Irish Eyes, Della Donne to Delaware

#1 posting 8.19.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

IRISH EYS SMILING ON IOWA STATE
Iowa State has signed 5-10 guard Claire Rockall from Oranmore, Ireland.

DELLA DONNE SAGA
UConn recruit Elena Della Donne has landed at Delaware, but has not been released of her scholarship. EDD may or may not play again. Rumors of volleyball are in the air. Former Husky Kara Wolters says, "What a waste." from the Hartford Courant.

ONE ON ONE
Caitlin Gibson goes one on one with a Q&A on the Badger site.

GIRL SCOUTS
Ohio is teaming up with the girl scouts this season.

SCHEDULES
Cleveland State has released their 2008-09 schedule.

TRIPS
Weber State is 1-1 in France.

INJURIES
Freshman Jessica Capers of West Virginia will miss this year due to an ACL injury. From USAToday.

ACADEMICS
Theresa Crance of UM Crookston received an Inaugural Academic Achievement Award.

CONFERENCE NEWS
The Aberdeen American News looks at the expanded Northern Sun Conference. Each school gets a capsule look.

Thanks to all the great help from the readers. Without your assists this site wouldn't be what it is.

Next up: tomorrow or when more verbals fall.

Fish Interviews, Battle of the Plains Begins

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

COACHING
MSU Mankato wants to keep coach Lori Fish who is interviewing with St. Cloud State. From the Mankato Free Press.

TOURNAMENT
The Battle of the Plains tips off today in Lincoln and the Omaha World-Herald previews the action.

ACCELERATE
Sioux Falls O'Gorman athletes are working on their conditioning with the Accelerate program.

CAMPING
Emily Fox and Brittany McCoy helped out at the Owatonna’s Basketball Odyssey Camps. Apparently cup stacking was also involved.

TRANSFER
Maggie Hennegan will transfer from St. Louis. Hennegan played two seasons at St. Louis.

ACADEMICS
Northern Iowa was #6 in the recent WBCA academic listing for D1 schools.

Next up: later today with more information.

Heat Recap

#1 posting 7.17.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

NC HEAT AAU FINAL FOUR DETAILS
NC Heat faced a mirror image of itself in the N.C. Garner Flames. They had a few tall, athletic kids plus several guards with good handles. They were fairly patient offensively, but they did not have the defensive tenacity of MN NC Heat. This was a roller coaster as Garner led very early, then NC Heat went on a run and led by as many as 11 late in the first half. In the second half, Garner led by as many as 9 before the Heat closed and regained the lead. The Heat led by 8 late, but Garner pulled to within 1 point with 1:20 remaining when Leick knocked down a 3 to make it 61-57. Hill and Poke each made free throws around a Garner 3pt basket for the final 63-60 margin. Garner primarily played man; 2nd half Garner pressed a bit to tire NC Heat guards.

The action moved back to the Milk House for the Final. Due to heavy thunderstorms, the place was packed with soccer and baseball players providing a wonderful atmosphere. Unfortunately, NC Heat spent much more energy in the semi-finals than NY Silver Bullets and couldn't keep up the pace. It's evident the Heat are fatigued when they turnover the ball and get out-rebounded which was the case. NC Heat also shot poorly from the field. The game was tight early with Hill keeping Minnesota in it. By half NY led by 13 and basically held a 9 to 15 pt lead for the entire 2nd half.

So, on July 6th most girls played 2 Top Ten camp games. Then over the next 9 days, NC Heat played 14 games going 4-1 in Atlanta and 8-1 in Orlando to earn 2nd in each. It was a successful 12-2 road trip by all accounts, with no major injuries. Next up is Memphis and then they will conclude with the North Tartan Meltdown.

FURY RECAP
The MN Fury 14U Gold finished the Menomonie Shootout at 5-1 and finished 3rd. The girls played their best basketball of the season except for their semifinal loss when cold shooting did them in. They had wins over the Iowa Lightning Silver, Winnipeg, MN Ladyslippers, Iowa Lightning Maroon and the MN Gym Rats (16’s). The team received well rounded play from all and really turned up the heat on defense to lead to their winning weekend.

TEAM WI RED RECAP
Team WI Red beat the MN Thunder in Chicago 51-44. In another game, TWR was competitive vs Ohio Red until late in the game eventually losing by 18.

