02-29-2012, 10:46 PM
The crowd was a bit thin and flat, and the team was too at first. Nevertheless, the usual stellar play of Nneka (8-11 with 11 rebounds and 19 points) and Chiney (6-11 with 8 rebounds and 18 points) set the pace and we cruised to a solid if not spectacular victory. This was Nneka, Lindy, and Grace's last game at Maples, and I absolutely hated the way it was scheduled. It seemed anti-climactic after senior day and drew rather poorly. I think the crowd and the team both felt it. I thought there was more energy at the Bakersfield game.
One nice thing--we shot 100% of our free throws tonight!
This game was not the blow-out easy tune-up game that some of us expected. Seattle is much shorter at most positions, but they have a winning record and came well coached and ready to play. They played a quick, swarming/trapping defense and often frustrated our efforts to pass the ball in to the paint. We had 17 turnovers, many of them lazy passes on the perimeter or forced passes to the interior. While I never thought the outcome was in doubt, the game was tied 15-15 8 minutes into the game, and we were only ahead by 4 points towards the end of the first half.Â
Our offense was working fairly well--but mainly because we shot 50.9% against much shorter players, and not because we were executing our offense particularly well--although there were a few spectacular plays. It seemed to me that we were working harder than usual to "get it to Nneka."Â
On defense we had a number of breakdowns--giving up some fast break points after lazy passes were intercepted, etc. Seattle looked like a decidedly better offensive team than the two Oregon schools or Colorado or Utah--at least they scored more points than our opponents in the last four games. They caught us napping a couple of times with fast breaks after they beat us down the court after we made a basket.
My greatest concern was not about what happened in the game but about who didn't play. Taylor was absent again. Her pulled hamstring has been serious enough to keep her out of two games now. With her out that makes 5 players unavailable and our depth could become a serious issue in the tournaments ahead. Let's hope that Tara is just being extra cautious and that we will see Taylor against soon.Â
Amber continues to be a wonderful bright spot. She had 9 assists to 5 turnovers. She is becoming a regular offensive threat, with a combination of mid range jumpers (and one with her foot on the 3 point line) that usually touch only net, and some very impressive dribbling through traffic to the basket. She finished with 10 points and even had 5 rebounds. She made a few mistakes, but she never looks flustered and has great presence, which is what you want from a point guard. He defense seems very good.Â
Bonnie finally broke out of her shooting slump today, with 4 threes. She got 27 minutes--by far the longest this year. Tara seems determined to get her experience, which makes me think Tara is aware that Taylor may remain iffy and that Bonnie will have to carry a greater load. Bonnie doesn't rebound much and she had no assists--which is something that Tara likes to see out of a 3, so Bonnie is still a work in progress. But hitting 4-8 from three point range will be a big confidence booster and could provide an important additional dimension for our offense.
Toni has been a bit off the last couple of games. She had no points tonight and just 2 assists. She plays tenacious defense, though.
Lindy was 1-2 from three point range. She passed up numerous open looks. In practice she was sinking 80% of her three point shots, so it looks to me as if her confidence is just rattled a bit in-game. In the radio interview after the game Bonnie called her "Coach Lindy." Perhaps that is her future? In any case, I've heard Tara say the same thing--that Lindy is very intelligent and always helping her teammates learn the system, the game, the tendencies of other teams, etc.Â
Joslyn had a good, solid, all around game. She went 5-12 with 6 rebounds and 14 points in just 26 minutes. She sank 2-3 threes. She also had a couple of assists and a block.
To sum up the storyline for the last game at Maples this year, I think I would emphasize Nneka and Chiney's continued dominance, the impressive development of Amber, and the recovery of Bonnie's three point shot.
One nice thing--we shot 100% of our free throws tonight!
This game was not the blow-out easy tune-up game that some of us expected. Seattle is much shorter at most positions, but they have a winning record and came well coached and ready to play. They played a quick, swarming/trapping defense and often frustrated our efforts to pass the ball in to the paint. We had 17 turnovers, many of them lazy passes on the perimeter or forced passes to the interior. While I never thought the outcome was in doubt, the game was tied 15-15 8 minutes into the game, and we were only ahead by 4 points towards the end of the first half.Â
Our offense was working fairly well--but mainly because we shot 50.9% against much shorter players, and not because we were executing our offense particularly well--although there were a few spectacular plays. It seemed to me that we were working harder than usual to "get it to Nneka."Â
On defense we had a number of breakdowns--giving up some fast break points after lazy passes were intercepted, etc. Seattle looked like a decidedly better offensive team than the two Oregon schools or Colorado or Utah--at least they scored more points than our opponents in the last four games. They caught us napping a couple of times with fast breaks after they beat us down the court after we made a basket.
My greatest concern was not about what happened in the game but about who didn't play. Taylor was absent again. Her pulled hamstring has been serious enough to keep her out of two games now. With her out that makes 5 players unavailable and our depth could become a serious issue in the tournaments ahead. Let's hope that Tara is just being extra cautious and that we will see Taylor against soon.Â
Amber continues to be a wonderful bright spot. She had 9 assists to 5 turnovers. She is becoming a regular offensive threat, with a combination of mid range jumpers (and one with her foot on the 3 point line) that usually touch only net, and some very impressive dribbling through traffic to the basket. She finished with 10 points and even had 5 rebounds. She made a few mistakes, but she never looks flustered and has great presence, which is what you want from a point guard. He defense seems very good.Â
Bonnie finally broke out of her shooting slump today, with 4 threes. She got 27 minutes--by far the longest this year. Tara seems determined to get her experience, which makes me think Tara is aware that Taylor may remain iffy and that Bonnie will have to carry a greater load. Bonnie doesn't rebound much and she had no assists--which is something that Tara likes to see out of a 3, so Bonnie is still a work in progress. But hitting 4-8 from three point range will be a big confidence booster and could provide an important additional dimension for our offense.
Toni has been a bit off the last couple of games. She had no points tonight and just 2 assists. She plays tenacious defense, though.
Lindy was 1-2 from three point range. She passed up numerous open looks. In practice she was sinking 80% of her three point shots, so it looks to me as if her confidence is just rattled a bit in-game. In the radio interview after the game Bonnie called her "Coach Lindy." Perhaps that is her future? In any case, I've heard Tara say the same thing--that Lindy is very intelligent and always helping her teammates learn the system, the game, the tendencies of other teams, etc.Â
Joslyn had a good, solid, all around game. She went 5-12 with 6 rebounds and 14 points in just 26 minutes. She sank 2-3 threes. She also had a couple of assists and a block.
To sum up the storyline for the last game at Maples this year, I think I would emphasize Nneka and Chiney's continued dominance, the impressive development of Amber, and the recovery of Bonnie's three point shot.
