State Quarters: Central Advances

#1 posting 5.13.2008
badminton news & information

STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
CENTRAL ADVANCES
St. Paul Central beat St. Paul Highland Park 4-3 in the rubber match between the two schools at Central this afternoon. Both reached the quarterfinal round with sweeps over Minneapolis Henry and Minneapolis North respectively.

First off I will recap the Central/Henry game. I will also have the box on the Highland/North game too. After that it is the quarterfinals.

CENTRAL minutemen 7, HENRY patriots 0
Central swept Henry. The closest contest came at first singles with a difference of 7 points separating Yer Chang from Yer Yang. The Central doubles locomotive steamrolled the Henry doubles. The Henry second doubles team of Lakresha Williams and Sheng Xiong were the only doubles pair to crack double digits in one game.

FIRST SINGLES
Yer Yang put up a struggle with Yer Chang, but in the end it was Chang walking off with the victory.
Yang led early in game one 4-0, and held a 9-4 lead at the largest. The key factor in game one was the side out performance. Chang was able to score on serves 4-8 and that propelled her to the lead 16-13. Meanwhile Chang prevented Yang from scoring on six of her last seven serves. Chang also had three runs of 3+ in game one, while Yang only had her run at the start. For some reason I had one more point for Chang 22-16.

Yang again had a great start in game two. She led 7-1 after her first serve. Chang rallied with her own run of six to cut the margin to 9-8. A pair of smashes helped get that run rolling. Yang maintained a slim lead until her 7th serve where she added four more points besides the side out to go up 19-13. She had her second ace in the run. Then things turned on a dime. Chang got the side out on a hitting error and never gave the bird back. She ended the match with a clear.

This match went 17+ minutes which is quite long for a two game match.
Yang played with more confidence and also cut way back on errors--especially serving errors that plagued her the past couple of weeks.

Photos: #1. Yer Yang aims high for a bird. #2. Yer Chang reaches for a drop shot. photos by kja.

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Yer Chang 9/17-.529; Yer Yang 7/18-.389
RUNS OF 3+:
Yer Chang 6; Yer Yang 3
POINTS:
Yer Chang 43
Winners 18: Drops 6, Soft Drive 5, Clears 4, Smashes 2, Drives 1
Yer Yang Errors 25: hitting 24 (Net 13, Wide 11); Serving 1 (Deep 1)
Yer Yang 35
Winners: 16: Drives 4, Soft Drives 4, Aces 3, Smashes 3, Drops 1, Clears 1
Yer Chang Errors 19: hitting 18 (Net 10, Wide 5, Drives 2, Fans 1); Serving 1 (wide 1)
Time: 17:23

SINGLES
1. Yer Chang (C) beat Yer Yang 21-16, 21-19
2. Kari Finseth (C) beat Nhia Yang 21-13, 21-13
3. Dawn Vang (C) beat Ma Pha 21-13, 21-7
4. Ka Yang (C) beat Gao Khoua Xiong 21-14, 21-16
DOUBLES
1. Doua Thao/Da Chang (C) beat Neng Vang/See Thao 21-7, 21-8
2. Malinda Xiong/Mai See Xiong (C) beat Lakresha Williams/Sheng Xiong 21-9, 21-13
3. Phoua Xiong/Mai Sia Yang (C) beat Shoua Yang/Tenisha Williams 21-8, 21-7

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Central 4-0 1.000
Games: Central 8-0 1.000
Points: Central 168-85 .664
decided by 10+: Central 1-0 1.000
decided by 3 or less: Central 1-0 1.000
DOUBLES
matches: Central 3-0 1.000
games: Central 6-0 1.000
points: Central 126-52 .709
decided by 10+: Central 5-0 1.000
decided by 3: none

HIGHLAND PARK scots 7, NORTH polars 0
Highland Park swept North 7-0. The North 2nd doubles team of Jaime Lee and Amanda Seline did take the first game for the only North game win of the day.
SINGLES
1. Khoua Xiong (HP) beat Among Vang 21-6, 21-5
2. Micha Everts (HP) beat Foua Khang 21-14, 21-8
3. Elena Kronmiller (HP) beat Pa Kou Pha 21-5, 21-11
4. Nhu Richards (HP) beat Mee Khang 21-14, 21-13
DOUBLES
1. Pa Kou Lor/Drew Thao (HP) beat Phoua Khang/Vang Khang 21-15, 21-19
2. Grace Moran/Alison Cole (HP) beat Jaime Lee/Amanda Seline 18-21, 21-13, 22-20
3. Seng Lee/Pa Ying Moua (HP) beat Xue Vang/See Lee 21-9, 21-11

