Here is a double dose of out & abouts to open the 2019-20 season. (one delayed). One from Minnesota Thursday night, one from Wisconsin’s opener on Tuesday.
PRINCETON 60, DULUTH EAST 52
The 2019-20 season officially got underway on Thursday night in Minnesota with the first games. My first foray out showcased two teams with new coaches. Princeton opened the Pedro Valdivieso era with a win. The visiting Duluth East debut for Richard Windt ended in a loss.
The Tigers staked their claim to victory behind the three point line cashing in eleven times on 40.7% shooting; East stumbled at another line—-the charity stripe—-just slightly above freezing at 35% (6/17). The hosts were not that much better eeking out a 43.8% mark (7/16).
The hosts led at the break 28-22. A trey by senior Whitney Tennison on the Princeton last possession helped provide a deeper cushion. Sophomore Madison James, who led all scorers with 21 points, had 14 by half. It appeared that East could possibly make this contest another down to the wire nail-biter like the Tuesday overtime Hudson win when the Greyhounds erased a 41-31 deficit to only trail by two (44-42). Princeton woke up from their offensive slumber scoring three straight times capped by a trey by James. That basket also caused East to burn a time out with 5:29 left (51-42). Princeton would be a dozen (55-43).
East’s biggest lead came at 15-11 in the first half after a three by senior Macy Hermanson. The Greyhounds knocked down four triples on the night.
The East bench only provided one point. East “won” the starter battle 51-45.
The ball handling scales tipped in favor of Princeton with 24 touches per turnover to 13.5 for East. East had issues negotiating the Princeton defense scoring one point every seven touches. East ruled the boards by a baker’s dozen.
| PRINCETON | DULUTH EAST | |
| POINTS | 60 | 52 |
| REBOUNDS | 35 | 48 |
| TURNOVERS | 15 | 27 |
| 2FGA/% | 33/30.3 | 42/40.5 |
| 3FGA/% | 27/40.7 | 15/26.7 |
| FTA/% | 16/43.8 | 17/35.3 |
| PP100 | 82.2 | 69.3 |
| TOP SCORER | Madison James 21 | Macy Hermanson 16 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Madison James of Princeton (2022) with 21 points, 123.5 pp100; and a 35 score in the 31 Club.
TUESDAY’S DELAYED O&A
HUDSON 54, COLFAX 51 OT
The first game of the Out & About series this year went overtime. Wisconsin started their season & I made the short trip across the St. Croix River to see host Hudson survive two comeback attempts by the Colfax Vikings. Junior Grace O’Brien saved the day for the Raiders with a steal and lay up with 15 seconds left in the extra session and the hosts trailing by one. O’Brien than added a pair of insurance free throws with one tick left to put the game on ice.
Colfax rallied twice. In regulation they trailed by eight with five minutes left (42-34) after freshman Grace Lewis’ 3. But the Raiders would only score one more point the rest of regulation—-in eight possessions. Senior Taylor Irwin nailed a 3 with 18 seconds left to cap the Viking comeback.
Both teams were better from beyond the arc than in front of it. Hudson percentages were 30.4 to 29.5 while Colfax was 33.3 to only 21.8 inside. Colfax failed to take advantage of the free throw line missing 12 attempts. That was more than Hudson attempted on the night.
Both teams handled the ball all right, but with the intensity at the end and a one possession game, things unraveled. Hudson had three turnovers in overtime. Colfax had two on their last two possessions when they were nursing a lead and then trying to get a quality shot.
| HUDSON | COLFAX | |
| POINTS | 54 | 51 |
| REBOUNDS | 46 | 49 |
| TURNOVERS | 12 | 13 |
| 2FGA/% | 44/29.5 | 32/21.9 |
| 3FGA/% | 23/30.4 | 24/33.3 |
| FTA/% | 11/63.6 | 25/52.0 |
| PP100 | 80.6 | 76.1 |
| TOP SCORER | Sophia Jonas 24 | Two with 12 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Sophia Jonas of Hudson with 24 points, 160.0 pp100 and the only player in the 31 Club with a 34.