Harding Wins Triple Crown

#1 posting 5.19.2006

St. Paul Harding pulled of the Triple Crown of Badminton today with state championships won by singles Pang Thao, and doubles team Mai Tria Lee and Kaabao Yang. On Wednesday Harding won the State Team Title. It is the first time in the history of the Minnesota tournament that singles, doubles, and the team title resided at one school.
To see results in earlier rounds check out yesterday's posting.

SINGLES
SEMIFINALS
Pang Thao, Harding def Pang Shoua Vang, Harding 11-2, 11-5
In a battle between teammates, Thao, the #1 singles, beat Vang, the #2 singles. Thao didn't score her first point until serve #2 and then racked up three straight. Point one came on a hitting error, followed by a clear and and a smash. Vang also scored on her 2nd serve on a smash. Both players familiar with each other sided out on their next serves. Thao added three more points on serve #4 while Vang added one point on her 4th serve. Thao was able to add two points to her lead on serve five and finished it off on serve six with three more the final point being a drop shot to Vang's left. The game lasted 23 serves in all.
In game two Thao scored first, but Vang actually led 2-1 after her first serve thanks to two hitting errors by Thao. Thao tied it after her 3rd serve, but Vang inched ahead again on her 4th 3-2 with a drop to Thao's right. Thao broke the game open in serve 7 with five points, all winners by Thao. Thao won the right to go the final with a back hand drop on serve 9. This game had 32 serves total.
Most of the game Thao "hit it where she ain't," to quote Wee Willie Keeler, a 19th century baseball player. Vang had to run all over the court to cover shots.
BY THE NUMBERS
Name, School, pts, services, serves, side out %
Thao, Harding, 22, 15, 35, .615
Vang, Harding 7, 13, 20, .333
Thao points: Drops 5, Drives 5, Vang hitting errors: 4, Clears: 2; Smashs: 3; Aces: 3. winner% .818
Vang points: Thao hitting errors 4, Drops 2, Smash 1. winner% .143

Sheng Yang, Como Park def Xiong Yang, Arlington 11-1, 8-11, 11-7
Xiong Yang, the #2 seed, twisted her ankle in game two and was down for a time. She would refuse to take off the her left shoe and played on without the benefit of tape. Yang won that game, but Sheng Yang of Como Park won the deciding third game 11-7. Yang led 3-0 after her first serve. Xiong grabbed the lead at 5-3 after serve number three. Yang tied it at 5 after her 4th serve. Xiong regained the lead 6-5 on her 6th serve with a back hand. Yang broke the game open on serve 9 with four points thanks to three hitting errors. On Yang's 10th serve the game ended with a Xiong hitting error that sailed deep.

3rd PLACE
Xiong Yang, Arlington def Pang Shoua Vang, Harding 11-0, 11-9
FINALS
Pang Thao, Harding def Sheng Yang, Como Park 11-3, 11-4
In a rematch from Wednesday's team semifinals, Thao didn't falter and won for the 27th time this season. On Wednesday she dispatched Yang 11-4, 11-6.
Yang had first serve and made use of it for the first point of the match on Thao's hitting error. Thao didn't waste time establishing her dominance with six points on her first serve. Yang managed to get two more points on her second serve to cut the lead to 6-3, but Thao's second serve it was light's out. Thao added four to put up an insurmontable lead. Thao ended the first game quickly on serve three with a clear. Only 19 serves were needed to complete this game.
In game two Yang again led early, this time with two points on each of her first two serves. Thao took the lead for good on her 3rd serve with her first three points. Thao added one point each on serves 7, 8, and 9, but the points were hard to come by. Thao led 7-4 going into her 13th service and she ended it there with four points including a smash to seal the deal. This game lasted twice as long as game one with 39 serves.
Thao was better on her feet and better with placement throughout the tournament.
Thao provided the second jewel in the triple crown.
BY THE NUMBERS
Name, School, pts, services, serves, side out %
Thao, Harding, 22, 16, 36, .533
Yang, Como Park 7, 15, 22, .438
Thao points: Yang hitting errors 9, drives 5, drops 3, smashes 3, clears 2 winner% .591
Yang points: Thao hitting errors 3, Drops 2, Clears 1, Drives 1. winner% .571

DOUBLES
SEMIFINALS
Mai Tria Lee/Kaabao Yang, Harding def Cydney Vang/Yer Vue, Johnson 15-4, 15-4
Ping Hoang/Ka Yang, Como Park def Dee Xiong/Paosue Vue, Como Park 7-15, 15-13, 15-12
3rd PLACE
Dee Xiong/Paosue Vue, Como Park def Cydney Vang/Yer Vue, Johnson 15-10, 15-2
FINALS
Mai Tria Lee/Kaabao Yang, Harding def Ping Hoang/Ka Yang, Como Park 17-14, 15-4
After the singles were over I came over to watch what proved to be the second game in this match. This too was a rematch from Wednesday's team semifinal. Lee and Yang won that match up 15-1, 15-11.
Mai Tria Lee started out the scoring in game two for Harding with three points on first serve including a smash by Kaabao Yang for point three. For all intents and purposes the title was decided in the second service for Harding when they piled on 9 more points to lead 13-1. At the point Hoang and Yang tightened up the defense and it took the Harding pair seven serves between them before Lee connected again for a point with a clearing shot. Lee ended the 2006 season with an ace. And history was made with the triple crown's final jewel set with Lee & Yang.

It took me awhile to figure out how to present the notes I was taking. Next year the by the numbers figures should be better.
I will continue to blog about badminton, but the frequency will probably drop as the HS season ends.
If you have news, let me know so the world can know.

Next up: Probably monday with a rehash of what has happened.