Turning on the Heat in July

The MN Heat has had a pretty good year, first eking out a top 8 seed for the AAU Prelims (Heat Hinck 2020), a rare enough occurence for any of the indie clubs. More recently, Heat 2019 Smetana has had a nice 7-2 June (now 13-3 for June and July) after dropping to D2 in the AAU Tournament. Last weekend, the Heat sent 3 teams—Heat 2018 Vang, Heat Hinck and Heat Smetana—to the Run 4 the Roses. Here’s a special report to provide a little bit of spotlight for a hard-working club.

Heat 2020 Hinck

Heat Hinck played in the top 14U division, the Showtime. They finished 2nd in Pool E at 2-2. They then lost to Team Takeover 14U Foreman 52-50 in the Showtime Gold bracket. The Heat led most of the way in that one, but the Takeover hit a 30 foot fadeaway jumper, according to coach Bill Hinck, at the final buzzer to send it into OT. The final was Takeover 52 Heat 50. Hinck said he thought it was the best the Heat has played all year, especially considering that everybody had to play out of position after Cianna Selbitschka got hurt early in this one.

Earlier the Heat won a pair of games by 16 and by 1 after trailing early in both games. Their 3rd game hurt because is was Crossover Hoops (VA)’s only pool win 49-45. Once again the Heat got down early and this time wasn’t able to come back.

Finally the Heat ran into a “buzzsaw,” coach Hinck said, in the West Virginia Thunder. For once the Heat got out ahead but couldn’t maintain it, losing by 30. The Thunder had big guards and shot great, Hinck said. Later the Thunder made their way to the Showtime Platinum championship game against North Tartan 9 and Paige Bueckers. The Thunder led by 8 late but lost by 6.

6-1 post Lindsay Becher (Mounds View) and 5-11 wing Selbitschka (North Branch) led the way for the Heat. Becher scored 41 points in 5 games with 44 rebounds and more than a dozen blocked shots. Selbitschka scored 45 points in 4 games but got hurt early in the bracket game.

Guards Ella Janicki (White Bear) and Amme Sheforgen (St. Francis) each added 32 points. Janicki and Anica Thomas (St. Anthony) were effective attacking the rim, with Janicki more likely to lay it in and Thomas more likely to make the assist dish. Saley Underwood (Mahtomedi), just 5-8, filled in for Selbitschka at the power forward in the finale and tossed in 10 points with 3 assists.

Heat 2018 Vang

Heat Vang played with just 6 players—and just 5 after point guard Sophia Findell (Irondale) went down with a sprained ankle in their final game. With just those 6 players Heat Vang started out with a pair of close ones, losing to BWSL Gold 31-29, then defeating Team Brandan Wright 2018 Gold 41-39. They may have run out of gas a bit, then, losing to IL Rockets 17 Red 69-47 and Hoosier Premiere Red 65-53. Down to 5 players, they lost to NDO White 17 46-37 in the bracket.

For Findell, it was a less than perfect close to an 8-year career with the Heat. This was the final tournament and the final game for this group, including Elle Carver (Coon Rapids), Sarah Loken (also Irondale) and Liz Ogren (Stillwater), who have been a part of the team for 4 years. Coach Kelly Vang reported that 5 of the 6 players who were able to play this weekend are being recruiting by MIAC and WIAC schools.

Heat 2019 Smetana

Heat Smetana played in the 15U Feature Division and won the Gold bracket championship. In the bracket, they beat Black Rock Fury 32-28, BBA 10 Black 39-37 and 10 Southern KY Starz 61-52. They had started 2-1 in Pool E, then won a cross-pool exhibition as well, so it all adds up to a stellar 6-1 record (and now 13-3 since the AAU Tournament).

“Because of our overall size and length,” coach Whitney Smetana said, “we were able to slow teams down defensively and force a lot of turnovers.” Coach went on to say that consistent guard play from Jaley Coplin (Shakopee), Elizabeth Torgerson (Anoka) and Sam Sibbet (St. Anthony, a 9th grader playing up a year) was key. “Their consistent shooting and fearlessness getting to the rim was unstoppable.”

Coplin led the way with 75 points in 7 games, Torgerson scored 69 and Sibbet (the youngster) 51. Bri Glynn (Totino Grace) added 30, Lydia Lecher (Concordia) 27 and Kylie Stark (Shakopee) 26.

As noted Heat Vang is done. Heat Hinck and Heat Smetana will look to turn up the temp one more time at the North Tartan Meltdown.