ACADEMICS
Two Mesabi Range players have been named Academic All American by the NJCAA
Laura Johnson- sophomore (South St. Paul grad)
Rachel Perushek (distinguished 4.0 gpa)- freshman (Eveleth Gilbert grad)

thanks to the readers for all the great help throughout the summer. Your assists make it all possible.

Next up: More News

Tournaments Past and Future, MIAC Academic Four

#1 posting 7.16.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

TOURNEY RESULTS
SUMMER SHOWCASE CHICAGO
The Minnesota Fury sent three teams to the Nike Summer Showcase in Chicago, IL this weekend, and had phenomenal results. The 16U, 15U and 14U Blue teams were all in 32-team brackets playing against some of the best teams in the country.

All three teams were 3-1 going into play on Monday. The 14U Blue team and the 15U team both won their games, and both finished 4-1 with 5th place finishes. The 16U team ran into a very tough Arizona Blue Streaks team in their final game, and finished 3-2. It was very successful weekend of basketball for the Minnesota Fury program; finishing a combined 11-4.

The Fury will cap off their season with the 16U, 15U, 14U Blue, and 14U Gold teams competing in the North Tartan Meltdown next weekend. For more information on the Minnesota Fury AAU Program, you can visit www.minnesotafury.com or send an email to Nick Storm at nstorm@minnesotafury.com

MORE 15s
In Chicago. the Minnesota Fury 15U team finished with a 4-1 record placing 5th out of 32 teams in the Blue Division. They beat the Livingston (MI) Sting, 52-24 and Purple Aces 63-41 before losing to the team that made it to the Blue Division finals (Nike Lady Legit). The MN Fury took the last two games against the 43 Hoops and WBA Lady Knicks (NY) teams to finish with the successful tournament in 5th place. Everyone on the team took turns in contributing to the well rounded and balanced victories. Excellent team chemistry, team execution and coaching by Justin Morris helped in making this a successful tournament.

GREAT LAKES SHOOTOUT MENOMONIE
Coach Robert Grace (Minneapolis Southwest HS) did an excellent job leading the 13U Metro Stars team to a very successful tournament in Menomonie taking third place in the Bronze division. One player on the roster is 6-2 Erin O'Toole of Wayzata (who could be playing with the 12u team).

TOURNAMENTS TO COME
Here are the brackets for the Breakdown events this weekend at Rogers and Marshall.

Here are the brackets for the MYAS event at Lakeville South.

ACADEMICS
The MIAC had four teams make the Academic Top 25 D3 list. St. Benedict came in #5; Hamline #11; Augsburg #18; and Gustavus #25. Here is the WBCA list for all divisions.

Next up: More News

Passion, Photos, Rookie Rankings

#3 posting 7.15.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MORE TOURNEY RESULTS
Here is the story in the Omaha World Herald about the championship game in the Miss Basketball Showcase between the Missouri Valley Eclipse and the Nebraska Twisters. The Eclipse won 56-48 thanks in part to a 21-0 run during a 16 minute drought.

PLAYING WITH PASSION
The opening paragraph of the story on Alonzo Mourning in the Miami Herald talks about passion. For some reason joy doesn't get the same love as anger.
Speaking of which I am looking for players that have that joie de vivre. I don't see it that much. What I see is the trudging off to work a la Metropolis in many games.

ROOKIE RANKINGS
Rethinking Basketball ranks the current crop of WNBA rookies. Lynxster Candice Wiggins comes off well.

WHO TO CHEER FOR?
Two former Gophers match up tonight at 6 pm on ESPN2--Lindsay Whalen of Connecticut vs Janel McCarville of New York.

18U NATIONAL TEAM
Marquette coach Terri Mitchell posts her second blog on her experience with the 18u National team.

SUMMER VACATION
Iowa Hawkeye Lindsey Nyenhuis is interning in Hollywood.

COACHING NEWS
Buena Vista has added Julie Hergenroder as an assistant women's basketball coach. Hergenroder is from Alden, NY.

MORE ACADEMICS
North Dakota was #14 in D2 Academics according to the WBCA.

North Dakota State was #18 in D1 Academics.

New Mexico was #22 in D1 Academics.

OLD PHOTOS
Here is a photo of a girls basketball team circa 1906 or 08 from Dundee, Minnesota (From Nobles County for those unfamiliar with Dundee's location).

SCHEDULE
The College of St. Scholastica has released their 2008-09 schedule.

