Remember the comeback from Grinnell's most recent game? You know, down by 25 at the half, rally to take a late lead in regulation only to see the game head to overtime, then dominate overtime on its way to a victory? Right, that one. Well, coach David Arseneault pointed to this as a possible "season saver" in a post on the Yahoo! message board devoted to The System.
Game 1 of the rest of the season went like clockwork.
Griffin Lentsch made 10 3-pointers and had 32 points, five other players reached double figures in scoring and Scott Kaitz had 10 assists to help the NCAA Division III Pioneers roll past Monmouth 133-92 in the Midwest Conference on Wednesday night. Matt Chalupa, Matt Skelly, Dominique Bellamy and Aaron Levin all finished with 17 points and Patrick Maher added 10 for Grinnell (10-6, 5-6 MWC), which boasts consecutive conference victories for the first time this season.
Part of me wanted to write that this one was over at the halftime, when the Pioneers took a 71-40 lead. Of course, given that huge comeback over the weekend at Lawrence, nothing is for sure, but Grinnell did what it had to do in the final 20 minutes. Here are the numbers for the game:
- Attempted 89 shots (goal is 94)
- Attempted 59 3-pointers (goal is 47)
- Rebounded 41 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 33 percent)
- Forced 29 turnovers (goal is 32)
- Attempted 15 more shots than the the Fighting Scots (3-13, 1-10)
The Pioneers trailed took control with a 20-5 run in the first half, then completed the domination by outscoring Monmouth 16-5 over the final 4:18 leading into the break. The final 20 minutes was more of the same, with the margin reaching 45 points on Lentsch's final 3 with about 3 minutes remaining in the game.
The solid play is coming just in time for Grinnell, which is seventh in the MWC with only the top four teams qualifying for the conference tournament. But it's a tight race for that final spot, with Lawrence, a team with two losses to the Pioneers, currently holding it with a 7-4 mark. That's a two-game difference, with Illinois College and Lake Forest tied for fifth at 6-5.
Grinnell has one game left against Illinois College and two with Lake Forest, including one Saturday in the friendly confines of Darby Gymnasium, where the Pioneers are 7-1 this season. Game time is 4 p.m. EST, and I wish Coach A and the boys nothing but the best.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Second half momentum easily carries ONU to ninth consecutive W
Something about Saint Xavier seems to bring out the worst in the NAIA women's team at Olivet Nazarene. Seriously. In the past six seasons, each time coach Doug Porter and the Tigers were able to put together a winning streak of at least six games, it was the Cougars of Saint Xavier who stopped the run.
Not this time.
On Tuesday night, No. 21 ONU buried 10th-ranked Saint Xavier with a huge second half and went on to win 92-72 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Stephanie Denius led the way with 18 points, including five 3-pointers, Danielle Tolbert added 16 points and Danielle Pipal finished with 15 points and four steals as the Tigers (18-4, 3-0 CCAC) won their ninth consecutive game.
The score was tied at 42 at the half, and ONU led only 59-53 with 12:40 left in the game before building some momentum. A 17-3 spurt over the next 4 minutes boosted the margin to 20, capped by back-to-back-to-back 3s from Tolbert, Holly Schacht and Denius.
The Cougars (13-6, 1-1) creeped within 78-64 but not any closer, allowing Coach Porter and his team to join Indiana-South Bend as the only two unbeaten teams in the CCAC. Alex Barone and Shalonda Young each scored 17 points for Saint Xavier.
Here are the numbers for ONU:
- Attempted 93 shots
- Attempted 48 3-pointers
- Rebounded 49 percent of the rebounds on offense
- Forced 28 turnovers (tied a season low for opponents)
- Attempted 13 more shots than the Cougars
The 14 steals for the Tigers also was a season low, which is pretty amazing. Eight of them did come in the second half when Saint Xavier had 16 of its turnovers, so the wear and tear was apparent after halftime.
Next up for ONU is a trip to Robert Morris (15-6, 1-1) on Saturday, with the tip scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. I wish Coach Porter and his team the best of luck.
Not this time.
On Tuesday night, No. 21 ONU buried 10th-ranked Saint Xavier with a huge second half and went on to win 92-72 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Stephanie Denius led the way with 18 points, including five 3-pointers, Danielle Tolbert added 16 points and Danielle Pipal finished with 15 points and four steals as the Tigers (18-4, 3-0 CCAC) won their ninth consecutive game.
The score was tied at 42 at the half, and ONU led only 59-53 with 12:40 left in the game before building some momentum. A 17-3 spurt over the next 4 minutes boosted the margin to 20, capped by back-to-back-to-back 3s from Tolbert, Holly Schacht and Denius.
The Cougars (13-6, 1-1) creeped within 78-64 but not any closer, allowing Coach Porter and his team to join Indiana-South Bend as the only two unbeaten teams in the CCAC. Alex Barone and Shalonda Young each scored 17 points for Saint Xavier.
Here are the numbers for ONU:
- Attempted 93 shots
- Attempted 48 3-pointers
- Rebounded 49 percent of the rebounds on offense
- Forced 28 turnovers (tied a season low for opponents)
- Attempted 13 more shots than the Cougars
The 14 steals for the Tigers also was a season low, which is pretty amazing. Eight of them did come in the second half when Saint Xavier had 16 of its turnovers, so the wear and tear was apparent after halftime.
Next up for ONU is a trip to Robert Morris (15-6, 1-1) on Saturday, with the tip scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. I wish Coach Porter and his team the best of luck.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Way to go, Wabasha-Kellogg!
Coach Glen Irvin and the girls' team at Wabasha-Kellogg HS in Wabasha, Minn., have had a rough time this season, with injuries depleting their roster and forcing them to go away from The System for a while.
Once he had enough depth to go at it again, Coach Irvin went back to the most wonderful style of basketball the world has ever seen. The results, at least for one game, were wonderful.
The Falcons traveled to Lake City on Monday night and came away with a 68-59 victory, improving their record to 3-12 and giving the players some much needed momentum heading into the final portion of the schedule. Nicole Alexander led the way with 21 points, 16 rebounds and six steals and Kalyn Biever added 17 (and five 3-pointers) as Wabasha-Kellogg opened a 32-point lead in the first half.
According to Coach Irvin, Biever came in averaging only about four points, but played the role of "preferred shooter" in the Grinnell-style offense and made the most of her opportunity. All five of her 3s came in the first half.
"We only have three wins this season but I have a really good feeling that we are going to make a run here at the end of the season," Coach Irvin wrote to me in an e-mail.
I certainly hope so. The best of luck to the Falcons the rest of the way, beginning with a home game Friday night against Caledonia.
Once he had enough depth to go at it again, Coach Irvin went back to the most wonderful style of basketball the world has ever seen. The results, at least for one game, were wonderful.
