BETHLEHEM ACADEMY AND MINNEOTA WENT UP AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE CLASS A GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMI-FINALS

Bethlehem Academy took on Minneota in the class A semi-finals of the 2013 girls state basketball tournament. It took each team a while to get into an offensive shooting rythem.

At the first media timeout with 14:56 left in the first half the score was Minnetoa 2 Bethlehem Academy 1.

It was a defensive game from the start. Both teams played a lot of tough defensive pressure while they were on the defensive end.

Both teams were not afraid to shoot the ball from anywhere on the court.

There was a media timeout with 6:41 left in the first half. The score was Minneota 14 and Bethlehem Academy 9.

Both teams looked to take a lot of charges. There was a lot of body contact on both ends of the floor.

Minneota was able to string some baskets together late in first half.

At halftime the score was Minneota 19 and Bethlethem Academy 18.

As the second half got underway Taylor Reiss for Minneota was all over the flor. She was able to hit her shots that she put up. She was able to shoot both lay-ups and jump shots.

There was a media timeout with 9:55 left in regulation. The score was Minneota 31 and Bethlethem Academy 28.

Bot teams didn't give up any easy shots. Both teams had to work hard for shots that they took.

Minneota swung the ball around the three-point line to play keep away for the last two minutes of the contest.

It was a hard fought game. Neither team was able to go on a run.

Minneota came away with the 47-42 hard fought victory over Bethlethem Academy.

The leading scorer for Bethlethem Academy was Jessie Mathews scored 16 points.

The leading scorers for Minneota were Taylor Reiss with 22 points and Emily Stienessen with 14 points. 

RICHFIELD TOOK ON REDWING IN THE CLASS AAA STATE SEMIFINALS

Richfield and Redwing went up against each other in the semi-finals if the class AAA Minnesota State High School League's state girls basketball tournament.

The game got off to a quick start. Both teams took awhile to get used to each other.

At the first media timeout with 14:52 left in the first half the score was Richfield 9 and Red Wing 5.

Both teams dove on the floor to go afer loose balls. Neither team gave up easy shots in the first half. Each shot was contested.

There was a media timeout with 11:03 left in the first half. The score was Richfield 13 and Red Wing 10.

Richfield looked to get the ball down the floor quickly as they wanted to get baskets in transition.

Richfiled looked to get the ball into the hands of Jessica January. January was all over the floor. She was able to get to the basket and hit shots that she put up.

The score went back and forth throughout the first half. Neither team was able to go on a run. The defensive pressure that each team applied didn't both the other team.

The game was close throughout the first half. Richfield did a good job finding January. She was all over the floor in the first half.

There were many ties and lead changes in the first half. Neither team was able to go on a run in the first half.

Jessica January picked up her third foul late in the first half. She sat for the last 3:30 of the first half in foul trouble.

At halftime he score was Red Wing 35 and Richfield 28.

As the second half got underway Richfield countinued to attack the basket as they did in the first half.

Both teams were not afraid to shoot the ball at any chance that they got. Red Wing went to a zone defense to start the second half.

At the first media timeout with 14:59 left in regulation. The score was Red Wing 37 and Richfield 30.

Red Wing was able to take Richfield out of the game in the second half.

Richfield didn't back down as they wre able to hit shots and get the mountium. January came up with some key three-point shots midway through the second half.

Richfield tied the game at 40 with 11:40 left in regulation.

Richfield was able to score baskets in transition. Red Wing was able to make some quick baskets and hit baskets in key points in the contest.

The game was intense throughout the second half. Neiter team went on a run in the game.

Both teams gave it their all on the floor as they each played hard in the contest. Both teams dove on the floor after loose balls and went hard after rebounds.

It was a very physical game. Both teams dove on the floor after loose balls and rebounds.

Red Wing came away with the 61-59 victory over Richfield.

The leading scorers for Red Wing were Tesha Buck with 18 points, Macy Kelly with 13 points, McKenzie Muelken with 12 points.

The leading scorers for Richfield were Jessica January with 29 points and Kaily Adams with 13 points.

BRAHAM TOOK ON BOLD IN THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE 2013 MSHSL STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

The Bombers from Braham high school took on the Warriors from BOLD high school in the MSHSL state quarterfinals of the 2013 state tournament.

It took awhile for each team to get used to each other. Braham went on a run midway through the first half. They were able to build a 12-3 lead with 11:06 left in the first half.

BOLD didn't go away though as they kept on attacking the basket.

