Girls' Basketball: Panthers spoil Tornadoes run
by Jason Olson
SportsPrepZone Editor
Anoka’s storybook run through sections came to an end in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals Wednesday afternoon as No. 3 seed Lakeville North handed the Tornadoes (6-25) a 64-40 loss at Target Center.
Anoka's Emily Alexander, right, reaches for a rebound on the offensive end of the floor during the first half of Wednsday's game at Target Center. Photo by Jason Olson
The Panthers came into state with a ton of momentum too as the defending state champions with a 27-2 record, 25 game winning streak and two division one players. Ms. Basketball candidate Rachel Banham plans on playing for the Gophers and had a game-high 27 points while Marquette prospect Apiew Ojulu had 18 rebounds and 14 points.
Anoka came into the game with the momentum built over the last two weeks after doubling the season wins total prior to state with the additional pressure of being the first girls’ basketball team to represent Anoka at state.
Anoka coach James Fassett told the team after the game they had nothing to be ashamed about, “We didn’t quit in the second half,” he said. “We could’ve folded and just let them run away with it but we didn’t. In fact we made them put the big guns back in.”
Anoka led 9-6, five minutes, 25 seconds into the game as senior guard Shauni Payeur hit a three pointer and led the team with 14 points. The Panthers took over from there and built a 34-14 lead into halftime.
Panthers coach Andy Berkvam said the game plan went away from the start, but they recovered quickly. “We wanted to go inside early but instead we shot three-pointers and missed all of them so [Anoka] hung with us.”
Lakeville North led by as much as 29 points with 6:49 left in the game and were never really tested in the end.
“They played without fear,” Berkvam said about scouting Anoka during the section semifinal game last week. “Give them a lot of credit and they’re a program that is only going to get better and better.”
Berkvam put much of his starting lineup back into the game with 9:23 left in the second half to send a message to his team “They were asking us on the bench if we were done and I said no and put them right back into the game. I’m not into a blowout (of the score) but I had to remind them that we play no matter what the score is.”
Anokas Kyrah Fredenburg, middle, and Emily Anderson, right, bobble the ball during the first half Wednesday. Photo by Rick Orndorf
The Tornadoes struggled to control the ball at times which led to 32 turnovers and shot 26.7 percent from the field. They made 4-of-11 three pointers and converted 12-of-21 free throws.
Freshman Kyrah Fredenburg grabbed a team-high eight rebounds with four points and blocked two shots. Freshman Claire Lundberg had eight points, five rebounds and made 5-of-8 free throws.
Lakeville North shot 41.2 percent from the field, failed to convert a three-point attempt (0-13) and turned the ball over 19 times.
Before the game Fassett kept his team focused and loose to keep the pressure low.
“He wanted us to stay in the moment,” Payeur, a captain, said. “and be sure to take it all in because this is really something special to be a part of.”
Payeur said the team found a new fan base roaming the halls at school. “Lots of people have been coming up to me at school wishing us good luck,” she said. “I was surprised at how much support.”
As the pressure on the Tornadoes built Fassett kept the team calm by referring to the current game by number. Wednesday’s was game number 31 in the season. That message of just another game wasn’t going to work, given the context and where Anoka was at.
“We just worked on keeping them focused and that this was just another basketball game no matter if it was at Anoka High School, North Branch High School or Target Center,” Fassett said. “It’s still a game no matter where it’s at.”
That thought wasn’t tough to keep, despite the big lead the Panthers had in the second half. “We weren’t looking at the scoreboard much,” Payeur said. “We just wanted to have fun since we were here because we all love the game and had too much self pride not to play any other way.”
Playing against some of the state’s best was another memory Payeur will cherish. “I was looking forward to playing against Rachel so when she’s playing in the WNBA in 20 years I can say that I played against her in the state tournament.”
Anoka fans cheer for their team during the player introductions before the game. Photo by Rick Orndorf
Anoka returns a lot of its power from this season including freshmen Claire Lundberg, Kyrah Fredenburg, Ashley Bray and Amber Bray and sophomore Hailee Gifford. Fassett made sure the team knew they each have work to do in the off season if they want to make a return trip next March.
[smooth=id:137]