The Falcons traveled to Lake City on Monday night and came away with a 68-59 victory, improving their record to 3-12 and giving the players some much needed momentum heading into the final portion of the schedule. Nicole Alexander led the way with 21 points, 16 rebounds and six steals and Kalyn Biever added 17 (and five 3-pointers) as Wabasha-Kellogg opened a 32-point lead in the first half.
According to Coach Irvin, Biever came in averaging only about four points, but played the role of "preferred shooter" in the Grinnell-style offense and made the most of her opportunity. All five of her 3s came in the first half.
"We only have three wins this season but I have a really good feeling that we are going to make a run here at the end of the season," Coach Irvin wrote to me in an e-mail.
I certainly hope so. The best of luck to the Falcons the rest of the way, beginning with a home game Friday night against Caledonia.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Amazing comeback for Grinnell, great results abound for The System
Anyone who even casually reads this blog knows of my love for The System and the teams, coaches and players who run it. I wouldn't say I live and die with the results of their games, because that would be silly, yet I do care probably more than I should about the outcomes.
It makes writing about losses difficult. Fortunately, today isn't one of those times, as the past couple of days provided some of the most wonderful successes of the season for some of my favorite squads. For the first time I can remember, each team that I track that still is using this style exclusively is coming off a victory or two. Or, in the case of the NAIA women's team at Olivet Nazarene, eight of them.
Still, perhaps no story from the weekend is as impressive as the original System team, the NCAA Division III men's team at Grinnell. The Pioneers lost a tough one on the road Friday night, losing 119-108 at Beloit, and had another matchup Saturday against Lawrence, which came into this game with a 7-2 record in the Midwest Conference. One of those losses had come at Grinnell, so I certainly thought Coach David Arseneault and his team could sweep the season series with the Vikings.
Those hopes were diminished somewhat by halftime, when Lawrence took a 60-35 lead into the break. Lawrence shot 71 percent from the field in the first half and appeared on its way to keep the Pioneers winless away from home in the conference. The second half started promisingly enough for Grinnell, with Griffin Lentsch making a 3-pointer, and when the Vikings failed to get the ball across half-court on two consecutive possessions, Lentsch made another from long range to cut the lead to 19.
Just maybe ...
Well, I got called away from the computer and missed the rest of the game. I'm still kicking myself. Using that momentum gained from the quick start, and a lack of depth from a Lawrence team that went into double overtime the night before in a 89-89 victory over Knox, the Pioneers continued to stay after it. Still, the Vikings' lead was 89-75 with 7:55 remaining in the game, or should I say, remaining in regulation (plot spoiler!).
Grinnell then went on an 18-3 run, highlighted by four consecutive 3-pointers from Patrick Maher, Dominique Bellamy, Matt Chalupa and Lentsch. That made the score 89-85, and a couple of minutes later, Garrett Nitz and Matt Skelly each converted two shots at the free throw line to tie the score at 92.
After the lead changed hands a couple of times, Kale Knisley put the Pioneers ahead 97-96 with a layup with 1:20 left. Lawrence's Conor Klusendorf was fouled with 11 seconds on the clock, and after missing the first, he made the second free throw to force overtime.
It was all Grinnell in the extra period, and really, it should have been. By that point, all the Vikings' starters must have been exhausted. Tyler Crisman ended up playing 43 minutes (he played 44 against Knox) and Erik Borresen finished with 42 (47 against Knox). Lentsch opened overtime with a jumper to give the Pioneers the lead for good, and Brian McManamy followed that with a 3 to make it 102-97.
Lawrence got within three at one point but wouldn't get any closer, and Skelly finished off the incredible rally with a pair of free throws in the final seconds to make the final 112-103, Grinnell. Wow.
Lentsch led the way with 26 points, including six 3-pointers, and Chalupa added 17 for the Pioneers (9-6, 4-6 MWC). Maher scored 13, followed by Skelly (12 points), McManamy (11) and Bellamy (11). Maher and Bellamy led the defense with four steals apiece.
Here are the other numbers:
- Attempted 92 shots
- Attempted 53 3-pointers
- Rebounded 28 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 31 turnovers
- Attempted 40 more shots than Lawrence (8-7, 7-3)
Klusendorf had 35 points for the Vikings and Borresen finished with 25 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists.
Grinnell returns home for a pair of games this week, hosting Monmouth on Wednesday and Lake Forest on Saturday. The best of luck to Coach A and his team, here's hoping they can keep it going.
Speaking of huge second halves ...
Coach Doug Porter and Olivet Nazarene were unstoppable in the final 20 minutes Saturday against Trinity International. The 22nd-ranked Tigers, who led only 35-31 at the break, put up 83 points following halftime to win going away on the road, 118-73, their eighth consecutive victory.
The seventh was one of the games I missed with my little hiatus. ONU (17-4) beat Calumet College of St. Joseph 105-91 Thursday night in a game that really wasn't that close. I watched a good part of the second half and Coach Porter's team was in solid control throughout.
Over the span of those two games, point guard Danielle Tolbert totaled 40 points, nine rebounds, 12 assists (only three turnovers) and nine steals to lead the Tigers. Lexie Heinold finally cooled off a bit in Saturday's W, making 1 of 9 from beyond the arc after shooting 32-for-64 in the previous seven games.
Here are the rest of the numbers:
- Attempted 96 shots
- Attempted 49 3-pointers (made 15 of 26 in the second half)
- Rebounded 38 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 30 turnovers (20 steals)
- Attempted 27 more shots than Trinity International (13-11)
ONU returns to the friendly confines of McHie Arena on Tuesday to play Saint Xavier, one of the top teams in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.
The NCAA Division II women's team at Glenville State continues to get back on track, as well, winning its fourth consecutive game Thursday night by beating Alderson Broaddus 93-67 on the road in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Tenisha Wilson had 19 points and six steals for the Pioneers (12-5, 10-2 WVIAC), and Tiffany Huffman added 14 points. Autumn Davis also had six steals, and Miranda Reed filled up her stat sheet with five points, nine assists and five steals.
Here are the other figures:
- Attempted 79 shots
- Attempted 25 3-pointers
- Rebounded 39 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 32 turnovers
- Attempted 13 more shots than the the Battlers (1-13, 1-10)
Coach Bunky Harkleroad and his bunch have a bit of a break in their schedule, next taking the court Thursday at Fairmont State. The best of luck to Glenville State.
Those wonderful Silver Streaks at Galesburg (Ill.) HS, the girls' team, got back on track in a huge way Saturday after a two-game losing streak, the second one a heartbreaking 51-48 loss at Rock Island that dropped coach Evan Massey's team into a tie for second in the Western Big 6, a half-game behind Rock Island.
