Hinsdale/Saco Play Like Titans

According to Head Coach Kraig Nordahl of the Hinsdale/Saco Lady Titans, this team handles the ball well, shoots well, takes instruction well, rebounds well, defends well and fights for every point and rebound.

Sounds like a very formidable opponent indeed, and that's what they proved to be as they put away the Opheim Lady Vikings for the 2013 junior high girls basketball championship last Friday at Hinsdale. Stay tuned for more after these words...

I must tell you a little about the boys. I was so sure they would be in the championship game that I didn't get to the gym until there were just 4 minutes left in the consolation game and the score was Hinsdale/Saco 28 and Nashua 26.

Seems Nashua sent Hinsdale/Saco to the loser bracket in their first meeting and wound up there their-own-dang-selves a short time later at the hands of the Opheim Vikings.

Hinsdale/Saco beat Frazer to earn a spot in the consolation game against Nashua, who had just beat Dodson.

I wish I would have seen the entire game.

The very first play I saw was when Loden Idler passed to John McColly camped under the shadow of the rim. John up-and-inned it for a two pointer. Idler followed that with a long range three on the Titans next possession. One minute left and the score was 36 H/S and 32 Nashua. Then Porcupine Braden Jackson nailed a three of his own with 37 ticks left. 36 to 35.

The Titans took the ball down court, fired up a shot that missed and Nashua rebounded but lightning struck them when Wrangler Jones stole the ball, drizzled around a bit until he got fouled and then hit 1 of 2 to put the Titans up by two with 17 seconds left. Nashua quickly took the ball down court but their three point attempt hit iron and sailed out of bounds with just 1:6 seconds left. Hinsdale/Saco won 37 to 35.

For the girls it was pretty much Jada Sudbrack doing the scoring with the rest of the Titans rebounding, assisting and scrapping for loose basketballs. Jada scored 11 points in three of her last four games.

Proving she is an all-around team player however, Jada shot a pass to an open Sarah Boucher under the rim and Sarah put it up and in for two of her four points.

Bailey Funk showed her quick hands when she stole the ball from a sleepy Opheim player, tossed it down court where Casity Boucher tossed it into the bucket for a long range three which, along with a free throw gave her a four point game.

Opheim was clearly out-classed this night but for this reporter it was good to see the Vikings will have enough girls to play high school basketball again. Maybe not this year but in the near future. I was told the Opheim boys will have a high school team as well. Welcome back to the real world Vikings!! You were missed!

But on with my story.

Titans head coach Kraig Nordahl told me, "I told Lauren (Kolstad) that I thought she played her very best game of the year here tonight". I thought so too watching her fight for rebounds and block out defenders.

Mickayla Johnson was a monster on the glass grabbing rebounds at both ends, taking care of the ball and making good out bound passes to her teammates. She scored a couple points to add to the total. Chaykota Christensen, coming in as sixth player made a two point contribution and grabbed a couple rebounds.

The Hinsdale/Saco Lady Titans are the 2013 Girls Junior High Champions.

That's it for now folks. Thanks for listening