Pipestone falls in semis

Class AA Semi-Final results at state:

Braham 51
Pipestone 47

Minnehaha Academy 65
Rochester Lourdes 50

Championship Game
Braham vs. Minneahaha Academy 2 p.m. Saturday

Random video clips from Sauk Centre's girls basketball playoff run

Sauk Centre vs. Pipestone Area


Sauk Centre vs. NL-S


Sauk Centre vs. NL-S


Sauk Centre vs. Staples-Motley (pre-game)


Sauk Centre vs. Staples-Motley (1st half of the game)


~RO

Some scenes from the State Tournament quarterfinal matchup between Sauk Centre and Pipestone Area

Kali's monster rebound and three-ball with under 7:00 left in the first half.

 

The team takes the court at Williams Arena before tip-off of their state tournament quarterfinal game.


Pre-game player introductions of the Mainstreeters girls basketball team before tip-off against Pipestone Area.


Additional video clips and more photos from the game will be uploaded on Thursday.
~RO

Streeters dream season ends

By Bryan Zollman

(click on the title above for the game box score)

The dimensions at Williams Arena are the same as they are in Sauk Centre’s gym.

But tonight the hoop seemed a little bit smaller, the iron a little bit harder,  and perhaps the lights a little brighter for the Mainstreeters as they struggled from the get-go in a 52-37 loss to Pipestone Area Wednesday.

Was it the “barn” effect? Was it Pipestone’s aggressive defense and size? Or did the Streeters just turn cold at the wrong time?

The usually high-octane Streeter offense suffered 11-plus minutes of scoreless basketball late in the first half and early in the second half. During that tiem Pipestone enjoyed a 13-0 run as they advanced to the semi-finals with the win.

Sauk was just 5-for-28 from the field in the first half and 4-for-19 from three-point range. Pipestone was 9-for-23 in the first half and took just five shots from beyond the arc. By game’s end Sauk shot a dismal 20 percent from the floor to the Arrows’ 40 percent. That proved to be the difference as the Arrows stretched a 21-18 halftime lead to 10 points early in the second half on their way to the win.

Rachel Gruber, one of several seniors who 

played their last game, dribbles past an Arrows player.

PHOTO BY RANDY OLSON

The Streeters were especially ineffective from three-point range, their bread and butter all year. In the second half they dropped star point guard Kali Peschel down low to try and create more opportunities. Pipestone muscled Peschel and the refs were letting both teams play for the most part. The result was Sauk never got into a groove offensively.

Despite their poor shooting, however, they were in the game for the entire first half.

They won the opening tip and within seconds Maren Greenwaldt had the ball on the far baseline for a three-point attempt. But her shot rimmed out. Pipestone followed with a bucket, but Peschel answered with a three for a 3-2 lead. After Pipestone scored again Megan Rieland drained a three for a 6-4 lead. Early on things looked good for the Streeters. They led 7-4 and 9-6 before the teams were deadlocked at 11-11 and 13-13 when Rieland hit a pair buckets.

The teams traded baskets in between travels, turnovers and miscues as both squads seemed to be feeling each other out and perhaps getting used to the confines of Williams Arena.

A three-poinmter by Peschel with 6:11 to play gave Sauk an 18-15 lead. But they would not score the rest fo the half as Pipestone went on a 6-0 run to lead 21-18 at the buzzer.

At that point Sauk was lucky to be within three due to their inefficient offense. The hope was they would come out with a solid second half. It hadn’t been too often the Streeters put together two below average halves offensively.

Lots of loose balls and turnovers early in Wednesday's match up, but 

Pipestone settled in while the Streeters struggled to find the groove on offense.

PHOTO BY RANDY OLSON

But the start of the second half was much like the first.  The Streeters did not score for the first 5:31 minutes when Savana Weller’s bank shot pulled the Streeters to within eight at 28-20. That meant the Streeters went 11:42 without a point.

Greenwaldt made her first shot of the night when she sank a three-pointer to make it a 32-26 game with 9:50 to play. Another three by Greenwaldt made it 36-31 and the Streeters crept to within five when Weller made a pair of free throws at the 6:13 mark.

But Pipestone’s Bree Woebler found a seam in Sauk’s defense that twice led to easy lay ups, and they dominated the boards on Sauk’s end for some putbacks that led to an insurmountable 49-35 lead.

Greenwaldt and Peschel led the squad with 10 points each. Megan Rieland added eight.

The Streeters ended the season with a 26-3 record and the first trip to state in the program’s history. Pipestone advanced to Friday’s semi-finals against Braham, who defeated Watertown-Mayer in the 6 p.m. game Wednesday.

Despite the loss, the Mainstreeters put together one of the most memorable seasons in school history, reaching the No. 1 ranking in Class AA and reaching the state tournament for the first time in the program's history.

They will lose a strong core of seniors in starters Savana Weller, Rachel Gruber and Megan Rieland. All three played important roles in this year's run. Weller and Gruber were outstanding defenders with Weller leading the team in rebounding. Rieland averaged 12.3 points per game heading into tourney play.

