Kevin Noreen breaks MN career scoring record

Kevin Noreen

Prologue
To Minneapolis Roosevelt for a confusing start time as they host Minnesota Transitions with Kevin Noreen needing 39 points to pass the all time career scoring mark of 3428 points set 2 years ago by Ellsworth's Cody Schilling.  Talking to Kevin before the game, he was looking forward to getting it done tonight to put it behind him.  Ridiculously small crowd of about 110 people and zero media besides me.  John Millea (Star Trib) and Ray Richardson (Pioneer Press), I'm beyond disappointed that you weren't there and I'll leave it at that.  Serves the Red Star right when they've refused to cover MTS the last 2 years.  Lehigh in the building to watch Kyle Noreen.

NOTE: The Star Tribune is reporting that 5 games or so may be thrown due to the teams not being sanctioned so this may not necessarily be the record, but for my purposes its tonight.

Game Time
Slow pace early as MTS as usual insists on playing zone.  Roosevelt very deliberate and a Calvin Jenkins floater pulls them within 7-6 at the 15:20 mark with Kevin Noreen already having 5 points.  Kyle Noreen picks up his second foul during a 12-0 run that Kevin Noreen finishes with a post up (9 points).  Kyle with a steal to Kevin for 2 at 7:30 (14 pts), 28-13 MTS and it looks like the record will fall early.  But Roosevelt stays patient as Kyle Noreen spends most of the rest of the half on the bench.  34-24 MTS at the half as Kevin Noreen stays at 14 points with 5 turnovers.  Most of those turnovers on fouls that weren't called by this poor officiating crew.  25 points to go and it looks very questionable if he'll get the record on this night.

To the second half, MTS stays with a soft 1-2-2 zone (groan) but it holds Roosevelt scoreless for the 1st 5:15 of the half while MTS goes on a 15-0 run to break this one wide open.  Kevin Noreen gets it going during the run with a nice cut for 2, a pair of sweet assists, then a pair of buckets for him to push his total to 20.  But he's still not on pace to break the record tonight.  Kevin with a layup at the 11 minute mark, then a putback and a layup at 8:45 for 26 points.  Roosevelt's press helping MTS get up and down and get Noreen points.  Owens finds Noreen for 2 and then a putback for a 3 point play and then he puts back his own miss at the 6 minute mark for 33 points.  65-34 MTS.  Now the crowd knows the record will fall.  A layup at 5:05 and 2 free throws at 3:52 give him 37 points.  Then after a Roosevelt putback, they press.  Kevin catches in the middle and from the foul line takes 1 dribble left and knocks down a left elbow jumper on the east basket at 3:28 to break the record at 7:23 PM Central Time.  Timeout MTS with a 73-41 lead.  Standing ovation from the crowd and Roosevelt makes an announcement and gives him the game ball.  The bench is emptied and MTS wins 81-51.

For Roosevelt, they fall to 4-12 with the loss, but with the disaster that is the west subsection of 4AA, this may help their power ranking.  James Smith the only Teddy in double figures with 10 points.  A winnable game at Minneapolis Southwest awaits on Friday.

For MTS, Kevin Noreen needed 39 and got 39 as he now has 3429 career points and could reach 4000 (see my tracker here).  Kyle Noreen finishes with 10 points after first half foul trouble.  Rodney Owens with 14 points in a productive game for him.  MTS a bit out of whack tonight as they tried to get Kevin Noreen the record, but credit to Kevin as he wasn't selfish about getting it with at least 4 assists on my officially unofficial sheet.

Steve Froemming from Steven's Sports Report and I had the chance to do a quick audio interview with Kevin Noreen after the game.  Click here to listen to the interview

Kevin Noreen photo courtesy of MNPhotoNet.net