Rebekah Dahlman was all over the floor for Braham. She was able to get to the basket when she wanted to and was able to make her lay-ups.

Braham went on a run midway through the first half. They were able to slow down the BOLD offense.

BOLD went on a run late in the first half. Even through they were not able to hit shots down the stretch.

At halftime the score was Braham 29 and BOLD 21.

BOLD went on a run as the second half got underway. Braham wasn't too scared as they kept on fighting and looking for ways to score.

Braham pulled away late in the contest. It was Rebekah Dahlman who was all over the floor. She was able to make shots that she put up.

Rebekah Dahlman scored her 5,000 career point on a layup with just over 5:00 left to go in regulation.

In a game that was a fun one to watch Braham came away with the 79-42 win to advance to the semi-finals.

PROVIDENCE ACADEMY TOOK ON PINE ISLAND IN THE CLASS AA STATE GIRLS SEMIFINAL BASKETBALL STATE GAME

Providence Academy and Pine Island faced off against each other in the girls state basketball quarterfinals at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.

The game got off to a quick start as each team raced up and down the floor as they looked to get into an offensive pattern.

Providence swung the ball around the three-point line to take time off of the clock. They were able to kill a lot of time on the floor in the first half.

The pace of the game was slow. Both teams used a lot of clock in the first half.

Both teams played well on the defensive end. Neither team gave up easy shots.

Providence strung together some baskets late in the first half. Pine Island had a tough time hitting shots for a period of time in the first half.

The pace of the first half was slow. Neither team really pushed the ball in transition.

At halftime the score was Providence 16 and Pine Island 12.

As the second half got underway both teams continued the slow style of play that was played throughout the first half.

Both teams continued to look for ways to score baskets in the second half.

Both teams played hard. Both teams held the ball for long periods of time as they both took a lot of time off the clock. The two teams combined for a total of 14 field goals in the game including seven three-point shots.

Providence came away with the 33-22 victory over Pine Island. 

ROCHESTER MAYO TOOK ON EASTVIEW IN THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE 2013 MSHSL GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT

Rochester Mayo and Eastview went up against each other in a girls' state basketball tournament game at the Target Center.

It took awhile for each of these teams to get used to the playing surroundings. Neither team gave up easy shots early in the contest.

After the first few minutes of play everyone settled down and the play was more crisp.

The score went back and fourth throughout the first half.

Eastview was able to make both lay-ups and jump shots. Both teams played very well.

Eastview went on a 10-0 run late in the contest. Mayo called a timeout with 5:15 left in the first half. The score was Eastview 23 and Mayo 13.

Eastview went onto a 19-1 run to end of the first half.

At halftime the score was Eastview 32 and Mayo 14.

Mayo tried to get their offense going at the start of the second half. Senior center Rachel Doll finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Eastview was a lot more quicker and a little faster the Mayo. Mayo was not able to hit shots throughout the game. The Lightning were led by sophomore guard Madison Guebert led all scorers with 27 points.

Eastview came away with the 54 -40 over Rochester Mayo.

ANOKA TOOK ON BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY IN THE GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL QUARTERFINAL GAME

Anoka and Bloomington Kennedy squared off in the quarterfinals of the Minnesota State High School League state tournament.

Anoka was able to get out on a quick 5-2 lead two minutes into the game. Anoka was able to get the ball down the court quickly.

The score went back and forth throughout the first half. Neither team was really able to go on a run. 

Kennedy head coach Quintin Johnson blamed nerves and a big stage for his teams slow start.

Anoka's Claire Lundberg was all over the floor. She was able to get to the basket when ever she wanted to and was able to get lay-ups. Lundberg scored 14 points in the first half.

Kennedy was able to swing the ball around the three-point line to take time off of the clock and get involved in the offense.

At halftime the score was Kennedy 32 and Anoka 21.

As the second half got underway Kennedy continued to pound the ball down the court. Anoka was the one who came out on fire. They went on a 10-0 run to start the second half.

Both teams went hard after loose balls and rebounds. Neither team gave up any easy shots.

Anoka didn't go away in the second half. They kept on battling throughout the game. In the end Kennedy came away with the 66-48 victory over Anoka. 

ST. PAUL CENTRAL TOOK ON OSSEO IN A GIRLS' QUARTERFINAL OF THE MSHSL GIRLS' STATE TOURNAMENT

The St. Paul Central Minutemen took on the Osseo Orioles in the second quarterfinal game of the Minnesota State High School League girls state tournament.

