12/3/2007 2:45:00 PM Even with a win, Royals aren't happy
PHOTO: MARK TROCKMAN
Hopkins senior forward Stephanie Sension is fouled by St. Paul Johnson guard Alex Moore in the first half of the game at the Tartan Invitational Friday, Nov. 30 in Fridley. The Royals beat the Governors 71-65.
Hopkins girls' basketball coach Brian Cosgriff wasn't happy with his team's play in a 71-65 win Friday night over a talented St. Paul Johnson team in the Tartan Invitational.
He'd be feeling a lot worse if it wasn't for two of his players - freshman Brianna Williams and senior Caitlin Rowland.
Williams made four key baskets in the second half against the Governors, with two of those hoops coming late off steals and length-of-the-floor drives to the basket.
Rowland, a senior forward who was out much of last season with an injury, was rock solid in the final quarter as well. The pair was the difference between a Hopkins win and a Hopkins loss.
"Brianna was a real spark off the bench for us and made some key plays down the stretch," Cosgriff said.
"I thought Caitlin showed a lot of the poise you expect from a senior, and she scored a couple big baskets in the second half."
The coach downplayed the victory and was most concerned about his team's offensive and defensive execution.
The Royals turned the ball over 24 times against a quick St. Paul Johnson defense.
"We've simply got to take better care of the ball," he said. "Johnson is a very good basketball team, but I thought we basically stunk the place up."
The Royals led by six late in the first half at 26-20 and led 38-27 at the half.
The Governors matched every rally Hopkins had in the second half and got to within two points at 42-40 with 12 minutes, 22 seconds left in the game.
"They were very quick, but our defense wasn't good at all," Cosgriff said. "We need to play better defense and value the ball better if we want to beat some of the competition we'll be seeing later this season.
"The good news is that it's still very early in the year, but we need to work on our execution both offensively and defensively," Cosgriff added.
The Governors had started the second half on a 13-4 run to get to within two, but it was a clutch shot from just inside of the freethrow line by Rowland that finally stopped the Governors' momentum.
Rowland's basket gave Hopkins a 44-40 lead and Williams got the next basket on a drive to the hoop from the right wing.
As she neared the basket, she took off with her left foot, faked a pass to the other side of the lane, then put it in with her right hand.
After another basket by senior guard Jenna Lillemoe, Hopkins had its own 6-0 run and got back an eight-point lead at 48-40.
"St. Paul Johnson was a really good team, but we can play a lot better," Lillemoe said after the game. "We didn't play very good defense, and didn't play with the intensity we should have."
Hopkins stayed out of imminent danger the rest of the way, though Johnson got to within 48-43 at one point and to within 69-65 late in the game.
After Lillemoe's basket, Johnson got a long three-point shot by point guard Tacita Gonzales to make it 48-43.
On the offensive end, Rowland drove to the hoop and was fouled but made one of two freethrows to make it 49-43.
Lillemoe followed with another two-point basket as Hopkins' experience came to the fore with a 51-43 advantage with 8 minutes, 55 seconds left.
After Johnson's Stephanie Moore made a two-pointer to make it 51-45, Williams made a steal just past center court and took it all the way in for a layup.
After a defensive stop, Rowland made things more comfortable for her coach with a two-point shot from just inside the freethrow line. With 7:21 left, Hopkins held a 10-point lead at 55-45.
"I'd feel a lot worse if this was our last regular season game," Cosgriff said. "It's still early, but we have some work to do in practice this week."
Rowland finished with 12 points, but it was her six points in the second half that were most clutch.
Cosgriff added that junior forward/guard Cara Elofsen was key.
She finished with a team-high 19 points. Senior point guard Hanna Muegge also hit double figures, adding 11 points.
Gonzales was much of the story for the Governors. She canned five threes and added four two-point field goals and a free throw to finish with a game-high 24 points.
Johnson post player Carollyn Mobley was tough inside, adding 15 points, mostly from underneath the basket.
"Gonzales was really quick and she was on with her three-point shots, and Mobley was a strong post player for them," Lillemoe added.
"We can play better. We didn't execute our offense well and get the ball inside to [6-foot-3 center Stephanie] Sension," she added.
