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

Out & About: X Factor/Howard Lake

#3 posting 4.5.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MYAS PARK CENTER TOURNAMENT
17u POOL PLAY
X FACTOR 31, HOWARD LAKE 26

X Factor rallied from a four point half time deficit in beating Howard Lake 31-26. X Factor is made up of Class A players in the Park Region, and Prairie Conferences primarily. They used pressure and hustle in keeping Howard Lake in check. HL started two players that started in the AA state tournament a few weeks ago.

This tournament is in my back yard so to speak. I attended the early 16u games and then went home. This game was supposed to start at 6:20, but they got an early start. As soon as I walked in the gym, what I thought was 10 minutes early, the refs were throwing up the jump ball. This game was not a work of art, but provided plenty of hustle. Neither team was smooth on offense. Droughts were common place. HL had a drought of 8 in the first half, while X Factor a drought of 7 at the same time. Combined both teams had 15 straight empty trips. Later X Factor had another 6 possession drought. HL took advantage of that to break free from a 12 all tie with five points capped off by a three from Kayla Gross to put HL up 17-13 at half.

HL started the second half with a 7 possession drought. Yet XF didn't take advantage of that down time. They were only 1/7 during that phase. HL led 21-17 with 9:53 left. The remainder of the time XF outscored the Lakers 14-5. Megan Strese had four of the first six points in their rally. She scored the go ahead basket with 8:02 left on a secondary break. HL had a six possession drought at the start of that momentum shift. It was a three point game after an Ellie Wessling 12 footer 27-24. A second chancer by Sara Van Den Huevel bumped that margin back to five. The last three minutes were spent in a delay game by XF. A put back by Kaitlyn Klinker cut the margin to 29-26 with under 15 seconds. An intentional foul put Bridget Martini at the line for two. After converting both XF ran out the clock.

photos: #1 Jessica Fink of X Factor goes in for a lay up. Taylor Williams of HLWW is called for a blocking foul. #2. Bridget Martini is stripped by Alesha Remer. photos by kja. As close as PC is to coach Teas' home, he was out of town.

key: player, school, points, possessions, pp100, floor %
X FACTOR
STARTERS
Jessica Fink, Bertha-Hewitt 6, 9, 66.7, .333 guard, scored a couple of baskets in transition; put pressure on HL guards.
Betsy Olson, Sebeka 4, 11, 36.4, .182 guard
Bridget Martini, Sebeka 5, 11, 45.5, .182 guard. runs the floor. Needs to work on stops.
Missy Kassube, Eagle Valley 2, 5, 40.0, .200 perimeter player
Kendra Stokes, Bertha-Hewitt 0, 3, 0.0, .000
BENCH
Caitlin Robinson, Staples-Motley 3, 7, 42.9, .286 guard. needs to be ready for the ball. passes tend to be too far.
Katie Huttunen, Sebeka 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Sara Van Den Huevel, Bertha-Hewitt 2, 2, 100.0, .500
Megan Strese, Brandon-Evansville 9, 8, 112.5, .625 post player. gave away size inside to Gruenhagen. was snuffed out often, but kept battling back and wasn't intimidated. runs the floor.

HOWARD LAKE
STARTERS
Taylor Williams 4, 16, 25.0, .125 left handed point guard. had problems when doubled. picked up ball and passed into the trap. needs to keep better vision. has 3 range.
Ellie Wessling 6, 9, 66.7, .333 wing type. scored in transition. likes to drive too. stares down passes. needs to be more deceptive. needs to be stronger with the ball.
Christina Gruenhagen 0, 13, 0.0, .000 post player. again her passing needs to be stronger and she needs to quit advertising her passes. she needs to put the ball under her chin, anything lower and it has a chance to be stripped. She needs to use the glass on her post shots. and she needs to keep her balance. needs to finish and dominate like she does with her blocks and interior defense.
Alesha Remer 4, 5, 80.0, .400 perimeter, scored in transition. led both teams with 4 assists.
Kayla Gross 6, 8, 75.0, .375 perimeter.
BENCH
Katlyn Klinker 6, 4, 150.0, .750 played a strong offensive game.
Sam Hackbarth 0, 5, 0.0, .000

TRENCH PLAYER
Megan Strese

BY THE NUMBERS
X Factor 31, 58, 53.4, .276
Howard Lake 26, 60, 43.3, .217
made 3s: HL 2, XF 0
ftm/fta-ft%: XF 11/17-.647; HL 4/9-.444
bench: XF 14, HL 6
turnovers: HL 24, XF 17

X Factor had 12 points in transition, HL had 4. Also XF had a seven point advantage on free throws. They made 2 more than HL attempted.

DEFENSIVE WRAPS
X FACTOR
Bridget Martini 8
Missy Kassube 7
Jessica Fink 6
Kendra Stokes 6
Caitlin Robinson 3
Betsy Olson 2
Sara Van Den Huevel 2
Katie Huttunen 1
Megan Strese 1
totals 36

HOWARD LAKE
Christina Gruenhagen 7.5
Ellie Wessling 6
Kayla Gross 6
Katlyn Klinker 3
Taylor Williams 2.5
Alesha Remer 2
totals: 27

ASSISTS
X FACTOR
Caitlin Robinson 3
Jessica Fink 2
Bridget Martini 1
Katie Huttunen 1
Sara Vanden Huevel 1
totals: 8

HOWARD LAKE
Alesha Remer 4
Taylor Williams 3
Sam Hackbarth 2
Kayla Gross 1
totals: 10

Next up; Tomorrow morning