SATURDAY TWO-FER BIG 9 STYLE
I continued my tour of the Big 9 with a pair of Saturday games. Both
revolved around Rochester based teams. Both Rochester teams fell, one at home, the other on the road. One streak lives on, another streak was stopped. Free throws loomed large in both contests. What didn’t loom large was the senior presence. Only six seniors were rostered on the four teams continuing a trend that Peter, Paul and Mary sang about in “Where have all the seniors gone?”
I have three teams left on the menu in the Big 9 now: Austin, Faribault and Northfield.
I have finished charting sections 1AAAA and 8AAAA (Friday with Moorhead v Stillwater). I now have only six teams left to dissect in AAAA.
ALBERT LEA 42, ROCHESTER CENTURY 31
The first meeting in Albert Lea went the Tigers way 64-46. It looked like Century, who is now winless in 16 contests, would finally break the ice. The Panthers led at half time 18-14, but the Panthers could not stay away from fouls. AL went to the line 32 times (most of the day) and had over half their points (22) delivered without any defense being played. Taya Jeffrey had an &1 opportunity for the Tigers which gave them their first lead in the second half at 23-21 with 9:48 left.
Both AL and Century start three players in single digit grades.
Century took more shots inside 35 to 17 but was only shot 25.7% there. AL was not scintillating there but was 35.3%.
AL is now 3-13 with two of those wins over the Panthers.
| ALBERT LEA | ROCHESTER CENTURY | |
| POINTS | 42 | 31 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 41/15 | 45/22 |
| TURNOVERS | 14 | 15 |
| FTA/% | 32/68.75 | 14/57.14 |
| 2FG%/3FG% | 33.33/10.52 | 20.00/20.00 |
| PP100 | 75.0 | 54.4 |
| TOP SCORER | Samantha Skarstad 14 | Jordyn Sutton 10 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Taya Jeffrey with 13 points, 130.0 pp100 and a 20 in the 31 Club
RED WING 65, ROCHESTER MAYO 59
#5AAA Red Wing is known for the 3s. On Tuesday they buried 18. When they beat Mayo earlier in the year 71-39 they delivered eight with Lindsay Reps getting half. Today RW scored seven, with Reps only getting two. It showed the Spartans that improvements have been made—-to the tune of 26 points. Still RW prevailed.
Mayo was buried early down 20-4 halfway through the first half. Mayo came back by getting the ball inside in the later part of the first half and drawing fouls. Five times they were able to squeeze on point off the free throw line (meaning they left five on the table). Once they missed the front end (for seven evaporated points). Still the resurgent Spartans were climbing out of the hole down 35-24 at the break.
In the second half Mayo scored on six straight possessions (with an inside emphasis—-Mayo made 17 for the game inside, RW made eight and the Wingers’ lead was down to single digits at 46-37. During the comeback the Mayo defense was glued to Reps and Kyli Nelson. Both stood in the corners by midcourt. As a result, RW was playing three on three basically. Abi Deming was not chased to the perimeter as often, and she made the Spartans regret that choice by knocking down several shots. Also, to the rescue for the Wingers was 8th grader Sydnee Nelson, who, off the bench, had a team high 17 points with three from 3. Nelson also played the first half of the preliminary game. Mayo cut the lead to 61-56 with 1:50 remaining. The next minute involved no scoring. Deming broke the spell with a pair of free throws with 51 seconds left. Mayo’s Anna Miller, who led all scorers with on the day with 24 points, hit a 3 with 12.7 seconds left to make it 63-59. RW added a pair of free throws on their next possession.
Mayo started the year 0-6. Loss snapped a nine game winning streak.
RW is 14-2. Mayo is 9-6
| RED WING | ROCHESTER MAYO | |
| POINTS | 65 | 59 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 27/10 | 37/14 |
| TURNOVERS | 13 | 20 |
| FTA/% | 26/69.23 | 19/52.63 |
| 2FG%/3FG% | 43.33/38.88 | 57.14/21.42 |
| PP100 | 100.0 | 92.2 |
| TOP SCORER | Sydnee Nelson 17 | Anna Miller 24 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Yes this usually goes to someone on the winning side and there are good options, but no one can argue with Mayo’s Anna Miller with 24 points, a 114.3 and a 44 in the 31 Club (the best score of the day). She also spearheaded the comeback effort.