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Highland Park 4-0 1.000
Games: Highland Park 8-0 1.000
Points: Highland Park 168-76 .689
decided by 10+: Highland Park 5-0
decided by 3 or less: none
DOUBLES
matches: Highland Park 3-0 1.000
games: Highland Park 6-1 .857
points: Highland Park 145-108 .573
decided by 10+: Highland Park 2-0 1.000
decided by 3: Highland Park 2-1 .667

CENTRAL minutemen 4, HIGHLAND PARK scots 3

Central won the rubber match with Highland by splitting the singles and taking the top two doubles. The deciding game came down to fourth singles as all other matches were finished. Game two went long with Nhu Richards rallying for a 26-24 win. Ka Yang led 24-23 before the Richards started her run. In game three it was tied at 7 all when Yang ran off 7 straight to go up 14-7. That was the difference maker in the game and the match.

photo: Ka Yang reaches for a bird in the deciding game at 4th singles. photo by kja

FIRST SINGLES
This was a contrast of games---game one tight, game two not at all. Through it all one constant remained--Khoua Xiong had a strong side out game in both games.
In the first game the side out game ruled for the first five points. Yer Chang was the first to break free with a run of four. She scored on her serve with a clear then used a soft drive (what would be a change up in baseball). Khoua Xiong matched her run with three. Chang led throughout most of the first game. She stretched the margin to 16-12 after a smash. Xiong got a smash for a key side out. Xiong then was able to score off her serve the next three times. At the same time Xiong got the side out over Chang the last three times. The game was tied 19 all when Chang had a fan/hitting error on her serve. Xiong ended it all with a clear.

Xiong ran off a 9-2 lead and got the side out on Chang's serve four straight times. On Xiong's fifth serve she ran off 8 more points to go on the verge 20-4. A late three point flurry kept the game going. The game ended on an anti-climatic note as Chang's serve sailed wide.

Xiong had another strong winner performance with .619. The soft drive/change up/cut shot is her signature shot and she used it for 9 points.

Photos: #1 Khoua Xiong looks like she is in a box as she sends a bird over the net. #2 eyes the bird in game two. photos by kja

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Khoua Xiong 12/17-.706, Yer Chang 7/18-.389
RUNS OF 3+:
Khoua Xiong 5, Yer Chang 3
POINTS:
Khoua Xiong 42
Winners: 26: Soft drives 9, Smashes 5, Drops 5, Aces 3, Clears 3, Drives 1
Yer Chang Errors 16: hitting 14 (Net 8, Wide 6); Serving 2 (deep 1, wide 1)
Yer Chang 26
Winners 15: Soft Drives 5, Clears 3, Smashes 3, Drives 2, Drops 2
Khoua Xiong Errors 11: hitting 10 (Net 7, Wide 3); Serving 1 (Deep 1)
Time: 12:28

QUARTERFINALS
SINGLES
1. Khoua Xiong (HP) beat Yer Chang 21-19, 21-7
2. Kari Finseth (C) beat Micha Everts 21-14, 21-13
3. Elena Kronmiller (HP) beat Dawn Vang 21-11, 21-9
4. Ka Yang (C) beat Nhu Richards 21-12, 24-26, 21-13
DOUBLES
1. Doua Thao/Da Chang (C) beat Pa Kou Lor/Drew Thao 21-13, 21-13
2. Malinda Xiong/Mai See Xiong (C) beat Grace Moran/Alison Cole 19-21, 21-16, 21-12
3. Seng Lee/Pa Ying Moua (HP) beat Phoua Xiong/Mai Sia Yang 18-21, 21-17, 21-17

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: tied 2-2 .500
Games: Highland Park 5-4 .556
Points: Highland Park 162-154 .513
decided by 10+: Highland Park 3-0 1.000
decided by 3 or less: Highland Park 2-0 1.000
DOUBLES
matches: Central 2-1 .667
games: Central 5-3 .625
points: Central 158-136 .537
decided by 10+: none
decided by 3-: 1-1

next up: tomorrow with the State Team finals.

Out & About: Mpls South/Mpls Henry

#1 posting 5.1.2008
badminton news & information

MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH tigers 7
MINNEAPOLIS HENRY patriots 0

South swept Henry to keep pace with Edison in the Minneapolis city race. This marked the second straight sweep suffered by Henry. There was only one match that had any drama and that was at second singles. Brett Smith outlasted Nhia Yang in the third game marathon 23-21.

