But, mostly, the season began at Hamline and St. Thomas, where a total of 28 teams played 2 games each. At Hamline the matchups were stacked in favor of 12 of the 14 teams winning 2 or losing 2. Only St. Louis Park and Stillwater went 1-1. At St. Thomas, only Benilde-St. Margaret's and Hill-Murray went 2-0.
The top game of the weekend saw perennial power Hopkins handle the upstart Stillwater Ponies 84-62. The Ponies, led by MN Gopher recruit Sara Scalia, stayed with Hopkins for awhile, leading 9-8 and 12-11, and they were still within 23-20 at 7:20. But Stillwater made just 2-of-14 shots the rest of the half to trail 38-26 at intermission. And, Paige Bueckers had not yet really asserted herself on offense. Amaya Battle had 10 1st half points, while Bueckers focused on defending Scalia and made her work extremely hard for anything she got. Scalia had 6 points on 3-of-8 shooting in the half. The Ponies were hurt when junior post Liza Karlen went out with 2 fouls at around the 13 minute mark.
Stillwater scored the first points of the 2nd half, but Hopkins then went on a 19-6 run to put the game out of reach for the Ponies. The veterans Bueckers (8 points) and Dlayla Chakolis (7) led the charge. But, it was Bueckers defense on Scalia that continued to dictate the game. Scalia scored another 12 points in the 2nd half on 3-of-6 shooting. The Ponies needed a lot more from Scalia to compete with the powerful Royals.
Hopkins dominated the boards 42-22. Bueckers finished with 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting. Kayla Adams scored 16 on 6-of-10 shooting, Chakolis 15 (5-of-6) and Battle 10 on 6-of-8. Hopkins shot 34-for-67 for the night. Bottom line, Hopkins served notice that it is ready for yet another run at a state title. What remains to be seen is who, if anyone, can compete with the Royals in 2018-2019.
The Game of the Day on Friday saw Hill-Murray defeat Holy Family 45-43 on a buzzer-beater three by senior guard Delaney Runyon. I did not see that game but I saw the Pioneers run out to a 53-12 half-time lead over Visitation the next day. The seniors--Runyon, Grace Prokosch and Vanessa Wren--are experienced, smart, skilled players. What makes Hill-Murray a real threat is the development of their kids--sophomores Bella Hartzell and Lilly Mackey and freshman Ella Runyon. They are super athletic and show maturity on the court beyond their years.
Between the 2 big tournaments at Hamline and St. Thomas, here are your top scorers.
1. Macy Guebert, Eastview, scored 45 points, many on 3-point bombs, as the Lightning easily on a pair of games at Hamline.
2 tie. Bueckers scored 42 in 2 games for Hopkins and is our Player of the Day(s).
2 tie. Frankie Vascellero of Holy Angels scored 42 points in 2 games.
3. Kahla Adams added 40 for Hopkins.
Player of the Day(s)--Paige Bueckers and Delaney Runyon
Team of the Day(s)--Hopkins and Hill-Murray
Coach of the Day(s)--Brian Cosgriff, Hopkins, and Erin Herman, Hill-Murray
Stillwater scored the first points of the 2nd half, but Hopkins then went on a 19-6 run to put the game out of reach for the Ponies. The veterans Bueckers (8 points) and Dlayla Chakolis (7) led the charge. But, it was Bueckers defense on Scalia that continued to dictate the game. Scalia scored another 12 points in the 2nd half on 3-of-6 shooting. The Ponies needed a lot more from Scalia to compete with the powerful Royals.
Hopkins dominated the boards 42-22. Bueckers finished with 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting. Kayla Adams scored 16 on 6-of-10 shooting, Chakolis 15 (5-of-6) and Battle 10 on 6-of-8. Hopkins shot 34-for-67 for the night. Bottom line, Hopkins served notice that it is ready for yet another run at a state title. What remains to be seen is who, if anyone, can compete with the Royals in 2018-2019.
The Game of the Day on Friday saw Hill-Murray defeat Holy Family 45-43 on a buzzer-beater three by senior guard Delaney Runyon. I did not see that game but I saw the Pioneers run out to a 53-12 half-time lead over Visitation the next day. The seniors--Runyon, Grace Prokosch and Vanessa Wren--are experienced, smart, skilled players. What makes Hill-Murray a real threat is the development of their kids--sophomores Bella Hartzell and Lilly Mackey and freshman Ella Runyon. They are super athletic and show maturity on the court beyond their years.
Between the 2 big tournaments at Hamline and St. Thomas, here are your top scorers.
1. Macy Guebert, Eastview, scored 45 points, many on 3-point bombs, as the Lightning easily on a pair of games at Hamline.
2 tie. Bueckers scored 42 in 2 games for Hopkins and is our Player of the Day(s).
2 tie. Frankie Vascellero of Holy Angels scored 42 points in 2 games.
3. Kahla Adams added 40 for Hopkins.
Player of the Day(s)--Paige Bueckers and Delaney Runyon
Team of the Day(s)--Hopkins and Hill-Murray
Coach of the Day(s)--Brian Cosgriff, Hopkins, and Erin Herman, Hill-Murray
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