Next up: later today with a summer league Out & About

A Fish Out of Mankato?, Home Visits Dos and Don'ts

#2 posting 7.15.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
Lori Fish has not ruled out a return to St. Cloud State. From the St. Cloud Times.

Randy Weibel will return as girls basketball coach at Hononegah, IL. From the Beloit Daily News.

TEAM CAMP
Red Lake Falls finished 4-0 in the UM Crookston Team Camp. From the Crookston Times.

HOME VISITS DOS AND DON'TS
This is from the College Volleyball Coach blog, and it is pertinent to recruiting. It looks at what to do on a home visit and some horror stories on what NOT to do--for example go out and playing with friends during the home visit. Also check out the topic list on the right. It has topics including unofficial visits, recruiting self promotion, and advice to players. Remember it is a volleyball coach writing, but just substitute basketball for volleyball and run with it.

ALL STAR GAME
The North Dakota All Star game series starts tonight in Bismarck. One of the B coaches is Kent Harding of Bowman County. From the Dickinson Press.

CONFERENCE NEWS
The Minnesota Community College Conference is now called the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. Plus Anne Breland of Rochester CTC has been named to the 2008 NJCAA Distinguished Academic All-American team. Both found in the Guy Limbeck column in the Rochester Post Bulletin.

LEAVING
Caley Dow has left the University of Colorado team. She will remain in school and graduate next May. From the Boulder Daily Camera.

ACADEMICS
South Dakota State is tops in Grade Point Average in all divisions from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association with a 3.669. South Dakota was fifth overall (first in D2) at 3.649. From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Next up: even more news

Showcase, Academics, Olympics, and Rookies

#2 posting 7.2.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

GREAT AMERICAN SHOWCASE
The Minnesota Suns Fassett 16U AAU team competed in the US Junior Nationals Chicagoland Great America Showcase this past weekend. The Chicagoland Great America Showcase attracted some of the top AAU teams from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The Suns finished the weekend 3-2, reaching the Elite 8 bracket on Monday. The Suns opened the competition losing to the top-ranked Illinois Wolverines Elite 17U, then defeating Illinois Valley Star 16U, Illinois Intensity 17U, and Indiana MBC Miracles before being eliminated from the Elite 8 by the Wisconsin Lakers. Top scorers for the weekend included Pamela January (Richfield), Katie Pettit (Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted), Hannah Hylla (Albany) and Jasmine Mendes (Hopkins).

STAR OF THE NORTH
Aitkin won the Star of the North games for the 10th-12th grade girls.

St. Paul Central won the 6th-9th grade girls tournament.

SUMMER LEAGUE
Minnetonka is 8-0 in the Champlin Park Summer League. Here is the rest of the CPSL standings.

ACADEMICS
Here are the seven St. Benedict academic all conference players for the 2007-08 year.

The MIAA (Michigan) has also released their conference academic all conference scholar athletes for 2007-08.

INCOMING
The Mount Pleasant Morning Sun looks at the Central Michigan incoming players.

OLYMPICS
USA Today looks at the rest of the world and how they have caught up with the Americans in women's basketball.

RANKING ROOKIES
Rethinking Basketball examines the rookie class in the WNBA. They look at the players ability to create, offensive efficiency, versatility, impact, and who deserves more time. Candice Wiggins rates high by the way.

Next up: one more quarterfinal in the Dakota Showcase followed by a semifinal, and championship game.

EGF Transfer, Academic Athletes, Pushing Kids

#2 posting 7.1.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

TRANSFER
Ashley Tinglestad of Lake Park-Audubon is transferring to East Grand Forks. Tinglestad won three events in the state track meet and averaged over 16 ppg for LPA. From the Grand Forks Herald.

COACHING NEWS
Temple will announce their new coach today.

MORE TOURNAMENT NEWS
The Omaha World Herald has a bit on the CSS Bison 2nd place finish in the Dakota Showcase.

PUSHING KIDS
The Crookston Times asks "How far should we push our children?"

ACADEMICS
Army had six players on the Patriot Academic Honor Roll. Included on the list--Megan Ennenga of St. Louis Park and Nagris Kabiri of Pipestone.

Kathleen Schjodt of Hot Springs, SD won her second Mountain West Scholar Athlete for the Air Force Academy.

