Mercy, 1000, 2 All Area, and WNIT Previews

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

MINNESOTA REPORTS
More Mercy: The Northfield News looks at the mercy rule. By the way there were 7 teams that on average LOST by 35+ last year:
AAA: St. Paul Harding
A: ECHO; Community of Peace; Oh Day Aki; Four Directions; Swanville; Fond du Lac Ojibwe
There were no teams that made the list in AAAA or AA.
There were many teams that on average lost by 25 or more.
I saw two of those teams last season (Harding, Swansville) and they both would have had the clock run in the games I watched.

The Grand Forks Herald looks at 1000 point scorers in Northwest Minnesota. They look at the reason for the increase in the 1000 point club. They should have added #4 games are four minutes longer now.

IOWA REPORTS
The Clinton Herald has named their all area team. Here is player background on the first three teams.

WISCONSIN REPORTS
The Appleton Post-Crescent has named their All Area Team. Stacie Van Handel of Freedom was their player of the year. On the side they list the rest of their team.

MICHIGAN (or is it North Carolina) REPORTS
Tequila Jones won a state championship in North Carolina for Fayetteville Westover. She moved their after her house burned down. She was a starter at Saginaw as a freshman and sophomore. From the Saginaw News.

Paul Ballard resigned at Belding, Michigan. From the Grandville Daily News.

COLLEGE REPORTS
Marquette travels to East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans in the WNIT final today.
Michigan State is making the most of the WNIT experience. From the Detroit News. The Grand Rapids Press looks at the MSU Clutch performances.

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader looks at the final run to a D2 title by South Dakota.

Upper Iowa had six women's basketball players make the Academic All Conference list. Paige DeVine of St. Charles, MN is one of the six.

Kierah Kimbrough (BGMR) was named scholar of the month at North Dakota.

next up: later today with a report from a local MYAS tournament.

Mercy Rule Passes, North Suburban & Red Rock All Conference

#1 posting 4.2.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MINNESOTA REPORTS
MERCY RULE PASSES
The MSHSL passed the Mercy Rule yesterday and it will take effect next year. The clock will run if a team has a 35 point lead with 9 minutes to go. Stop time kicks in if the score drops to 30. From the Fargo Forum.
First off this rule punishes teams that have players that are dedicated and work on their game all year. The score generally reflects the amount of time players have devoted to improving their skills.
Second some coaches will try to manipulate the score and not go all out in the pursuit of the "real" score to keep the clock stopped. In other words there will be point shaving. Some teams and players in college get into a heap of trouble when they do this.
Third teams will avoid scheduling teams that have problems scoring. I saw plenty of blowouts this year and couldn't stand the games, but they were the only games in town that day so I watched. I always blame the losing team in these situations. It is obvious the players don't have the skills or game understanding. The cure is to practice, practice, practice. I am talking March to November. Now the games are veering off to Park Board style play. Maybe they don't have the time to work on their game. Maybe they view the sport as a nice activity to keep busy during the winter. Don't cheapen the game to spare the sniff, sniff "fee-wings" of the teams being stampeded.

ALL STATE
Angela Christianson of Alexandria was the only sophomore named to the AP All State first or second team. From the Alexandria Echo Press.

ALL CONFERENCE
Here is the North Suburban All Conference List
Colleen Ruane, Benilde-St. Margaret's 12
Danielle Bennett-Curry, Benilde-St. Margaret's 11
Megan Corradi, Chisago Lakes 12
Kari Sells, Chisago Lakes 12
Erin Green, Fridley 11
Mimi Reif, Irondale 10
Kristen Robatcek, North Branch 12
Blair Benecke, Robbinsdale Cooper 12
Capreice Orgis, Robbinsdale Cooper 11
Ali Schwartzwald, St. Francis 12
Melissa Borstner, St. Francis 10
Jessica Englund, St. Francis 12
Aly Johnson, St. Louis Park 12
Kika Greenlee, St. Louis Park 10
Lizzi Naumann, Totino-Grace 11
Veronica Scott, Totino-Grace 12
Caroline Haik, Totino-Grace 12
Jessica Meyer, Totino-Grace 12
Honorable Mention
Itisha Alexander, Benilde-St. Margaret's 10
Madeline Morin, Benilde-St. Margaret's 12
Whitney Timjun, Chisago Lakes 8
Chellina Angok, Columbia Heights 11
Sam Schultz, Columbia Heights 12
Jaime Schotzen, Fridley 12
Aliena Debelak, Irondale 11
Ashley Johnson, North Branch 12
Erin Jensen, Spring Lake Park 12
Morgan Merritt, Spring Lake Park 11
Kelsy Luedtke, Spring Lake Park 12
Brittini Gordon, St. Francis 12
Amanda Morem, St. Francis 12
Laishema Hampton, St. Louis Park 12
Sarah Thompson, St. Louis Park 12
Shaina Weatherhead, Robbbinsdale Cooper 10
Sasha McHale, Totino-Grace 12

The Red Rock Conference has released their All Conference list. From the Worthington Daily Globe.

