Class AA Semifinals
In the first semifinal game we had Mitchell, the giant killer, face off against the Lynx of Brandon Valley. For the first half Mitchell was right there with Brandon in a tight game. Trinity Law was in foul trouble for…
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Continue ReadingIn the first semifinal game we had Mitchell, the giant killer, face off against the Lynx of Brandon Valley. For the first half Mitchell was right there with Brandon in a tight game. Trinity Law was in foul trouble for pretty much the entire first half. So naturally her teammates had her back. Running mates Danica Kocer led the team with 17 points and Ashley Wells added 14 for the Lynx. It was a solid matchup for both sides. Both teams like to get up in your face, pressure the ball a little, then attack. BV just does it better then everyone else. They have plenty of ball pressuring guards, wings and a few posts. Mitchell hung in there for a long time. However, the second half was totally different. Kocer and Wells started raining threes. They then set up their full court press, then bam, a steal and another transition lay-up. Lauren Wells, Emma Jarovski and Mara Schaap provided the spark. Pressure busts pipes and that is exactly what they did. You can tell they wanted this win. Just little statements were made. Hannah Behrens gave a nice hard foul, nothing malicious, but definitely a message sender. This team really feeds off each other’s intensity.
To Mitchell’s credit they did not give up. The fought hard, but a 12-0 run by BV was too much ground to cover. The Lynx would win 52-38.
In the next semifinal game Sioux Falls Lincoln would face Harrisburg. Harrisburg had previously made it to the final game in each of the past two years. If they wanted to make it a 3rd time they would need a total team effort. Lincoln started off solid holding Harrisburg to just 23% from the field. They would lead 24-13. Harrisburg sparked a 10-0 run started by Aby Phipps. Lincoln went cold missing some point-blank shots from Sydnaya Dunn and Morgan Hansen. Harrisburg would capitalize with back to back threes from Jeniah Ugofsky and Brecli Honner. As the game progressed both teams would trade baskets. Three here from Brooke Brown, a shot here from Kiki Berndt and post up from Aby Phipps. Neither did anything to stretch the game out. That’s the beauty of these types of matchups. Its wasn’t going to be a blow out. It had to come down to the last few possessions. And who made timely decisions. Lincoln made plays when it mattered most. Whether it was a big three from Brown or her handling the ball in crucial time. Lincoln would escape with a 42-39 victory, setting up a championship duel with Brandon Valley.