ST. FRANCIS 47, ANOKA 44
Two section 7AAAA rivals met to start the new year and the visiting
Saints from St. Francis kept Anoka searching for their first win with a narrow 47-44 victory. Anoka thought they had reached the mountain top with an & 1 after a basket and free throw from Olivia Anderson with 1:35 left. It was Anoka’s first lead since 4-0 early in the game. On the next SF possession Grace Eastman hit a pull up jumper from the free throw line to snatch the lead back. Eastman added a pair or free throws (she was perfect in nine attempts) for a 45-42 lead. Emily Josephson cut the margin to one with a pair of free throws with 41.5 ticks left. SF missed a left handed lay up when they were in the delay game. Anoka tried a 3 and that missed (they were only 6% from behind the arc all night). Eastman was there for the board and was sent to the free throw line with 15.6 seconds left. She capped the final six points for the Saints completing her perfecto from the line. Anoka did have one more opportunity to tie the game, but again had the shot bounce out.
The Saints did enjoy an eight point lead in the first half (23-15) with a minute to go in the half. The Tornadoes only three of the night, from Elizabeth Torgerson, made it a five point game at the break.
Both teams had issues from the floor with similar percentages inside. SF was 30.8 and Anoka 29.6 within five feet.
St. Francis now has three wins on the year, All three against 7AAAA rivals and all three part of the Northwest Suburban. The Tornadoes are 0-8 on the season. There are a dozen AAAA teams left to see (that are not on the Stillwater schedule).
This is the second time I have charted St. Francis. Both times SF & their opponent were sub 70 pp100 in each game.
I have charted 80 AAAA teams this year (counting duplicates). 23 (or 28.8%) have failed to reach 70 pp100. At the moment the pp100 for AAAA is at a healthy 82.23. Taking away the top three teams in AAAA the number plummets to 77.95.
| ST. FRANCIS | ANOKA | |
| POINTS | 47 | 44 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 45/19 | 39/19 |
| TURNOVERS | 25 | 20 |
| FTA/% | 15/86.7 | 17/64.7 |
| 2FG%/3FG% | 36.8/12.5 | 34.09/6.25 |
| PP100 | 68.1 | 62.9 |
| TOP SCORER | Grace Eastman 17 | Emily Josephson 13 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Grace Eastman with 17 points, 130.8 pp100, 31 Club score of 27 and the final six points for the Saints to preserve the win.