Have I mentioned...

[mred]

...that I really hope Goring picks ISU? http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

http://desmoinesregister.com/gallery/bbg-wloowest-ottumwa/web-bbg27.jpg

http://desmoinesregister.com/gallery/bbg-wloowest-ottumwa/web-bbg30.jpg

http://desmoinesregister.com/gallery/bbg-wloowest-dowling/web-bbg123.jpg

[Bark]

Yeah, UConn fans are dying to know which school she'll pick too. MRed, do you know when she'll announce? Who if either has the inside track?

[carolann]

Now, I know we're supposed to be all for the good of the conference on this site but geez http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/rolleyes.gif do I really have to be happy if my team has to face the prospect of playing against Gillian Goring for 4 years now that Welle is FINALLY graduating? I hope Texas is hitting the junior college ranks this spring for a big body. She doesn't have to be a Welle or an Ohlde. A Brooke McCormick would be very helpful.

[mred]

I'm not going to pretend to be a mindreader, and I really have no clue where she's leaning. A poster on the ISU board (who is very trustworthy) seems to think that ISU may have the edge, but he is an ISU fan so take it for what it's worth. The word is that we'll probably hear a decision in the next couple of weeks. I figure she's waiting until the end of the GBB season at least, and the Iowa GBB State Tournament ends this weekend. Geno has been spotted watching her at Vets, and I assume Bill will be watching her in the championship game now that he's out of the Big XII tournament.

[Bark]

Thanks MRed. Good luck to ISU. Regardless, it seems as though you have Nina Smith for a couple of years to fill the Welle-void.

[RaiderPower1]

me either carolann. I definately am happy Welle is graduating. As for Tech's "big girl," we are getting LaToya Davis who is very physical and has some size. She's only 6'1 or 6'2" but she supposedly plays bigger than that FWIW. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[cycofan]

I'm hoping that this quote from her in the paper indicates that there is a good chance we will get to see her in cardinal and gold next year:

"I like it here," she said. "I like Iowa. It's great. It's home. The crowds are great. And I like the competition in Iowa."

[ISUbballfan]

I just got back from the Iowa High School Girls State Tournament. Goring's team lost in the championship. I guess I have been spoiled watching Angie for the last 4 years. Goring has a lot of talent, but it is very raw. She is a great rebounder and shot blocker. Tonight she had 13 boards and 7 blocks. She had an awesome one-handed steal. She needs to work on her offensive game. Only had 10 points and missed three free throws in a game where her team lost by two 29-27. She also isn't as fast down the court as Angie. I was very spoiled in that regard.

[swok34]

oh boy, Angie Welle, Jr........... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[DblT81]

Gosh a mighty! The score in a championship game was 29-27???? I'd say more than just Goring needs to work on an offensive game. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

Were the officials keeping the scoring down? Was one team stalling? That's an avg of 7 points a quarter per team. Ugh.

[ISUbballfan]

Iowa has 4 classes for girls basketball. Today I watched 4 games - 2 semifinals for the class 2A the Championship for 1A & 4A. 1A is the smallest school and 4A the largest size. The 2 semifinal games were 53-49 in OT and 60-49. The 1A championship game was 62-56. Then the last game of the night was the big schools. This you would like would be the best basketball of all right. The score 29-27 scoring by quarter 6-8, 7-5 tied at half then 4-9 and 12-5. I was so disappointed.

[dem]

I saw the game too. I agree with what ISUbballfan said about Goring -- tremendous talent, but very raw. She spent an amazing amount of time during the game just standing around, not even putting her hands up to contest nearby jump shots, not moving quickly to work for offensive or defensive position, etc. Part of this must have been the coaching, because things changed dramatically in the second half when both teams upped their intensity level several notches.

I was shocked during the first half that Goring's team hardly seemed to look to get her the ball at all. I expected them at least to ATTEMPT it on every single play. They NEVER tried a bounce pass, and usually resorted to a lob. Even that was not often. When you have the most dominant high school post player in the country on your team, it's beyond me why you wouldn't constantly be forcing the issue inside. (Well, okay, maybe to avoid foul trouble. But if you're not scoring, that strategy isn't working too well.)

I've also been spoiled by four years of Angie Welle, but I couldn't help but think that Goring will have to make a HUGE adjustment to D-I ball. Angie works more in three minutes of a typical game than Goring did in 32 minutes tonight. Pushing, shoving, Sumo-wrestling with the opposing center, constantly moving to get position, etc. Gillian only did those things in short spurts tonight. During the first half of every defensive possession, she seemed literally to ignore the action on the court while she caught a breather and strolled over to position herself downcourt.

Every now and then she would catch fire and put out a great effort, make a spectacular play, and it would just take your breath away. Then the next few minutes the effort would wane, and things seemed to drag. Several times this cost a turnover when the other team out-quicked or just plain outworked them.

The only thing I really have to compare this to is last year's championship game which was much quicker, flowed better, and was much higher scoring. Maybe the problem here was that Goring's team was not looking to score inside enough, and was unable to score much in any other way. Meanwhile, Ankeny (the other team) understandably did not try to score in the paint a whole lot, and just spent forever on each possession looking for alternatives. This was one game where the lack of a shot clock was a horrible detriment. Most of the fourth quarter was just a stall to protect a five point lead.

[cycofan]

I also watched the game on TV, and agree that Angie has us spoiled! Overall, I thought the entire Waterloo West team stood around entirely too much! Several times they reversed the ball, and Goring just stood on the weak side block. I didn't care at all about the outcome of the game, but found myself yelling "cut"! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

Ankeny did play some pretty tenacious defense, especially in the second half! What does anyone know about the Biga girl for Ankeny? She looked to show some "Junod-esque" qualities.