CONCORDIA ACADEMY 82, FRIDLEY 51

Concordia nearly reached running time in a 82-51 Tri-Metro Conference match up, but the game was not nearly the blow out it appeared. There were mitigating circumstances in the final margin. Earlier in the year the Beacons won at Fridley 70-34. The Tigers had 39 points by half time, breaking the first score they had in 18 minutes. But the seeds of their demise were being sown in the first half via fouls. Fridley has speed and athleticism. They like a full court game, and are physical. But key players piled up the fouls in the first half. Eventually three would foul out. CA attempted 30 free throws for the game. In the first half the Beacons were in the double bonus by the 9 minute mark.  To give you an indication of Fridley’s potential offensive fire power, their starters, if they played the entire 36 minutes, would score 69.64 points. But the decision making, as indicated by turnovers, is another area that needs improvement for Fridley. The Tigers were a minus 12 in that department and their starters collectively turned the ball over every 9.32 touches. CA was at 20.86 touches for every turnover.

It was a back and forth rat-a-tat-tat game with the ball moving quickly for both teams at the start. Fridley surged to an early 22-14 lead after nine minutes. But on the next Beacon possession the hosts scored four points. First Haily Paup scored and was fouled. She missed the chance for the “&1” but scored again after an offensive rebound. Just like that (insert snap the fingers here) the margin was four. CA inched in front and held a 43-39 lead at the break. Three Beacons had double figures at that stage. Fridley opened the second half with a three by Tyliah Frazier (43-42) which was the closest it would be in the second half. They wouldn’t score again until the 11:30 mark, a six and a half minute drought. By that time CA added 13 unanswered points to make it 56-42. At the eight minute mark the game blew up. Frazier picked up a foul and then was assessed two technical fouls and was removed from the playing area. CA’s freshman guard Ivane Tensaie was the beneficiary cashing in four straight free throws on her way to a game high 24 points. The body language from Fridley signified that the game was over. At the 3:43 mark CA held a 78-46 lead. Running time was avoided however.

Three CA players crashed the 31 Club: Tensaie, Lecher and Paup.

It was Caucus day in Minnesota and the public schools were off—at least when it came to hosting, and hosting after 7. Some held games starting at 4:30.

CA is now 16-5 on the year. Fridley drops to 7-12.

 

Team	PP100	scorer	Distributor	D stops
Concordia Academy	98.8	Ivane Tensaie 24	Lydia Lecher 13	Lydia Lecher 16
Fridley	61.4	Ah’Janay Yancy 11	Katrina Crockett 4	Jhordyn Chalmers 9

 

TRENCH PLAYER: CA’s 5-7 freshman guard Ivane Tensaie