3-29-2012 gPrep: "How difficult was it to win the state championship? Talk about the preparation and work you put in in the off-season to take your game to the next level."
Taylor Finley, 5'11" JR. Guard, Providence:"Winning the state championship has been a goal of ours since this team came together in the fall. Our coaches scheduled us to play the best competition in the state and made sure we were prepared, with the skills needed both physically and mentally for success in March. It came down to us believing in ourselves and executing everything we had put countless hours into learning.
Winning a state championship is something everyone dreams of, but not everyone gets to experience. For our team this season, it was a dream come true.In addition to individual skill workouts, each of my teammates, including myself, play AAU in the off-season. This helps develop our individual skills. So when it comes time for the high school season, we can focus on our team development."
Taylor Finley : "It was a dream come true."
3-27-2012 gPrep:"You (Sydney Coffey) ended your high school career on top with back-to-back championships. How special was it to go out on top and why?"
Sydney Coffey, 6'0" Guard, Hopkins: "It was very special to go out with a repeat championship win because it was my very last high school game ever, and it was my last game with my second family and sister. It was also special to play at the Target Center and play in front of a lot of fans, friends and family."
Sydney Coffey: back-to-back State Champion
Becca Dahlman becomes Minnesota's all-time career scorer, 3,895 points
3-26-2012 gPrep:"You (Becca Dahlman) became Minnesota's all-time career scorer in Braham's 45-75 loss to NRHEG in the simi-finals of the 2012 Minnesota State Tournament. But something tells me you could care less about that record right now. Is that true? How difficult is it not to bring home the class AA title back to Braham?"
Becca Dahlman, 5'10" JR. Guard, Braham: "I get this question a lot from people. Ha, but it was tough to end the season how we did. After I didn't care at all that I was the leading scorer in Minnesota. I'm sure if we would have won I would have appreciated it more. But in the end, it's a great honor and I couldn't have done it without my teammates, coaches and family! I have one more year left to play high school ball, and I'm gonna do whatever it takes to win a state title."
Kali Peschel: Big time come back from ACL surgery
3-26-2012 gPrep: "You (Kali Peschel) came back from ACL surgery (Feb 14, 2012) to finish your senior season in the class AA championship game, what was the journey like?"
Kali Peschel, 6'2" Guard, Sauk Center High School: "To be completely honest when it first happened, I had prepared myself to not come back at all, and I knew that rehab would be measured by a week by week progression. Rehab was very intense and had its setbacks both physically and mentally. I forced myself to stay positive and had an awesome support system around me pushing me to keep getting better. When the high school season started, I was still unsure even though I had made good strides, but it was hard to get my hopes up to the point of returning. My post rehab program was at Tria, and the more I worked at it and the stronger I got, it became realistic that I could maybe come back. By mid January, I had talked with the Iowa staff and discussed the possible return if I was cleared and able to play again. They were very supportive of me throughout the whole process and backed up my decision in regards to being cleared and coming back to play my senior season. So, the day I was cleared was very emotional because I was given the opportunity to come back and play high school basketball which 6 months ago had been nonexistent. The way the season ended was truly a dream. I stepped onto a team that was well established, and my goal was to help out and do the best I could for the teams sake. To have it end in a state championship is something I never thought possible. I am humbled and so so blessed to have gotten to experience what I did this basketball season. The biggest lesson I have learned through this whole process is that each time you step on the court is a gift and not a requirement. That is something you should never take for granted."
Jackie Johnson: getting it done
Is it possible to play FANTASTIC in a losing cause? gPrep says "Yes". Metro Stars' Jackie Johnson has been "no joke" this AAU season. The 6'2" post has been lights-out from beyond the arc. And, she is getting it done in the paint. Right now, Johnson has put it all together and is starting to be a dominant force on the court. Her game has been clearly elevated, and her confidence level is off the charts. Had Metro Stars Black won the championship game on Sunday, Johnson would have easily been gPrep's TOP NOISE MAKER. She is also a high character student athlete. Johnson took time to answer a few questions:
5-26-2011
gPrep: Who are your toughest players to play against?
Jackie Johnson, Metro Stars Black, Edina: "In no specific order, Rachel Banham , Kayla Hirt, Api Ojulu , Nia Coffey."
gPrep: What did you learn from that difficult loss in the AAU State Championship game to North Tartan Elite?
Jackie Johnson, Metro Stars Black, Eden Prairie: " I learned/remembered how much hate the feeling of losing and it really motivates me to work even harder than I am right now because I don't want to feel like that again. I also think it really showed me what I need to work on, as being one of the leaders on my team & how to bring the girls together during a close game!"
5-24-2011
gPrep: Why are you playing so well and is your workout instrumental to your game?
Marissa Janning , North Tartan Elite, Watertown Mayer: "I think that I'm playing well because it's my last AAU season ever and being that I have verballed I can relax and just play without worrying about anything. Another reason is the group of girls I'm playing with. They always have high energy and it's a lot easier to go out and play your hardest when you can trust every other girl will do the same. My workouts do play a roll. I guess I'm taking them more seriously and working a lot harder now so I can be ready for the next level."
4-22-2011
gPrep: Want to play college ball? What does it take for a high school baller to get noticed on the court by a college basketball coach? gPrep bounced the question around to some of the nation’s top talent recruiters.
