My two cents on Shakopee

Take this for what it is, a sports guy giving his reactions to one match.

Is Shakopee a good team? Yes. Are they the best "team" in state? No. Do they have the best player in the state? Yes. Does this mean they deserve the No. 1 ranking? As long as Ashley Wittman can carry them, yes.

The thing that made Shakopee so devastating last year is that when you tried to stop the University of MN recruit, the girl on the other side, Maggie Geske, beat you. Those two led that team to a state title. Without Geske, the Sabers are beatable.

The problem is, outside of Lakeville North, nobody has been able too. What makes North so special? My guess is one of the top blockers in the state - D1 recruit Amy Braun. If a team can contain Wittman, I think Shakopee can be beaten again.

Hutchinson did a fine job on Wittman last night. By my count, she had around 20 kills. The Tigers had numerous blocks and tips on her and Laura Carlson did a great job on defense. Hutch lost game one because of serve receive, game two because they couldn't return four straight serves in the end and game three because of how they lost game two.

Here is the scary part about Shakopee. Without Wittman they are an average team, but let's say she finished each game with 10 kills. Let's also say the opposing team makes 10 errors (hits outs-of-bound, violations, etc). That forces the other five girls on the court to score five points. Five points.

That's two kills from the right side, two from the middle and one serving ace. They don't need superstars - they need capable defenders (Jean Theis, Claire Sames and Elizabeth Benusa) who can chip in when Wittman is in the back row. They also have a very aggressive libero in Mollie Geske that plays a big role in their defense.

Will Shakopee win 2AAA? Yes. Will Shakopee win state? I guess we'll see. I can guarantee you they are the favorites next year as well. They graduate only two 5-6 reserve outside hitters.

WHAT IF?
Hutchinson led for most of the second game, but when Shakopee tied the score at 11 I wrote down the play/score. The very next point the Sabers were called for not allowing setter Gladys Bonnema to play the ball. The gym was loud and the ball dropped on Hutchinson's side. The point was given to Shakopee on the scoreboard and it was never corrected.

I went over at the next timeout, but nothing came of it. Hutchinson just happened to lead 23-21 (should have been 24-20) at one point. I totally see the Tigers winning one of the next four points in that situation.

I later confirmed this with two spectators, who asked me about the point. What if Hutchinson wins game two and has the momentum?

MCLEOD WEST IS EVERYWHERE
Last week, I told you that CBS National News was in town to do a story that will be featured on the 5:30 program tonight. ESPN the Magazine and Rick Reilly also did a print story last week.

Well, here is two more local stories:
Fox 9 -
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?conte...

WCCO 4 -
http://wcco.com/local/football.McLeod.West.2.832648.html

The Falcons (4-2) take on Buffalo Lake-Hector tonight in Stewart in what might be the last home game ever for the district. Good news is that quarterback/cornerback/punt returner Spencer Glaeser will play along with lineman Sebastion Spray Smith, who was taken off on a stretcher last week.

The team will be without receiver/safety Brody Nelson for the final two regular season games.

CRAZY FINISH
One of the team's I used to cover, Renville County West volleyball, rallied from a 14-7 deficit in game 5 with Russel-Tyler-Ruthton to win 21-19. Unbelievable.

UNDEFEATED NO MORE
Fergus Falls lost a conference dual to St. Cloud Tech last night in girls' swimming and diving. It was the first Central Lakes loss for the Otters since it joined the conference in 2004.

POOL RECORD SMASHED
Sartell's Marissa Wood broke former Hutchinson swimmer Jessica Carlson's 500 freestyle pool record at Willmar Thursday. Wood swam a time in the 5:09s. Then again, Carlson just got married last Saturday, so I don't think it's bothering her too much.