There were a few adjustments in the Henry line up with new players at third and fourth singles. Both players from Tuesday's game at Edison missed practice yesterday. Also the gym divider at Henry was stuck, so the match was divided and had a more closed in feeling.

FIRST SINGLES
Yer Yang had more winners (15-11) than Desirae Garcia, but Garcia kept the bird in play and limited her errors in putting together a 2-0 win. The fact was Yang and Garcia had similar side out numbers, but Garcia ruled in runs of 3 or more with six, and prevented Yang from gaining any traction with only one run on the day.

Garcia used a four point run in game one to jump out 5-1. Yang used her only run of the day to close the gap to 9-7 with a smash and ace. Garcia then used an 8 point run to go out in front 17-7. Garcia had a couple of drops in that sequence. There were four side outs the rest of the way as Garcia won 21-10.

Yang led 4-3 when the serving problems that were prevalent on Tuesday came back to haunt her. Garcia got the bird back on a missed deep serve. That was to be the first of five in this frame. That missed serve opened up a five point run for Garcia. She led 8-4. Yang was able to close to 10-9. Garcia used another of her runs, all on Yang errors for a 14-9 lead. Yang pulled to 16-14. Garcia had her last run to go up 19-14. The serving errors also struck Garcia. After going deep, Yang cleared for point 16. After that the bird was traded three time and Garcia walked off the court with a 21-17 win.

photos: #1. Desirae Garcia follows through on a shot close to the net. #2. Yer Yang lunges to her right for a bird. photos by kja

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Desirae Garcia 11/19-.579; Yer Yang 10/18 -.556
RUNS OF 3+:
Desirae Garcia 6, Yer Yang 1
POINTS:
Desirae Garcia 42
Winners 11: Drops 4, Soft Drives 4, Drives 2, Clears 1
Yer Yang Errors 31: hitting 25 (Net 12, Wides 7, Deep 5, Fans 3); Serving 6 (Wide 2, Short 2, Deep 2)
Yer Yang 27
Winners: 15: Soft Drives 7, Clears 4, Drops 1, Smashes 1, Aces 1, Drives 1
Desirae Garcia Errors 12: hitting 9 (Wide 4, Net 3, Deep 1, Fan 1); Serving 3 (Deep 2, Wide 1)
Time: 13:43

SINGLES
1. Desirae Garcia (S) beat Yer Yang 21-10, 21-17
2. Brett Smith (S) beat Nhia Yang 21-14, 17-21, 23-21
3. Jessica Jolson (S) beat Mena Vue 21-13, 21-17
4. Cece Duerney (S) beat Gao Khue 21-8, 21-12
DOUBLES
1. Melissa Ng/Jane Olmstead-Rumsey (S) beat Neng Vang/See Thao 21-15, 21-15
2. Jackee Heslop/Karen Perault-Bouthton (S) beat Lakresha Williams/Sheng Xiong 21-10, 21-16
3. Rachel Mammen/Katherine McQuarter (S) beat Shoua/Tenisha 21-14, 21-13

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: South 4-0 1.000
Games: South 8-1 .889
Points: South 187-133 .584
decided by 10+: South 2-0
decided by 3-: South 1-0
DOUBLES
matches: South 3-0 1.000
games: South 6-0 1.000
points: South 126-83 .603
decided by 10+: South 1-0 1.000
decided by 3-: 0-0

next up: tomorrow

Out & About: Edison/Henry

#1 posting 4.29.2008
badminton news & information

MINNEAPOLIS EDISON tommies 7,
MINNEAPOLIS HENRY patriots 0

The Edison Tommies rolled over the Henry Patriots in a Minneapolis battle. The Tommies swept all events. The singles were clean, each at 2-0. The doubles provided the only drama with two matches going to three games. Henry led 1-0 at second doubles before Kia and Brenda Vue rallied for the the win. Yer Vue and Karrie Le won the first and then lost the second before completing the perfect day for Edison.

FIRST SINGLES
If you look closely at the numbers you will find both players had the exact same amount of winners at 13. It was in the error department that Chue Mai Thao of Edison took advantage of the points gift wrapped by Yer Yang. Yang had seven missed serves, five for first side outs in the first game. Thao won that game 21-14----seven better. Thao only had three winners in the first game. Yang ended her own serve on three straight sequences twice in the first game.