To complete their Winter Classic, the Streaks played a doubleheader Saturday, hosting Normal U-High and No. 9 Champaign Centennial at John Thiel Gymnasium. Galesburg is ranked seventh in the state 3A poll, so the matchup with Centennial was a good one.
The Streaks won the opener against U-High 66-56, making 14 3-pointers in the process. The nightcap was even more exciting, particularly the opening 16 minutes, or as Coach Massey posted on his blog: "... Our first half was as good as we have ever played."
The score was 33-16 after one period and 55-36 at halftime, thanks in large part of 22 offensive rebounds -- IN THE FIRST HALF!
The Chargers (20-3) made their run, eventually getting to 69-65, but the Streaks (20-5) made 16 of 17 at the line in the fourth quarter to hold for an 84-74 victory. Point guard Tai Peachey had 10 assists and made all four of her free throws, and Jamie Johnson had 10 rebounds and missed only one of her nine free throws.
Great bounce back after two tough losses. Here is Coach Massey's description from his blog:
Coach Massey: "I think the key ingredients with this group is their humility and loyalty. Because of their humility, they accept personal responsibility for losses. They have an amazing desire to improve. I am really fortunate to work with a group like this."
And they're fortunate to have him as the coach.
Galesburg gets back at it Thursday night at home against United Township, which is tied for second in the conference with the Streaks. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST.
The boys' team at Eisenhower HS in Blue Island, Ill., won again Friday night, beating conference foe Argo 88-75. Here are the numbers, as reported by coach Mike Curta:
- Attempted 107 shots (goal is 80)
- Attempted 58 3-pointers (54 percent of total shots, goal is 40 percent)
- Rebounded 51 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 35 percent)
- Forced 29 turnovers
- Attempted 48 more shots than Argo (Wow!)
Here is Coach Curta's report: "Just cannot seem to wear an opponent down when they are on the verge of cracking ..... we continue to let teams off the hook and give them life when we stop the games due to our fouling. Kind of goes like this: we build a lead, lose our edge a bit, take some silly fouls, and as will happen ... the opposition finds some life and comes roaring back. To our kids credit they found a way to get the win, and have been doing so in our last three games."
There are worse things, right? It appears the schedule has the Cardinals (10-10, 5-3 South Suburban Red Conference) next playing Thursday at Oak Lawn. Best of luck to Coach Curta and his team.
At North Shore HS in Glen Head, N.Y., the girls' team keeps on keepin' on, winning its past two games by an average of 22 points. Perhaps even more impressive is the number of shots coach Keith Freund's team is putting up: in the two games this week, the Vikings totaled 130 and 139 shots! Seriously. For a 32-minute high school girls' game. This includes a combined total of 115 3-pointers in those games.
In the first one, a 74-56 victory at Seaford, Amanda Johansen went off for 17 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and eight steals, and she followed up that effort by finishing with 17 points, 17 rebounds, eight steals, eight blocks and seven assists when North Shore beat Great Neck North 85-69 at home Saturday.
Coach Freund's team is 9-2 overall and 6-0 in the Conference A-III out on Long Island. Best of luck to the Vikings the rest of the way.
Finally, I wanted to check back in with the women's team at Jackson (Mich.) Community College, where coach Andy Hoaglin is in his first season with The System. The Jets put up some more ridiculous numbers Friday night in a 101-55 victory over Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College.
According to Coach Hoaglin, the Jets (8-10, 3-3 Michigan Community College Athletic Association) took 150 shots and rebounded nearly 50 percent of their misses on offense. Great stuff.
Caitlyn Owens led the way with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Nicole Wurster had nine points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Congratulations to Jackson CC, and I wish Coach Hoaglin and his team success for the rest of the season.
It makes writing about losses difficult. Fortunately, today isn't one of those times, as the past couple of days provided some of the most wonderful successes of the season for some of my favorite squads. For the first time I can remember, each team that I track that still is using this style exclusively is coming off a victory or two. Or, in the case of the NAIA women's team at Olivet Nazarene, eight of them.
Still, perhaps no story from the weekend is as impressive as the original System team, the NCAA Division III men's team at Grinnell. The Pioneers lost a tough one on the road Friday night, losing 119-108 at Beloit, and had another matchup Saturday against Lawrence, which came into this game with a 7-2 record in the Midwest Conference. One of those losses had come at Grinnell, so I certainly thought Coach David Arseneault and his team could sweep the season series with the Vikings.
Those hopes were diminished somewhat by halftime, when Lawrence took a 60-35 lead into the break. Lawrence shot 71 percent from the field in the first half and appeared on its way to keep the Pioneers winless away from home in the conference. The second half started promisingly enough for Grinnell, with Griffin Lentsch making a 3-pointer, and when the Vikings failed to get the ball across half-court on two consecutive possessions, Lentsch made another from long range to cut the lead to 19.
Just maybe ...
Well, I got called away from the computer and missed the rest of the game. I'm still kicking myself. Using that momentum gained from the quick start, and a lack of depth from a Lawrence team that went into double overtime the night before in a 89-89 victory over Knox, the Pioneers continued to stay after it. Still, the Vikings' lead was 89-75 with 7:55 remaining in the game, or should I say, remaining in regulation (plot spoiler!).
Grinnell then went on an 18-3 run, highlighted by four consecutive 3-pointers from Patrick Maher, Dominique Bellamy, Matt Chalupa and Lentsch. That made the score 89-85, and a couple of minutes later, Garrett Nitz and Matt Skelly each converted two shots at the free throw line to tie the score at 92.
After the lead changed hands a couple of times, Kale Knisley put the Pioneers ahead 97-96 with a layup with 1:20 left. Lawrence's Conor Klusendorf was fouled with 11 seconds on the clock, and after missing the first, he made the second free throw to force overtime.
It was all Grinnell in the extra period, and really, it should have been. By that point, all the Vikings' starters must have been exhausted. Tyler Crisman ended up playing 43 minutes (he played 44 against Knox) and Erik Borresen finished with 42 (47 against Knox). Lentsch opened overtime with a jumper to give the Pioneers the lead for good, and Brian McManamy followed that with a 3 to make it 102-97.
Lawrence got within three at one point but wouldn't get any closer, and Skelly finished off the incredible rally with a pair of free throws in the final seconds to make the final 112-103, Grinnell. Wow.
Lentsch led the way with 26 points, including six 3-pointers, and Chalupa added 17 for the Pioneers (9-6, 4-6 MWC). Maher scored 13, followed by Skelly (12 points), McManamy (11) and Bellamy (11). Maher and Bellamy led the defense with four steals apiece.
Here are the other numbers:
- Attempted 92 shots
- Attempted 53 3-pointers
- Rebounded 28 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 31 turnovers
- Attempted 40 more shots than Lawrence (8-7, 7-3)
Klusendorf had 35 points for the Vikings and Borresen finished with 25 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists.
