December 18
Editor’s Note: This is actually game 6 (the Super has me working on house stuff). We won game 7 at St. Cloud Apollo last night, 85 – 61 . . .
Cardinal fun (at a previous boys’ game) – the mascot; and Mia McGrane attempting a half court shot, one-handed, backwards, and she almost made it . . .
[The game v. conference foe, the Sartell Sabres . . . ]
[The JV is having an excellent season as well . . . ]
[We begin, as usual, with warm-ups . . .]
[Slap, slap, slap, slap, slap . . . ]
[Lest you were wondering, Wings Up (always the Cardinals motto) Birdgame # 32 (the 32nd game of the season would be the state championship game) . . . ]
[Have you been to the new Mexican restaurant downtown yet?]
[How many balls can we hang up in the net?]
[The senior braintrust . . . ]
[Well, I guess that’s settled . . . ]
[The less-than-senior braintrust. What’s the answer to 16 across?]
[Meanwhile, back on the court . . . ]
[Ella Grove works on . . . ]
[Her pull-up mid-range jumper . . . ]
[Sweet, Caroline . . . ]
[So, how were the fajitas?]
[Really????]
[Mac Duwenhoegger up for the opening tip . . . ]
[As I recall, Ella’s first four free throws were so pure, none even touched the rim . . . ]
[The fullcourt press on the inbound – Ella’s (11) on the ball, with guards Kaye Paschka (3) and Mia McGrane (5) on the flanks . . . ]
[Ella inbounds, Mac sets a pic, for a shot from the corner . . . ]
[Ella often prevents the inbounds pass from reaching its intended destination . . . ]
[I told friends before the game that always prefer 20 – 0 starts. It takes the mystery out of the final result. This time, however, the Sabres were the next to score . . . ]
[The lone starter on the court here is Emily Jones (33), amid teammates Cate Bloom (21), Alyna Strand (25), Mataya Hoelscher (23), and Jaya Hatlestad (13). The key is lots of playing time for lots of players . . . ]
[The dreaded “3-11-5 press” . . . ]
[Here Ella, Jonesie, and Kaye keeping their eyes on the ball . . . ]
[Looks like Mia has a steal . . . ]
[At the half. The Sabres could stick ’em when they got an open look . . . ]
[Mia coming up court . . . ]
[Backlit by the Klieg lights of the scorer’s table . . . ]
[A Sabre guard is . . . ]
[Engulfed by an Ella – Mia doubleteam . . . ]
[It could be real trouble . . . ]
[But the ball escaped to live another day . . . ]
[Jonesie cuts to the hole with Mia setting a back pic . . . ]
[Kaye repositions the set . . . ]
[Jonesie passes (or calls “no trump,” I’m not sure) . . . ]
[Cate at the line, as a result of an obvious rules violation by the Sabres . . . ]
[Looks good . . . ]
[Kaye brings the ball up (and gives it a stern talking to) . . . ]
[Mia and Kaye play catch out front . . . ]
[Go, go, go . . . (Coach Kohler looks on in the background to make sure they are “going” to the right places) . . . ]
[Mac on the line. The team’s free throw effectiveness seems to be getting better every game . . . ]
[Here Mataya gives it a whirl, with Summer Gerhardt (1) on the lane and Nikki Botzet (31) playing safety . . . ]
[Another big win and the team is looking good. The holiday season now brings some tough road trips . . . ]
You can sum up this sport in two words: You never know. ~ Lou Duva
Up Next: Christmas?
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