Out & About: Metro Stars 15s/IBCA Select Blue

#2 posting 6.16.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

this game took place Saturday, June 14, 2008
Summer Jam 15u Division
Bloomington Jefferson
METRO STARS 63, IBCA SELECT BLUE 36

The Metro Stars did not have a problem beating the younger and smaller IBCA 14 team 63-36. On top of that this was the first tournament experience for IBCA Select since March.

The Stars led 7-0 after their first four possessions. That prompted a time out by IBCA. They did score on their next possession. That started the best stretch for IBCA where they had a 7-6 advantage to close to 13-7. IBCA had to use their second time out at 14-7 due to the back court pressure applied by the Stars. An 8 possession drought stopped what little momentum IBCA had started. The Stars didn't really seize advantage at that stage either only adding four points. The Stars kept adding to their margin and led 32-17 at half time. Haley Thomforde had 9 at the break for the Stars, while Taylor Shull had all 8 of her points in the first half to lead IBCA.

IBCA had another severe drought in the second half, this time 11 empty trips. The Stars led at that point 42-18. The Stars were headed in the opposite direction with six straight scoring trips. That pushed the score to 51-24 with about 7 minutes left and the margin remained the same the rest of the way.

photos: #1 Brooke Brown is fouled on the way in for a lay up. #2. Aimee Osborne shoots over Rachel Leitz for IBCA. photos by kja

key: player, school, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
METRO STARS
STARTERS
Hana Potter, Hopkins 5, 5, 100.0, .200 post player. had the height and muscle advantage inside. opened scoring with an &1 play.
Grace Veker, Edina 6, 7, 85.7, .429 bigger guard
Brooke Brown, Chaska 13, 13, 100.0, .538 point guard, went to the line four times. looks to drive
Rachel Leitz, Champlin Park 4, 5, 80.0, .400 perimeter, can score when hit.
Haley Thomforde, Eastview 13, 8, 162.5, .750 guard. moves without the ball. has 3 range.
BENCH
Ellen Edison, Maple Grove 7, 9, 77.8, .333 guard. has 3 range. runs the floor
Erica Gress, Apple Valley 8, 10, 80.0, .400 post. does a lot of scoring on second chancers. uses her body and position well.
Jean Theis, Shakopee 0, 2, 0.0, .000 post. needs to get meaner and get into the fray.
Taylor Cullers, Eastview 6, 5, 120.0, .600 guard scored off the jumper and transition
Julia Wiemer, Hopkins 1, 4, 25.0, .250 guard

IBCA SELECT BLUE 14
STARTERS
Al Oney, Cedar Rapids Washington 4, 7, 57.1, .286 guard, scrapper, scored in transition and off the dribble.
Whitney Van Wyk, Southeast Polk 2, 9, 22.2, .111 point guard. needs to improve ball handling/decision making against pressure
Jessie Pauley, Battle Creek-Ida Grove 3, 6, 50.0, .333 needs to improve ball handling vs pressure defense.
Ashley Zobel, Battle Creek-Ida Grove 0, 7, 0.0, .000 guard, 3 point shot not dropping
Aimee Osborne, Sidney 6, 4, 150.0, .750 post. didn't score until the second half. has decent jumping ability
BENCH
Amber Paden, North Iowa 3, 4, 75.0, .500 post
Taylor Shull, Mt. Pleasant 8, 9, 88.9, .333 guard. provided half the offense in the first half. has 3 range with two made in the game.
Danielle Herdliska, Solon 4, 7, 57.1, .286 point guard needs to dribble with head up vs pressure and avoid the sidelines. needs to avoid the spin. needs to keep the ball tighter.
Mckenzie Piper, Keokuk 6, 11, 54.5, .364 went to the line five times.
Liz Skotowski, Mt. Vernon 0, 5, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Haley Thomforde

BY THE NUMBERS
Metro Stars 63, 68, 92.6, .441
IBCA Select 36, 69, 52.2, .261
made 3s/&1s: MS 2/1; IBCA 3/0
ftm/fta-ft%: MS 15/24-.625; IBCA 11/22-.500
bench: MS 22, IBCA 21

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
METRO STARS
Hana Potter 7
Erica Gress 7
Brooke Brown 4
Julia Wiemer 3
Jean Theis 3
Grace Veker 2
Hayley Thomforde 2
Rachel Leitz 1
Taylor Cullers 1
Ellen Edison 1
totals: 31

IBCA SELECT
Amber Paden 5
Aimee Osborne 4
Jessie Pauley 3.5
Ashley Zobel 3.5
Danielle Herdliska 3
Al Oney 2
Whiney Van Wyk 2
Taylor Shull 1
Mckenzie Piper 1
Liz Skotowski 1
totals: 26

ASSISTS
METRO STARS
Brooke Brown 4
Rachel Leitz 4
Haley Thomforde 4
Julia Wiemer 3
Grace Veker 3
Hana Potter 3
Ellen Edison 1
Erica Gress 1
Taylor Cullers 1
Jean Theis 1
totals: 25

IBCA SELECT
Danielle Herdliska 5
Taylor Shull 3
Ashley Zobel 2
Al Oney 1
Whitney Van Wyk 1
Amber Paden 1
Liz Skotowski 1
totals: 14

Next up: IBCA Select 16 Red vs MN Stars Eckmann

Out & About: Rails/IBCA Select Blue

#4 posting 3.31.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

This game took place on Sunday, March 30
IOWA STATE AAU TOURNAMENT
Des Moines Hoover JUNIOR ELIGIBLE D2 CHAMPIONSHIP
RAILS 70, IBCA SELECT BLUE 56

This game featured the school based Des Moines Lincoln Rails and the younger, much younger IBCA Select Blue multi-school team. Blue is primarily 9th and 8th graders. They were up against a team that knows each other inside and out and the Rails featured Sara Wagner, a first team CIML Metro player, and Kelsie Reeves, a second team member. The Rails built big leads, then held on as the Blues rallied. The Rails made 15 free throws in the fourth quarter for a 70-56 championship win for the Rails.

