Dier, Schmidt lead Algoma to state championship game

ASHWAUBENON - Taylor Schmidt and Anna Dier will only play one year of varsity basketball together because they are three years apart, but Thursday night they appeared like they have played basketball together for years.

Dier and Schmidt put on a show during a Division 4 state semifinal game against Cuba City at the Resch Center.

Schmidt showed why she’s one of the best point guards in the state, as the senior totaled 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Meanwhile, Dier showed she might be a freshman to keep an eye on after she scored 18 points, hauled down 10 rebounds, had five blocks and four steals.

This twosome catapulted Algoma into its second state title game in three seasons with a convincing 62-39 win over the nine-time state champion Cubans.

“I thought the kids brought great energy; very comfortable in the setting,” Algoma coach Mark Zastrow said. “I thought our kids were a little more comfortable with the ball pressure. Physically, I thought we were a little bit stronger. I thought the kids played with great confidence.”

Algoma (25-2) wasted no time in getting comfortable at the Resch Center. The Wolves scored the first 10 points and they never trailed.

The Wolves led 30-18 at halftime as Algoma was precise on offense, making 11-of-22 shots. Meanwhile, Cuba City was a porous 6 of 26 from the floor.

Not much changed in the second half. Dier continued to get clean looks from in close and Algoma’s second-leading scorer, Kennedy Blahnik, who played just six minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, scored nine points in the second half on her way to 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Dier, though, was the story. While Schmidt and Blahnik each played in the state tournament in 2011, Dier was in the crowd as she was in seventh grade.

The state tournament moment had no impact on the 5-foot-11 forward.

“You can’t tell on the court she’s nervous,” Schmidt said. “She plays like she’s a senior.”

“She’s a long kid who has good instinct,” Zastrow said. “I think Anna has a good feel for finding the open passing lanes and what she does a nice job of with those long arms is create a nice target. She’s grown a lot throughout the year.”

Dier, who set a state tournament record with 90 percent shooting from the field (9 for 10), deflected praise like a veteran.

“I have to give all the credit to my teammates,” Dier said. “All I had to do is find the open spot and they found me with the ball and I had easy shots.”

Schmidt, who was named the Packerland Conference’s player of the year for the second time in three seasons, played about as good as a point guard could. While she didn’t score a ton of points, she made it easy for her team to score as the Wolves’ point total was the most Cuba City gave up all season.

“That’s what a good point guard does sometimes,” said Zastrow, whose team was 23 for 42 from the field for 54.8 percent. “She controlled the tempo of the game both offensively and defensively. She sees the floor extremely well and her timing with her passes I’m very impressed with.”

Algoma now looks forward to Saturday’s title game with Colfax. Zastrow was asked if he learned anything from the 2011 title-game loss to Regis.

“I’d like to say yes,” Zastrow said. “I thought our kids played great. We need to finish the game. We went 0 for 17 to end that championship game. We got to make sure we hit those big shots this time.”

As for Schmidt, who tore her left ACL on Feb. 9, 2012, she has been looking forward to this game since the injury and can’t wait for it to come.

“That was the most heartbreaking thing, to watch my team lose (in the postseason last year),” Schmidt said. “My only goal was to get back to state. I’m right where I want to be.”

• 3-pointers: The 39 points scored by Cuba City were a season low. The Cubans entered the game averaging 58.1 points per game. … Algoma freshman Baleigh Delorit came off the bench and scored eight points, as Algoma’s bench outscored Cuba City’s, 27-4. … Algoma outscored Cuba City in the paint, 40-18.
• Game ball: Dier, who played more like a seasoned veteran rather than a freshman.
• Numbers game: 1 Win Algoma needs to win its third state title and first since 1986.

For a complete boxscore, click this link: http://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Basketball_Girls/2013/div4gm1.htm

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

doug.ritchay@wluk.com