Grinnell returns home for a pair of games this week, hosting Monmouth on Wednesday and Lake Forest on Saturday. The best of luck to Coach A and his team, here's hoping they can keep it going.
Speaking of huge second halves ...
Coach Doug Porter and Olivet Nazarene were unstoppable in the final 20 minutes Saturday against Trinity International. The 22nd-ranked Tigers, who led only 35-31 at the break, put up 83 points following halftime to win going away on the road, 118-73, their eighth consecutive victory.
The seventh was one of the games I missed with my little hiatus. ONU (17-4) beat Calumet College of St. Joseph 105-91 Thursday night in a game that really wasn't that close. I watched a good part of the second half and Coach Porter's team was in solid control throughout.
Over the span of those two games, point guard Danielle Tolbert totaled 40 points, nine rebounds, 12 assists (only three turnovers) and nine steals to lead the Tigers. Lexie Heinold finally cooled off a bit in Saturday's W, making 1 of 9 from beyond the arc after shooting 32-for-64 in the previous seven games.
Here are the rest of the numbers:
- Attempted 96 shots
- Attempted 49 3-pointers (made 15 of 26 in the second half)
- Rebounded 38 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 30 turnovers (20 steals)
- Attempted 27 more shots than Trinity International (13-11)
ONU returns to the friendly confines of McHie Arena on Tuesday to play Saint Xavier, one of the top teams in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.
The NCAA Division II women's team at Glenville State continues to get back on track, as well, winning its fourth consecutive game Thursday night by beating Alderson Broaddus 93-67 on the road in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Tenisha Wilson had 19 points and six steals for the Pioneers (12-5, 10-2 WVIAC), and Tiffany Huffman added 14 points. Autumn Davis also had six steals, and Miranda Reed filled up her stat sheet with five points, nine assists and five steals.
Here are the other figures:
- Attempted 79 shots
- Attempted 25 3-pointers
- Rebounded 39 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 32 turnovers
- Attempted 13 more shots than the the Battlers (1-13, 1-10)
Coach Bunky Harkleroad and his bunch have a bit of a break in their schedule, next taking the court Thursday at Fairmont State. The best of luck to Glenville State.
Those wonderful Silver Streaks at Galesburg (Ill.) HS, the girls' team, got back on track in a huge way Saturday after a two-game losing streak, the second one a heartbreaking 51-48 loss at Rock Island that dropped coach Evan Massey's team into a tie for second in the Western Big 6, a half-game behind Rock Island.
To complete their Winter Classic, the Streaks played a doubleheader Saturday, hosting Normal U-High and No. 9 Champaign Centennial at John Thiel Gymnasium. Galesburg is ranked seventh in the state 3A poll, so the matchup with Centennial was a good one.
The Streaks won the opener against U-High 66-56, making 14 3-pointers in the process. The nightcap was even more exciting, particularly the opening 16 minutes, or as Coach Massey posted on his blog: "... Our first half was as good as we have ever played."
The score was 33-16 after one period and 55-36 at halftime, thanks in large part of 22 offensive rebounds -- IN THE FIRST HALF!
The Chargers (20-3) made their run, eventually getting to 69-65, but the Streaks (20-5) made 16 of 17 at the line in the fourth quarter to hold for an 84-74 victory. Point guard Tai Peachey had 10 assists and made all four of her free throws, and Jamie Johnson had 10 rebounds and missed only one of her nine free throws.
Great bounce back after two tough losses. Here is Coach Massey's description from his blog:
Coach Massey: "I think the key ingredients with this group is their humility and loyalty. Because of their humility, they accept personal responsibility for losses. They have an amazing desire to improve. I am really fortunate to work with a group like this."
And they're fortunate to have him as the coach.
Galesburg gets back at it Thursday night at home against United Township, which is tied for second in the conference with the Streaks. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST.
The boys' team at Eisenhower HS in Blue Island, Ill., won again Friday night, beating conference foe Argo 88-75. Here are the numbers, as reported by coach Mike Curta:
- Attempted 107 shots (goal is 80)
- Attempted 58 3-pointers (54 percent of total shots, goal is 40 percent)
- Rebounded 51 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 35 percent)
- Forced 29 turnovers
- Attempted 48 more shots than Argo (Wow!)
Here is Coach Curta's report: "Just cannot seem to wear an opponent down when they are on the verge of cracking ..... we continue to let teams off the hook and give them life when we stop the games due to our fouling. Kind of goes like this: we build a lead, lose our edge a bit, take some silly fouls, and as will happen ... the opposition finds some life and comes roaring back. To our kids credit they found a way to get the win, and have been doing so in our last three games."
There are worse things, right? It appears the schedule has the Cardinals (10-10, 5-3 South Suburban Red Conference) next playing Thursday at Oak Lawn. Best of luck to Coach Curta and his team.
At North Shore HS in Glen Head, N.Y., the girls' team keeps on keepin' on, winning its past two games by an average of 22 points. Perhaps even more impressive is the number of shots coach Keith Freund's team is putting up: in the two games this week, the Vikings totaled 130 and 139 shots! Seriously. For a 32-minute high school girls' game. This includes a combined total of 115 3-pointers in those games.
In the first one, a 74-56 victory at Seaford, Amanda Johansen went off for 17 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and eight steals, and she followed up that effort by finishing with 17 points, 17 rebounds, eight steals, eight blocks and seven assists when North Shore beat Great Neck North 85-69 at home Saturday.
Coach Freund's team is 9-2 overall and 6-0 in the Conference A-III out on Long Island. Best of luck to the Vikings the rest of the way.
Finally, I wanted to check back in with the women's team at Jackson (Mich.) Community College, where coach Andy Hoaglin is in his first season with The System. The Jets put up some more ridiculous numbers Friday night in a 101-55 victory over Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College.
According to Coach Hoaglin, the Jets (8-10, 3-3 Michigan Community College Athletic Association) took 150 shots and rebounded nearly 50 percent of their misses on offense. Great stuff.
Caitlyn Owens led the way with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Nicole Wurster had nine points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Congratulations to Jackson CC, and I wish Coach Hoaglin and his team success for the rest of the season.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Glenville State and ONU dominate; North Shore rolls, Galesburg loses
The rematch wasn't even as competitive as the first game for the NCAA Division II women's teams at Glenville State and Bluefield State. Remember, I attended the first game in Bluefield, W.Va., getting a close-up view of how Pioneers coach Bunky Harkleroad runs his System, at the expense of the Lady Blues.
That one finished with a score of 118-63, and while Glenville State didn't quite reach that point total in the return engagement, Bluefield State came up woefully short of its number, as well.