The MIAC has released their academic all conference list and here are the Carleton had two players make the list in women's basketball--Amber Connor of Rosemount and Megan Mileusnic of Orono.

Next up: I will get to the two remaining pool play games from the Dakota Showcase plus the quarterfinals today.

Academics & Coaches, Repeating

#2 posting 6.30.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

GREAT LAKES KICK OFF
The Great Lakes Kick Off concluded yesterday in Menomonie. Team WI Select Samuels won another title in the Platinum Division, and it appears the final was a forfeit. PT Players won the Gold Division. Team WI Select 13 won the Silver Division.

ACADEMICS, COACHES AND PUNISHMENT
Does the NCAA punish non-BCS schools more severely when it comes to academic progress? Should the coaches be accountable for academic progress? USA Today looks at the issues.

REPEATING
David Friedman of ProBasketball News looks at the ingredients necessary for repeating as champion.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Katherine Rowley of East Jordan, Michigan was named female athlete of the year in the Traverse City Record Eagle. Rowley did dual sports in the winter--basketball and skiing.

WIGGINS
Lynxster Candice Wiggins has adjusted to life in the WNBA and has impressed a new crowd. From the San Jose Mercury.

Next up: It is going to be a busy, busy day. I will be cranking out 8 more (I hope) game reports from the Dakota Showcase. Today's schedule will be the rest of the Friday contests. I already put up one game from Friday.

Draxten & Krei in Game Time

#1 posting 6.28.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

COACHING NEWS
Katie Falco has been hired as an assistant women's basketball coach at South Dakota State. She played her college ball at Northern Iowa and was an assistant at Montana State. She replaces Travis Brewster.

Nebraska women's basketball assistant coach Sunny Smallwood has been promoted to Associate Head Coach.

SIGNING
Lena Gipson of Fresno City College has signed with Santa Clara. The 6-1 Gipson only played one year with FCC and averaged 18 ppg on the 35-3 team.

FRESHMEN HAWKEYES
Hannah Draxten and Kelly Krei are playing in the Game Time league. Krei's team beat Draxten's. From the Daily Iowan.

AWARDS
Iowa State's win over Kansas State in the Big 12 Quarterfinals was chosen the Big 12 women's game of the year in a vote by fans.

ACADEMICS
The MIAC has released their winter and spring academic all conference list. Here are the Gustavus players that made the list.

POLICE BLOTTER
DePere girls basketball coach Dave Johnson entered a deferred no-contest plea in a misdemeanor disorderly conduct case. From the Green Bay Press Gazette.

Next up: more news

Miss Basketball Showcase, UP All Stars, CSU Academics

#2 posting 6.24.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MISS BASKETBALL SHOWCASE
The Yankton Press & Dakotan examines the upcoming Miss Basketball Showcase at Augustana starting Thursday. Here is the Miss Basketball Game Day center including schedules.

COACHING NEWS
George Washington will announce their new coach today at 1 pm. Rumorama is it will be GWU assistant Mike Bozeman.

RECRUITING NEWS
Heather Brunn of Rogers is headed to Minnesota on a track scholarship. She is an 800 runner.

CONFERENCE NEWS
The University of South Dakota is looking to form a new D1 conference. From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

ALL STARS
The South beat the North in the UP All Star game at Escanaba, Michigan on Saturday. The South trailed by 9 heading into the 4th quarter. Kelsey Anonich of Menominee led the South with 15 points and was named MVP. From the Escanaba Daily Press.

SCHEDULES
The SMAA in Michigan will hold boy/girl double headers on Fridays and split sites on Tuesday as Michigan tries to find the right balance in the schedule since the girls basketball season has moved to the winter. From the Hillsdale Daily News.

VOTE
Fans can vote for the Big 12 play of the year. Iowa State's Alison Lacey's full court drive against Kansas State in the Big 12 quarterfinals is up for the vote. You can watch the 10 second video too. Perhaps if the ref got out of the way it would be a more compelling video.

ACADEMICS
Colorado State players Kelly Finley (Breck) and Lauren Young (Edina) picked up Mountain West Scholar Athlete honors. Also honored was Kandy Beemer (Bedford, IA). Young has since left Colorado State.

MC CARVILLE VS LYNX
Does Janel McCarville harbor any ill will since the Lynx didn't select her in the dispersal draft? The StarTribune looks at that story as McCarville and the New York Liberty take on the Lynx tonight.

Next up: even more news