Central did a good job of getting the ball down the floor and were able to get baskets in transition.

Central called a timeout with 10:49 left in the first half. The score was Central 17 and Osseo 9.

Osseo stayed in a man-to-man defense. They wanted to have Central to take long shots.

Central swung the ball around the three-point line as they looked to take time off the clock.

Osseo went on a run midway through the first half.

Central called a timeout with 7:42 left in the first half. The score was Central 17 and Osseo 14.

Osseo kept on attacking the basket and was able to get lay-ups and jump-shots.

The score was close throughout. Neither team gave up easy shots. Both teams went into a scoring drought in the first half. The other team was always able to go on a little run when the other team was not scoring.

In a close action packed game at halftime the score was Central 29 and Osseo 27.

As the score went back and forth throughout the second half. Osseo was able to go on a run at the start of the second half.

The game was close throughout the second half. MacDonald was able to get to the basket and hit lay-ups and her jump-shots.

The score went back and forth throughout the second half. Both teams were calm and played with a lot of intensity throughout the second half.

Osseo came away with the 63-56 victory over St. Paul Central. 

 

SAINT MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLE WENT UP AGAINST HOPKINS IN THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE 2013 MSHSL STATE TOURNAMENT

Saint Michael-Albertville took on Hopkins high school in the quarterfinals of the 2013 MSHSL state girls quarterfinal game. The game took place at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.

It took each team awhile to get used to the size of an NBA court. Hopkins looked to swing the ball around the three-point line to get set up in their offense.

It was a defensive battle as neither team was able to go on a run early in the contest.

Hopkins was able to get he ball down the floor and they were able to score baskets in transition.

Saint Michael-Albertville went cold from the field midway through the first half due mostly to Hopkins pressure defense. They were not able to hit shots for a period of time. They didn't get down on themselves as they kept on shooting it.

Hopkins did a good job of making baskets in transition. St. Michael-Albertville forced a lot of shots, but were just not able to hit shots.

Saint Michael-Albertville didn't give up because they were not able to hit shots throughout the first half.

At halftime the score was Hopkins 46 and Saint Michael-Albertville 22.

As the second half got underway Hopkins continued to push the ball down the basket and make lay-ups.

Even though Saint Michael-Albertville didn't give up as they were not able to hit shots.

The Royals maintained their 20 point lead in the second half.

Saint Michael-Albertville was not able to hit shots throughout the game. Hopkins steamrolled as they came away with the 77-58 victory over Saint Michael-Albertville. 

High school basketball player passes ball to mentally challenged player ...

MINNESOTA TALL TALE

By Randy Shaver

Great stories come in all shapes, forms and, in this case, sizes.

One would think nothing big ever happens in tiny Esko, Minnesota. But that would be wrong.
At the only four-way stop in town sits the home of the Eskimos, and a tall tale you have to see to believe. 

Her name is Savanna Trapp and at 6-foot-9 she stands out on the basketball court. Savanna's believed to be the tallest girls basketball player ever in Minnesota, and one of the tallest in the country this season.
 
For 6'9", she has good feet around the basket and the ability to finish. At a recent game against Floodwood, she scored a season-high 30 points. Her teammates did a great of of feeding her the ball. Try as they might, the defense couldn't stop her.
 
But it's on defense where Savanna may be most intimidating. Imagine driving the lane and seeing Savanna waiting to swat your shot. She said she enjoys blocking shots even more than scoring points.
 
"Just the look on the opponent's face, 'Did that just happen?' look," she said with a smile.
 
When you're as tall and as good as Savanna, you attract a lot of attention. She has received dozens and dozens of college recruiting letters. Savanna's first college basketball offer came from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee when she was in 8th grade. And the recruiting letters didn't stop until she signed a college tender with UCLA last November.
 
From tiny Esko, Minnesota to Los Angeles, it will mean big changes for everybody in the family.
 
"We don't have cable or satellite TV, and we really want to get PAC-12 network, we can get some of games on internet, stream live, get a bigger TV, too," explained Savanna's mother, Krissy Trapp.
 
It's not every day you walk the school hallways and see a girl have to duck her head while entering a doorway, but Savanna does.
 
"Off the court I try not to be intimidating at all, smiling helps with that," she said.
 
She is a great student and plans to study marine biology at UCLA. She loves to read and she's a people-person, but most of all, she loves basketball.
 