SEASON REVIEWS
Zimmerman passed out their end of the year awards. Kaitlin Houser was team MVP. From the Elk River Star News.

Next up: Around the region

Heart O'Lakes All Conference, 4 Coaching Openings

#1 posting 4.1.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MINNESOTA REPORTS
ALL CITY
KTOE Radio has released their Mankato All City team.
Abby Rothenbuehler, Mankato West, Jr. C
Katie Lauer, Mankato West, Jr. F
Krissy Schemmel, Mankato West, Sr. G
Ashley Veroeven, Mankato West, Jr. F
Nikki Gosson, Mankato East, Sr. C
Maddy Ziegler, Mankato East, Sr. F
Meghan Kelly, Mankato Loyola, Sr.
Nicki Menke, Mankato Loyola, Sr.

ALL CONFERENCE
The Heart O'Lakes has released their All Conference team
Angie Jetvig, Hawley, Sr. MVP
Sam Spaeth, Hawley, Sr.
Jennifer Lopez, DGF, Sr.
Jenna Green, DGF Sr.
Sarah Driscoll, DGF, Sr.
Liza Torgerson, West Central, So.
Taylor Brekke, West Central, Sr.
DeLaine Ronhovde, West Central, Jr.
Krystal Lacey, West Central, Sr.
Dawnelle Askelson, Lake Park-Audubon, Sr.
Asley Tinglestad, Lake Park-Audubon, Jr.
Courtney Kallis, Frazee, Sr.
Abby Berven, Frazee, Jr.
Elisa Moenkedick, Perham, So.
Tara Sailer, Perham, Jr.
Honorable Mention
Jessica Amman, Hawley, Sr.
Madi Brantner, DGF, Sr.
Laura Huebner, West Central, Sr.
Meghan Schultz, Ulen-Hitterdal, Sr.
Laura Ciernia, Ulen-Hitterdal, Sr.
Haley Hoyer, Pelican Rapids, Sr.
Amanda Volrath, Barnesville, Sr.
Stacy Abel, Breckenridge, Sr.
Tiffany Schrooer, Perham, Jr.
Becca Peloquin, Perham, Sr.

ALL STARS
The Central Minnesota All Star game will take place on Saturday at 6 pm at Pierz. The St. Cloud Times has rosters.

COACHING OPENINGS
There are four more openings--the biggest at St. Francis who made the AAAA State Tournament this year.
other openings:
Zumbrota-Mazeppa
Roseau
Park Rapids

MERCY RULE
The Mercy rule will get a hearing at the MSHSL meeting today. From the StarTribune.

Next up: around the region

Grab Bag: More All This & That; More Mercy

#4 posting 3.20.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

GRAB BAG
ALL STAR GAME
The Fifth Annual Polar League Bernick’s Pepsi All-Star Basketball Series will be at Barnum High School on Monday, March 31. The girls game is at 6 pm. From the Pine Journal.

TOURNAMENT RECAP
Eastview's tournament experience is recapped in the Thisweek Paper.

Barunum's tournament experience is recounted in the Pine Journal.

COACH OF THE YEAR
I am still waiting on the Coaches Association's all state team and coach of the year list for each class.
In 8AA Kris Evje of Crookston won that section's coach of the year award. From the Crookston Times.

AWARDS
Vermillion, SD passed out their end of year awards. From the Vermillion Plain Talk.

Ohio's Lauren Kohn (Adrian, MI) is one of 52 regional finalists for the 2008 State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team sponsored by the WBCA.

ACADEMICS
Minneapolis Southwest prevented Chaska from repeating as academic champs by .02.

ALL AREA
The Adrian Daily Telegram has named their all area team with Rick McNeil of Madison named coach of the year and Aubrey Laughlin of Hudson named player of the year.

Grand Haven girls basketball coach Katie Kowalczyk-Fulmer was named AB coach of the year and Muskegon Catholic Central coach Derek Westerlund was named CD coach of the year from the Muskegon Chronicle.

