Girls get more looks at game situations

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- For the New Ulm Eagle girls basketball team, this season has been like a glass that is either half empty or half full, depending on what aspects of the game that you are looking at.

In three games, the Eagles have forced a combined 72 turnovers defensively, but they have lost all three games due to poor shooting.

"I am glad that we are forcing the turnovers," Eagle coach Brad Metter said. "Last year, we were on the other end of the turnovers. That is a great statistic. But unfortunately, we are not getting the job done on the offensive end."

In two of the losses -- 69-42 to St. James and 60-48 to Glencoe-Silver Lake -- the Eagles hit only 30-of-108 shots (28 percent) while forcing 48 turnovers.

Metter said that he is happy with the defense but has his team working hard on the offensive end.

"One of our focuses in practice has been setting up game situation-type shooting," he said. "I have been trying to simulate the type of shots that we would get in a game.

"We'd work on game situations where we would try some close-out stuff with a hand in the face," he said. "Go one-on-one, the shot goes out and we would box out. Go as hard as possible so we would feel comfortable in a game-type situation."

Metter feels that his team has improved most in their maturity level from last season at this time.

"We had a solid junior crew last year, and those same kids this year have improved on their decision-making on when to make a pass and when not to," he said. "They are not doing it to perfection yet, but you can see it in the turnover ratio."

Although the Eagles are not shooting satisfactorally yet, the players are confident in their roles out on the floor, according to Metter.

"They can force the issue and take the shot instead of looking to pass off the ball right away," he said. "They didn't want the ball last year. This year, they want the ball and are looking to shoot."

Fewer passes means fewer turnovers.

Metter also said that the entire team is playing to a higher level this season.

"Megan Oberle was playing at a high level last year with the number of rebounds that she had, and she has continued on that level this year. She is struggling a little offensively, but she does not give up on the boards. The shooting will come around," he said. "The same goes for Coresa Leighty -- she is a very good shooter. She takes the ball to the basket more."

Metter added that Martha Beatty "has lowered her turnovers from last year from the point guard spot, which is great for us."

One thing that Metter thinks the Eagles need to keep in mind is that the teams that they have faced so far have not put on the pressure defense and full-court press that the Eagles saw last year.

SHOOTING WILL COME AROUND: Metter feels that if one Eagle can get hot shooting, the rest may will fall into place.

"There have been times this year where that has happened," he said. "When we played LeSueur, we were down 15-3 in the first quarter and we hit some shots and the confidence came. That spilled over into our defense and the defense was even more aggressive in creating turnovers. We went on a 17-6 run to end the half. There is definitely a factor there."

HAMMERSCHMIDT BACK: A big boost for the Eagles was getting 6-foot 1 Kelly Hammerschmidt back after an illness.

She had 16 points against Waseca and eight against LeSueur, as well as three blocks and seven rebounds.

"That is a big factor for us," Metter said. "When she is off the court, we are five inches shorter as a team. We then lose that shot-blocking ability -- she can pick the ball off of the fingertips of other girls."

FRESHMAN IMPRESSES: One of the girls that I keep hearing about is 6-foot 1 freshman Courtney Steinhauser.

Against GSL, she had a triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 12 steals, Against Waseca, Steinhauser scored 19 points and had 15 rebounds.

"I can't say that she will be on the varsity this year," Metter said. "We are watching her and a number of other players. Right now, she is really starting to play well at the "C" level. There is potential for her to move to the next level. We'll see what happens."

Metter added that the youth program is now much improved and more competitive.

YOUTH SHOWS IN LOSS: Charger boys basketball coach Craig Morgan said that "our youth showed again" in their 60-56 loss to Cedar Mountain-Comfrey Friday night.

"We are a little impatient -- we see the pass that we want to make, and we throw it away," he said. "There were a couple of times where we missed pass."

The Cougars also went 8-for-10 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

The last two losses for the Chargers have been helped by MVL turnovers and the opposition getting to the free throw line.

"Turnovers (17 Friday night) for us happen in clumps. They come at inopportune moments," he said. "We had a nice run in the third quarter. They came down in three straight possessions and we fouled them and put them to the free throw line. We are a young team that needs varsity experience."