Day 2 at the 08-09 East Metro Showcase

6 games with The Emperor on day 2 of the 3rd Annual East Metro Showcase. Here's what caught our attention.

Game 4: Barron vs Richfield
Phillip Freeman continues to have a big year for Richfield. They use a 13-0 1st half run to take a 15 point lead. Barron gets no closer than 12 the rest of the way. Kyle Rose with 22 inside for Barron against the small Richfield lineup. Richfield wins 73-55. Barron now 0-5 against their non-conference schedule.

Game 5: Milwaukee Northwest vs St. Paul Central
Central outscores Northwest 13-3 over the last 5 minutes for a 13 point halftime lead. NW closes to 11 in the 2nd half before Central blows it open with a 13-0 run in the 2nd half. The Minutemen roll 91-67. Jordan Larson with 15, LeDarian Horton with 14. Keith Townsend playing all 5 spots for NW with 23 points. Soph Eric Allen showed his potential with 21 points. Northwest will be very happy with the lanky 6'6 forward the next 2 seasons.

Game 6: Milwaukee Marshall vs Minneapolis Washburn
Marshall gets a bucket from Eric Allison and then a Chauncey Williams 3 for a 12-8 lead at 14:15 before the cold sets in. A 26-0 run over the next 8 minutes for Washburn. Allison hits a 3 at 5:15 for the 1st Marshall FG in 9 minutes. 47-27 Washburn at the half. Alfreeman Flowers puts back a miss with 12 minutes left to cut it to 11, but Marshall gets no closer. 92-77 Washburn wins. Chauncey Williams with a big 2nd half for a total of 20 points. Dylan Hale with 22. But Jordan Osberg was the Washburn story as he was huge off the bench with 25 for the Millers. Biggest story for Marshall was the red warmup suits with baby blue warmup hoodies underneath and they all come out with the hoods up and tied as tight as possible. Hilarious.

Game 7: La Crosse Aquinas vs Hopkins
Let's just say this was ugly. Aquinas doesn't get on the board until 11:20 left in the 1st half. The Hopkins size and pressure D lead to easy shots as the lead gets out to 31-4. Royce White with all 12 of his points in the 1st half with a couple of nice dunks. Minimal time for him in the 2nd half. The entire starting group is out before the mercy rule sets in. 66-27 Hopkins wins. Jimmy Whitehead with all 10 of the 1st half points for Aquinas.

Game 8: Milwaukee Vincent vs Eastview
Star frosh big Phillip Nolan gets the start for Vincent in this one in a surprise. Eastview out to an early 8-3 lead before they can't buy a hoop. Vincent goes on a 26-4 run over 11 minutes for a 29-12 lead inside of 4 minutes. Jordan Kuhn with a couple of triples and a bucket late in the half for Eastview to cut the lead to 32-22 at the half. Michael Weems with 10 for Vincent. Eastview comes out Diamond and 1 on Weems in the 2nd half. Drew Johnson with a couple of hoops to cut it to 6. Then Johnson and soph Frank Veldman (watch him) hit back-back triples to cut it to 5 with 11:12 left. But Vincent figures out the junk defense by finding Steve Stovall and Steve Durham inside for 10 of their next 12 points. That pushes the Vincent lead back to 11, 55-44 with 4:25 left. Vincent goes on to a 61-47 win. 4 guys in double figures for a balanced Vincent lineup. Weems with 12 points but only 1 bucket against the diamond and 1 in the 2nd half. Drew Bjordal cold on this night for Eastview. Rough 0-3 week for them as they also lost to Jefferson by 7 and at Eagan by 4 on Friday. Tim Massie with a nice night of 12 points inside.

Game 9: Milwaukee Lutheran vs Wayzata
Lutheran out quickly to an 8-2 lead before Wayzata counters with a 10-0 run of their own. The lead grows to 7 before Lutheran closes within 31-28 at the half. Great 1st half line for Wayzata. Jarrod Peterson, Kellen Taylor, Nolan Odland all with 8 points, Jamar Franks 7 points. Iowa State recruit Chim Kadima 9 points on 3-5 shooting and all 3 were tough in your face fading jumpers for Milwaukee Lutheran. After the 1st bucket of the half by Lutheran, Wayzata goes on a 21-7 run over the next 10 minutes. 52-37 Trojans with 7:12 left. Lutheran point guard Mike Jones on the bench for most of that time forcing Kadima to handle the ball more. They really missed him. Odland with a deep 3 to push the lead to 17 with 5:40 to go. That lead is too much as Wayzata wins 67-55. Kadima finishes with 14 points and a cold 2nd half shooting. Tough to defend on the bounce, but he still needs work on his handle. Nolan Odland with 22 for Wayzata. He was fearless going to the rim. Free throws a huge story in this one. Wayzata 23-31 including 12-12 from Kellen Taylor. 9-14 FTs for Lutheran. Taylor really physical inside getting his hands up prompting more than 1 discussion with the refs.

Overall, a surprise that most of the games weren't competitive. But a nice group of teams and players to watch in this year's event.