Kim Stephens made six 3-pointers and scored 24 points in only 15 minutes of playing time, Kristen Golden added eight points, nine rebounds, five blocks and three steals, and the Pioneers picked up an easy 116-46 victory Monday night in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Where else to go for stars? Well, Autumn Davis connected on four 3s and scored 16 points, Mishae Miles had 13 points and 11 rebounds, LaToya Hambrick grabbed 11 boards and Miranda Reed dropped 10 dimes. Yep, another team effort, brought to you by the most wonderful style of basketball known to man (and woman).
Here are the rest of the numbers:
- Attempted 100 shots
- Attempted 52 3-pointers
- Rebounded 63 percent of the misses on offense (What?!)
- Forced 33 turnovers
- Attempted 29 more shots than the Lady Blues
You know, normally opponents shoot a much higher percentage from the field, since many of their shots come from close range after beating the press compared to about half of the attempts coming from beyond the arc for the System teams. Well, that wasn't the case in this one, particularly in the first half -- Bluefield State (1-13, 0-10 WVIAC) finished 7-for-37 from the field in the opening 20 minutes, a shooting percentage of 19 percent. Hard to win when that happens.
Coach Harkleroad and the Pioneers (11-5, 9-2) return to action Wednesday night, on the road at Alderson Broaddus, the first of four consecutive games away from home. Game time is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. EST.
Olivet Nazarene, ranked 22nd in the most recent NAIA women's poll, also had a blowout this week, running past Trinity Christian 122-65 Tuesday night on the road on the strength of a spectacular effort from Lexie Heinold. The junior from Washington, Ill., didn't miss a shot from anywhere except the free throw line, making all seven shots (six from the 3-point line) on her way to 22 points. She did finish 2-for-3 at the line, spoiling what would have been every player's dream.
I know you're wondering about Danielle Pipal, who consistently fills up her stat sheet while running the team from point guard. She had eight points, five assists and six steals in only 12 minutes. Simone Coburn missed only one of her nine shots and scored 17 points, Denita Phelps had 14 points and Miranda Geever added 10 points, five assists and five steals for the Tigers (15-4).
Here are The Formula numbers:
- Attempted 83 shots
- Attempted 31 3-pointers (a season low for coach Doug Porter's team)
- Rebounded 45 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 46 turnovers (26 steals)
- Attempted 19 more shots than the Trolls (great mascot)
So far this season, ONU has forced at least 28 turnovers in each game and more than 30 in 17 of the 19 games, with a high of 52 against Illinois-Wesleyan. Many of these have turned into steals, too: the Tigers average nearly 24, the best in the NAIA and about four more than the next team, Southern University at New Orleans.
Next up for ONU is a visit from Calumet College of St. Joseph on Thursday, with game time scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST. Let's go Tigers!
Coach Evan Massey and his girls' team at Galesburg (Ill.) HS finally had its 13-game winning steak come to an end with a hard-fought loss to Morton by the score of 49-38 in the Winter Classic at Knox College on Monday night. Those 38 points represent a season low for the Streaks (18-4), ranked seventh in the state 3A poll. The previous worst was 62, so quite a comedown for Galesburg.
On his blog, Coach Massey pointed to a the 23 fouls committed by his team, which led to 25 attempts the line for Morton (17-3). The Streaks finished with 14 and lost the battle on the boards 44-26.
Jamie Johnson scored 12 points, the only player to reach double figures, and added eight rebounds. This was a non-conference game, so Galesburg still leads the Western Big 6 at 5-1, with a huge game coming up Thursday at second-place Rock Island, which is one game back. Here's hoping the Streaks get back to the things that make them so successful.
The girls' team at North Shore HS in Glen Head, N.Y., continued to dominate Conference A-III, beating Valley Stream South 62-32 Tuesday night to move to 5-0 in the conference.
The Vikings (7-2 overall) trailed 10-9 at the end of one quarter before coach Keith Freund made some clutch adjustments that allowed his team to rally and to pull away. He reported that he called off the press early in the fourth quarter when the margin reached 32 points.
Here are his impressive stats:
- Attempted 99 shots (goal is 80)
- Attempted 40 3-pointers (goal is 40)
- Rebounded 32 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 40 percent)
- Forced 43 turnovers (goal is 32)
- Attempted 58 more shots than Valley Stream South (goal is 25)
Amanda Johansen had 11 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and six steals for North Shore, and Liz Sheerin scored 10 points. Coach Freund said his team has two more games this week, so I wish them the best of luck.
That one finished with a score of 118-63, and while Glenville State didn't quite reach that point total in the return engagement, Bluefield State came up woefully short of its number, as well.
Kim Stephens made six 3-pointers and scored 24 points in only 15 minutes of playing time, Kristen Golden added eight points, nine rebounds, five blocks and three steals, and the Pioneers picked up an easy 116-46 victory Monday night in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Where else to go for stars? Well, Autumn Davis connected on four 3s and scored 16 points, Mishae Miles had 13 points and 11 rebounds, LaToya Hambrick grabbed 11 boards and Miranda Reed dropped 10 dimes. Yep, another team effort, brought to you by the most wonderful style of basketball known to man (and woman).
Here are the rest of the numbers:
- Attempted 100 shots
- Attempted 52 3-pointers
- Rebounded 63 percent of the misses on offense (What?!)
- Forced 33 turnovers
- Attempted 29 more shots than the Lady Blues
You know, normally opponents shoot a much higher percentage from the field, since many of their shots come from close range after beating the press compared to about half of the attempts coming from beyond the arc for the System teams. Well, that wasn't the case in this one, particularly in the first half -- Bluefield State (1-13, 0-10 WVIAC) finished 7-for-37 from the field in the opening 20 minutes, a shooting percentage of 19 percent. Hard to win when that happens.
Coach Harkleroad and the Pioneers (11-5, 9-2) return to action Wednesday night, on the road at Alderson Broaddus, the first of four consecutive games away from home. Game time is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. EST.
Olivet Nazarene, ranked 22nd in the most recent NAIA women's poll, also had a blowout this week, running past Trinity Christian 122-65 Tuesday night on the road on the strength of a spectacular effort from Lexie Heinold. The junior from Washington, Ill., didn't miss a shot from anywhere except the free throw line, making all seven shots (six from the 3-point line) on her way to 22 points. She did finish 2-for-3 at the line, spoiling what would have been every player's dream.
I know you're wondering about Danielle Pipal, who consistently fills up her stat sheet while running the team from point guard. She had eight points, five assists and six steals in only 12 minutes. Simone Coburn missed only one of her nine shots and scored 17 points, Denita Phelps had 14 points and Miranda Geever added 10 points, five assists and five steals for the Tigers (15-4).
