EDEN PRAIRIE 67, PARK CENTER 57
Wednesday nights are reserved for obscure games most of the times. Tonight, was an exception. Two teams that figure to compete for their respective section titles collided in their first match ups of the year. It also was another extension of my tour of the NW Suburban Conference. There were some differences today: the opponent won, and, instead of a sophomore off the bench sparking the winning team it was a freshman (still off the bench). EP saw an early four point lead transform to a seven point half time deficit. The Pirates’ high water mark on their first possession of the half with two more (38-29). But PC could not sustain that momentum due to frosty shooting and fouls forcing the Pirates to dip into their bench. On their next nine possessions they squeeze out one free throw to add to their totals; four of those possessions were turnovers. Meanwhile EP scored nine. Abby Johnson was instrumental with five of those points. The Omaha bound 6-1 senior struck for six points behind the arc and totaled 12 for the night. Her hot hand wasn’t as sizzling as teammate’s Allison Miranda who was a perfect 4/4 from 2 and 1/1 from 3 for 11 total off the bench. PC held off EP for a few more possessions stretching out their hold to 43-42. EP regained the lead for the first time in the second half on Kemara Watson’s shot from the left block at about the 10 minute mark, another EP reserve (and her only points). But the Eagles nursing a one point lead in was 5-7 freshman guard Myra Moorjani who held the win together down the stretch. Besides hitting a critical three that gave more separation (52-46), she delivered at the free throw line for nine more points for a total of 12 points in the last seven minutes.
PC was hampered by poor shooting. Their sophomore slasher Adalia McKenzie shot only 21% for the night. She tied Moorjani for most points on the night. The Pirates were also out rebounded. PC did put heat on the EP players and ended up with a +9 turnover differential. But fouls forced PC to the bench and in that battle EP dominated 31-0.
I spoke about fouls and both teams had players park it on the bench with five. The favored call of the day was offensive fouls with a whopping 10; EP 6, PC 4 with Natalie Mazurek and Nneka Obiazor picking up two each for EP and Lauren Frost doing the same for PC. One other note: Obiazor was relegated to the bench with allegedly five fouls. The EP staff had her for four. Same with my tally. The PC fouls piled up with two fouling out and three others hanging with four.
By the way the travel was terrible tonight. It took an hour and ten minutes to get to PC from Stillwater. Usually it can be done in 38 minutes in a rush hour situation.
| EDEN PRAIRIE | PARK CENTER | |
| POINTS | 67 | 57 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 45/18 | 32/15 |
| TURNOVERS | 36 | 27 |
| FTA/% | 29/65.5 | 29/58.6 |
| 2FG%/3FG% | 46.9/35.3 | 28.2/37.5 |
| PP100 | 87.0 | 74.0 |
| TOP SCORER | Myra Moorjani 17 | Adalia McKenzie 17 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Myra Moorjani, 17 points, 121.4, and a 24 in the 31 Club; the third straight bench player to get the honor this week.