The Camp Day Kiddies Did Their Part. They were LOUD and enthusiastic, cheering on the home team for the full 40 minutes. But despite that audible support -- 17,000 screaming (mostly) children equipped with 17,000 rattling maracas -- the Mystics fell to the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars by a single point, 78-79.
The first 10 minutes of today's game were closely contested as the two teams traded narrow leads. In the first 3 minutes of the second period, the Mystics added 10 points, opening up a 6-point lead over San Antonio. But in the final 7 minutes before halftime, Washington suffered a drought, managing only 4 more points before heading to the locker room. Meanwhile, the Silver Stars got open looks and hit their shots. End result: by halftime, that 6-point Mystics lead had turned into a 9-point deficit.
In the 3rd period, 3 players, Alana, Lindsey and Lang, accounted for the all of the Mystics' scoring. The ACC-trio even managed to outscore San Antonio in that period by 2 points. But without help from the other 2 positions, they battled to keep from losing ground.
At the start of the 4th quarter, with the Mystics trailing by 7, Coach Plank made some adjustments. The team needed to play catch-up basketball, so she went with a 3-guard offense, adding Matee Ajavon to the line-up alongside Alana and Lindsey. Less than a minute into the period, Matee scored her first 2 points of the game . . . and then just kept on scoring! With a little less than a minute remaining in the period -- and the game -- Matee scored her 12th, 13th & 14th points! Matee's hot hand ignited the Mystics' run that closed the gap to a single point. However, despite holding San Antonio scoreless in the final 47 seconds, the Mystics were unable to score and pull ahead. An exciting ending, yes. A happy ending, no.
Besides Matee, three other players scored in double figures -- Lindsey, Alana and Lang. Lindsey and Alana each played a little more than 37 minutes and scored 18 and 17 points, respectively. Lang and Bernice Mosby (both off the bench) handled most of the frontcourt duties in the second half. Lang finished with 10 points (& 6 rebounds) and B-Mo, who played the entire 4th quarter, added 8.
The other starters, Mo Currie, Nakia Sanford and Chasity Melvin, combined for only 9 points while adding 8 turnovers. Unfortunately, Marissa Coleman was also ineffective this afternoon. Riss is not yet playing like she was before her injury. Mo and Marissa, the Mystics' two small forwards, managed to score only 4 points today, total. Frankly, the BasketCases think it's a miracle that this game was as close as it was, given the lack of production from the SF position and from our starting frontcourt. Matee was almost a miracle-worker, but not quite.
Including today's defeat, 4 of the Mystics' 6 losses this season have been by 6 points or fewer. That's the good news. This young retooled Washington team has competed hard in practically every game. Alana's been playing like the All-Star she now officially is. Lindsey has upgraded the Mystics at the point guard position dramatically. Crystal Langhorne has turned into a steady contributor, game in and game out. And other players, like Matee today or Marissa before her injury, have had big games that really contributed to the team's performance. All good.
But losing 4 games by slim margins is also the bad news. We're now far enough into the season to see that the Mystics still have some real weaknesses, particularly at certain positions. As a result, the team's had difficulty closing out and winning some of these tight ballgames. The Mystics' last two losses have been by a combined total of 3 points! Ouch. But as frustrating as a game like today's can be, the BasketCases are seeing a team this season that competes and doesn't quit. So we're still feeling hopeful as we look ahead -- in the short term -- to Saturday's game against the NY Liberty and -- in the long term -- to the rest of the season and beyond.
The first 10 minutes of today's game were closely contested as the two teams traded narrow leads. In the first 3 minutes of the second period, the Mystics added 10 points, opening up a 6-point lead over San Antonio. But in the final 7 minutes before halftime, Washington suffered a drought, managing only 4 more points before heading to the locker room. Meanwhile, the Silver Stars got open looks and hit their shots. End result: by halftime, that 6-point Mystics lead had turned into a 9-point deficit.
In the 3rd period, 3 players, Alana, Lindsey and Lang, accounted for the all of the Mystics' scoring. The ACC-trio even managed to outscore San Antonio in that period by 2 points. But without help from the other 2 positions, they battled to keep from losing ground.
At the start of the 4th quarter, with the Mystics trailing by 7, Coach Plank made some adjustments. The team needed to play catch-up basketball, so she went with a 3-guard offense, adding Matee Ajavon to the line-up alongside Alana and Lindsey. Less than a minute into the period, Matee scored her first 2 points of the game . . . and then just kept on scoring! With a little less than a minute remaining in the period -- and the game -- Matee scored her 12th, 13th & 14th points! Matee's hot hand ignited the Mystics' run that closed the gap to a single point. However, despite holding San Antonio scoreless in the final 47 seconds, the Mystics were unable to score and pull ahead. An exciting ending, yes. A happy ending, no.
Besides Matee, three other players scored in double figures -- Lindsey, Alana and Lang. Lindsey and Alana each played a little more than 37 minutes and scored 18 and 17 points, respectively. Lang and Bernice Mosby (both off the bench) handled most of the frontcourt duties in the second half. Lang finished with 10 points (& 6 rebounds) and B-Mo, who played the entire 4th quarter, added 8.
