Breakdown Summer Series Championship: Week 1
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Every year it seems like the basketball season gets extended more and more. Not only does breakdown provide a league in the fall they now have one in the summer for the high school teams. Summer breakdown started last Saturday…
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Continue ReadingEvery year it seems like the basketball season gets extended more and more. Not only does breakdown provide a league in the fall they now have one in the summer for the high school teams. Summer breakdown started last Saturday where they had two different locations. The big 4AAAA section kicked off at Bloomington Kennedy running on all 7 courts. Hopkins and Wayzata took care of business against their first two opponents, landing the two rivals, in the championship game. As fans we got a small taste of the lake conference and section finals.
Wayzata will return three starters from last year in Brynn Senden Brynn Senden 5'6" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN , Mara Braun Mara Braun 5'11" | CG Wayzata | 2022 State #21 Nation MN , and Shannon Fornshell Shannon Fornshell 6'1" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN but they get the return of injured player, Abby Krzewinski Abby Krzewinski 5'11" | PF Wayzata | 2023 State MN who tore her ACL last summer. With these upperclassmen in charge, Wayzata will once again be a top contender in the state. The Trojans look to make a change in game strategy with a new coach leading the program now. Hopkins returns all of their starters who made it to the Semi Finals at the Minnesota State Tournament last year. They are hungry for revenge and it starts now. Senior leaders Amaya Battle Amaya Battle 5'10" | PG Hopkins | 2022 State #29 Nation MN , Maya Nnaji Maya Nnaji 6'4" | PF Hopkins | 2022 State #7 Nation MN , and Alayna Contreras Alayna Contreras 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2022 State MN want to end their high school career with a bang and they have the players to do so. Also I know coach Starks is hungry for that title!
Wayzata came out strong and fast. They look like a new team pushing the ball up the court on every possession. For most of the game they had the lead, being up 10 at one point against the Royals. At half time the Trojans were up 8, after knocking down 5 threes in the first half, which really made the difference. What hurt them through out the game, was the fouling, sending Hopkins to the line quite a bit, where you know they will knock it down. Hopkins kept cutting into the lead all game with their defense and forcing them to turn the ball over. At the end of the game, with about a minute left the Royals did what they did best and overcame a 5 point deficit, knocking down two big free throws with 15 seconds left to give them the one point lead.
Senden led the team on both ends of the floor where she used her speed and basketball IQ to make big play after big play. She attacked the rim strong, finished with contact and got to the free-throw line multiple times. Her three point shot continues to improve every time we see her. She was the leading scorer putting up 18 against some very talented defenders. Shannon shot off the bounce with ease and seemed to be in the right spot at the right time on every possession helping her get steals and easy buckets. Abby was eager to get back on the floor with the Royals since its been a full year and a half since she’s been able to play them again. She used her strength and speed to get to the hoop. When she catches it at the elbow its a wrap.
The two Gopher commits led their teams with leadership by controlling the pace on offense. Braun and Battle guarded each other the whole game making sure neither one of them “went off.” These two girls will be playing in their last year of high school basketball this upcoming season, on the other hand we got to see two new fresh faces that will most likely join the squad this winter. Incoming freshman Sophie Hawkinson Sophie Hawkinson 5'8" | CG Wayzata | 2025 State MN from Wayzata and Aaliyah Crump Aaliyah Crump 6'1" | SF Minnetonka | 2025 State MN from Hopkins looked like they fit in well. Hawkinson knocked down two big threes while Crump contributed as well. One thing I liked about these two young stars is that they didn’t play scared against the “big dogs”.
With Contreras and Taylor Woodson Taylor Woodson 6'0" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #28 Nation MN out, Hopkins didn’t skip a beat. Its got to be nice to have so many kids who are all division one talent. Nunu Agara Nunu Agara 6'1" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State #32 Nation MN has been playing her butt off as of late showing her worth. She was active around the rim and was able to get many offense rebounds and put backs. Once you foul her she’s not going to miss the and one and she’s not going to miss many free-throws, making 7 against the Trojans. Nnaji was able to get what she wanted down low for the most part using her post moves to get around. Same with sophomore guard Liv McGill Liv McGill 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN who is one of the best kids in the nation at attacking down hill and getting to the hoop anytime she wants, on any defender, which she proved Saturday.
The rivalry continues…