She admits her conditioning isn't the best. And, she knows that to play at the next level, she has to get stronger. Those are things a red shirt year should fix.
 
Savanna knows her days on the basketball court won't last forever, but she'll always be 6'9".
 
"I'm content being just the way I am, it's how I've always been and I love it. There's a bit of an attention factor that's kind of fun, too, sometimes," Savanna said.
 
There is a self-adopted special club for tall girls like Savanna, and she's adding friends all the time.
 
"Sometimes on Facebook I'll get different notifications and friend requests from different tall girls from different states and stuff saying, 'Hey we've heard about you, where do you get your clothes?' and we discuss all this fun stuff you know, tall girl stuff," explained Savanna.
 
For the record, Savanna wears a size 15 men's shoe and has some clothes custom made.
 
Thanks to extensive travel through AAU basketball, Savanna says she's ready for life outside Minnesota, ready to prove this tall tale isn't just Minnesota myth.
 
"And it's kind of taught me that adventure is good and I'm ready for a new adventure, you know, I love my small town Esko, but I'm ready for the next step in my life," she added.
 
By the way, tall runs in the family. Savanna's Dad is 6-foot-9, her mom is 6-foot-4. Savanna's little sister is a sophomore who stands 6'5", and her 7th grade brother is now 6-foot-6 and is projected to reach 7 feet by the time he's done growing.

Boys Basketball: Warriors bounce back with gritty victory

By Mike Bialka

 If there was any question about how Brainerd would respond after suffering its first loss of the season, the Warriors answered it Saturday afternoon against the Elk River Elks.

Following a 5-hour round trip bus ride in sub-zero temperatures Friday, the Warriors bounced back less than 20 hours later with a gritty 57-36 win in a Section 8-4A game at Brainerd High School.

Friday night, Moorhead snapped the Warriors’ 14-game season-opening win streak. Brainerd let an 18-point lead slip away and allowed the Spuds’ Aaron Lien to go off for a school-record 53 points.

“We really wanted to come out and show that we still had some talent and that we still are a good team,” said Warriors post Marcus Comstock, who scored 16 of his hard-fought, game-high 20 points in the second half.

The contest was far from fluid as it was disrupted by 38 fouls (26 on Elk River) and 59 turnovers (31 by the Elks).

“We knew they were going to be a physical team,” Comstock said. “We came out and we just played physical with them.”

Turnovers and fouls had to affect shooting percentages as Brainerd shot just 40 percent and the Elks 30 percent.

“Our kids were tired, no question we were tired. You could see it in the locker room, you could see it in our shootaround,” Warriors coach Scott Stanfield said. “We just talked about great teams, good teams, they just find a way. Even when you’re tired and sore and nicked up, you’ve got to find a way to play with energy, and they did. I can’t be happier with our kids.”

Stanfield was pleased with his team’s smothering, swarming defense. Brainerd’s occasional full-court pressure perturbed the Elks. The Warriors also deflected, and recovered, several entry passes into the paint. 

Elk River made just 8 of 29 baskets in the second half, 14 of 47 in all.

“We watched them a couple times, they’re a very good team,” Stanfield said. “We’re happy that our kids came to play defense. They moved their feet and slid over. Our cross-down action on defense was much better than it was at Moorhead.

“It was a point of emphasis during our walkthrough and shootaround (Saturday) morning, that we needed to do that better, and the kids took that upon themselves and challenged themselves and really did a nice job.”
Trailing 29-15 at the half, the Elks three times in the second half pulled within seven points, but each time Brainerd responded.

Brainerd led 44-36 when it salted the win away with a resounding 13-point run to end the game. Jack Sauer scored seven of his 18 points in Brainerd’s game-ending burst.

“This definitely was a boost to the morale of our team,” Comstock said.

In the first half, Brainerd made only 35 percent of its field goals and the Elks 33 percent.

A laborious, deliberate pace in the game’s first eight minutes, and a 10-9 Elk River lead, was transformed into a 23-10 Brainerd edge following a 14-point Warrior surge. Six of those points came at the foul line, 11 off of turnovers.

Elk River was scoreless for more than eight minutes during the Warriors’ spree. Clay Elrod’s free throw with 1:43 left finally ended the drought.

The victory vaulted Brainerd into the lead in the section according to the Quality Results Formula (QRF). Brainerd now has a 232.1 QRF, followed by Elk River’s 220.8. Brainerd improved to 6-1 against section opponents, the Elks slipped to 3-1.