Here are The Formula numbers:
- Attempted 83 shots
- Attempted 31 3-pointers (a season low for coach Doug Porter's team)
- Rebounded 45 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 46 turnovers (26 steals)
- Attempted 19 more shots than the Trolls (great mascot)
So far this season, ONU has forced at least 28 turnovers in each game and more than 30 in 17 of the 19 games, with a high of 52 against Illinois-Wesleyan. Many of these have turned into steals, too: the Tigers average nearly 24, the best in the NAIA and about four more than the next team, Southern University at New Orleans.
Next up for ONU is a visit from Calumet College of St. Joseph on Thursday, with game time scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST. Let's go Tigers!
Coach Evan Massey and his girls' team at Galesburg (Ill.) HS finally had its 13-game winning steak come to an end with a hard-fought loss to Morton by the score of 49-38 in the Winter Classic at Knox College on Monday night. Those 38 points represent a season low for the Streaks (18-4), ranked seventh in the state 3A poll. The previous worst was 62, so quite a comedown for Galesburg.
On his blog, Coach Massey pointed to a the 23 fouls committed by his team, which led to 25 attempts the line for Morton (17-3). The Streaks finished with 14 and lost the battle on the boards 44-26.
Jamie Johnson scored 12 points, the only player to reach double figures, and added eight rebounds. This was a non-conference game, so Galesburg still leads the Western Big 6 at 5-1, with a huge game coming up Thursday at second-place Rock Island, which is one game back. Here's hoping the Streaks get back to the things that make them so successful.
The girls' team at North Shore HS in Glen Head, N.Y., continued to dominate Conference A-III, beating Valley Stream South 62-32 Tuesday night to move to 5-0 in the conference.
The Vikings (7-2 overall) trailed 10-9 at the end of one quarter before coach Keith Freund made some clutch adjustments that allowed his team to rally and to pull away. He reported that he called off the press early in the fourth quarter when the margin reached 32 points.
Here are his impressive stats:
- Attempted 99 shots (goal is 80)
- Attempted 40 3-pointers (goal is 40)
- Rebounded 32 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 40 percent)
- Forced 43 turnovers (goal is 32)
- Attempted 58 more shots than Valley Stream South (goal is 25)
Amanda Johansen had 11 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and six steals for North Shore, and Liz Sheerin scored 10 points. Coach Freund said his team has two more games this week, so I wish them the best of luck.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Glenville State, ONU keep it going; Grinnell loses late lead at home
The NCAA Division II women's team at Glenville State had its game against Bluefield State on Thursday night postponed by the weather, and I'm not sure if it was the extra time to prepare or what. But the Pioneers, coached by Bunky Harkleroad, had one of their best efforts of the season in a surprisingly easy 106-75 victory over Fairmont State in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
How surprising? Well, let's look at each of these teams efforts in the past week against conference leader West Liberty: last Saturday, the Hilltoppers handed Glenville State its worst loss of the season, 84-63; then on Thursday, West Liberty traveled to Fairmont State, which won handily 76-60 to stop the Hilltoppers' 10-game winning streak.
So it's easy to believe that Coach Harkleroad's team would have its collective hands full with the Falcons. It didn't quite work out that way, thanks in large part to a dominating effort from Glenville State point guard Danielle Woodmore. She went for 21 points, eight assists and eight steals, leading six of her teammates in double figures. The others were Autumn Davis (12), Tenisha Wilson (12), LaToya Hambrick (11), Kenyell Goodson (10) and Miranda Reed (10).
Here are the numbers for the Pioneers (10-5, 8-2 WVIAC):
- Attempted 91 shots
- Attempted 31 3-pointers
- Rebounded 42 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 31 turnovers
- Attempted 19 more shots than Fairmont State (9-5, 6-4)
Great effort that leaves Glenville State one game behind West Liberty in the loss column. Of course, given the enormity of the task in the WVIAC - 22 games apiece! -- there still is plenty of time for that to change. Coach Harkleroad and the Pioneers make up their game against Bluefield State on Monday, with the start scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST, before a trip to Alderson-Broaddus (1-11, 1-9) on Wednesday. That will be the first of four consecutive games on the road for Glenville State.
The NAIA women's team at Olivet Nazarene remained undefeated early in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, going on the road to beat St. Francis (Ill.) 118-109 Saturday behind a wonderful defensive effort. Yes, the naysayers out there (hello, Johnny Raincloud) would look at the 109 points given up and smirk about a lack of D. Looking a bit deeper in the box, however, shows that the Fighting Saints finished with 40 turnovers and trailed 49-13 in points off turnovers.
ONU (14-4, 2-0 CCAC) totaled 23 steals (led, again, by Danielle Pipal with five), with 13 coming in the second half following a defensive adjustment by coach Doug Porter. Without giving too much away, the Tigers essentially altered how they were forcing the action in the backcourt, which led to more effective double-teams and more opportunities to get into the passing lanes.
The result was more pace, with 27 more combined points scored after the break, even as it appeared to give St. Francis more trips to the free throw line. The Fighting Saints (7-13, 0-3) were 35-for-45 for the game, which not only allowed them an opportunity to score while the clock was stopped, but also negated somewhat ONU's depth advantage, since the St. Francis players were able to rest during the stoppages.
Still, in the end, it didn't matter much. with the Tigers picking up their fifth consecutive victory; they have averaged 117 points in that span. Here are The Formula numbers from the latest W:
- Attempted 91 shots (goal is 90)
- Attempted 43 3-pointers (goal is 45)
- Rebounded 39 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 40 percent)
- Forced those 40 turnovers (goal is 33)
- Attempted 29 more shots than St. Francis (goal is 15)
Rachel Kearney had 20 points for ONU, while Simone Coburn (17), Stephanie Denius (13) and Danielle Tolbert (12) also reached double figures. Coach Porter's team travels to Trinity Christian College on Tuesday, with tip scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST. Best of luck to the Tigers.
The NCAA Division III men's team at Grinnell lost its first game at home this season, with Carroll rallying late for a 105-102 victory Saturday in the Midwest Conference. This set of Pioneers (8-5, 3-5 MWC) faces a tough fight to finish in the top four and qualify for the conference tournament at the end of the season.
Here are the numbers:
- Attempted 87 shots (goal is 94)
- Attempted 52 3-pointers (goal is 47)
- Rebounded 36 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 33 percent)
- Forced 20 turnovers (goal is 32)
- Attempted 26 more shots that Carroll
Grinnell led for the majority of the second half, until Carroll's Kyle Jones made a layup with 3:04 remaining to tie the score at 90. Carroll eventually went ahead 98-92 with 60 seconds remaining, and not even a pair of 3s from Aaron Levin down the stretch were enough.
Matt Skelly had 25 points, Levin added 21 and Griffin Lentsch finished with 19 in the losing effort. Matt Chalupa scored 10 points.