The second game had more winners for each player and was more compelling. Yang led early at 3-1. Thao was able to get a five point run to take a 6-3 lead. Yang managed to tie it up at 10 and 11. A 7-1 Thao run put the Tommie in the drivers seat. In the last run of three Thao had a pair of clears for points. The rest of the game was a battle of side outs.

photos: Chu Mai Thao studying a previous shot. #2. Yer Yang rises up for the shot. photos by kja

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Chue Mai Thao 14/20-.700; Yer Yang 9/19 .474
RUNS OF 3+:
Chue Mai Thao 6, Yer Yang 3
POINTS:
Chue Mai Thao 42
Winners 13: Soft Drives 6, Clears 3, Drives 2, Smashes 2
Yer Yang Errors 29: hitting 21 (Net 10, Fan 4, Wide 4, Deep 3); Serving 8 (Deep 5, Wide 3)
Yer Yang 29
Winners: 13: Soft Drives 5, Aces 3, Clears 3, Drops 1, Smashes 1
Chue Mai Thao Errors 16: hitting 15 (Net 11, Wide 4); Serving 1 (Net 1)
Time: 13:38

SINGLES
1. Chue Mai Thao (E) beat Yer Yang 21-14, 21-15
2. Pa Nha Xiong (E) beat Nhia Yang 21-14, 21-14
3. Ly Vang (E) beat Choua Pha 21-15, 21-12
4. Candy Camora (E) beat Ma Pha 21-15, 21-17
DOUBLES
1. Xia Xiong/Ka Bao Xiong (E) beat Neng Vang/See Thao 21-10, 21-15
2. Kia Vue/Brenda Vue (E) beat Lakresha Williams/Sheng Xiong 15-21, 21-19, 21-13
3. Yer Vue/Karrie Le (E) beat Shoua/Tenisha 21-11, 15-21, 21-15

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Edison 4-0 1.000
Games: Edison 8-0 1.000
Points: Edison 168-116 .592
decided by 10+: 0-0
decided by 3-: 0-0
DOUBLES
matches: Edison 3-0 1.000
games: Edison 6-2 .750
points: Edison 156-125 .555
decided by 10+: Edison 2-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Edison 1-0 1.000

next up: tomorrow

Out & About: Henry/North

#1 posting 4.17.2008
badminton news & information

MINNEAPOLIS HENRY patriots 5
MINNEAPOLIS NORTH polars 2
Henry beat neighbor North 5-2 in a Minneapolis conference game on Thursday. The Patriots swept the singles and took 3rd doubles to put together their win. Three of the matches went the distance with Henry taking both singles and North taking the doubles. Henry rallied in second and fourth singles falling in the first game and bouncing back to take the last two. North also rallied at first doubles losing the first game before storming back to take the last two.

SINGLES
Normal first singles Yer Yang for Henry missed the event due to prior commitments. Her Replacement Hnia Yang beat Foua Khang in two games. Yang had 11 smashes in the two games as she took advantage of birds Khang was forced to give her. In game one Khang had the early lead at 2-0, but that was the only lead in that game. Yang had four straight points, and didn't look back. Khang was only able to get two side outs in the first game. On the flip side Yang had seven side outs against Khang. Yang used six drops for points in game one including point 21.

Khang again led in game two at 1-0. After a side out Yang ran off six straight points with three smashes in the mix. Khang did close to 9-7. Yang broke free again with six straight points to make it 18-10. Three smashes were part of that six point equation.

photos: #1. Hnia Yang reaches for a drop. #2 Foua Khang reaches for smash attempt. photos by kja.

1st SINGLES BY THE NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Yang 10/16-.625; Khang 6/17-.353
3+ POINT RUNS:
Yang 7, Khang 1
POINTS:
Yang 42
Winners: 30: Smashes 11, Drops 6, Drives 6, Soft Drives 3, Clears 3, Aces 1
Khang Errors 12: hitting 11 (Net 9, wide 1, fan 1); serving 1 (wide 1)
Khang 23
Winners 6: Aces 2, Smashes 1, Drives 1, soft Drive 1, Clears 1
Yang Errors 17: hitting 15 (wide 8, net 7), serving 2 (wide 2)
Time: 12:50 minutes

FIRST DOUBLES
I was able to watch the third game at first doubles. Phoua Khang and Vang Khang picked up momentum on the third service with four straight points to make it 9-4. Hitting errors combined with the North's duo side out game gave Khang and Khang a 21-13.

