(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Chanhassen, the seventh-ranked Class 4A team in Minnesota, lived up to its billing with a 65-52 win over the Tigers Tuesday night at Tiger Gym.
Farmington stuck with the visitors early, trailing 18-12 before Chanhassen turned up the defensive pressure to force a rash of turnovers that resulted in easy baskets. The Storm closed the half on a 15-4 run that produced a 35-16 lead at halftime.
The Tigers committed 12 of their game total of 19 turnovers before intermission to add to their problems.
"We seemed to get the ball up court all right and then we'd turn it over," Farmington coach Sondra Chadwick said. "They (Chanhassen) are by far the most aggressive team we've played so far.
"We did a better job against their pressure in the second half. We outscored them 36-30 but you can't get behind by 19 points and expect to win. We have to start better."
Twice in the second half the Tigers whittled their deficit to 10 points, the last time at 51-41, but they could get no closer.
Foul trouble again plagued Farmington. Chanhassen scored 18 points from the charity stripe while the Tigers had just five.
Taylor Meyer led the Tigers scoring with 19 points in her second game back from summer knee surgery although she was bothered by leg cramping twice in the second half and had to leave the floor.
"We have to do a better job of keeping her hydrated," Chadwick said. "That was a problem in her first game, too."
Gabby White 5 assists off the bench
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Mariah Mincke, who picked up two quick fouls in the first half, scored 10 points, all in the second period. Isis Alexander added nine.
Allie Rice contributed four points and seven rebounds off the bench. Sofia Chadwick and Dava White each snared six rebounds and Chadwick handed out a season-high eight assists. Gabby White dished out five assists in a reserve role.
"We rebounded better (42 total) and had 19 assists as a team," Chadwick said. "Those were bright spots for us."
Farmington (1-11; 0-2) will be looking for its first conference win Friday night when it entertains Shakopee (6-5; 0-2) at Tiger Gym. Tip-off is slated for 7:30.