Coach Sandy Boatham, Women's Head Coach, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee:
"1. We first look to see if they have the skills, for their specific position, and athleticism to compete in the Horizon League. Skills.
2. Second, we look to see if the player works hard and competes on every possession. Heart.
3. Third, we look to see if the player understands the game of basketball. Which you can see in their court awareness, how they execute plays and how they work on the defensive end. Head.
4. And last, we look for how they interact with their coaches and teammates. Are they a team player and coachable? Attitude.
The last element is very important. Even if a player possesses the first three elements - if they do not possess a good attitude - we will not consider them as a Panther!"
Coach Carolyn DeHoff, Women's Head Coach, North Dakota State University: "The most notable attributes we look for in recruiting a high school basketball player is athleticism and a skill set to play at the next level. Beyond these, we look for a few intangibles as well, passion to compete, are they teachable, and when faced with adversity (i.e. foul trouble) how do they respond to the officials and their teammates."
Coach Lisa Bluder, Women’s Head Coach, University of Iowa: “When we are looking for a player, we look for obvious parts of their game, such as: can they shoot, score, rebound, or how is their quickness? However, some of the other things that we look for are the intangibles – and often times they are even more important than the obvious physical skills a player possesses. The intangibles are things like: do they hustle, do they dive for loose balls, do they communicate well with their teammates and coaches, how do they treat the officials and do they look like they are giving it everything they have? The other critical aspect that we must check before going too far in the recruiting process is their commitment to academics. We don’t expect all of our players to be straight A students – but we do take into consideration actions such as: are they trying as hard as they can, are there a lot of absences in their high school transcripts and what do their teachers/counselors say about their commitment to academics? We ultimately want the Iowa player to be a great young woman that happens to play basketball!”
2010 Meltdown Tournament
Coach Jim Flanery,
Women’s Head Coach, Creighton University: “I look for competitiveness and the ability to make others around you better. Competitiveness is going to be displayed in the willingness to fight a little harder when things aren’t going well and in simply showing some enthusiasm for the game. As many games as kids play these days, that isn’t an easy thing to do. I think it’s really insightful, though, as to how much a kid is going to improve and how consistent she is ultimately going to be. With making others around you better, that too is often most easily seen in situations of adversity. I like to see if a kid can pick up her teammates’ morale in times when the team is struggling. Beyond obvious skill and athleticism, those are the two things I like to zero in on in differentiating kids from one another or in gauging whether a kid with a little less physical talent can be successful at our level. How hard and how consistently does that kid compete? And, to what degree does she make her teammates better, both in a tangible and in an intangible sense?”
Coach Pam Borton, Women’s Head Coach, University of Minnesota: “I look for talent and the skill level in a player to play in the Big 10. I also look for players with great work ethics and athletes who are competitive and relentless on the floor. They should have versatility to play multiple positions, be tough, be athletic, be unselfish, and have a great attitude as well as be a difference maker and a player who will produce.”
4-18-2011
gPrep: What's the mindset of a great point guard?
Britney Scherber: "My mindset as a point guard is always knowing that I need to be the leader on the court and make things happen by creating scoring opportunities for my teammates."
Ta'Kendra Elbert: " My mindset as a point guard is to be the floor general, always create opportunities for my teammates to score,and to set the tone of game."
Kahla Becken : "The mindset of a great point guard is always to put the team first. A great point guard will constantly look to make their teammates better and they will do what ever it takes to win."
Grace Coughlin: " My mindset as a point guard is to be the extension of the coach on the floor- with vocal leadership, confidence, mental toughness, awareness, vision, and poise. My mindset is "Team First" and I make my decisions based on what's good for the team rather than what's good for me."
Shayne Mullaney: "The point guard sets the tempo of the game for their team. Control is key. I like to think of myself as a servant leader. I serve the ball to my teammates by making the best options and decisions for the best result."
Jenna Dockter: To me a point guard has to see the floor and make good decisions, always putting their team above themself and making everyone better. They're the floor leader and have to be able to thrive under pressure."
Joanna Hedstrom: "She's someone who puts the success of the team above her own desire to score and is an extension of her coach on the court. Also, she is vocal, positive and a leader for her teammates, and her actions make her teammates better."
Marissa Janning: "My mindset as a point guard is to create shots for myself and my teammates. I also have to be able to be a leader and have patience but be ready to attack the defense at any time."
Chelsey C-Money Mcgee: My mindset Of being the point guard for my team is to make sure I can See everything that's going on, create plays for my team, make sure that my team has the tempo and control Of the game.
Janay Morton: "Seeing the floor and all your players at all times. Also being able to set your players up in great scoring position. You run the tempo of your teams game."
Hannah Schaub: "Being confident with the ball and getting my teammates involved."
Now you know the mindset of some of the top point guards in the state of Minnesota. What's your opinion?
4-11-2011
gPrep: Braham's Becca Dahlman was 17-of-18 in the State's Class 2A Championship game. How often should you work on free throws?
Becca Dahlman: "Every time I'm in the gym, I shoot a bunch of free throws because I believe whomever makes the most free throws out of both teams wins the game. And since I get to the line a ton, I know I have to step up and make my free throws."
Copyright 2012, gPrep, All Rights Reserved