Grinnell travels to Beloit on Friday, with another conference game the next day against Lawrence. I'm rooting for coach David Arseneault's bunch to get it going in the remaining month of the schedule.
How surprising? Well, let's look at each of these teams efforts in the past week against conference leader West Liberty: last Saturday, the Hilltoppers handed Glenville State its worst loss of the season, 84-63; then on Thursday, West Liberty traveled to Fairmont State, which won handily 76-60 to stop the Hilltoppers' 10-game winning streak.
So it's easy to believe that Coach Harkleroad's team would have its collective hands full with the Falcons. It didn't quite work out that way, thanks in large part to a dominating effort from Glenville State point guard Danielle Woodmore. She went for 21 points, eight assists and eight steals, leading six of her teammates in double figures. The others were Autumn Davis (12), Tenisha Wilson (12), LaToya Hambrick (11), Kenyell Goodson (10) and Miranda Reed (10).
Here are the numbers for the Pioneers (10-5, 8-2 WVIAC):
- Attempted 91 shots
- Attempted 31 3-pointers
- Rebounded 42 percent of the misses on offense
- Forced 31 turnovers
- Attempted 19 more shots than Fairmont State (9-5, 6-4)
Great effort that leaves Glenville State one game behind West Liberty in the loss column. Of course, given the enormity of the task in the WVIAC - 22 games apiece! -- there still is plenty of time for that to change. Coach Harkleroad and the Pioneers make up their game against Bluefield State on Monday, with the start scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST, before a trip to Alderson-Broaddus (1-11, 1-9) on Wednesday. That will be the first of four consecutive games on the road for Glenville State.
The NAIA women's team at Olivet Nazarene remained undefeated early in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, going on the road to beat St. Francis (Ill.) 118-109 Saturday behind a wonderful defensive effort. Yes, the naysayers out there (hello, Johnny Raincloud) would look at the 109 points given up and smirk about a lack of D. Looking a bit deeper in the box, however, shows that the Fighting Saints finished with 40 turnovers and trailed 49-13 in points off turnovers.
ONU (14-4, 2-0 CCAC) totaled 23 steals (led, again, by Danielle Pipal with five), with 13 coming in the second half following a defensive adjustment by coach Doug Porter. Without giving too much away, the Tigers essentially altered how they were forcing the action in the backcourt, which led to more effective double-teams and more opportunities to get into the passing lanes.
The result was more pace, with 27 more combined points scored after the break, even as it appeared to give St. Francis more trips to the free throw line. The Fighting Saints (7-13, 0-3) were 35-for-45 for the game, which not only allowed them an opportunity to score while the clock was stopped, but also negated somewhat ONU's depth advantage, since the St. Francis players were able to rest during the stoppages.
Still, in the end, it didn't matter much. with the Tigers picking up their fifth consecutive victory; they have averaged 117 points in that span. Here are The Formula numbers from the latest W:
- Attempted 91 shots (goal is 90)
- Attempted 43 3-pointers (goal is 45)
- Rebounded 39 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 40 percent)
- Forced those 40 turnovers (goal is 33)
- Attempted 29 more shots than St. Francis (goal is 15)
Rachel Kearney had 20 points for ONU, while Simone Coburn (17), Stephanie Denius (13) and Danielle Tolbert (12) also reached double figures. Coach Porter's team travels to Trinity Christian College on Tuesday, with tip scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST. Best of luck to the Tigers.
The NCAA Division III men's team at Grinnell lost its first game at home this season, with Carroll rallying late for a 105-102 victory Saturday in the Midwest Conference. This set of Pioneers (8-5, 3-5 MWC) faces a tough fight to finish in the top four and qualify for the conference tournament at the end of the season.
Here are the numbers:
- Attempted 87 shots (goal is 94)
- Attempted 52 3-pointers (goal is 47)
- Rebounded 36 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 33 percent)
- Forced 20 turnovers (goal is 32)
- Attempted 26 more shots that Carroll
Grinnell led for the majority of the second half, until Carroll's Kyle Jones made a layup with 3:04 remaining to tie the score at 90. Carroll eventually went ahead 98-92 with 60 seconds remaining, and not even a pair of 3s from Aaron Levin down the stretch were enough.
Matt Skelly had 25 points, Levin added 21 and Griffin Lentsch finished with 19 in the losing effort. Matt Chalupa scored 10 points.
Grinnell travels to Beloit on Friday, with another conference game the next day against Lawrence. I'm rooting for coach David Arseneault's bunch to get it going in the remaining month of the schedule.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Winner, winner, chicken dinner; System teams go 4-0 Friday
Some of my favorite teams got theirs Friday, as the coaches and teams who regularly are featured on this blog went unbeaten in four games. That's one college men's team (NCAA Division III Grinnell), one high school boys' team (Eisenhower, from Blue Island, Ill.) and two girls' high school teams (Galesburg, Ill., and North Shore, from Glen Head, N.Y.). Quite a night.
Let's start with where The System began, with coach David Arseneault and the Pioneers of Grinnell. They moved to 6-0 in the friendly confines of Darby Gymnasium with a 104-95 victory over Lawrence in the Midwest Conference, with Griffin Lentsch's 19 points leading five players in double figures.
The others were Matt Skelly (17 points), Aaron Levin (12), Dominique Bellamy (11) and Patrick Maher (11). Grinnell (8-4, 3-4 MWC) jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never trailed, with the margin eventually reaching 20 points in the second half. Erik Borresen had 27 points and 18 rebounds for the Vikings (6-6, 5-2).
Here are the numbers for the Pioneers:
- Attempted 80 shots (goal is 94)
- Attempted 52 3-pointers (goal is 47)
- Rebounded 41 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 33 percent)
- Forced 23 turnovers (goal is 32)
- Attempted 18 more shots than Lawrence (goal is 25 more)
Grinnell led only 38-34 with 4:21 left in the first half before an going on an 11-0 run, highlighted by a 3 from Lentsch and a 6-for-6 performance at the free throw line. The lead was 59-44 at the break, giving the Pioneers 21 points during that stretch. Pretty amazing, right?
Coach A and the gang are back at it Saturday, hosting Carroll at 4 p.m. EST. Go Pioneers!
At Eisenhower, coach Mike Curta and the Cardinals won their second consecutive game, beating TF South 95-84 on the road to improve to 9-10 overall and 4-3 in the South Suburban Red conference. According to Coach Curta, Eisenhower is one game behind the conference leader and in control of the chase for the regular season championship. Sweet!
The Times of Northwest Indiana reports that the Cardinals finished 28-for-76 from the field, including 11-for-31 from beyond the arc. My simple math tells me they made 28 free throws, too. Nice quote here from TF South's Michael Lee, who had a game-high 25 points.