The Algona, IA paper has listed their Kossuth Keepers. (their all area team).

MORE MERCY
This is from assistant coach Tom Gunderson of St. Paul Central

I do not believe the mercy rule will benefit anyone (except those who are just in it for the check and want to go home early). The time of games was increased to allow for bench players to get more action. How will this occur if the starters build up the lead to the mercy point and then the game goes to running time?

A better solution, in my opinion, would be to not allow starters, or bench players who have scored 10 points or more, to play after the mercy point has been reached. There could be a point where they would be allowed to return. For example, if the mercy point was 35, they could return if the lead went below 25. This will allow teams to use their reserves in a meaningful setting.

Running time is for summer and rec ball. Let's treat the game with the respect that it deserves and our reserves with the respect they deserve.

Coach Gunderson

Thanks for the help. If you have all conference/all area teams, or any news, go to my profile and email me.

Next up: tomorrow morning. On Sunday the year in review.

Grab Bag: Perspective and Mercy

#5 posting 3.19.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

GRAB BAG
VERBALS
Indiana State's women's basketball team has secured oral commitments from:
Megan Burton, 6-1, Bedford North Lawrence, IN, for 2008; and
Andrea Rademacher, 6-2, Scottsburg, IN for 2009.
Burton is the 28th player from the Indiana 2008 class to verbal a D1 school and 34th overall
Rademacher is the 4th player from the Indiana 2009 class to verbal a D1 school.

COACHING
The St. Louis Park girls basketball position is listed as open.
Mora has a girls basketball position open.

PERSPECTIVE
Here is a message from Columbia Heights Coach Chris Buerman on the birth of his daughter and the complications involved.
Dear Friends and Family,

Jordan Christine was born December 26th, 2007. While labor and delivery went well, we knew immediately that there were many complications with little Jordan. She was transferred to the N.I.C.U. at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis the day after she was born. While there, she was diagnosed with Goltz syndrome. Goltz syndrome is a rare chromosome abnormality that results in multiple birth defects. It is so rare that most of the doctors we’ve talked to have never even heard of it. The list of possible problems associated with this condition seems endless. In Jordan’s case, the most significant problems at this time involve her eyes, skin, left foot, and kidneys. Her eyes are severely underdeveloped. She has already seen 3 different pediatric eye specialists. At this point we don’t know what she can see or how severely her vision will be impaired in the future. Jordan’s skin is very thin and sensitive. The “baby warmer” in the hospital burned her skin, but it is healing over now and hopefully we can avoid any more skin eruptions. Jordan was born without a left foot. She will have to be fitted for a prosthetic when she is about 6 months old. She also will have her kidney function monitored. Fifteen percent of Goltz cases involve mental retardation. So far, we don’t know if this will be the case for Jordan. We have to wait and see how she develops as she grows up.

Thankfully all of the major issues that Jordan is facing right now are not life threatening. Many infants with Goltz syndrome don’t make it as long as she has because their organs don’t function properly. We are relieved and thankful that Jordan is stable, her main organs seem to be functioning properly, and she is eating and gaining weight as a newborn should.
Sorry this announcement came so late. Jordan's website is

http://Caringbridge.org/visit/jordanbuerman

Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, and support as we learn more about our Jordan and her special needs

Coach Chris Buerman, Columbia Heights

IOWA ALL AREA
The Burlington Hawkeye has published their all area team.

The Golden Triangle News Service out of Washington, IA has named their all area team.

ALL CONFERNCE
The Cascades conference in Michigan has named their All Conference team. From the Manchester Enterprise.

Romeo, MI has passed out their end of the year awards.

The All Thumb team has been released by the Huron Daily Tribune.

Three Belding players made the OK Silver All Conference team. From the Greenville Daily News.

VINCENT VIDEO
There is video of the Milwaukee Vincent celebration back at school with interviews and comments from players and coaches from WTMJ.

SUPERIOR CONNECTION
UW Superior had connections to two state tournaments with Colfax, WI coach Joe Doucette and Hayfield, MN coach Fred Kindschy. Greg Granlund, an assistant at Totino-Grace is from Northwestern HS, WI. From the Superior Daily Telegram.

AWARDS
Western Michigan's Tiera DeLaHoussaye (Detroit Country Day) was named Mid-American Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Week.

WBCA
D1
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder was named Region 6 coach of the year and Kristi Smith was on the Region 6 All America Team.
Also making the All American Region 6 team: Wisconsin's Jolene Anderson (South Shore, WI) and Illinois' Jenna Smith (Bloomington Kennedy).

