The Upset of the MLK Challenge: Bloomington Jefferson vs. Byron
MINNEAPOLIS– In game #3 of the afternoon at Augsburg, we got a huge upset on our hands. Bloomington Jefferson (2-14) got a hard-fought win over Byron (8-9). Find out from my five takeaways how they pulled it off for their…
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Continue ReadingMINNEAPOLIS– In game #3 of the afternoon at Augsburg, we got a huge upset on our hands. Bloomington Jefferson (2-14) got a hard-fought win over Byron (8-9). Find out from my five takeaways how they pulled it off for their second win of the season, and their second win over a 500. the team on the year.
Senior Under the Radar
Makayla Martin (2020) of Bloomington Jefferson was that “under the radar” player on Monday afternoon in Minneapolis. She’s a player we’ve never written about on PGH Minnesota but deserved the print for her senior leadership on Monday against the Byron Bears. Martin was strong from beyond the arch and showed poise with her drive to the bucket in near doubling her scoring average (5.6) with her double-digit affair on Monday afternoon at Augsburg.
Sacia Vanderpool Has Phenomenal Size, But I Want to See More of It
Sacia Vanderpool (#41, 2021) of Byron had a fair share of college coaches on hand watching her at Augsburg this Monday afternoon in which she left a good impression on them for the most part. Her 6’4 frame is one of the tallest players I’ve watched this season, but I wanted to see more aggression out of her offensively and defensively. She certainly is a scholarship level prospect, but I expected her to be a more fierce competitor as far as her play even though she had a double-digit scoring day and had what I thought would be more rebounds. Certainly, one of the top Centers in the southern part of Minnesota to keep an eye on.
Play of the Game
It’s no surprise that one of the Jaguars from Bloomington Jefferson is also the team points leader from this one. Simone Clay (2022) tossed one of the prettiest passes I saw all day Monday to Emma Nelson (2022) for a Jaguars lay in. That play lit up the gym, but also the Jaguars bench as they cruised over the Byron Bears on Monday afternoon at Augsburg.
Bears Got Help From Their Top Senior Guard
Courtney Connelly (2020) who has the Byron High School girls basketball school record for threes in a game, (9) was a key contributor that kept the game interesting from Byron. She knocked down three 3 pointers in the game and also had a good finishes to the bucket as well. I think it’s up to Connelly to utilize her senior leadership to pump up these Bears up, as they are struggling in the Hiawatha Valley Gold and in my opinion, their record doesn’t show for how really good they are on paper.
Player of the Game
Emily Roach (2022) daugther of Jaguars head coach, Tim Roach was exceptional behind the arch at Augsburg. She knocked down 5 huge three-pointers and finished with 18 points on the afternoon. This was not only an upset win for Jefferson but a moral victory as well as up to their win over Byron had a total of one win on the year. Roach is the top scorer at just under 12 ppg and has a lot of time left to prove that she could be a knockdown outside shooter from the class of 2022.
Bryon (8-9) will play on Friday at home against the Komets form Kasson-Mantorville (12-6) who’s Abby Shubert is averaging just under 15 ppg on the season.
Bloomington Kennedy (2-14) will get some visitors from near the North Dakota border, as the Moorhead Spuds (7-5) will come to Bloomington on Saturday to take on the Jaguars at 1:30 PM.