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Andrean, Boone Grove, Hanover Central:Post-Season PreviewA USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith(2-5-2006) |
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Andrean, Boone Grove, Hanover Central:Post-Season PreviewA USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith(2-5-2006) |
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31st
annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament - Class 2A
Sectional (33) - 5 teams at Bishop Noll $5
2-7
(Tu) BOONE GROVE (11-10) vs. Lake Station (0-19)
2-10 (F) HANOVER CENTRAL (9-11) vs. Wheeler (13-6)
2-10 (F) Bishop Noll (5-15) vs. BOONE GROVE
Sectional (34) - 6 teams at (Lakeville, In.) LaVille
2-7
(Tu) Westview (18-3) vs. Fairfied (13-7)
2-7 (Tu) LaVille (6-14) vs. John Glenn (12-8)
2-10 (F) Bremen (8-12) vs. Jimtown (14-6)
Sectional (35) - 5 teams at North Judson - $5
2-7
(Tu) Rensselaer (16-4) vs. North Newton (10-10)
2-10 (F) Rochester (17-4) VS. North Judson (18-2)
2-10 (F) Winamac (13-7) vs. North Newton/Rensselaer
Sectional (36) - 6 teams at North Montgomery
2-7
(Tu) Seeger (12-8) vs. North Montgomery (11-5)
2-7 (Tu) Fountain Central (5-14) vs. Sheridan (0-19)
2-10 (F) Clinton Central (2-17) vs. Delphi (7-13)
Class 2A Regional - 4 teams at Rensselaer
2-18
(Sat) Bishop Noll champion vs. North Judson champion
2-18 (Sat) LaVille champion vs. North Montgomery champion
Class
2A Semistate - 2 teams at Elkhart or Plymouth
31st State Basketball Finals - $10 (2 games) $18 (4 games)
3-4
(Sat) 1A championship - 9:35 CST
3-4 (Sat) 2A championship - 11:30 CST
3-4 (Sat) 3A championship - 5:06 CST
3-4 (Sat) 4A Championship - 7 p.m. CST
Conseco Fieldhouse - 125 South Pennsylvania St. Indianapolis
All games beyond the sectional level will be broadcast live on WJOB (1230)
AM, WEFM (95.9) FM and WWCA (1270) AM.
All state title games will air live on Com cast Cable
HANOVER CENTRAL (9-11)
CEDAR LAKE - Hanover's two battles with Boone Grove gave them confidence that they can compete at the sectional. But the truth is, HC has not defeated Wheeler in five years. The Lady Cats traditionally roll out the 'blue wave,' a squadron of 8-10 players who shuffle in and out and keep the pressure on the opposition. That is a blue-print for winning in small school basketball and could be effective against Wheeler which relies solely on 6-2 forward Becca Bruszewski (18 ppg.) and only goes six or seven deep.
HC woefully seemed to lack skills early in the year, but freshman point guard Jordan Kramer, sophomore wing shooter Chrissy Holmoka and soph forward Beth Flores are among those who have shown distinct improvement. Seniors Krysta Rickey, Christy Bader and Andria Trock have to lead much younger players with shallow confidence in key moments. Rickey and Kramer combined for 36 in a game last week and they can break backcourt pressure and give the Lady Cats a chance to win.
NW
Indiana's traditional underdog again drew the short end of the stick, a
sectional path that requires them to beat both defending sectional champion
Wheeler and PCC champion Boone Grove. Trock had perhaps her best game of
the year against Morgan on Feb. 4. In the final game of the year, a 64-55
loss to Morgan Township, HC had four players score in double figures for the
first time all season. I think this is simply too young a team to beat two
familiar rivals in 24 hours. That's a lot to ask. But, with a
week to prepare, I give them a 50-50 shot to upset a good Wheeler team that may
be looking ahead.
Key players for The Lady Wildcats:
1. Krysta Rickey - 5-3
senior guard
13.4 points, 3.4 steals per game, 2.7 assists, 47-70 = 67.1% (FT) (19
games)
Rickey is HC's biggest scoring threat, a four-year starter and the team's most
experienced player. If she can get into the open court, HC's only senior
four sport athlete will go to the basket to try to score and draw key fouls on
Wheeler's bigger, but slower players. Rickey's confidence needs to rub off
on her teammates next week because HC has improved to the point where they can
keep the game close. It's asking a lot, but Rickey and the other older
players have to prevent HC from losing a late lead as they have so often this
season.
