A reminder readers "If you smoked Marijuana, Weed, Bud, Blunts, turn around we'll see you at the next game (we know who you are)". That was the sign on the Washburn doors tonight. So I have this in addition to being ID'd at South and put thru a metal detector at Roosevelt. Welcome to life in the Minneapolis City Conference. Its a sad commentary that we've gotten to this point at any school anywhere. But at least we had power so the game could be played.
No Cedric Martin for Washburn as he's sitting out for getting 2 Ts vs Henry last Friday. Washburn gets off to a quick 9-0 start in the 1st 5 minutes and after some even play, its 31-19 Washburn with about 4 minutes to go in the half. Rashede Hageman had 2 monster 1 hand dunks during this 2nd stretch. Holy Angels finishes the half on a 15-0 run over the last 4 minutes culminated by a Stoddard Barnhill 3 pt play with 1 second left. AHA leads 34-31 at the break.
Washburn gets a 39-38 lead early in the 2nd half, but an 9-0 Holy Angels run puts them up 47-39 inside of 12 minutes. It's 49-45 AHA at 9:00 minutes left when the game turns. James Pfitzinger tips in a missed front end of a 1 and 1. Sahr Ngekia gets a bunny in the lane, Stoddard Barnhill hits a short banker on the break and then gets a breakaway layup off a Washburn missed 3. Will Baregi concludes the run with a layup off of a nice curl from the left wing. In total its a 10-0 run in 2 and half minutes to give AHA a 59-45 lead. Washburn makes a 9-2 run to get as close as 7 with about 2:30 to go, but they get no closer. AHA wins 73-63.
Washburn was younger than I thought as they'll have Martin, Hageman and 3 other juniors from their rotation back next year. For AHA, Sahr Ngekia is just a beast inside, you can't play behind him and try to defend him 1 on 1. He's only a junior too. The toughness of Stoddard Barnhill is nice to see too and he's not afraid to take a big shot.
Don't be surprised to see the Millers represent Minneapolis in the Twin City Game. Will it be at Arlington this year or somewhere in Minneapolis?
ReplyDeleteAs always, the Twin Cities games are at Arlington. March 8th is the date of the games.
ReplyDeleteI was at the game last night, as well. Too bad you didn't get a chance to see Cedric Martin play. More than just a phenomenal athlete, he has really stepped up his all-around game lately and is the key to that whole Washburn team, which I still think has a chance to make some noise once they all come together.
ReplyDeleteCedric has always been able to jump out of the gym and has great quickness and on-the-ball defense, but where he has improved the most is in his ball-handling. He is the one who brings the ball up against pressure for Washburn and handles the ball at crunch time, often benefiting from clear-outs so he can take his man to the hole. Without Cedric to handle the ball last night, Stoddard Barnhill was eating Washburn's point guards for lunch. Stoddard is a nice player and it's a little surprising he hasn't gotten any college looks at all.
Thanks Atticus, I saw Martin play last season and he is a pleasure to watch. A very nice player. If Hageman can play like he did in the 1st half last night and they have Martin, Washburn will be a very tough out come tourney time.
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