Posted: 1/2/08
NB girls Basketball gets monkey off its back
 Senior Cori Fairbanks, left, puts her hands up to defend the perimeter in the first half of the Vikings game against Simley Dec. 28. Fairbanks ended the game with four points. |
By Steve Morris
Wow. It's one word to describe the North Branch girls basketball team play during the Simley Holiday Tournament.
The girls proved their doubters wrong last weekend by taking third place in the holiday tournament.
In the team's first game, they faced St. Paul Academy, and won by 23 points, 72-49. It was their first win of the year and snapped a seven-game slide.
The experienced trio of Megan Scherer, Kristen Robatcek and Ashley Johnson lifted the team to the win.
"Our three players with varsity experience from last year really came through for us scoring," head coach Dan Schindler said.
Combined, the three had 49 of the team's 72 points.
The Vikings defense pressure frazzled St. Paul Academy, giving the Vikings control of the tempo.
"This win kind of got the monkey off our back and made us relax for the rest of the tournament," Schindler said.
For the team's second game of the tournament, they played Simley.
Robatcek stole the show, leading the team with eight steals and 19 points. Her play wasn't enough alone, as the girls fell in the last seconds, 44-47.
With less than five seconds left, the girls had a chance to go for the tie, but Robatcek's three point attempt at the buzzer fell short and the girls lost.
Johnson played well, as she worked her baby hook shot in the low post for easy baskets in the first half. She finished with eight points.
The Vikings outplayed Simley in the first half, but not in the second half.
Coming within three points was a feat in itself as Simley is 10-2 and starts three six-foot girls.
"I think our young girls are starting to understand what we want them to do and we can be a good team when all five players on the court are on the same page," Schindler said.
With the loss, the girls advanced to the third-place game against St. Paul Highland Park and won, 56-52.
Johnson had her best game of her career by scoring 26 points in the win. Kristen Kaminski fed Johnson the ball all night long which gave her easy scoring opportunities.
Sophomore Jessica Audette added nine rebounds.
North Branch 35 37 72
St. Paul Academy 21 28 49
Cori Fairbanks 4, Kristen Robatcek 17, 7 assists, Kristen Kaminski 2, Megan Scherer 16, Rebecca Collins 6, Rikki Beaver 5, Amanda Sylla 6, Ashley Johnson 16, 11 rebounds
North Branch 24 20 44
Simley 14 33 47
Cori Fairbanks 4, Kristen Robatcek 19, 8 steals, Jessica Audette 9, Kendra Norman 4, Ashley Johnson 8, Jessica Audette 9
Highland Park 31 21 52
North Branch 25 31 56
Kristen Robatcek 15, Onalee Yousey 2, Jessica Audette 3, Kendra Norman 6, Megan Scherer 4, Ashley Johnson 26
St. Francis
Christmas didn't come early for the girls basketball team.
On Dec. 21, the St. Francis Fighting Saints conquered the Vikings 45-72.
Prior to the game, Schindler knew defeating St. Francis was going to be an uphill battle, as St. Francis is undefeated and is one of the top teams in Class 4AAAA.
"They just have so much firepower," Schindler said.
In the opening 12 minutes, the North Branch girls played well, staying within an arm's distance.
As the first stanza progressed, the girls began to slip. Much to the chagrin of Schindler, the girls had a stretch where they lost focus and St. Francis' lead exploded to 38-17.
Scherer had her best game of the year and led the team with 16 points. Freshman Kendra Norman played the type of defense coaches drool over, as she took three charges.
"It's a stat we really stress in our defense," Schindler said.
The sophomore duo of Audette and Miranda Charley came off the bench and played quality minutes.
"I do think we are improving and the goal is to go to Simley and see some improvement on the scoreboard," Schindler said.
North Branch 17 28 45
St. Francis 38 34 72
Kristen Robatcek 4, Onalee Yousey 2, Jessica Audette 4, Kendra Norman 2, Miranda Charley 2, Megan Scherer 16, Rikki Beaver 1, Amanda Sylla 4, Ashley Johnson 10
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