2.
Anna Turturillo - 5-8 junior forward
11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals per game, 80-161 = 49.6% (2s);
61-90 = 67.8% (FTs) (19 games)
Turturillo must find a way to draw fouls on, pass the ball around or score
points over Wheeler's 6-2 forward Becca Bruszewski in the semifinals. A
shifty baseline and foul lane player, Turturillo is HC's most improved offensive
returner from last season and she has to use all her skills against a half a
foot taller opponent to get HC through the semifinals. Turturillo has not
attempted a 3-point shot all year. She knows her limitations. She
will have to draw fouls on Bruszewski for Hanover to survive.
3.
Jordan Kramer - 5-3 freshman guard
7.2 points, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals per game, 23-71 = 32.3% (3s);
27-34 =79.4% (FTs) (19 games)
Hanover's newest player has improved dramatically as the season has progressed
and is now routinely posting double -figure scoring games. A pure lead
guard, the 14-year-old has begun to sink three-point attempts, opening up more
chances for Rickey and Turturillo. Most 2A teams can no longer press
Hanover because Kramer and Rickey can go through it. Kramer needs to keep
taking the open shot. Along those lines, she simply has to play the same
game in the fourth quarter that she does in the first period and make confident
choices.
31st annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament - Class 3A
At (3A) Hammond
2-7
(Tu) Clark (1-17) vs. Hammond (12-7)
2-10 (Tu) Griffith (13-7) vs. Calumet (5-15)
2-10 (F) Gavit (4-15) vs. Morton (7-13)
At (3A) Kankakee Valley
2-7
(Tu) Wirt (3-10) at Kankakee Valley (6-14)
2-10 (F) ANDREAN (13-7) vs. Gary Roosevelt (10-9)
2-10 (F) Wirt/KV vs. Lew Wallace (0-10)
At
(3A) Knox
2-7
(Tu) St. Joseph's (17-2) vs. New Prairie (9-12)
2-7 (Tu) Marian (8-14) vs. Culver Academy (6-14)
2-10 (F) Knox (10-10) vs. Plymouth (18-2)
At
(3A) Benton Central
2-7
(Tu) Benton Central (18-3) vs. West Lafayette (13-8)
2-7 (Tu) Maconaquah (15-5) vs. Frankfort (11-10)
2-10 (F) Western (18-3) vs. Twin Lakes (9-12)
TWIN
LAKES (3A) REGIONAL
2-18
(S) Knox winner vs. Hammond winner
2-18 (S) Benton Central winner vs. Kankakee Valley winner
Class
4A Semistate - 2 teams at Elkhart or Plymouth
2-25
(Sat) Valparaiso Regional champ vs.
Huntington North Regional champion (possibly No. 2 Kokomo)
31st State Basketball Finals - $10 (2 games) $18 (4 games)
3-4
(Sat) 1A championship - 9:35 CST
3-4 (Sat) 2A championship -
3-4 (Sat) 3A championship - 5:06 CST 11:30 CST
3-4 (Sat) 4A Championship - 7 p.m. CST
Conseco Fieldhouse - 125 South Pennsylvania St. Indianapolis
All games beyond the sectional level will be broadcast live on WJOB (1230)
AM, WEFM (95.9) FM and WWCA (1270) AM. All state title games will
air live on Com cast Cable Channel 4
ANDREAN (13-7)
MERRILLVILLE - Andrean's going to finish the regular season with a 13-7 record, about three wins less than it should be. Hammond, Griffith and Hobart all have winning records but the 59ers are the better team. Still, Andrean, on paper, is the biggest sectional favorite in NW Indiana. The 59ers have soundly defeated 3A KV Sectional semifinal foe Roosevelt and probable sectional title game foe Kankakee Valley. But now might be a time for the seniors to explain to their teammates that Andrean has not won a sectional title in four years and this is their last chance.
One of Andrean's forwards is going to have to keep Roosevelt's 5-10 junior LaTice Jones (19.4 ppg, 10 rpg.) off the boards. She cannot be allowed to follow her shot and score off her own misses. Roosevelt, with 5-8 freshman Tatianna Washington (15.6 ppg.) is not helpless and they must be taken seriously. The Panthers want to run so Andrean can and will slow the pace. The 59ers, especially early, need to get a good shot each time down the floor and not settle for a contested three-pointer. This game may turn into a rebounding battle and the 59ers need more of those rebounds to be at the defensive end.