SINGLES
1. Hnia Yang (H) beat Foua Khang 21-11, 21-12
2. Choua Pha (H) beat Mee Khang 16-21, 21-7, 21-9
3. Maa Pha (H) beat Pa Kou Pha 21-15, 21-10
4. Mena Vue (H) beat Mai Nhia Yang 20-22, 21-13, 21-11
DOUBLES
1. Phoua Khang/Vang Khang (N) beat Neng Vang/See Thao 16-21, 21-18, 21-14
2. Jaime Lee/Amanda Seline (N) beat Kabao Yang/Nhia Xiong 23-21, 21-11
3. Lakresha Williams/Sheng Xiong (H) beat Xue Vang/See Lee 21-11, 21-18

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Henry 4-0 1.000
Games: Henry 8-2 .800
Points: Henry 204-131 .609
decided by 10+: Henry 5-0
decided by 3 or less: North 1-0
DOUBLES
matches: North 2-1 .667
games: North 4-3 .571
points: North 131-127 .508
decided by 10+: 1-1
decided by 3: North 2-1 .667

Next up: tomorrow morning

Out & About: St. Paul Humboldt/Mpls Henry

#1 posting 3.17.2008
badminton news & information

ST. PAUL HUMBOLDT hawks 4
MINNEAPOLIS HENRY patriots 3

In the opening match for each team it was 651 over 612 with Humboldt taking the top two singles and doubles for the win. Each and every winner finished 2-0. The odd fact was Henry outpointed Humboldt in the singles, but only managed two wins at that level.

It took a while to get back into rhthym. I started out with just one pen, but soon realized the error of my ways and had the trusty red pen out before the end of the first round. Also the terminology or phrases were slow to return. By the second game in the first doubles I was doing better. On top of that I was using a camera for some action shots. It is hard to do all of the action. You won't see photos tonight. I need to get the photos off the clip and apparently need an external hard drive to load all the photos off my main computer.

FIRST SINGLES
Shoua Moua of Humboldt took the first singles 21-12, 21-14. She broke free in the first game with a six straight points to put her in the lead 15-8. Moua sided out in the first game .778. Since my system was flawed I don't have great numbers.
In the second game Henry's Yer Yang, moving up from last year's first doubles, led 4-2. Moua took control with a 6-1 run to go up 11-6. She never trailed after that. Moua in game two was given 12 hitting errors for points, while only giving up 4. The side out game wasn't as strong this time for Moua with a .429 percentage.

Side out %: Moua, Humboldt 10/16-.625; Yang, Henry 5/17-.294

Photo: Shoua Moua of Humboldt with her eye on the bird. photo by kja.

FOURTH SINGLES
Choua Pha of Henry topped Sha Thao 21-10, 21-6. In the first game Pha started off with three straight points, all on drives. Pha got the sideout five straight times on Thao's serve. Hitting errors provided 11 of Pha's points.
In game two Pha continued her same success with the first four sideouts against Thao. By that time it was 14-4 for Pha. Pha only received 8 points on hitting errors in this contest. Pha used drops for five points. Pha concluded the match with six straight points, the second time that game she had six straight.

Side Outs: Pha, Henry 11/13-.846; Thao, Humboldt 4/15-.267
Serve runs: Pha 6
Points:
Pha 42. Winners: 22 (Ace 3, Drives 7, Drops 7, Smashes 4); Thao errors 19 (I only had 20 for the final game.
Thao 15. Winners 4, Pha errors 12

SINGLES
1. Shoua Moua (SPH) def. Yer Yang 21-12, 21-14
2. Shide Vang (SPH) def. Mena Vue 21-7, 21-12
3. Nhia Yang (MH) def. Jeanette Riopel 21-11, 21-10
4. Choua Pha (MH) def. Sha Thao 21-10, 21-6
DOUBLES
1. Mia Chour/Non Yang (SPH) def. Neng Vang/Ka Bao Yang 21-11, 21-6
2. Pha Yang/Mai Der (SPH) def. Nhia Xiong/Mai See Thao 21-7, 21-18
3. Sheng Xiong/Lakresha Williams (MH) def. Miranda Ketchum/Kao Shoua Thao 21-15, 21-12

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Humboldt 2-2 .500
Games: Humboldt 4-4 .500
Points: Humboldt 121-129 .484
decided by 10+: Humboldt 1-4 .200
decided by 3 or less: none
DOUBLES
matches: Humboldt 2-1 .667
games: Humboldt 4-2 .667
points: Humboldt 111-84 .569
decided by 10+: Humboldt 3-0 1.000
decided by 3: Humboldt 1-0 1.000

Next up: tomorrow