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Game Time League title, bragging rights for Alexander
Iowa's Jaime Printy and Kachine Alexander squared off Thursday night in North Liberty for more than just the Game Time League championship.
Bragging rights were involved.
“For me, this is my second (championship) in a row,” said a grinning Alexander, who led her team to an 85-68 victory. “Last year Jamie and I won one together. I'm the only one on our team to win two.”
Alexander's strong performance this summer earned her the GTL's MVP award. Despite being hounded this summer by the likes of Printy and fellow Iowa newcomer Trisha Nesbitt, Alexander finished with 24.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game.
She led the league in all three categories and finished first in 3-point shooting and second in 2-point percentage.
“Next year the coaches expect a lot out of me,” said Alexander, a junior. “I wanted to come out and play as well as I could this summer, the same thing I did last summer. If I don't play well and work hard in the summer, it won't translate to success in the fall.”
Success this fall is the main thing Iowa players hope to gain from participation in the GTL. While they scrimmage against each other frequently, the players use the league to improve skills and develop chemistry along the way while facing each other, other college players and high schoolers.
“When you play with somebody you don't normally play with, you've got to play better yourself,” said senior JoAnn Hamlin, who teamed with Printy this summer and finished with 22 points and seven boards in the finale. “It gives you a different look.”
Alexander and Hamlin agreed the biggest beneficiaries from GTL action will be the three freshmen - Printy, Johnson and Nesbitt. The junior guard said they will benefit from the game experience and gain confidence in their abilities.
Iowa sophomore Kelly Krei won Best Defender and Brendan Unkrich won Coach of the Year.
“It's been a very successful summer for what we are trying to do,” said league director Randy Larson. “We want this to be as close to a college game as it can be.”
Iowa's Jaime Printy and Kachine Alexander squared off Thursday night in North Liberty for more than just the Game Time League championship. Bragging rights were involved. “For me, this is my second (championship) in a row,” said a grinning Alexander, who led her team to an 85-68 victory. “Last year Jamie and I won one together. I'm the only one on our team to win two.” Alexander's strong performance this summer earned her the GTL's MVP award. Despite being hounded this summer by the likes of Printy and fellow Iowa newcomer Trisha Nesbitt, Alexander finished with 24.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. She led the league in all three categories and finished first in 3-point shooting and second in 2-point percentage. “Next year the coaches expect a lot out of me,” said Alexander, a junior. “I wanted to come out and play as well as I could this summer, the same thing I did last summer. If I don't play well and work hard in the summer, it won't translate to success in the fall.” Success this fall is the main thing Iowa players hope to gain from participation in the GTL. While they scrimmage against each other frequently, the players use the league to improve skills and develop chemistry along the way while facing each other, other college players and high schoolers. “When you play with somebody you don't normally play with, you've got to play better yourself,” said senior JoAnn Hamlin, who teamed with Printy this summer and finished with 22 points and seven boards in the finale. “It gives you a different look.” Alexander and Hamlin agreed the biggest beneficiaries from GTL action will be the three freshmen - Printy, Johnson and Nesbitt. The junior guard said they will benefit from the game experience and gain confidence in their abilities. Iowa sophomore Kelly Krei won Best Defender and Brendan Unkrich won Coach of the Year. “It's been a very successful summer for what we are trying to do,” said league director Randy Larson. “We want this to be as close to a college game as it can be.”
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