It's important for Andrean not to panic (start rushing long shots) if Roosevelt jumps to an early lead. The Panthers have rarely sustained a consistent performance for 4 quarters and they have not played nearly the schedule Andrean has. The 59ers got a first round bye, which means one less bus ride to DeMotte.
Andrean must eventually bridge the gap between a semi-tough sectional and a super-tough regional where they could see No. 10 Western (17-3) and No. 2 St. Joseph's (18-2) on the same day. But that will be a bridge too far unless they come to play next week. The sectional title is Andrean's for the taking, but Roosevelt and host Kankakee Valley have absolutely nothing to lose and they won't just give the title to Andrean.
Key players for The Lady 59ers:
1.
Val Tyburski - 5-10 junior forward
13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds per game, 43-63 = 68.3% (FTs), 25-101 =
24.7% (3s) (17 games)
Val Tyburski is the No. 1 option for Andrean. She is a confident offensive
player who shoots much better from mid range (56-119, .471) than she does from
three-point land (25-101, .247). But Tyburski is not afraid to shoot and
that matters in the post-season when a lot of kids are. Val needs to
accept the challenge. Everyone's game plan keys on the leading
scorer. Tyburski needs to work harder to get open and sense the defender
rushing to her and go to the basket and get fouled. If Andrean needs one
shot to win the game, Val Tyburski probably takes it.
2.
Suzanne Cunningham - 5-10 senior guard/forward
6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.7 steals per game, 36-80 = 45.0%
(2s), 30-59 = 50.8% (FTs) (17 games)
Suzanne Cunningham is a key part of coach Ken Markfull's multiple point guard
scheme. More mobile than most players her size, Cunningham will bring the
ball up the floor if she gets a favorable matchup. Cunningham is a good
defender who will get her shot at 5-10 LaTice Jones of Roosevelt. Suzanne
has had problems at the foul line and her success at the free shot station could
mirror her team's success in close games. Cunningham should forget about
free throws. If she can stop the other team's top scorer, foul shots won't
matter.
3.
Michelle Hynes - 5-7 junior guard
9.0 points, 2.4 steals, 1.5 assistsper game, 26-57 = 45.6% (3s), 29-35 =
82.9% (FTs) (17 games)
Michelle Hynes is the wing shooter every team needs. You just can't run
away from her on defense because she shoots 3s (26-57, .456) better than she
shoots 2s (23-59, .389). Hynes has to take and make the open long distance
shot to open up the defense. She should also put herself in the defenders'
shoes. Teams will run at her because they think she's a stand still
shooter. That could open up chances to drive and get fouled. She is
an 80 percent foul shooter. Playing a significant post-season role for the
first time, Michelle simply has to play the same game in the post-season that
she's played all year.
31st
annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament -Class 2A
Sectional
(33) - 5 teams at Bishop Noll $5
2-7
(Tu) BOONE GROVE (11-10) vs. Lake Station (0-19)
2-10 (F) HANOVER CENTRAL (9-11) vs. Wheeler (13-6)
2-10 (F) Bishop Noll (5-15) vs. BOONE GROVE
Sectional
(34) - 6 teams at (Lakeville, In.) LaVille
2-7
(Tu) Westview (18-3) vs. Fairfied (13-7)
2-7 (Tu) LaVille (6-14) vs. John Glenn (12-8)
2-10 (F) Bremen (8-12) vs. Jimtown (14-6)
Sectional
(35) - 5 teams at North Judson - $5
2-7
(Tu) Rensselaer (16-4) vs. North Newton (10-10)
2-10 (F) Rochester (17-4) VS. North Judson (18-2)
2-10 (F) Winamac (13-7) vs. North Newton/Rensselaer
Sectional
(36) - 6 teams at North Montgomery
2-7
(Tu) Seeger (12-8) vs. North Montgomery (11-5)
2-7 (Tu) Fountain Central (5-14) vs. Sheridan (0-19)
2-10 (F) Clinton Central (2-17) vs. Delphi (7-13)
Class
2A Regional - 4 teams at Rensselaer
2-18
(Sat) Bishop Noll champion vs. North Judson champion
2-18 (Sat) LaVille champion vs. North Montgomery champion
Class
2A Semistate - 2 teams at Elkhart or Plymouth
31st
State Basketball Finals - $10 (2 games) $18 (4 games)
3-4
(Sat) 1A championship - 9:35 CST
3-4 (Sat) 2A championship - 11:30 CST
3-4 (Sat) 3A championship - 5:06 CST
3-4 (Sat) 4A Championship - 7 p.m. CST
Conseco Fieldhouse - 125 South Pennsylvania St. Indianapolis
All games beyond the sectional level will be broadcast live on WJOB (1230)
AM, WEFM (95.9) FM and WWCA (1270) AM.