The Streeters will also be without Lindsey Rieland, Chelsea Donnay and Brianna Pfeffer. Rieland was the team's top three-point threat off the bench. Donnay was a role player and a senior leader. Pfeffer unfortunately spent most of her season on the bench due to a season-ending knee injury suffered early in the year.

All six seniors played an integral role in this year's successful season. And even though it ended with a loss, the 16 girls who donned maroon this season will go down in Sauk's record books, their names forever etched into memory.

Megan Rieland, Savana Weller, Maren Greenwaldt and Kali Peschel could 

only watch from the sidelines in the final minutes of Wednesday's loss. 

Greenwaldt and Peschel will be back next year. 

Weller, Rieland and fellow starter Rachel Gruber 

will graduate and be sorely missed along with fellow seniors 

Chelsea Donnay, Lindsey Rieland and Brianna Pfeffer.

PHOTO BY BRYAN ZOLLMAN

Final Score: Pipestone 52, Streeters 37

Pipestone makes front end of 1-and-1
Misses second

47-35

greenwaldt misses 3

Desperation time.....1:44 to go...Pipestone's ball.

49-35

Peschel misses 3

This one's over.....

49-35

Sauk subs in....

Sauk is now fouling.....

Pipestone shooting 1-and-1

2:14 to go

Sauk ball....

Peschel miss

Pipestone rebound.

Sauk foul.....

Megan Rieland's shot rims out.

A lot of shots rimming out.....on both ends

Pipestone timout

2:40 left

46-35 Pipestone

44-35

Megan Rieland misses 3

Pipestone runs a minute down and then scores

46-35

Pipestone turnover
Sauk needs a bucket here!

Peschel misses 3

Arrows Swenson scores.

Uh-oh.

42-33

Gruber scores

42-35 Pipestone

4:32

Woelber blows by again.

Peschel hits the deck and is slow getting up.

Weller to the line - makes first

Hits both

38-33
6:11

Arrows Bree Woelber blows by the Streeter D for an easy lay up

36-26

peschel makes two free throws

36-28
Sauk pressing.

Peschel great rebound...falls... keeps dribble....runs length of court, misses, grabs own rebound and kicks it out to Greenwaldt who drains a huge 3.

36-31 Arrows

Pipestone timeout.

6:41

34-26
8:04
Sauk ball.....
Sauk is now shooting 1-1......the rest of the game
Gruber misses front end

Pipestone getting lots of offensive rebounds.....

Arrows make two free throws 34-26

Peschel back in....posted up. Weller tries to find her but pass picked off.

Pipestone scores

32-23 Arrows

Greenwaldt hits for 3!

32-26 Arrows

Lindsey Rieland in for Peschel....

Weller rebound.

L indsey Rieland shot hits rim four times before bouncing out.

Deters block on other end

Sauk ball.....10:35

refs letting them play...

Peschel fouled

Sauk turnover

Arrows turnover...

They are all over Peschel, she cannot find a lane.

She's fouled again...

30-23
11:20

Peschel fouled
12:51 left
Bucket here would be huge

Maren finally hits!!!! 3!!!!!!

30-23

Peschel drives...welller misses bank shot.

There! Weller scores

28-20

Arrows follow 30-20

Streeter fans back into it..."Here we go Streeters Here we go"

Maren misses 3 - hits both rims - she can't get a break.

Pipestone shotting two
Makes first
Makes second
28-18 Arrows

26-18
Sauk needs to score.
Timeout Sauk
Pipestoen fans erupt.
Streeters need to regroup, take  a deep breathe, and chip away.

Peschel dribbles off her foot...not a good start to half.
Pipestone turnover.
We need a bucket here........
Peschel posting up
Rieland finds her and shes fouled...
Greenwaldt runner misses
Peschel 3 - air ball
Rieland for 3 - front rim....!!!

Pipestone scores and is fouled!

25-18
14:29

Peschel drives...contact...no foul
Weller whistle don other end....
Pipestone shooting two
makes first  22-18
makes second 23-18

Second half.......

Peschel posted up on first trip down court
Three jump balls within first minute.
Greenwaldt misses...
Weller rebound and put back rolls out.
These rims are tight tonight!

1st half images

Halftime Score: Pipestone 21, Sauk Centre 18

The Streeters are struggling early from the field, especially with their three-point range shots. They are lucky Pipestone has been equally ineffective as both teams are relying on tough defense to get by.

Sauk's Maren Greenwaldt did not make a shot in the first half, so it will be key for the Streeters for her to come out and be effective in the second half.
1st Half Scoring:
Peschel 8
Rieland 8
Greenwaldt 1
Weller 1

Sauk rebound...tunrover
Pipestone ball.....40 seconds
Pipestone scores 21-18
20 seconds to go......
Greenwaldt misses a 3.......
Greenwaldt commits second foul
4.8 seconds.

