I had been indicating to Tom Carrington that it would be fun to personally watch a game. I write about these student-athletes very often but this is done from a distance. The Thursday night girls playoff game versus Eden Valley-Watkins was my first to watch in person since I became a family of one. Years ago of course I attended such events regularly. These events are so well-organized and presented today - it's a joy to see it all.
Tom is the grandfather of Meredith Carrington who unfortunately had been sidelined by injury. She got hurt in the previous game, the win over Litchfield. Her ACL injury is the same as what her sister Maddie experienced last fall. Maddie got hurt in the Homecoming powder puff game.
On an encouraging note, grandpa Tom tells me Maddie's recovery timetable has been moved up. The original estimate was for her to be out 7-9 months, as I recall. That would have wiped out the rest of the school year. But Tom told me this morning that Maddie aims to compete in track. That would be wonderful, assuming there's no risk involved. Maddie and Meredith both run cross country. Is there a connection? I have wondered.
Tom is also related to MACA Tiger MacKenna Kehoe. He's the great uncle? I believe that's the correct term. I was delighted to see Janet Kehoe Thursday and I told her I was looking forward to seeing MacKenna make a three-pointer. MacKenna has shown capability with this. However, Eden Valley-Watkins put on a pretty stubborn defense. I watched MacKenna attempt some 3's that looked to be pretty well contested. Alas, MacKenna couldn't get her long-rangers to fall.
I began to wonder, as an armchair quarterback, if maybe the Tigers could've gone out of their way to set up a nice "screen" for MacKenna or any other good shooters. Maybe "roll the dice" with 3's? Coach Dale Henrich is the one who makes these strategic decisions.
There wasn't much for Henrich and his charges to smile about at game's end. Fans at the 'Waska gym saw the Eagles of EV-W turn back the Tigers in the 52-39 final. So the Tigers' season is done. Lots of success through the course of the season as we went 17-10.
There was hope at halftime as the orange and black led the Eagles 17-16. But the second half belonged to the Eagles who outscored us 36-24.
Senior Malory Anderson played her final game and produced ten points. LaRae Kram was second-high with nine. Then we see Kendra Wevley (6), Emma Bowman (5), MacKenna Kehoe (4), Sydney Dietz (3) and Kylie Swanson (2). Bowman had our only three-pointer. Anderson led our rebounding with nine. Three Tigers each supplied two assists: Dietz, Anderson and Wevley. Anderson led in steals with three and in blocked shots with two.
The game was in Section 3AA-North, the champion of which will be determined Tuesday. Eden Valley-Watkins will play New London-Spicer for the sub-section title at Willmar High School, game-time 8 p.m.
New London-Spicer 63, Benson 27
It's no surprise seeing New London-Spicer as a prime power in girls basketball. The Wildcats are performing up to their long-established standards. This is to the tune of a 26-1 record! That's what the Wildcats owned coming out of Thursday.
NL-Spicer played Benson in the game preceding the Tigers. And it was no contest. How does coach Mike Dreier do it? Those Wildcats buried Benson 34-7 in the first half and won 63-27.
Benson did better this year than in some other recent campaigns - they close out the season at 16-12. But they couldn't keep pace with the vaunted Wildcats who had balanced scoring led by Emma Hanson with her 15 points. Two other 'Cats scored in double figures: Ava Kraemer (12) and MacKenzie Rich (11). Also scoring were Ellie Hanson (6), Erin Kinsley (5), Audrey Schneider (4), Grace DeSchepper (4), Payton Mages (4) and Izzy Schmiesing (2).
NL-Spicer had two sharpshooters from long range: Hanson with five three-pointers and Rich with three. Here's the rebounding list: DeSchepper (10), Kinsley (8), Hanson (7), Kraemer (7) and Jaden Coahran (7). Mages and Kraemer led in assists with six and four respectively. Mages had three steals and DeSchepper had two blocked shots.
Benson went from scoring seven points in the first half to 20 in the second. Their top scorer was Claire Ricard with 16 points. She was complemented by Kaitlyn Berreau (5), Kimmy Pagel (3), Beth Cain (2) and Abby Lundebrek (1). Berreau and Pagel each made a three-pointer.
Lundebrek had six rebounds and Berreau five. Abby Mitteness supplied three assists. Ricard and Hannah Andrews each had two steals. Ricard and Mitteness led in blocked shots with six and three respectively.
Need we say New London-Spicer is the top seed? Might we be seeing them in state again?
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment