AAAA: Minnetonka has a poor late showing after getting a big early lead vs Kennedy. Message material for Coach Hedstrom? St. Cloud Tech blows out Cambridge-Isanti, no surprise there. CI just outmanned. Mayo gave Sibley a battle but ultimately Sibley moves on. Rodney Williams with 17 and 10 and Cooper comes back vs Burnsville to win a surprisingly low scoring game 54-52. Did I read 3-17 FTs for Tarell Clark and awful FT% for Cooper correctly? Ouch. Tonka vs Tech should be high-octane and fun to watch.
AAA: Como Park stays close to BSM despite minimal numbers from Greg Morse. But Lewis Johnson is a beast inside and one of the most unheralded players in the metro. But the story is 43 from Jordan Taylor, WOW. Will that motivate Anthony Tucker in the Mr. Basketball race? Willmar and STA win easily as expected. Henry has now won 13 of 14 as they beat STMA. STMA was able to hold down Jordan Hughes and Mandela Jackson (27 points combined) but couldn't make a shot and therefore couldn't hold a small halftime lead. I'm really looking forward to the BSM/Henry matchup. Henry has enough offense to gun their way thru this game. Mandela Jackson vs Jordan Taylor, premier talent on display there. Willmar vs STA is a really good semi too. I look for a low scoring defensive war there. Casey Sussenguth vs Alex Schneider inside is fun and will Taylor Filipek break out on the big stage.
AA: All the favorites move on and Maple River holds Montevideo to 2-21 from 3 in the toss up game. Crosby-Ironton vs St. Bernard's on Friday night may just get me out to watch it in person. It won't get much better than Tesdahl vs Jett. Maple River vs New London-Spicer isn't anything shabby either. Great game there.
A: Great day at Mariucci coming up starting at 11 AM. Future all-time scoring leader Kevin Noreen on display in the 1st game, then the monster matchup with Bertha-Hewitt vs Cass Lake-Bena, then Cody Schilling becoming the all-time scoring leader, then the story of the McDonald's continues with Chisholm playing in the 5 PM game. I'll be trying to track Cody Schilling's progress as the day goes on.
Transitions is killing JWP right now!
ReplyDeleteThink of the upcoming Tonka-Sibley final as the last Superbowl. The underdog loses in a valiant effort during the regular season but gets its revenge when it mattered on the big stage!
ReplyDeleteThink of the final as a Hedstrom vs. Novak game in a way.
Actually, it's the battle of Novak's former assistants! It will be a good one!
ReplyDeleteYou could argue that Sibley took the toughest path to the title game..CDH, Mayo, Cooper...all ranked opponents.
ReplyDeleteI watched both games, and I think CLB will be a little too much for MTS. They have a pair of 6'6" forwards that are Noreen level players. MTS is more athletic, but CLB is as quick and I love their trap and press.
ReplyDeleteCooper is a lower seed than Sibley but was deemed the "home team." Explain! hahahaha
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Cody Schilling for breaking the state scoring record!
ReplyDelete