The Monday Snitch–June 10th
by JackthePhan | June 10, 2013
The views expressed in this column are those of th...
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The views expressed in this column are those of the author only and do not reflect the views of the IQA.
Photo by Annie Govekar.
Game footage by Lori Lopez
University of Texas (Austin, TX) was unbeatable at World Cup VI. Possibly the best a quidditch team has ever played, Texas rolled through team after team by double digits. Even then-No. 1 Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) and Western powerhouse University of California Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) could not even stay within snitch range of Texas' strong, fast chasers and dominant beaters. Then how and why, did Texas lose only two months earlier to Baylor University (Waco, TX) in the Southwest Regional Finals?
| Team |
Texas |
Baylor |
| Goals |
8 |
7 |
| Shots |
16 |
14 |
| Shot % |
50% |
50% |
| Assists |
2 |
3 |
| Turnovers |
8 |
10 |
| Bludger Control Time |
5:12 |
14:23 |
| Bludger Control % |
27% |
73% |
| Snatch |
|
X |
Why Baylor Won: Baylor's defense wasn't a brick wall (Texas scored 8 times) but it was good enough. The Bears' beaters knocked out Texas chasers with and without the ball, eliminating passing options and causing turnovers. Beater Brittany Ripperger alone caused at least four turnovers. Baylor is exceptional at guarding loose quaffles after missed shots. Because of Baylor's beating, Texas' possessions were shorter than usual and the Longhorns recorded fewer assists. Using their signature chaser guarding each hoop defense, Baylor was able to block mid range Texas shots, intercept passes to players near the hoops and rebound. Never leaving a hoop open for an uncontested shot, Baylor created a situation where Texas had to work for every shot. Longhorn players who are effective behind and close to the hoops, including chasers Sarah Holub and Audrey Wright, struggled.
The biggest difference for Texas between World Cup VI and the Southwest Regional Final was that their beaters did not have bludger control for a majority of the game. Texas' beaters didn't get outplayed once on day two of World Cup VI, which allowed their offense to score an average of 148 quaffle points a game. In the Southwest Regional Final, Texas only had bludger control for 27% of the game and only scored 80 points. The improvement of Colin Capello is especially notable. Capello was recklessly aggressive in trying to regain bludger control against Baylor and he earned a yellow card. At World Cup VI, Capello channeled the aggression legally to outplay some of the best beaters in the game.
Finally, Texas played a careful seeking game, only going for the snitch when Baylor's seeker had been knocked out. Texas' seeker defense was effective, but perhaps too safe, because after about five minutes, Baylor seeker Monty Turner-Little caught snitch Joshua Carroll to win the game and tournament for Baylor.
MVP: Baylor captain Paul Willard is a force on both offense and defense. Although he is not Baylor's point guard, Baylor's offense flows in and out of Willard. Scoring a game high 30 points, Willard had two key goals that switched the momentum of the game when Texas was leading 40-10. Defensively, Willard is a fanatic shot blocker and withstood several fastbreak attacks on his hoop. Willard is rarely out of position and never caught off guard.
Starwatch: Most of the top players from each team rose to the occasion of a Regional Championship Final and played great games. For the Longhorns, captains Chris Morris and Augustine Monroe each scored two goals and were great in transition. The performance of the rest of Texas' chasing core looked very similar to the World Cup, but the Longhorn chasers just couldn't punch in as many goals due to Baylor's defense. His stats aren't superb, but star chaser and consensus All-American Kody Marshall played well on both ends of the pitch.
Baylor keepers and offensive point guards Reed Marchman and Jacob Bruner combined for two goals, two assists, a steal and a block. Marchman and Bruner were able to survive Texas' relentless point defense and create opportunities for their teammates.
Texas
Chasers/Keepers
| Players |
Stats |
| Simon Arends |
1 Goal, 0 Assists, 0 Blocks, 1 Steals, 0 Turnovers |
| Stephen Bell |
1 Goal, 0 Assists, 2 Blocks, 1 Steal, 2 Turnovers |
| Kenny Chilton |
0 Goals, 0 Assists, 1 Block, 0 Steals, 1 Turnover |
| Hank Dugie |
1 Goal, 1 Assist, 0 Blocks, 1 Steal, 0 Turnovers |
| Kody Marshall |
1 Goal, 0 Assists, 0 Blocks, 1 Steal, 3 Turnovers |
| Augustine Monroe |
2 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Block, 2 Steals, 1 Turnover |
| Chris Morris |
2 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Blocks, 0 Steals, 1 Turnover |
Seekers
| Players |
Stats |
| Jake Alford |
3:05 Minutes |
| Kenny Chilton |
2:49 Minutes |
| Chris Morris |
0:48 Minutes, Surrendered Snatch |
Baylor
Chasers/Keepers
| Players |
Stats |
| Jacob Bruner |
1 Goal, 1 Assist, 0 Blocks, 0 Steals, 1 Turnover |
| Stephen Cramm |
0 Goals, 1 Assist, 0 Blocks, 0 Steals, 1 Turnover |
| Dylan Greenleaf |
0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Blocks, 0 Steals, 2 Turnovers |
| Reed Marchman |
1 Goal, 1 Assist, 1 Block, 1 Steal, 2 Turnovers |
| Drew McBrayer |
0 Goals, 0 Assists, 1 Block, 0 Steals, 0 Turnovers |
| Trent Miller |
2 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Blocks, 2 Steals, 1 Turnover |
| Beissy Sandoval |
0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Blocks, 0 Steals, 1 Turnover |
| Paul Williard |
3 Goals, 0 Assists, 2 Blocks, 2 Steals, 3 Turnovers |
Seekers
| Players |
Stats |
| Matt Blair |
3:27 Minutes |
| Stephen Ciccolella |
1:50 Minutes |
| Monty Turner-Little |
0:38 Minutes, Snatch |