All state title games will air live on Com cast Cable
BOONE GROVE (11-10)
PORTER TOWNSHIP - Boone Grove is fun. They lost a 21-point lead against Morgan in the PCC tournament and they overcame significant deficits twice against Hanover Central to win in late January. The improvement of guard Cortney Flanigan (16 ppg.) is impressive but not surprising. Flanigan should be a runaway Porter County Conference (PCC) MVP after dominating three games in the PCC tournament and scoring 35 points on 1A No. 1 South Central in January. Any team that chooses not to alter its defense for Flanigan will choose to lose. The only flaw playing three times in five days is that Flanigan or Kara Kessler might get hurt.
The post play of a Kessler and the wing shooting of Jessica Dowdy gives Boone floor balance they lacked in past years. Kristyn Kessler has become a solid defender and everyone else plays their role. Boone can press everybody but Hanover at this sectional and they should do that. They have to double-team Wheeler's Becca Bruzewski before she gets into scoring position. If Boone plays Hanover, they should look into a Triangle-and-2 against Krysta Rickey and Jordan Kramer.
Boone's draw is a yellow brick road. The Wolves are not the type of team that can sit around seven days and wait for a tough foe. They get a warm-up against Lake Station (0-19) and then a slightly tougher game against Noll (5-15) before they get Wheeler (they don't want to see a third match with HC) in the finals. Unless they lose Flanigan or Kara Kessler through injury or fouls, I think Boone Grove will win the sectional title.
Key players for The Lady Wolves:
1.
Cortney Flanigan - 5-5 junior guard
15.1 points, 3.1 steals, 4.8 assists per game, 53-69 =
76.8% (FTs) (16 games)
Flanigan will take the challenge of any one defender. She can maintain
the dribble and control the pace of the game. The Boone junior is
physically strong and a top foul shooter. She can hang in the air to score
and that will be a key against 6-2 Wheeler star Becca Bruszewski, who may be
assigned to guard her if the two teams meet. Defensively, Flanigan has to
take the lead ballhandler and make it tough for her to get the ball inside.
She also has to avoid fouls early in the game, knowing that the Wolves have the
ability to come from behind. Flanigan needs to start games by getting the
ball to Kara Kessler inside and Jessica Dowdy on the wing just to get them
started. If things work well for Boone, Flanigan will be at the line in
the final moments scoring the clinching points.
2.
Kara Kessler - 5-10 senior forward
9.3 points, 6.5 rebounds per game, 42-88 = 46.6% (2s) (16 games)
Kessler is much more willing and able to shoot the ball. She scored a
career-best 21 against Hanover in the PCC tournament. Boone's only senior
is key to the offense because her screens get other players loose.
Kessler's screens let Flanigan drive the lane. Kara has to believe that
there's nobody at the Noll sectional that can stop her from rebounding.
She cannot guard Wheeler's Becca Bruszewski, but she can out rebound her.
Kara must keep shooting open shots inside 15 feet. This is Kessler's
sectional. Everyone else comes back for Boone in 2007.
3.
Jessica Dowdy - 5-5 sophomore guard
7.5 points per game, 30-62 = 48.4% (3s) (16 games)
Dowdy is a major trouble-maker. If the defense helps out on Flanigan,
Dowdy can sink consecutive three-point shots and change the game. A decent
dribbler, she will have to help when foes double-team Flanigan. I do not
think the Boone sophomore has ever played at Bishop Noll, so how she adjusts to
shooting at the baskets there is going to be very important. Dowdy has to
be aware of who can shoot and who can't and not run away from top scorers.
Shooters get a break in big games because they really can't lose the games, they
can only win them. If Dowdy gets 8-10 shots in every game, Boone will have
a long run.