The Blues grabbed the early lead with a trey from Al Oney on the second possession. The Rails answered with a Wagner basket from the left corner, but didn't take the lead until the 5:46 mark with a &1 by Amber Streyffler on a transition basket. That started a five straight scoring string by the Rails and a 9/11 sequence the rest of the half on a 19-6 run. Streyffler had 11 of the 21 first quarter points for the Rails. The young Blues had two droughts of 4 and 5 in the quarter. The Rails led 21-9 at the quarter.

Neither team had much success at the start of the second quarter with only one score by Oney of the Blues in the first 9 combined possessions. Then the Rails caught fire again. They had an 8/10 offensive sequence and a 17-6 run. It was a 38-19 lead for the Rails at half.

That Rail lead ballooned out to 47-24 lead with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. The Blues started clicking at that point. It was the Rails catching fire in the last five minutes in the first half. The Baby Blues had a 16-6 run to finish the third quarter. The Blues had five straight scores. 7 different Blues scored in the quarter. The quarter ended on a Taylor Shull basket to make it 51-40.

The Rails used 15 made free throws to hold off the Blues in the fourth quarter. The Rails only made two field goals in the final frame. The Blues were able to cut the margin to single digits at 54-45 with 5:02 left. That was as close as it was going to get. The Rails were deadly at the line and the Blues could never gain traction. Reeves was in control with the ball and at the line. She ended up with 20 point, 12 in this quarter.

photos: #1 Taylor Shull of IBCA Blue launches a three with Sara Wagner watching. #2 8 arms, 1 ball. photos by Teas.

key: player (school) points, possessions, pp100, floor %
RAILS
all the Rails go to Des Moines Lincoln
STARTERS
Amber Streyffler 19, 15, 126.7, .600 jump started the Rails with 11 points in the first quarter. decent shot. runs the floor.
Sara Wagner 5, 10, 50.0, .300 didn't score as much as in the semis, but provided a strong presence on defense.
Kelsie Reeves 20, 16, 125.0, .625 in command again. did not miss at the line 10/10. runs the floor. good vision. drew two charges.
Caitlin Wilson 9, 6, 150.0, .667 post player.
Kailie O'Conner 6, 5, 120.0, .600
BENCH
Nategia Cameron 2, 3, 66.7, .333 post. more defensive oriented.
Jessica Baxter 4, 3, 133.3, .667
Kassidy Simmons 5, 5, 100.0, .400 back up point
Haley Wood 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Laurie Tremain 0, 1, 0.0, .000 post
April Magnuson 0, 1, 0.0, .000

IBCA SELECT BLUE
STARTERS
Al Oney (Cedar Rapids Washington) 13, 10, 130.0, .500 smaller sister of Kaitlin. Has the same aggressive attacking attitude. made two 3s, and added an old fashioned three point play. As a sign of respect Wagner defended her.
Ashley Zobel (Battle Creek-Ida Grove) 7, 10, 70.0, .300 has long limbs, perimeter. has 3 range.
Mackenzie Piper (Keokuk) 2, 5, 40.0, .200 perimeter. fouled out.
Danielle Herdliska (Solon) 1, 4, 25.0, .250 point guard. needs to keep vision up.
Aimee Osborne (Sidney) 5, 6, 83.3, .500 post type. led Blues with defensive rebounds. gets off the floor. needs to use legs in free throws. was 1/4 at the line.
BENCH
Taylor Shull (Mt. Pleasant) 13, 13, 100.0, .462 guard, has a good change of pace, made a two 3s. on defense needs to keep balance, not lunge.
Jessie Pauley (Battle Creek-Ida Grove) 8, 6, 133.3, .667 can score in and out. tweener.
Amber Paden (North Iowa) 4, 6, 66.7, .333 post player.
Whitney Van Wyk (SE Polk) 3, 4, 75.0, .250 perimeter. made a 3.
Liz Skotowski (Mt. Vernon) 2, 4, 50.0, .250 perimeter

TRENCH PLAYER
Amber Streyffler

BY THE NUMBERS
Rails 70, 66, 106.1, .515
IBCA Blue 56, 68, 85.3, .309
made 3s: IBCA Blue 6, Rails 1
ftm/fta-ft%: Rails 21/24-.875; IBCA Blue 6/11-.545
bench: IBCA Blue 28, Rails 11
Free throws were a big factor in the contest with the Rails making about double the attempts of IBCA Blue.
The Rails had 12 points in transition, while the Blues had 2.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
RAILS
Sara Wagner 10
Caitlin Wilson 9
Amber Streyffler 5
Kelsie Reeves 4
Kailie O'Connoer 4
Nategia Cameron 2
totals: 34

IBCA BLUE
Aimee Osborne 6
Jessie Pauley 4.5
Mackenzie Piper 3
Amber Paden 3
Whitney Van Wyk 3
Ashley Zobel 2
Danielle Herdliska 2
Taylor Shull 1
Liz Skotowski 1
totals: 27

Next up: tomorrow morning