The other starters, Mo Currie, Nakia Sanford and Chasity Melvin, combined for only 9 points while adding 8 turnovers. Unfortunately, Marissa Coleman was also ineffective this afternoon. Riss is not yet playing like she was before her injury. Mo and Marissa, the Mystics' two small forwards, managed to score only 4 points today, total. Frankly, the BasketCases think it's a miracle that this game was as close as it was, given the lack of production from the SF position and from our starting frontcourt. Matee was almost a miracle-worker, but not quite.
Including today's defeat, 4 of the Mystics' 6 losses this season have been by 6 points or fewer. That's the good news. This young retooled Washington team has competed hard in practically every game. Alana's been playing like the All-Star she now officially is. Lindsey has upgraded the Mystics at the point guard position dramatically. Crystal Langhorne has turned into a steady contributor, game in and game out. And other players, like Matee today or Marissa before her injury, have had big games that really contributed to the team's performance. All good.
But losing 4 games by slim margins is also the bad news. We're now far enough into the season to see that the Mystics still have some real weaknesses, particularly at certain positions. As a result, the team's had difficulty closing out and winning some of these tight ballgames. The Mystics' last two losses have been by a combined total of 3 points! Ouch. But as frustrating as a game like today's can be, the BasketCases are seeing a team this season that competes and doesn't quit. So we're still feeling hopeful as we look ahead -- in the short term -- to Saturday's game against the NY Liberty and -- in the long term -- to the rest of the season and beyond.
Photo Credit: DC BasketCases
posted by BasketCases @ 8:02 PM
17 comments
17 Comments:
At some point, the coach cannot continue to be credible if she doesn't begin starting Riss and Lang. Currie is not worthy of a starting position -the Mystics are -10 when she's in the game. Also, the Mystics should see if they can trade Melvin and Currie to Sacramento for Harper. Harper would be an upgrade and it appears that her minutes have gone down significantly since the new coach took over this week.
I like that idea!
Me too!
I agree with you on Currie, she is not contributing at all and the team is suffering for it. I do think that Rissa should start and see what she can do, let Mo sit the bench for a while, even giving Mann some minutes and let Blue get in.
Let's see... If we were to just look at the stats.. Mystics FG % 57.9, 3 point % 63.6 one would think this was enough to win. The Silver Stars attempted 9 more shots than the Mystics, thanks to their 9 offensive rebounds (gifts). Also there were no free throw attempts for Beard, Harding, Currie, nor Sanford. What's with that?????
I was there the whole game, watching intently but can someone please tell me what happened in the final 3 seconds? I thought I saw a Mystics shot go in, to give us a one point lead. Then, a whistle, I guess ... no change in score and then one second left??? And we get the ball back? Did the Stars have a foul to give or something? I would love to see our coach get a little irate!!
Anonymous,
The officials said the foul occured before the shot was thrown up, so even though it went in, it didn't count.
SASS had a foul to give, and they made good use of it...unfortunately for the Mystics.
--BC
BasketCases,
What happened to the rule that gives everyone five fouls when the game is under two minutes, or somehting to that affect/effect. Did they do away with that one?
Good idea about trading for Harper.
Anon-
If you have less than four team fouls before the last minute, the first foul to give only brings you up to four. It's the second foul that would put them over the limit.
Thanks Rebecca.
I definitely think Lang has earned a starting position but not Marissa. Time will tell if Riss can earn a starting spot. I really liked the three guard rotation at the end of the SaSS game. Stics should try that more when they get into these scoring droughts. Don't give on Plank and the Stics they are still learning each other and the new system. I would definitely like to see us pick up another Big though (Melvin, Sanford, and Mo are getting it done). Who knows we may see some changes soon...
I don't know what you're seeing, but look at Sanfords stats-- horrible, look at Melvins stats-- almost as bad, Currie provides some, but not nearly enough on either end of the floor... Lang deserves a start and Riss does as well- her ankle may have slowed her a bit, but she's good-to-go. So far this season, the best line-up has included Harding, Beard, Coleman, Lang, Melvin. I would love that lineup to be Harding, Beard, Coleman, Lang, HARPER! Our post starters are not consitent!
It was a typo friend. I meant are not getting it done. That is why I said we need to go out and get another Big. As much as I love the Terps and Harp. I don't know if getting her is best for the team in the short-term. I would like to see a more consistent player or a veteran in the post that is a threat on both ends of the floor. But I am not sure whats available as far a free agents. If Harp is available and doesn't cost too much, I'd snatch her up because of her potential.
Thanks for clarifying the foul to give at the end of the game. Very smart on the Stars part! Basketcases have the best coverage!!
I think Harp would excel in Coach Plank's system and we could definitely use her length.
Yes, good move by SA to foul Lang, and she did, indeed, get mugged before the shot. But what the heck was going on with the shot clock in SA's last possession? It started with fewer seconds than the game clock, appeared to change twice during the possession, and ended up with more seconds than the game clock. The Mystics did not appear to be attempting to foul even down to the 3.6 when we got fortunate with the charge call--I think had Hammon not done that we would have just let the clock run out--I can only hope that was due to the shot clock being whacked out. Good thing we got the chance, too bad we couldn't convert.
Why do you keep deleting the question about Diandra Tchatchouang rumors on becoming a Terp? Answer the question don't delete it!!!
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