Tolkien talks game strategy

We talked about breaking the press, we talked about getting more organized on offense and just having a lot more composure and not letting defense beat us up.”

Park head coach Stephanie Tolkinen

Park’s problems putting the ball in the basket continued Saturday afternoon as the Wolfpack dropped a 56-32 decision at Eagan in non-conference girls' basketball.

Eagan held Park to just 13 points in the first half and led 20-13 at the break. The Wildcats then won the second half 26-19.

Park slipped to 7-12 on the season. The Wolfpack are in the middle of a very challenging strength. After starting the season 5-2, Park has gone just 1-10 in their last 11 games.

Graycie Smith was the lone Park player in double figures scoring Saturday with 10 points. Reserve Raimee Ashfaq had 7 points.

Eagan went to 11-9 overall.

Park (7-12, 4-9 in the SEC) hosts Burnsville (2-17) Friday in a non-conference contest, then travels to league-leading East Ridge (14-7, 13-0) on Wednesday, Feb.5.

Stillwater 69, Park 35

Visiting Stillwater stunned the host Park Wolfpack with a near-perfect first half, en route to a dominating 69-35 win Thursday in Suburban East Conference girls basketball.

The Ponies jumped on the Wolfpack hard from the opening minutes, racing to a stunning 34-4 lead midway through the first half and leading 43-14 at the break.

The Wolfpack bounced back early in the second, outscoring Stillwater 16-6 in the opening eight minutes of the second half but the Stillwater huge halftime lead was just too much for the Wolfpack to overcome.

“We talked about breaking the press, we talked about getting more organized on offense and just having a lot more composure and not letting defense beat us up,” Park head coach Stephanie Tolkinen said of the difference between the first and second halves for the Wolfpack. “We talked just being able to try to contain them and rebound and not give second opportunities and I think that we went on a nice run where we were making shots, we’re moving the ball, getting really nice looks and balls dropping compared to the first half. Ball was dropping, we got some really good looks.

“First half I don’t think we got great looks, but the ball didn’t drop the first three shots we made which hurts on the other end,” Tolkinen continued. “But then so many turnovers and they got transition points and that’s the game, that’s the difference in the game that whole first half. Second half much better, we still struggled a little bit, but we got some young kids in there that were trying to help pick up the slack.”

Park edged Stillwater 61-60 in the first meeting of the season between the two teams. But Thursday’s game was nothing like that contest.

Stillwater combined a fierce full-court press that led to numerous Park turnovers and east baskets for the Ponies. The Wolfpack got frazzled and carless with the ball on offense, and at the same time couldn’t seem to solve the Stillwater offense on the other end for the first half.

Graycie Smith scored 11 points to lead Park and Olivia Czarnota added 8, but no other Wolfpack player scored more than 4 points. The Wolfpack were also playing again with usual starter Hailey Kieffer, out with an injury.

Stillwater improved to 10-3 and second place in the SEC and 14-5 on the season.

Cretin-Derham Hall 72, Park 43

Park’s mid-season struggles continued Tuesday as the visiting Wolfpack lost a 72-43 decision at Cretin-Derham Hall in Suburban East Conference girls' basketball.

The loss was Park’s eighth in its last nine games.

Cretin led 40-20 at the half, then outscored the Wolfpack 32-23 after the intermission.

Graycie Smith scored 15 points and Mesa Jameson had 10 to lead Park offensively.