Park Center outruns Owatonna
Park Center converted its clear advantage in team speed into an easy 81-64 win over Owatonna in our Game of the Week at the Breakdown Community Clash at Hopkins Lindbergh. Mikayla Hayes, her backup Aszha Micheal, Ann Simonet and Danielle Schaub all scored in double figures for the Pirates. Syd Schultz led all scorers for Owatonna with 20.
Park Center never trailed, jumping out to leads of 4-0, 18-6 and 29-10. Hayes scored the 1st 6 points of the game, then Simonet hit a pair of 3s and a long 2 to make it 22-8. Sommer Blakemore hit a 3 to make it 29-10. The Pirates never looked back, leading 44-24 at the half. The steals were 10-0 and Park Center outscored the Huskies 21-2 on points off turnovers.
“I think we played really well,” said Park Center coach Chris Vander Hyde. “It’s a really good time for us, I think we’re peaking. We’re not quite there, but we’re close. We can be a little more consistent on defense. We played really well on offense.”
Owatonna had played the previous night at Red Wing, losing by one. “Then turning around, getting up early and playing…. We knew the legs were going to be a little tired, but we played hard. In the first half, we were a little shell-shocked, not in rhythm, too many turnovers. I think we picked it up in the 2nd half, but I knew we were going to be tired.”
MVP—Mikayla Hayes, Park Center senior post, was active on the boards on both ends, blocked at least a couple of shots and leading all scorers with 19 points.
Best Play—Ann Simonet had a pair of steals early that help to set the pace for Park Center. On the 2nd one, at about 14:30, she fed it ahead to guard Meghan DuBois who hit Danielle Schaub for the transition layup, making the score 10-4.
Best Offensive Performance—Syd Schultz scored 20 points for Owatonna and they came against a lot better defense than Hayes 19, if you receive my meaning.
Best Defensive Performance—The Pirates guards created havoc for the Owatonna ball handlers. Certainly Simonet with her 3 steals was a big part of it. DuBois, too, with 4 steals. But it was Blakemore who created the most havoc with her quick feet and hands, getting a bunch of deflections, though just one steal outright steal.
Best Under-the-Radar Performance—Azsha Michael, Hayes understudy for, what?, 3 years now, and she’s just 5-8. She came off the bench today and scored 14 points with quick moves in the paint, contrasting with Hayes who relies more on her strength. Owatonna’s inside defense was overwhelmed either way.
Best Underclassmen—Park Center 5-3 freshman guard Kayla Cox provided some great minutes. She scored just 2 points but had 2 rebounds, 4 assists and even a blocked shot.
Best Player off the Bench—Michael.
Best Rebounder—Hayes.
Best Passer—Cox had those 4 assists.
Best Catch and Shoot—Ann Simonet, as always. A great shooter who hasn’t gotten enough looks this year, but did today.