For those of you who were not able to attend, the Streeter girls were able to finally put away New London Spicer tonight. The gym was packed with passionate fans from both sides. It was a great atmosphere for the game. So I figured if there ever was a time to try to do a running diary of a game this was it so here we go.
Pregame
5:58 to go before game- Live from the gym at Sauk Centre High School, tonight we are treated to the number one ranked team in state vs the number two ranked team in state. This is literally something that may never happen in Sauk Centre again. The gym is packed as Bryan Adams belts from the speakers singing something about these being the best days of our lives...hmmmm very appropriate. As I write that the song switches to Don't Stop Believing by Journey, now you know its going to be a good night.
4:00 to go before the game- This is the most full I have seen the student section in a long, long time. Most of the senior and junior boys look like they missed a bad Village People convention and decided to meet here instead.....gotta love school spirit.
2:47 to go before the game- The Streeter girls emerge from the locker room to a thunderous ovation. Gotta think these girls are excited to feed off of such a raucaus crowd. I hope the air doesn't get let out of here because it is a fun place to be right now.
Game Time
17:27- Kali Peschel misses a three to open the game, NLS takes the rebound and fast breaks for a foul and two free throws. The Streeter girls look a little overwhelmed by the moment.
15:54- Well I will have to eat my own words because Sauk just went on a 10-0 run faster than I could write. Greenwaldt and Peschel with baskets. The gym literally feels like I am at a Bon Jovi concert. Great atmosphere.
15:05-14:48- Sauk continues to thrive, but NLS gets two more free throws which is the worst way for Sauk to give up points right now. Until Greenwaldt hits another 3. Sauk is on fire right now and playing at a frenetic pace.
13:43-Hustle plays are killing NLS right now. Never in a basketball, or any sporting event for that matter, underestimate the affect that hustle has on team and crowd morale. People can deal with a team that is struggling if they know the effort is not being faked. Conversely, effort or more specifically lack thereof, is the fastest surefire way to get a crowd to sit on their hands. Streeters came to play tonight.
12:39- NLS is living at the free throw line right now. 12 of their first 14 points have been from the charity stripe. This needs to change for the Streeters. It allows a flustered NLS team to regain their composure as well as chip away at the Sauk lead all the while keeping the crowd out of the game. The Streeters had the Wildcats flustered, but if the game slows down much more, the girls could be in for a real dogfight.
11:42- The effects of the fast paced start are very noticable right now. Each team needs to get over the fatigue hump. Sloppy passes and turnovers from each team.
10:56-ANOTHER Sauk shooting foul, that is 8 Sauk fouls to 3 NLS fouls right now. Unfortunately for the Streeters, the wildcats have been practicing their free throw shooting. Before I can finish writing this the Streeters turn the ball over and commit another shooting foul which puts the fouls 9-3. Coach Bergmann is really riding the back ref right now who seems to be calling most of the fouls.
10:03- Foul on the Wildcats........FINALLY.
9:44- Two fouls in a row on the Wildcats, Coach Bergmann must be very convincing, probably explained to him the probability equation that determines the likelyhood that 9 fouls to 3 fouls can only be accounted for in rare occasions. He is smart like that.
On a different note, the Sauk boys in the student section must have went to practice...cheer practice that is. They are very well choreographed and have several nice chants. My favorite: the other team is shooting a free throw and the boys break into an old Twisted Sister song. "Your not gonna make it, No you ain't gonna make it, your not gonna make it anymore." Classy? Not especially. Fun? Absolutely.
7:46-27-16 Streeters as they hit on three 3's. The net did not move on Kali Peschel's last three. Knocked it cold.
6:31- Streeters have the momentum, as the pace is picking back up. Its funny how basketball games are almost always like rollercoasters. You know if its two good teams playing that even when the speed and execution slows down for while, it is bound to pick up. Interesting Fact-The Streeters have done an incredible job of boxing out here in the first half. I could have a picnic in the lane with three friends. Thats how sealed off the painted area is. Great job.
5:30- Continued from above Kourtney Nelson is Charles Barkley. Terriffic rebounding off the bench.
5:00- Nelson called for a foul while boxing out someone 4 inches taller than her. I have never understood that if someone is taller than you they are allowed to go over your back with no consequence, but the second the smaller person pushes back to get better position they get whistled. Nice box out Kourtney. 30-20 Streeters.
3:34- Box outs you say? Have some more. What's that New London Spicer, would you like a three ball with a side of Box Outs. Megan Rieland is only too happy to oblige.
2:00- 36-25 Streeters. Kali Peshcel keeps the Streeter three train running, but NLS is at the foul line again. The charity stripe is what is keeping them in the game.
1:24- Hope my praise for our rebounding wasn't premature as NLS gets three offensive rebounds in a row with a basket to boot. 37-29 Streeters
Halftime Sauk Centre 37 New London Spicer 29
Notes
-Streeters have hit 7 three pointers. Greenwaldt, Peschel, and Rieland all in double figures.
-On an 80's streak for halftime music, Starship, the Outfield, Asia, Michael Jackson....WOW..Turn up the heat.
-Streeters athleticism and length giving NLS fits.
-Unsung hero of the first half is Savanna Weller, she is doing a great job down low agains the NLS bigs.
-Streeter Keys to the second half
1. Must stop fouling. It takes the wind out of the sails of the crowd. NLS has been too good from the free throw line to keep giving them free points, especially when the Streeter rebounding has been so good.
2. The girls cannot get over excited when NLS makes their inevitable run back at the Streeters. It will happen, don't be suprised when it does. How they respond will be telling to how far this team will go.
3. There are only about 6-8 key possessions in the second half of a basketball game. You never really know when these posessions will be though til they are happening. Make sure to be conscious of them.
2nd Half
17:35- The Streeters second half start goes as follows: Turnover, NLS offensive rebound, NLS offensive rebound, NLS 3 pointer. I'm not a genius, but I gotta think that wasn't the way Coach Bergmann diagramed it at halftime. Really though, can you even imagine a coach diagraming that on the whiteboard. "Okay here is the second half plan, Kali you throw the ball to the other team. Savanna, you and Megan just stand there and don't do anything." "But Coach..." "But nothing, then let them hit a three and they will think they are going to run us out of the gym. At that point we will have them right where we want them." It sounds so implausible that it must have happened right. I don't think there are any coaches that could diagram that with a straight face, maybe Brad Childress. All jesting aside, Coach Bergmann does not look happy with the way that opening sequence transpired.
14:19- NLS now has the momentum as the Wildcat fans make their presence felt for the first time all night. 39-37 Streeters.
13:53- Kali Peschel makes a heady play as she is fouled on a three point attempt and swishes all three free throws to push the Streeter lead to 42-37.
12:30- If fatigue sets in, look for the Streeter press to begin getting some turnovers. The Wildcats inch closer to the turnover line every time up the court. Thats the sign of a good press.
Click Here for Part 2
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