St. Bernard's at DeLaSalle Thoughts

Jalen Jaspers

Prologue
Its the 1st trip of the season to DeLaSalle as they host St. Bernard's.  But as we've said before, this is not the St. Bernard's team we're used to seeing despite leading the Tri-Metro East.  Standard food fare and no DeLaSalle jazz band which is a disappointment.  This was part of a doubleheader and the DLS girls won 81-24 and the starters may not have been in for half the game.

Game Time
St. Bernard's the with usual 2-3 zone for most of this one which slows the pace.  But the Islanders knock down 3 triples in a 13-0 run to open a 15-4 lead at the 11:55 mark.  This was after a couple of nice Ricky Suggs blocks inside on Jonah Travis.  Jalen Jaspers with a pair of those.  St. Bernard's hangs around with a Shane Taylor 3 and a Suggs drive to stay within 24-17 at 5:45.  Jaspers with a bucket and then a triple in a 9-0 Islander run to push the lead to 16 before Suggs beats the halftime buzzer with a 3.  38-25 DeLaSalle at the half.

A pair of turnovers ignite a 6-0 Islander run and that pushes the lead to 17.  44-27 DeLaSalle at 13:25 and St. Bernard's needs time.  Shane Taylor with a 3 at 10:55 and the lead is only 44-32 inside of 11 minutes to go. Then Jonah Travis on the post for 2.  Jaspers runs out on a turnover and converts with a 1 handed hammer and then puts back a miss.  After another Taylor 3, an outstanding side to side and back possession results in a putback for Jaspers inside of 6 minutes.  A skip pass for a Lamonte Hall triple pushes sthe lead to 17 with 5:10 to go.  DeLaSalle coasts from there to a 68-45 win.

For St. Bernard's, Asante Simmons with 17 points to keep the Bulldogs close for a while.  Ricky Suggs held in check as he finishes with only 7 points.  St. Bernard's tried to go 2-3 high with Suggs in the middle to get him some touches but to no avail.  The Bulldogs are now 8-8 (6-2) and have 3 tough ones coming up as they host St. Paul Academy, travel to Minnehaha and then have the home rematch with St. Anthony, possibly for the division crown.

For DeLaSalle, Jalen Jaspers leads the way with 19 points. That included 13 points and 3 triples in the 1st half.  Nice to see him get back on track after a rough stretch earlier in the year.  But to me it was his defense holding down Suggs that was the big story in this one.  Jonah Travis working inside against the zone for 17 points and 12 boards.  DeLaSalle stays 1 game behind Minnehaha in the Tri-Metro West at 10-2 (7-1).  An easy week ahead before a brutal schedule over the last 3 weeks of the season.

Jalen Jaspers photo courtesy of MNPhotoNet.net