hylla 6
Holly Terres 3
Sarah Jepsen 3
Katrina Hendrickson 1
totals: 42

EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS
Hannah Linz 14
Justine Hilsgen 7
Ellen Becker 6
Keshia Wiechmann 5
Amber Junker 4
Kelley Theis 2
Kelsey Stenger 1
Maddie VanderMey 1
totals: 40

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Both teams did a little of each. more zonish in the second half.
Match ups: (EVW off/Albany def) Hilsgen/Noreen; Becker/Terres; Linz/Voss; Junker/Larsen; Theis/Hylla
(Albany off/EVW def) Larsen/Junker; Noreen/Hilsgen; Voss/Linz; Terres/Becker; Hylla/Theis

Next up: tomorrow

Out & About: EV-W/HL-W-W

#8 posting 12.18.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS eagles 63
HOWARD LAKE-WAVERLY-WINSTED lakers 59

In keeping with bringing the readers a wide variety of possible games throughout the state of Minnesota, I journeyed west tonight down Highway 55 to Eden Valley for the Central Minnesota Confrontation between #7 AA HLWW and the hosts EVW. Not only was this an important contest for the CM title, but this is also an important game in the 5AA North Subsection. Earlier in the year EVW was rated #4, and then they lost to New London-Spicer. This was a roller coaster game with EVW building up a 15 point lead in the first half only to see HLWW take a lead in the second half. EVW withstood the challenge and won out in the end. Sharpshooting Hannah Linz had 19 points for EVW.

HLWW started off on the right note with a basket by Ellie Wessling on the first possession of the game. HLWW led 4-0 and then sunk into a 9 possession drought which put them behind the 8 ball. Or was it 3 ball. EVW used that down time to go on a 13-0 run with Linz scoring 5 of those points, one behind the arc. HLWW continued to have difficulty finding the bottom of the net as EVW stretched their lead out to 23-9 with 6 minutes to go in the half. All and all HLWW's pp100 was a bone chilling 23.8 and floor % and even frostier .143. They never got a shot off on 7 of those 21 possessions. The widest lead came at 27-12 with two minutes left in the half. Then HLWW thawed out. HLWW finished the half with an 8-1 run to make the score 28-20.

The Lakers continued right where they left off to start the second half. After two possessions EVW took a time out. After four it was a 30-27 game and all of a sudden a lot more compelling. HLWW was driving and/or going inside to their post Christina Gruenhagen. HLWW tied it at 33 after a transition basket by Taylor Williams. At that point it was a 13-5 run to start the half, or 21-6 run over the two halves. There were three more ties until Gruenhagen scored on the right block to give HLWW their first lead since the early first half. The lead switched three more times until Kelsey Stenger drained two free throws to keep the lead in the hands of EVW the rest of the night. HLWW would test the margin at 53-52. Two consecutive scores with Justine Hilsgen and a three by Ellen Becker provided the Eagles with a six point cushion with under three minutes left. HLWW's attempts clanged off the rim late with as they went 2/7 on their possessions down the stretch.

photos #1: Brittany Drew brings the ball up court for HLWW. #2 Kelsey Stenger drives down the lane for a shot for EVW. photos by Teas.

key: player, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS
STARTERS
Justine Hilsgen 16, 18, 88.9, .444 flashed to the free throw line for her shots. needs to be ready for the ball.
Amber Junker 8, 10, 80.0, .400 athletic, did a good job rebounding. disappeared or was lost in the shuffle on offense
Ellen Becker 8, 13, 61.5, .308 point guard. had decent vision. defended Pettit, and even thought Becker didn't have many stops, her height and reach prevented Pettit from reaching her averages. Becker needs to create space at times with her ball handling and not drive through people. liked baseline drives
Hannah Linz 19, 12, 158.3, ,583 extremely quick release. catch and shoot. NBA 3 range, made five 3s on the night. great instincts. deceptive passer since she does not stare or advertise where the ball is going. She had many beautiful assist passes that ended up not assists, because teammates didn't finish. On defense she needs to stay lower and not buy the shot fake. If you look at the possession totals only the 3rd highest at EVW.
Kelley Theis 3, 8, 37.5, .250
BENCH
Kelsey Stenger 9, 7, 128.6, .714 provided quality minutes off the bench.
Keshia Wiechmann 0, 2, 0.0, .000 needs to be ready for the ball.
Britney Henfling 0, 0, 0.0, .000

HOWARD LAKE-W-W
STARTERS
Ellie Wessling 12, 13, 92.3. .538 corner shooter. also looked to drive. at various times on Linz
Katie Pettit 9, 17, 52.9, .235 their point guard. sub par scoring performance. shot was too hard on the drive. 3 shot wasn't dropping. Is quick to the basket. strong defensive wrap performance with 9
Karissa Remer 4, 4, 100.0, .500 scored inside after defense left her to try to stop penetration.
Christina Gruenhagen 18, 13, 138.5, .615 6-2 post. good hands, went to the right block on offense. was a force inside. needs to get quicker. needs to bump people as they flash in the lane, or at least get in their way to change their direction. needs to sit down on offense and create more space. needs to get in better shape so she doesn't have to come out of the game. went to the line five times. needs to stay balanced on shot
Brittany Drew 4, 7, 57.1, .286 athlete, and a worker. shot was hard. Is facing the basket this season more and handling the ball. is a lefty
BENCH
Clare Chalupsky 0, e, 0.0, .000
Taylor Williams 7, 10, 70.0, .300 small guard. made the only 3 of the night for HLWW
Kayla Gross 5, 5, 100.0, .400

TRENCH PLAYER
Hannah Linz

BY THE NUMBERS
EVW 63, 70, 90.0, .429
HLWW 59, 72, 81.9, .389
made 3s: EVW 6, HLWW 1
made fts: HLWW 18, EVW 9
bench: HLWW 12, EVW 9

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
EVW
Amber Junker 14
Hannah Linz 9
Kelsey Stenger 4
Kelley Theis 4
Justine Hilsgen 1
Ellen Becker 1
Britney Henfling 1
totals: 34

HLWW
Katie Pettit 9
Brittany Drew 8
Christina Gruenhagen 6
Ellie Wessling 5
Taylor Williams 2
Clare Chalupsky 1
Kayla Gross 1
totals: 32

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
EVW started off 1/3/1 then went more man. Later they used a 2/3.
HLWW used man, a box 1 with Linz the 1, and then back to the man.
Presses tended to man, with not too much full court action

Also Tonight
Bloomington Jefferson won at section 2AAAA rival Edina 42-39. Jefferson played the game without starting center Ashle Roedel who was resting a sore knee. With their 3rd win of the year the Jaguars have already surpassed the win total from last season

Park-Cottage Grove beat previously undefeated Forest Lake 67-30 in a Suburban East game. It was 39-7 at halftime. PCG took out their frustrations on last Friday's loss to Eastview. It was 8-0, and 19-4 during the first half. Jackie Voigt scored her 1000 points for PCG in the first half.

Next up: tomorrow