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News Archive Four |
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From The Moorhead Forum, March 10, 2005, By Terry Vandrovec
Playing on the famed raised floor of Williams Arena before a crowd that included a contingent from the nationally ranked University of Minnesota women's basketball team, the Spuds led by seven in the first quarter and were within two possessions of the Royals until the final half of the third quarter of a 57-39 loss in the Class 4A quarterfinals Wednesday.
Even more important than a 10-0 run in the second quarter and a 9-0 spurt after the game had essentially been decided, No. 3-ranked Hopkins (27-2) wore down Moorhead (19-8) with a practical style that matched its athletic accessories: bulky ankle braces with black knee pads.
The Royals made 14 layups, earned 22 free-throw attempts and finished plus-seven in rebounding to earn a semifinal date against South St. Paul (27-2) at 9 p.m. today at Target Center.
"They just kept coming at you and coming at you and they got us out of our offense a little bit," Spuds coach Jim Kapitan said following the third tournament appearance in school history. "I think some of our kids got a little bit tired, some of their shots weren't falling and then (the Royals) come down and score."
With 2 minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Moorhead led 14-7 and junior center Danielle Cook had eight points plus the attention of a Gophers assistant coach.
"She did a number on us," Hopkins coach Brian Cosgriff said.
Less than one quarter later, Moorhead trailed 28-21 as Hopkins pieced together 10 consecutive points and didn't allow a basket for 4 minutes. The four-time defending section champion Royals' ball pressure and physical strength -- particularly useful on the offensive glass and in getting to the rim -- was beginning to take a toll on Moorhead.
And yet the Spuds didn't crumble. They didn't trail until 5:52 left in the second quarter, were within 34-28 with 4:42 to play in the third and stayed within double digits of Hopkins until 6:26 remaining in the fourth.
"Survive and advance at this point," Cosgriff said. "We'll take it. They're a scrappy group, they're well- coached. We're fortunate to be moving on."
Moorhead, on the other hand, despite having only two seniors and being an overwhelming underdog, wasn't entirely satisfied with the showing. Kapitan had scouted Hopkins, which narrowly earned three victories against Minnetonka, which was soundly defeated by Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, which was beaten by Moorhead early this season.
If only through three degrees of separation, the Spuds thought they had a shot at something beyond respectability.
"I don't think the court was what beat us," said the 6-foot Cook, who finished with 13 points and five rebounds. "I think our offense kind of let down a little and we couldn't get out of the hole."
Moorhead 14 22 30 39 Hopkins 13 28 39 57
MOORHEAD: Gulsvig 3 0-0 7, Johnson 1 3-3 5, Dolence 2 0-0 5, Anderson 2 1-2 5, Cook 6 1-2 13, Borgan 0 0-0 0, Vanyo 1 0-0 2, Wheeler 0 0-0 0, Dobbs 0 0-0 0, Jaroszewski 1 0-0 2, Hooten 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 5-7 39.
HOPKINS: Greene 1 0-0 3, Wilkinson 1 0-4 2, Rowland 5 2-2 12, Lillemoe 9 1-3 19, Schurle 5 3-7 15, Burmeister 0 2-2 2, Hiebert 0 1-2 1, Shavers 1 0-0 2, Thoeny 0 1-2 1. Totals 22 10-22 57.
3-point goals: Gulsvig, Dolence, Schurle 2, Greene. Total fouls: M 15, H 13. Rebounds: M 30 (Anderson 7), H 37 (Schurle 13). Assists: M 8 (Johnson 3), H 8 (Greene 4). Steals: M 3 (three with 1), H 2 (Wilkinson, Hiebert). Turnovers: M 8, H 9. |
