Washington Twp. 54, Mainland 48
Just a reminder, this post will also appear at Girls' Hoop Scoop, available through the official C-P website. I haven't yet decided whether to eventually post there exclusively. For now, the same material appears both places.
What I'm listening to: Paul Simon... Van Morrison... Jethro Tull... Coldplay... Ben Folds... Loudon Wainwright... Suzanne Vega... Jay-Z... Dar Williams...
I can imagine the consternation Karl Geisinger must have felt when he saw the brackets and realized he and his team had a first-round road trip to Washington Township. Karl has always been one of the most outspoken coaches in the area in saying the game is called differently -- and subsequently played differently -- in the western part of SJ than it is at the shore. After watching tonight's game, it's hard to know what to say. It's not as if Washington Township is a particularly un-physical team, but Lauren McPeak couldn't stay on the court even half the game and she still fouled out. I wouldn't have said the play was overly rough, and yet there were a total of 51 foul shots taken. It was not a pretty game by a long shot, and if pressed, I would say that Mainland played better basketball for most of the time, with the third quarter and the last minute being big exceptions.
If you're Karl or any other coach who perceives himself to be in that situation, it begs the question: Do you tell the kids to play conservative defense, knowing the game is going to be called a certain way? Or do you just tell them to play their style and let the chips fall where they may? If you take the first option, you risk taking your team out of its head right out of the gate, and if you take the second, all you'll walk out of the gym with is your principles and a long wait till next year.
Washington Township shot 33 foul shots today, including 18 in the fourth quarter, despite the fact that Mainland only fouled for possession in the last couple of minutes. The Mustangs shot 18 themselves, including eight in the fourth. Washington Township certainly deserves credit for taking advantage -- the Maids were 15-for-18 from the line in the fourth -- and the home team was clutch in the last minutes, with a couple of heads-up plays by Amanda "Kool-Aid" Jennings and Kristen Petell. I just wonder what might have happened in this game if McPeak could have stayed on the floor. Donna Costa is pushing hard for Jennings to be an All-SJ pick at the end of the year based partially on the fact that she's played and defended so many taller girls. She's certainly right about the fact that Jennings does a great job for her size, but it wasn't anyone's defense that took McPeak out of the game tonight.
I was once again impressed with the Wert twins, who have to mentioned in any best-freshman conversation, along with Frazier from Spirit, Price-Perry from Lindenwold and a bunch of other girls I can't think of right now. They get tougher on the defensive end all day, and the three foul shots Dana hit in the second quarter were Township's only points. As a tandem, them made zero field goals, but went 11-for-12 from the line, grabbed three big boards, made six steals and added an assist. Washington Township is set at guard for the next three years, so maybe the young talent will funnel back to Gloucester Catholic.
I was sad to see the careers of Carlee Briglia and Sarah Cohen end. Both of those players are extremely tough, and a lot of fun to watch. Mainland will be back next year, though, especially with its whole frontcourt returning. Wooding and Bradway were both very solid for the 'Stangs tonight.
I got back to the office to find that Sterling survived the Pleasantville test, and I'll see the Knights on Wednesday at Glassboro. Laura Sweeney won her final battle with Elise Graham and Cherokee advanced to meet Gami. A Catanzariti-less Cinnaminson escaped a challenge from Point Boro. I know she hasn't been in the box scores for the last couple of week, but I don't know why. Anyone who wants to shed light on that can email me or comment. Haddon Township earned a shot at Heights. When the teams played a couple of weeks ago, Casey Orlando was a big factor. We'll see if somebody else steps up for the Garnets.
I'll be at LCM-Highland tomorrow. I haven't seen either of these teams play yet, so I figured I'd take this final shot at both of them. Stephanie Agger gets a lot of respect from the coaches in the Cape, and Jessica Leoni has had a nice year for the Tartans, so it should be interesting.
See you there.
What I'm listening to: Paul Simon... Van Morrison... Jethro Tull... Coldplay... Ben Folds... Loudon Wainwright... Suzanne Vega... Jay-Z... Dar Williams...
I can imagine the consternation Karl Geisinger must have felt when he saw the brackets and realized he and his team had a first-round road trip to Washington Township. Karl has always been one of the most outspoken coaches in the area in saying the game is called differently -- and subsequently played differently -- in the western part of SJ than it is at the shore. After watching tonight's game, it's hard to know what to say. It's not as if Washington Township is a particularly un-physical team, but Lauren McPeak couldn't stay on the court even half the game and she still fouled out. I wouldn't have said the play was overly rough, and yet there were a total of 51 foul shots taken. It was not a pretty game by a long shot, and if pressed, I would say that Mainland played better basketball for most of the time, with the third quarter and the last minute being big exceptions.
If you're Karl or any other coach who perceives himself to be in that situation, it begs the question: Do you tell the kids to play conservative defense, knowing the game is going to be called a certain way? Or do you just tell them to play their style and let the chips fall where they may? If you take the first option, you risk taking your team out of its head right out of the gate, and if you take the second, all you'll walk out of the gym with is your principles and a long wait till next year.
Washington Township shot 33 foul shots today, including 18 in the fourth quarter, despite the fact that Mainland only fouled for possession in the last couple of minutes. The Mustangs shot 18 themselves, including eight in the fourth. Washington Township certainly deserves credit for taking advantage -- the Maids were 15-for-18 from the line in the fourth -- and the home team was clutch in the last minutes, with a couple of heads-up plays by Amanda "Kool-Aid" Jennings and Kristen Petell. I just wonder what might have happened in this game if McPeak could have stayed on the floor. Donna Costa is pushing hard for Jennings to be an All-SJ pick at the end of the year based partially on the fact that she's played and defended so many taller girls. She's certainly right about the fact that Jennings does a great job for her size, but it wasn't anyone's defense that took McPeak out of the game tonight.
I was once again impressed with the Wert twins, who have to mentioned in any best-freshman conversation, along with Frazier from Spirit, Price-Perry from Lindenwold and a bunch of other girls I can't think of right now. They get tougher on the defensive end all day, and the three foul shots Dana hit in the second quarter were Township's only points. As a tandem, them made zero field goals, but went 11-for-12 from the line, grabbed three big boards, made six steals and added an assist. Washington Township is set at guard for the next three years, so maybe the young talent will funnel back to Gloucester Catholic.
I was sad to see the careers of Carlee Briglia and Sarah Cohen end. Both of those players are extremely tough, and a lot of fun to watch. Mainland will be back next year, though, especially with its whole frontcourt returning. Wooding and Bradway were both very solid for the 'Stangs tonight.
I got back to the office to find that Sterling survived the Pleasantville test, and I'll see the Knights on Wednesday at Glassboro. Laura Sweeney won her final battle with Elise Graham and Cherokee advanced to meet Gami. A Catanzariti-less Cinnaminson escaped a challenge from Point Boro. I know she hasn't been in the box scores for the last couple of week, but I don't know why. Anyone who wants to shed light on that can email me or comment. Haddon Township earned a shot at Heights. When the teams played a couple of weeks ago, Casey Orlando was a big factor. We'll see if somebody else steps up for the Garnets.
I'll be at LCM-Highland tomorrow. I haven't seen either of these teams play yet, so I figured I'd take this final shot at both of them. Stephanie Agger gets a lot of respect from the coaches in the Cape, and Jessica Leoni has had a nice year for the Tartans, so it should be interesting.
See you there.
posted by SMc. @ 10:25 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home