Anna Kovalchuk hit a couple of three-pointers for the Islanders, including one that answered an Ani Johnson three for the RedHawks, and DeLaSalle has extended its “slim” lead into a “meager” lead.  Sarah Peterson has four points in the second half for Minnehaha Academy, and is having success getting to the rim and getting good chances.

It was a very even first half - reflected in the halftime score, as well.  Senior guard Brittany Norby leads the Redhawks with six points; Aaryn Booker has seven for the Islanders, and has made three of four shots from the field.  DeLaSalle ended the half with seven turnovers as a team, while Minnehaha Academy had eight.  One factor that could come into play, especially if both teams keep pressing; the Islanders had ten players get minutes in the first half, the Redhawks only eight (and four starters played 16 minutes or more).

DeLaSalle’s band is one of the best I’ve heard in the past couple of weeks.  They just finished two songs I haven’t heard all spring: Prince’s “When Doves Cry” and “Hey Pachuco” by Royal Crown Revue.  Give them points for originality, if nothing else.

The Islanders have gone to the full-court press as well, and a couple of buckets off of Redhawks turnovers are the difference right now.  That said, both teams are doing a pretty decent job handling the ball, given that both are giving 94 feet of pressure right now.

Both teams are working the half-court offense and getting decent shots so far - they’re just not falling.  DeLaSalle came out in the man-to-man, while Minnehaha Academy appears to be throwing a little diamond-and-one at the Islanders on the defensive end (with the one guarding senior forward Anna Kovalchuk in the post.)  The Redhawks are also running a full-court zone press after made baskets.

Pep band update: DeLaSalle’s band has, by my count, two guitarists, two bass guitarists, a keyboardist, and a string bassist.  They’re the Polyphonic Spree of pep bands.

We’re getting set for the Class 3A semifinals here at Target Center.  Minnehaha Academy is led by three players who are scoring more than 14 points per game apiece: senior Megan Erlandson (15.3, and a banked three-pointer that sent the Redhawks’ quarterfinal to overtime), junior Sarah Peterson (14.4 ppg) and sophomore Rachel Hansen (14.2).  Hansen, however, is still on crutches from an injury sustained in the quarterfinals, and won’t play tonight. 

Senior forward Aaryn Booker leads the Islanders; she’s scoring 15.9 points per night.  These two teams met twice during the regular season; DeLaSalle won both, 64-58 in early January and 58-55 in the final game of the regular season.