Tourney notes: Players struggle to shoot well on Mariucci court

For the third consecutive year, the Minnesota State High School League was forced to hold girls' basketball tournament quarterfinal games at Mariucci Arena because of a lack of other available facilities.

While the arena provides good sightlines for spectators and amplifies sound to make even small crowds seem loud, participants were not fond of the arena as a basketball venue.

"It's so empty behind the baskets," St. Paul Como Park guard Andrayah Adams said. "Usually, there's something there. It was hard to get used to.''

Grand Rapids coach Kris Hamling said, "The size of the arena makes it tough, especially for shooters."

Players were excited about the semifinals being held at Williams Arena on Thursday.

"Just to get the chance to play where Rachel Banham and the Gophers play, that's going to be amazing," Becker center Alex Johnson said.

Call it her "Star Is Born" moment. Becker's Mackenzie Kramer doesn't look the part of basketball wizard, but the 5-6 eighth-grader dazzled pretty much everyone at Mariucci Arena on Wednesday with her ball-handling skills in the Bulldogs' 62-57 victory over Como Park.

Kramer, in her first year on varsity, finished with 10 points, an assist and a lot of new admirers.

"I saw her coming up and I knew she'd be good," senior center Alex Johnson said. "When she has the ball in her hands, I think 'Naw, I'm not worried.' "

Katie Borowicz is only in seventh grade, but she played big-time minutes in Roseau's 78-65 victory over Pequot Lakes.

Borowicz was brought up to varsity in January, joining her older sisters Kiley and Kacie. Wednesday, Katie guarded Pequot Lakes leading scorer, Haley Wiebolt.

Katie finished with four points in 20 minutes.