It was back on 94 to the northwest this Saturday, but the distance covered, and the amount of games were more digestible. The destination was Alexandria for the Winter Lakes Classic, seven games with three involving girls. Since I just charted both Henning and Hawley last Saturday in Moorhead I by passed that game and got some much needed rest. There were three new teams charted today Alexandria, Sauk Centre and Eden Valley-Watkins. With the trio I have now made it to the 93% of the top 100. I am also at 70% of the AAA field. Today also completes my top 10 set in AA, joining AAAA, and AAA. Regrettably I am only at 30% of the top 10 in A.
game 1
#2AAA Becker took down host #12AAA Alexandria 67-59 in the first game I charted today. Right from the get-go Julia Bengtson was on—-she started the game with a 3 on her way to a game high 22 points. Alex did lead in this game…at 4-3, but the Bulldogs scored six of their first seven possessions and doubled the Cards 14-7 after four minutes of action prompting an Alex time out. That lead expanded to 37-24 at half. Early in the second half Becker enjoyed their largest lead at 42-24. Alexandria did fight back. Two consecutive 3s by the Card’s Lilly Horn trimmed that lead to 55-49 with seven minutes left. Three more times after that Alex cut the margin to six, the second time at 37.6 seconds after an Ella Grove score. The Bulldogs kept their composure and answered each threat. Megan Gamble was unattended on the right side after a drive and got the insurance points.
Today Alex had the better shooting numbers, but they also had eleven more turnovers while Becker controlled the boards 40-35. Digging deeper it was the offensive boards that really were impacted with a 24-8 margin. Those 24 boards led to 16 points, more than enough to cover the win.
| BECKER | ALEXANDRIA | |
| POINTS | 67 | 59 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 40/24 | 35/8 |
| TURNOVERS | 20 | 31 |
| 2FGA/% | 48/41.66 | 32/56.25 |
| 3FGA/% | 25/24.00 | 15/26.67 |
| FTA/% | 14/64.28 | 14/78.57 |
| PP100 | 90.5 | 78.7 |
| TOP SCORER | Julia Bengtson 22 | Ella Grove 18 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Julia Bengtson with 22 points, 110.0 pp100, and a 40 score in the 31 Club
game 2
#1AA Sauk Centre was firing on all cylinders as they more than doubled Eden Valley-Watkins, a team that entered the game with a 16-6 mark, 67-32. The Mainstreeter starters checked in with an eye popping 152.9 pp100 with 58% on 2s and 50s (9/18) on 3s. All five starters were 100 pp100 or better, four over 140. SC scored the first seven times they had possession (15-2). By that time EVW had already used one time out. SC had enough to win the game at the 3:58 mark of the first half. At the break the Streeters led 39-12.
| SAUK CENTRE | EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS | |
| POINTS | 67 | 32 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 40/16 | 28/10 |
| TURNOVERS | 14 | 20 |
| 2FGA/% | 26/46.15 | 35/37.14 |
| 3FGA/% | 27/33.33 | 12/0.00 |
| FTA/% | 20/80.00 | 10/60.00 |
| PP100 | 109.8 | 52.5 |
| TOP SCORER | Tori Peschel 21 | Two with 10 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Tori Peschel with 21 points (also her uniform number), 190.0 pp100 and a 36 score in the 31 Club.