Becker vs Holy Angels: A state tourney sneak preview

As dress rehearsals go this one was pretty much as good as it gets. Who knows what will happen if they meet at the state tournament but in Tuesday night’s preview of the main event, the Academy of Holy Angels and the Becker Bulldogs put on one heck of a show in Richfield. After trading blows for 35 minutes and 55 seconds, it all came down to one last chance and the Stars pulled it off. Holy Angels executed a perfect inbounds play that resulted in a Frankie Vascellaro Frankie Vascellaro 6'0" | SF Holy Angels | 2021 State MN bucket with 1.3 seconds remaining that gave Holy Angels a dramatic 71-70 victory.

After Julia Bengtson Julia Bengtson 5'10" | PG Becker | 2021 State MN made a pair of free throws to put Becker up one with 7.3 seconds remaining, Holy Angels advanced the ball past half court and called time out. Following a brief strategy session with coach Dan Woods, senior captain Rachel Kawiecki Rachel Kawiecki 5'10" | PF Holy Angels | 2021 State MN inbounded the ball to freshman Kiera O’Rourke Kiera O’Rourke 6'0" | CG Holy Angels | 2024 State MN who slipped it down low to Vascellaro who made no mistake. A big-time play in a high-pressure moment.

“I’m proud of our girls that we came back from 9 points down with about three minutes to go. That was really, really good,” said Becker coach Dan Baird. “In the end they made a play.”

“We were supposed to switch screens,” Bengtson explained. “I was guarding Frankie and I don’t know exactly what happened. I’ll have to watch the film, but I think I got back-screened and I thought someone would switch and cover her. That was my bad.”

It was the kind of play that great teams make to win state championships, and the game more than lived up to its advance billing as a preview of what might be to come in class 3A. Becker, which had not lost a game in more than a year, has been a favorite from the time the season tipped off in January. Holy Angels, which has plenty of history on the big stage and won the title in 2016, made a very strong case Tuesday that they might be the team to beat. “That was a really good basketball game, a hard-fought game,” Baird said. “I told the girls we are probably going to see them again in the state tournament if we both advance through sections.”

A battle to the end

The game was even through the first few minutes before Holy Angels went on its first run. Then Becker punched back to tie it at 16 apiece. Although the score remained close, and Holy Angels led by just three at the half, it felt like Becker was struggling. Similar to their first half two weeks ago against St. Michael-Albertville, the Bulldogs were hamstrung by Holy Angels’ length. Becker’s tallest player is Megan Gamble Megan Gamble 5'10" | SF Becker | 2021 State MN at 5’10. Holy Angels has multiple kids with size, including Vascellaro, Grace Massaquoi Grace Massaquoi 6'0" | PF Holy Angels | 2022 State MN , Kassie Caron Kassie Caron 6'0" | SF Holy Angels | 2022 State MN , Becky Little and Kawiecki. It was a problem.

“In the first half their length gave us a lot of trouble. We were indecisive, and they were getting a lot of tips on our passes. Their zone just disrupted us,” Baird admitted. “They were packing it in down low with that zone. We were getting open looks from the outside and couldn’t throw it in the ocean. That was tough.”

Becker has played a relatively weak schedule in the Mississippi 8 conference. Really the STMA game was the first time they were seriously challenged. They eventually pulled away in that one, but not this time. “I feel like we just played them really soft in the beginning of the game. They got all of the 50-50 balls and we weren’t really strong,” Bengtson said, acknowledging that the Bulldogs’ schedule may be a liability. “I feel like it is a big factor, but we can’t use that as an excuse. We just have to be ready to play and don’t miss these opportunities when we do play these really good teams.”

In the second half, the momentum swung back and forth for the first few minutes before Holy Angels asserted itself with a 10-0 run to build a nine-point lead with under three minutes remaining. Then Becker went on a sprint of its own as Bengtson, Adeline Kent Adeline Kent 5'8" | CG Becker | 2022 State MN and Ayla Brown Ayla Brown 5'6" | SG Becker | 2023 State MN each nailed a triple on consecutive possessions. Two free throws apiece for Courtney Nuest Courtney Nuest 5'8" | CG Becker | 2021 State MN and Bengston put Becker ahead by one. In the end it wasn’t enough.

Which team is best?

Is Holy Angels the best team in 3A? They certainly played like it on Tuesday. Can Becker overcome its lack of size to make it back to the state championship game for the third year in a row? I wouldn’t put it past them. However, these aren’t the only teams with a shot at the title.

Last week we watched 15-0 Marshall use their physicality and defensive prowess to knock off a very skilled, very athletic 15-1 team from Waconia. The two squads are certainly in the mix to get out of section 2, but both Mankato East (13-3) and Mankato West (12-3) are certainly going to have something to say about it. Hutchinson, too.

Some think 15-1 Hill-Murray out of section 4 might be a threat. The Pioneers have not lost since opening night against Minnetonka. Mahtomedi (13-3) looked pretty good when we saw them last week and DeLaSalle (10-5) appears to be getting it together at the right time.

Section 3 will likely come down to St. Croix Lutheran or Como Park. Although they have been hamstrung by only being allowed to play games within the very weak St Paul City Conference, the Cougars will compete in sections and have the talent to do some damage. I would never write off Red Wing from section 1, either. Their relentless defending can be ruthless, but both Kasson-Mantorville and Austin could win out in southeastern Minnesota. Has anyone noticed how well Grand Rapids has been playing up in section 7?

A dose of reality

Not to put a damper on the pending occasion but we have to be cognizant of the reality all around us. Over the past two weeks there have been an alarming number of teams sidelined by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, some by a positive test, some out of an abundance of caution, others seeking to avoid a positive test that would derail their shot at a state tournament berth. Chaska, Hopkins, Wayzata, Bloomington Kennedy, St. Louis Park and others are all parked at the moment. There is little doubt that the tournament will be impacted in one way or another by the virus.

A favorite could be knocked out in section play by a positive test, opening the door for someone else to slip through to state. Or a team could be forced out of the tournament itself, enabling their would-be opponent to get through to the next round by forfeit. It’s all speculative at this point. What we do know is this: All things being equal there is a very good chance that Becker and Holy Angels will still be standing 30 days from now.