TORNADOES ADVANCE IN THE DANCE TURN BACK MARAUDERS 59-37
Poland’s Brianna Goggin (14) works around Mills defender Dyanna Thomas (50) in the early going.
Jeff Pexton-MHTS-Photos-Jeff Pexton-MHTS-PGI
The fourth seeded Poland Tornadoes got double figures from three different players en route to a 57-39 win over the New York Mills Lady Marauders in a Section III, Class “D” quarterfinal match up tonight in Poland.
Natalie Powers (14 pts), Morgan Irwin (10 pts) and Lauren Gunderman (10 pts) each tallied double digits as the Tornadoes knocked off the fifth seeded Lady Marauders, for the third time this season, in front of a packed house.
Powers, was a power, all night, scoring 14 big points and pulling down 12 big rebounds.
Lauren Gunderman was all about the glass hauling in 16 rebounds of her own to help set the tone in this one.
Courtney Tabor also played a great, all around, game scoring 7 points, dishing out 8 assists and coming up with 5 steals.
Poland's Natalie Powers (11) goes up for 2 of her 10 points as Cassidy Albright (34) gets a hand up for Mills.
Both teams entered tonight’s contest with identical (12-6) records and both teams reached tonight’s quarter final by virtue of first round byes.
Coach Jason Potempa’s Tornadoes are on a roll having won five straight including a convincing win over tonight’s opponents, the New York Mills Marauders, 43-34, on their own court on 2/13.
In fact tonight’s playoff win makes it three straight against the Marauders.
When the dust finally settled and all of the bruises were attended to, fans will remember this one as one of the most physical girl’s basketball games they’ve ever seen.
Fifty (50) fouls were called in tonight’s game, 26 on New York Mills and 24 on Poland. Many will say it was Poland’s accuracy from the charity stripe that sealed the win.
The Lady Tornadoes went 15 of 23 from the line, while the Lady Marauders weren’t able to capitalize nearly as well, making just 7 of 18 free throws on the evening.
Lauren Gunderman got the home team rolling in the first quarter, scoring 6 of her team’s 12 opening period points, 4 of which came from the line after being knocked around inside.
It was that physical...Poland's Morgen Irwin (10) hits the deck as Mills guard Sarah Frankland (10) begins to hurdle her for the ball.
Four different Lady Marauders had first quarter baskets to keep the first quarter competitive, but Poland took a 12-8 lead into the first break in the action.
Mills center Dominique Talerico spent much of the first half on the bench, having picked up two quick fouls in the opening moments of the ball game.
Natalie Powers and Morgan Irwin had 4 points apiece for Poland in the second quarter, which saw both teams enter the bonus area with 6:54 remaining in the first half!
Mills guard Carly Dziekan scored 5 of her team high 13 points in the second quarter to again keep the Lady Marauders close.
Poland took also took advantage of six Mills turnovers in the second quarter, building a 28-17 lead at the intermission.
New York Mills went on a 7-0 run in the first four minutes of the third quarter to cut the Poland lead to 28-24.
That’s when the Tornadoes blew things open and outscored the Lady Marauders 12-2 over the next four minutes and took a commanding 40-26 lead into quarter number four.
Mills was plagued by a rash of third period fouls, which sent starters Dziekan, Cassidy Albright and Dominique Talerico to the bench for much of the second half.
It was all Poland in the fourth, as the Tornadoes stretched their advantage to as many as 19 points, before closing this rough and tumble affair with a 57-39 victory.
Mills forward Cassidy Albright (34), an 8th grader, ranges for a third quarter lay in as Poland's Lauren Gunderman (21) defends.
New York Mills finished a fine season at (12-7) and will say goodbye to seniors Brittany Englert, Sarah Frankland, Savannah Dietz and Ashley Nichols.
Poland (13-6) advances to semi-final play against the winner of the upcoming Hamilton vs. Copenhagen game to be played on Friday night.
Poland 57 New York Mills 39
Box Score
1 2 3 4 Final
NY Mills 8 9 9 13 39
Poland 12 16 14 15 57
MHTS Scoring Summary:
New York Mills:
Carly Dziekan-13
Savannah Dietz-9
Domenique Talerico-5
Ashley Nichols-4
Hannah King-3
Sarah Frankland-2
Kaylie DiNitto-2
Amanda Maciol-1
Poland:
Natalie Powers-14
Morgan Irwin-10
Lauren Gunderman-10
Courtney Tabor-7
Brianna Goggin-6
Paige Sullivan-4
Holly Bronson-3
Shawna Rickard-2
Nicole Kasprzyk-1
