MN DEAF 63, AFSA 28

Wednesday’s are notorious for slim pickings. It gets even slimmer

when games start before the traditional 7 pm start. Rush hour traffic across the metro is a bear when there is a 5:30 start. That limited my options of the three to AFSA—-the Academy for Science & Ag. They were hosting MN State Academy for the Deaf.

MN Deaf had the lead from the start and was able to negotiate the 2/3 zone (both teams played 2/3 zone) better. The Trojans scored on their first two possessions. AFSA called time after two and a half minutes down 6-2. The biggest impact today came from MN Deaf senior Kayla Mitchell who scored more than AFSA herself—-37 points, some initiated by her 10 steals in the middle of the zone as she quickly transitioned to the offensive end. She ended up with nine lay ups. MN Deaf attempted 88 shots on the night, 29 more than AFSA. Mitchell, a 5-9 senior, is only the second player this year to crack the 61 Club (62). Sam Haiby of Moorhead had a 65 in the win over White Bear Lake on December 9.

Last year I charted AFSA against Hmong Academy on a similar Wednesday. The PP100 for the Eagles was only 13.7. There has been improvement. Not enough to stop running time, but a move to the right direction to 34.1. Corresponding improvements in two point field goals were also evident going from 7 to 22 percent.

This is the third time I have charted MN Deaf. I have traveled to their home in Faribault a few years ago. The bench is always communicating with the team.

MN Deaf is 4-5 on the year. This is AFSA’s only second contest of the season; they are 0-2. MN Deaf was #351 in the QRF, AFSA was #407.

In the house tonight—–US Congressman Rick Nolan from Minnesota’s eighth district (which is in the arrowhead portion of the state).

Team	PP100	scorer	Distributor	D stops
MN Deaf	77.8	Kayla Mitchell 37	Dalina Schwartz 12	Kayla Mitchell 21
AFSA	34.1	Tianna Davis 10	Tianna Davis 4	Olivia Thomas 12

TRENCH PLAYER: Kayla Mitchell