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Maranatha prevails inside and out

By Star Tribune, 03/15/12, 3:30PM CDT

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Defending Class 1A champions overpower 10th ranked Isle in quarterfinals

Maranatha is the Class 1A defending state champion for a reason -- it can attack an opponent in different waves.

The savvy veteran lineup can attack the basket off the dribble, shoot the three or work the ball inside to 6-foot-2 junior center Onye Osemenam.

Isle found out first-hand just how difficult the No. 1-ranked Mustangs (26-5) can be to defend Thursday in a 77-59 loss in the quarterfinals at Williams Arena.

“It’s nice having an inside-outside game like we have,” Maranatha senior guard Alexis Long said. “I don’t even know how we would deal with a team like ours.”

With Osemenam dominating the paint in the opening minutes, the smaller Huskies tried to keep pace from long distance. Isle’s first three baskets were three-pointers.

Osemenam scored of the Mustangs’ first 12 points. She finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots.

“Onye is very tough to defend,” Isle coach Paul Tinjum said. “You don’t go against many Division I centers in Class 1A.”

Once the 10th-ranked Huskies started to concentrate on Osemenam, the guards controlled play. Long (18 points) and sophomore Madison Lee (13 points) also reached double figures.

“We are really playing well together, just like we have all year,” Long said.

Maja Coomes paced the Huskies (25-6) with 16 points, and had three of their six three-pointers. 

-- Ron Haggstrom, Star Tribune

Three Stars

Onye Osemenam, Maranatha Christian

Osemenam was the star of the game, tallying 25 points and 12 rebounds in the victory. She struggled from the line going 3-16, but made up for it with her aggressiveness in the paint. Her defensive presence left a mark on the game as she accounted for 6 blocks.

Alexis Long, Maranatha Christian

Long helped Maranatha Christian run out to a large second half lead, scoring 18 points while shooting 7-10 from the field.  She was 4-4 from the free throw line and had a few nifty passes in the second frame.

Maja Coomes, Isle

Just like the whole team, the Isle guard had a rough day from the field. She managed to lead her team with 16 points while grabbing 3 rebounds and going a perfect 3-3 from the line.

-Alec Kinsky, MN Girls Basketball Hub Staff

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