Peschel misses 3
Pipestone rebound
Peschel called for a foul....
Pipestone miss....
Greenwadlt foul
Still 19-18.
1:01 left

Peschel miss
It's been awhile between buckets for both teams
Pipestone shot rims out
Peschel drives, can't draw a foul.....misses.
Greenwadlt back in
2:23

Greenwadlt misses a 3
Pipestoen rebound
Pipestone miss
Greenwaldt misses
Jump ball
Pipestone's ball
Arrows timeout.....

Greenwaldt comes out of game and Lindsey Rieland enters.

Still 19-18 Pipestone 3:44 to go.

Kali block leads to a travel
Sauk Centre Time out.

It's an even battle so far. Pipestone is showing a good inside game. Sauk has not exactly been on fire form outside. They need Greenwaldt to drop a shot here before the end of the half for some confidence.

19-18 Pipestone with 4:26 to go

Sauk's ball....

Nice baseline shot for Pipestone 18-17
Sauk misses
Pipestone scores again to take a 19-18 lead
5 minutes to go

Peschel misses from DEEP
Rieland rebound - fouled
In bounds - Weller fouled ...goes to line
makes 1 of 2
15-15
Pipestone Miss
Peschel for 3!!
18-15 Streeters!

Maren miss 3
Megan Rieland hits for two!
13-13

Peschel miss 20-footer
Pipestone converts
13-11 Arrows 7:56 to go

Megan Rieland put back.
Pipestone miss
Greenwaldt three rims out!
11-11!

9-9
Sauk turnover....
Lets see if Arrows convert...
Peschel commits first foul.
Makes first....makes second
11-9 Arrows

9-6 Streeters
Greenwaldt 0-4 from three range.
Weller going to line...
misses first....
Peschel in for Megan Rieland
Misses second.
10:43 to go.
Pipestone Timeout.

I think this is a good start for Sauk, although they are not shooting well early. Pipestone is turning the ball over.....

Peschel and Gruber out, Deters and Lindsey Rieland in

9-6 Streeters

Update

Streeters lead 7-4 on two threes by Peschel and Rieland - 14:21

8-4 Peschel free throws

Pipestone turning over the ball.

At the Barn!

The Streeters took to the court a few minutes ago wearing their maroon and white in contrast with Pipestone's Black and Green.

Pipestone looks to have good size so this looks to be a match up of agility versus muscle. The keys tonight will be which team gets off to a good start. If the Streeters hit a couple shots early that could really be a big boost. If the first few shots don't fall and Pipestone builds a lead, Sauk could be in trouble. We've seen that with their two losses.

Another key will be the officials. Word is that Pipestone likes to play aggressive, physical basketball. If the refs let things go, it could spell trouble for Sauk. If they whistle contact, the Streeters will have the upper hand because they are good foul shooters. We should find out early what sort of game they will call.

Should be a good match up. Stay tuned for updates of the game.

The Streeters during warm ups before tonight's match up against Pipestone.

Send the Streeters off in style!

The Streeter girls will be making their way through downtown Sauk Centre at approximately 1:40 p.m. today. Hit the streets and wave your hankies and show your support! They will make their way down Main Street!!!!

Go Mainstreeters!javascript:void(0)

Watch "The Machine" on their way to state!

Watch a Slideshow of the Streeters road to state here

Man, was that crowd awesome or what!

The Mainstreeters held a 34-16 with under 13:00 left in the second half in this clip.


Here's a clip from the tail end of the Sauk Centre vs. NL-S game at St.John's.

Six fan buses scheduled for Wednesday's game

There will be six fan buses available for those looking to hitch a ride down to Minneapolis for Wednesday’s state tournament quarterfinal contest between Sauk Centre and Pipestone.

Minnesota National Bank is sponsoring two charter buses. Cost is $6 per person. All ages are welcome. The buses will leave the bank parking lot at 5 p.m. and return immediately following the game. There is extra parking behind Schaefer’s Market. Those wishing to reserve a spot are asked to do so by phone and pay for their spot by Tuesday at 3 p.m. Call 352-5211.

First State Bank is also sponsoring three charter fan buses. The cost is also $6 per person and children must be accompanied by a parent. The buses will leave at 4:30 p.m. from the senior high parking lot. Call the bank at 352-5771 to sign up as soon as possible. Seats are filling up fast!

There is also a student bus leaving from Sauk Centre High School. Cost is $10. The bus will leave at 4:30 p.m. from the school. You can sign up in the activities office. Elementary-aged children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Streeters play at 8 p.m.

More scenes from Friday night's 59-44 win by the Sauk Centre Mainstreeters girls basketball team over the Staples-Motley Cardinals for the Section 6AA championship

And another video clip, with the Mainstreeters' defense on display.


In this clip, with about 5:00 left in the first half, the Mainstreeters' offense is shown moving the ball around on the perimeter, looking for a passing lane, and ultimately drawing a foul on an offensive rebound attempt to set up a bonus free throw opportunity.


Photos from the big section championship game are being uploaded this afternoon to the Sauk Centre Herald's online photo gallery: http://saukherald.mycapture.com/

~RO