"It was fun at first, until we started losing," Lee told the newspaper with a laugh. "But honestly, win or lose, that was a real fun, competitive game."
The Rebels fell to 6-13 overall and 3-4 in the conference.
Congrats to Coach Curta and his team.
Meanwhile, The System showed its true colors (as did the Silver Streaks of Galesburg) in the final 2:42 of the third quarter in Galesburg's 70-62 victory over Normal West.
The Streaks trailed 47-40 at that fateful time before unleashing what coach Evan Massey called "the most dominating basketball any Streaks team has ever played," according to his blog. Here are some of his other thoughts on that stretch, a 15-0 run that left Galesburg ahead 55-47:
Coach Massey: "Since we have gone to the System, that was the most high energy our girls have played. In the last 2:42, we had four separate shifts play. If you do the math, that means each shift lasted about 45 seconds. When each of those groups came over, they were totally gassed and could not continue. By the time we got to the end of the third quarter we did not have any of the 12 players who were ready to go back in, they had played with such energy they had to have a break."
Imagine how the players of Normal West felt? Here are Galesburg's other numbers:
- Attempted 68 shots (goal is 72)
- Attempted 45 3-pointers (goal is 36)
- Rebounded 44 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 40 percent)
- Forced 41 turnovers (goal is 26)
- Attempted 11 more shots than Normal West (15 is the goal)
Jessica Howard and Jessica Lieber each made three 3-pointers, Jamie Johnson had nine rebounds, and point guard Tai Peachey filled up the stat sheet with five steals and five assists, both team highs. Did someone say "depth?"
The Streaks now are 18-3, one more victory than all of last season, and ready for what Coach Massey called the toughest part of their schedule. The next five games are against Morton, Rock Island, U-High, Centennial and United Township, starting with Morton on Monday at Knox College, part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday tournament.
Here's hoping Galesburg keeps it going.
The North Shore team coached by Keith Freund remained undefeated in Conference A-III with a 76-44 victory over Glen Cove, improving the Vikings to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the conference.
Amanda Johansen had 16 points, 13 rebounds and four assists for North Shore, and Nicole Scuderi scored a career-high 12 points and added six steals. This one appears to have been won in the second and third quarters, when the Vikings outscored Glen Cove 49-22.
According to the ol' schedule, North Shore returns to action Tuesday at home against Valley Stream South, which is 4-1 in the conference. It should be a good test for Coach Freund's team, and I wish them the best of luck.
Let's start with where The System began, with coach David Arseneault and the Pioneers of Grinnell. They moved to 6-0 in the friendly confines of Darby Gymnasium with a 104-95 victory over Lawrence in the Midwest Conference, with Griffin Lentsch's 19 points leading five players in double figures.
The others were Matt Skelly (17 points), Aaron Levin (12), Dominique Bellamy (11) and Patrick Maher (11). Grinnell (8-4, 3-4 MWC) jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never trailed, with the margin eventually reaching 20 points in the second half. Erik Borresen had 27 points and 18 rebounds for the Vikings (6-6, 5-2).
Here are the numbers for the Pioneers:
- Attempted 80 shots (goal is 94)
- Attempted 52 3-pointers (goal is 47)
- Rebounded 41 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 33 percent)
- Forced 23 turnovers (goal is 32)
- Attempted 18 more shots than Lawrence (goal is 25 more)
Grinnell led only 38-34 with 4:21 left in the first half before an going on an 11-0 run, highlighted by a 3 from Lentsch and a 6-for-6 performance at the free throw line. The lead was 59-44 at the break, giving the Pioneers 21 points during that stretch. Pretty amazing, right?
Coach A and the gang are back at it Saturday, hosting Carroll at 4 p.m. EST. Go Pioneers!
At Eisenhower, coach Mike Curta and the Cardinals won their second consecutive game, beating TF South 95-84 on the road to improve to 9-10 overall and 4-3 in the South Suburban Red conference. According to Coach Curta, Eisenhower is one game behind the conference leader and in control of the chase for the regular season championship. Sweet!
The Times of Northwest Indiana reports that the Cardinals finished 28-for-76 from the field, including 11-for-31 from beyond the arc. My simple math tells me they made 28 free throws, too. Nice quote here from TF South's Michael Lee, who had a game-high 25 points.
"It was fun at first, until we started losing," Lee told the newspaper with a laugh. "But honestly, win or lose, that was a real fun, competitive game."
The Rebels fell to 6-13 overall and 3-4 in the conference.
Congrats to Coach Curta and his team.
Meanwhile, The System showed its true colors (as did the Silver Streaks of Galesburg) in the final 2:42 of the third quarter in Galesburg's 70-62 victory over Normal West.
The Streaks trailed 47-40 at that fateful time before unleashing what coach Evan Massey called "the most dominating basketball any Streaks team has ever played," according to his blog. Here are some of his other thoughts on that stretch, a 15-0 run that left Galesburg ahead 55-47:
Coach Massey: "Since we have gone to the System, that was the most high energy our girls have played. In the last 2:42, we had four separate shifts play. If you do the math, that means each shift lasted about 45 seconds. When each of those groups came over, they were totally gassed and could not continue. By the time we got to the end of the third quarter we did not have any of the 12 players who were ready to go back in, they had played with such energy they had to have a break."
Imagine how the players of Normal West felt? Here are Galesburg's other numbers:
- Attempted 68 shots (goal is 72)
- Attempted 45 3-pointers (goal is 36)
- Rebounded 44 percent of the misses on offense (goal is 40 percent)
- Forced 41 turnovers (goal is 26)
- Attempted 11 more shots than Normal West (15 is the goal)
Jessica Howard and Jessica Lieber each made three 3-pointers, Jamie Johnson had nine rebounds, and point guard Tai Peachey filled up the stat sheet with five steals and five assists, both team highs. Did someone say "depth?"
The Streaks now are 18-3, one more victory than all of last season, and ready for what Coach Massey called the toughest part of their schedule. The next five games are against Morton, Rock Island, U-High, Centennial and United Township, starting with Morton on Monday at Knox College, part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday tournament.
Here's hoping Galesburg keeps it going.
The North Shore team coached by Keith Freund remained undefeated in Conference A-III with a 76-44 victory over Glen Cove, improving the Vikings to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the conference.
Amanda Johansen had 16 points, 13 rebounds and four assists for North Shore, and Nicole Scuderi scored a career-high 12 points and added six steals. This one appears to have been won in the second and third quarters, when the Vikings outscored Glen Cove 49-22.
According to the ol' schedule, North Shore returns to action Tuesday at home against Valley Stream South, which is 4-1 in the conference. It should be a good test for Coach Freund's team, and I wish them the best of luck.
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