D3
D3Hoops has released their All West Region team. Making the list is Buena Vista's Margo Muhlbauer (IKM, IA); Gustavus' Jess Vadnais (Hudson, WI). St. Thomas' Carrie Embree (Waukee, IA) made the second team.

Vadnais is also one of 40 up for the 2008 Kodak/WBCA All-America Basketball Team for D3.

NAIA
Missouri Valley's Bonnie Johnson (Osseo) made 1st team Heart of America All-Conference and 3rd team All-American in the NAIA

Also Jolene Christensen has been named the new coach at Missouri Valley. She replaces Keith Lindahl.

MERCY RULE
Here is Columbia Heights coach Buerman again with his thoughts on the Mercy Rule

Just some thoughts about a suggested rule change. When I was at Champlin we were 23-5 and had many opportunities to extend huge leads and took great pride on utilizing leads as teaching time. Now at Columbia Heights I find that time even more valuable and don't want to lose it.

As a coach of a program that is fighting hard to rebuild itself, I am terrified the 35 point mercy rule might be established. Our program would NOT benefit from this rule. For my team, playing against the other program's second and third string allows us to teach more effectively. Success against their second and third team is much different than beating up on our second team in practice. Not to mention practices make more sense to the girls when they had some success executing against the second and third string of the other team plus film sessions become far more educational. It has always been my belief it is our responsibility as coaches to use large leads as an opportunity to teach whether you are ahead or behind. The winning team can work with players that typically are backups and only get limited time or allow that hard working individual from practice the opportunity to score their first or only points in a varsity game. In my time as a coach I have never had nor seen a second string that was so good they didn't need to work on good offensive positioning and quality possessions.

Thanks to all who help supply the basketball community with news & information. It has been a busy month or so. If I haven't thanked you properly I apologize. It takes a team to get this site done.

Next up: Tomorrow.

Grab Bag: Mercy, Mercy; Run & Gun

#8 posting 1.31.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

AFTERNOON GRAB BAG:
MERCY, MERCY
The MSHSL is going to vote on the "Mercy" rule on April 1st. From the St. Paul Pioneer Press. USA Today wrote about the mercy issue last Friday. In fact a coach in Washington was suspended and reprimanded as his team beat another 112-16.
I have seen six games this season that would fall under the "mercy" rule. These games don't have a lot of appeal and I can't wait for the contest to end. But every time my scorn is on the team getting mauled.
Here is my take:
#1 it is up to the team that is getting hammered to get better. I think the score perfectly reflects the time, energy, effort that players put in during the off season. Why reward mediocrity? What message is being sent?
#2 How will a team know that they have improved if a team has eased up and not given full effort?
#3. teams and players have been kicked out of sports because of trying to fix games. Nothing but full effort should be given. doesn't the integrity of the sport matter anymore? or are sniff, sniff, feewings sniff, sniff, more important these days?
I am NOT in favor of the mercy rule. It cheapens the sport due to some misplaced notion of fairness or compassion. Teams should be trying to maximize their potential.
Let's say 40 points is the threshold. What will be the result? teams ahead will TRY to keep the score under the threshold to keep playing. That my friends is a "fix."

In a related message I think it is up to the team getting beat to "throw in the towel." I have been around too long to see a misplaced notion of compassion for the opponent come back an bite the team ahead. Case in point: Osseo was miles ahead of another team once upon a time with the 3rd string in when the other team slapped a full court press on the deep subs. Bam, Bam, Bam the game all of sudden became "interesting." Coach Thorpe was not pleased and put the full unit back in with instructions to press the other team full bore. The game quickly reverted back to the natural order of things.

So how do you avoid these travesties? Don't schedule cream puffs on your schedule. It does nothing to increase your standing or admiration in the polls. Now some teams are stuck in horrible conferences (St. Paul Central vs Harding). It would be great if the two city conferences could combine and have a two tier league going divided by skill. Then games and margins would be more competitive. Will that happen? Not while I am still breathing.

RUN & GUN
Dunkerton, Iowa is averaging 83.8 ppg, which is under the 85.85 set by Cedar Falls in 1999. If Dunkerton was in Minnesota they would be averaging 94.3 ppg (in 36 minutes). Scroll to get to this in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

POINTS & BOARDS
Maranda Dohrn will own the rebounding and scoring records at Lake City. She has a feature in the Rochester Post Bulletin.

LATE RESULTS
IOWA: MSAE beat WACO 48-31 to advance to the SEISC championship. Is this code? find out in the Washington Evening Journal.

Next up: later tonight with another out & about.