“I don’t know how it works, but we always seem to get the short end of that (QRF),” Stanfield said. “Beating them helps. Every win they pick up, I understand, will help us somehow. How? I don’t know.”

By: Hannah Anderson

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MAINE AND MINNESOTA SQUARED OFF ON THE BASKETBALL COURT

The Maine Black Bears and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in the championship game of the Subway Classic at the University of Minnesota.

Minnesota looked to push the ball down the floor and set the tempo early in the game.

Maine took a 30 second timeout with 18:47 left in the first half with Minnesota up 4-0.

Minnesota looked to get the ball down the floor and into the hands of Rachel Banham. The Gophers started out hot. They took their time on the offensive end as they passed the ball around the three-point line as everyone touched the ball.

Maine took a 30 second timeout with 17:21 left in the first half the score was Minnesota 10 and Maine 0.

Maine didn't get down on themselves as they were not able to hit shots early in the contest. They kept on working the ball around and getting into the hands of Courtney Anderson.

Micaella Riche for Minnesota was all over the floor. She was able to get her shot to fall and was not afaried to shoot it from anywhere on the floor.

There was a media timeout with 15:49 left in the first half the score was Minnesota 12 and Maine 2.

Sari Noga stepped up and was able to knock down some big shots for Minnesota. The Gophers did a good job of getting everyone involved in the offense and knowing when and where to shoot the ball from.

The Gophers were a little quicker then Maine. They were able to beat Maine to spots on the floor and were able to pick off passes. On the defensive end Minnesota got their hands out in the passing lanes and they were able to get deflections and get steals.

Mikalya Baliey was another Gopher who was all over the floor on both ends of the floor. She was able to drive down the floor and get wide open lay-ups.

There was a media timeout with 11:54 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 21 and Maine 6.

After the media timeout Maine was able to string together some baskets but Minnesota battled back and they didn't give up the lead.

Minnesota switched up between man-to-man and zone defense and they did a good job of confusing the Maine players.

There was a media timeout with 7:58 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 27 and Maine 15.

Maine looked to get the ball inside to there post players who looked to score easy lay-ups. Minnesota did a good jog of finding the open player under the basket and getting them the ball.

There was a media timeout with 3:29 left in the first quarter. The score was Minnesota 31 and Maine 22.

Both teams battled throughout the first half. Neither team gave up any easy baskets. Minnesota was able to hold onto the lead as Maine tried to rally back late in the first half.

It was a very physical first half as there was a lot of bumping and lots of contact that happened on the floor. Both teams did a good job of playing through it.

At halftime the score was Minnesota 39 and and Maine 31.

Ashleigh Roberts was all over the floor for Maine. She was able to get her teammates the ball if they were open and she also was able to hit shots.

Minnesota started the second half in a man-to-man defense as they didn't want to give up easy baskets.

Maine had difficulty's shooting the ball but that didn't stop them from shooting it.

At the first media timeout with 15:40 left in regulation the score was Minnesota 46 and Maine 37.

Both teams picked up their offensive power as they each were looking to shoot the ball deep in the shot clock. If Minnesota thought that they had a good shot with 10 seconds left in the short clock they would take it.

Minnesota was able to set some good pick and rolls and as they were able to set each other up for some nice easy lay-ups.

There was a media timeout with 11:38 left in regulation the score was Minnesota 55 and Maine 48.

Maine kept on battling as they looked to stay in the ball game. They were able to get shots to fall and were able to cut the deficit.. The Gophers didn't panic as they kept on playing their style of pound and ground basketball.

There was a media timeout with 7:53 left in regulation the score was Minnesota 65 and Maine 53.

Maine had difficulty with the pressure that Minnesota put on them and they had to take a timeout with 7:08 left in regulation with the score Minnesota 65 and Maine 53.

Rachel Banham, Micaella Riche were both offensive workhorses on the offensive end for the Gophers. They took good shots and got their teammates involved in the offense. On the defensive end they were able to slow down the player that they were guarding.

I though that this was over all a good team victory for the Gophers. They played hard and well as a team. Maine threw a lot of stuff at them offensively and they were able to adjust and battle throughout the game.

Maine called a timeout with 2:42 left in regulation. The score was Minnesota 77 and Maine 60.

Minnesota came away with the 77-60 victory over Maine in a hard fought battle by both teams.

Maine shot 22-57 from the field that included going 4-19 from behind the three-point line. Maine also shot 12-13 from the free throw line. They brought down a total of 33 rebounds including 24 on the defensive end.