skip navigation

Tip Off Classic preview: Eden Prairie vs. Champlin Park

By Marc Hugunin, Northstar Girls Hoops, 12/04/14, 12:00PM CST

Share

8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6 at Hopkins' Lindbergh Center West Court

Preview

Our final Breakdown Tip Off Classic game of the day matches two teams that are somewhere in the grieving process. Eden Prairie has lost star forward Martha Kuderer, a Seton Hall recruit, to a transfer to Chanhassan. Champlin Park has lost Sidney Hilley, a Wisconsin recruit (in volleyball), to, well, volleyball.

Champlin’s big three is now a big two--junior center Hannah Crymble, who scored 11 ppg on 57 percent shooting, and sophomore forward Allison Gerads, 9 ppg on 47 percent shooting.

EP coach Chris Carr counters with experienced hands Rachel Platt, Emma Boehm and Andrea Jirele.

But the Eagles have also got Lindsey Blanshan and Lindsey Eliasen back at the forward spots, and Alyssa Splittgerber, Esa Levine and Chrissy Carr at the guards. Boehm is the top returning scorer at 11 ppg, and she was also all-state tournament last year. Levine was next at 8 ppg, mostly threes, while Platt and Carr scored 5 ppg each. (Carr has had a sore ankle and her status for Saturday is unknown at this time.)

So EP defends with as much energy as anybody, and shuffles the fresh bodies in and out. Champlin, meanwhile, will by necessity be playing several newcomers to the varsity rotation.

Of course, even with its big energy and its depth, EP couldn't get the job done this week against Eastview. There's no shame in losing to Eastview--everybody has done it--but 79-47?! So the Eagles have some extra motivation to erase that particular game from their memory banks. A big game Saturday would be a nice, fresh start.

Breakdown Sports has Eden Prairie rated way up at #3AAAA in its pre-season rankings, while Northstar Girls Hoops has the Eagles at #11AAAA. The Breakdown has Champlin at #12, Northstar Girls Hoops at #14.

Key Matchup

Champlin Park point guards vs. Andi Jirele and Esa Levine, Eden Prairie

First the Rebels lost Alexis Alexander to graduation and to South Dakota State. Now they've lost Sidney Hilley to volleyball. Who's gonna play the point? We (Breakdown Sports and Northstar Girls Hoops) have Champlin rated in the second ten. Some people have them in the top ten. There's no way anybody would have picked them this high if they had known Hilley was out. Whoever they are--Megan Witte? Kacie Tomniczak?--whoever they are, they'll be up against a couple of experience 1s in Jirele and Levine. If Champlin is gonna have any chance at all, their point guards are going to have to to get beat up too badly.

Prediction

Why Champlin Park Will Win

• CP has a blue chip post, Hannah Crymble, who has not yet gotten the notoriety that she deserves. This could be her coming out..

• CP will slow it down, keep a grip on the basketball, and deny EP easy transition baskets.

Why Eden Prairie Will Win

• The Eagles defense will turn Champlin over for a bunch of easy baskets on the other end.

• EP’s jump shooters—from Emma Boehm to point guards Jirele and Levine—will put on a clinic.

Our Pick

Eden Prairie by 15 (revised upward from 8 with the news that Hilley is out).

2014 Girls' Tip Off schedule


Tip Off Classic previews