MTS vs Red Lake Thoughts

Prologue
To MTS for renewal of the rivalry between Red Lake and MTS.  We even have T-Shirts for the double varsity event today.  We have the always loud MTS drumline and an appearance by the MTS Wolf (mascot).  Bushy tail included.  Free hot dogs as part of open house and everything else is a Haiti fundraiser.  Gotta like both of those.  MTS girls win big as soph DJ Bland is honored at halftime for passing the 1000 career points mark.

Game Time
MTS goes diamond press and forces a handful of turnovers in the first 2 minutes.  Kevin Noreen with 3 hoops and a pair of assist to be part of the first 11 Wolves points.  17-2 MTS at 15:10.  Doesn't help that Red Lake can't make a bunny either.  Sam Kingbird with his first triple to cut the lead to 34-17 at 9:54.  Kevin Noreen with a steal for 2, a putback and then a layup after a Rodney Owens block.  40-17 going to a Red Lake timeout with 8:53 left in the half.  Kevin Noreen then living at the foul line.  4 in a row, then a give and go for a 3 point play and 2 more free throws.  51-22 Wolves at 6:22.  3 straight turnovers for 3 easy Red Lake buckets including Sam Kingbird with a pair of layups give the Warriors 7 in a row to force an MTS timeout.  Up and down we go the rest of the half.  72-47 MTS at the break.  Kevin Noreen with half of those (36) and 11 boards.  Sam Kingbird with 5 triples in his 21 points in the half.

Second half is a layup drill for each team as there's absolutely no defense being played.  That favors MTS as they start the half 15-6 and open the lead up to 96-57 after a Kyle Noreen steal and pass to Rodney Owens for a layup with 13:01 left.  MTS starting to pull the starters.  Owens and Potter are gone.  Kyle Noreen leaves at 10:47 and Kevin Noreen leaves at 9:12 with a 107-68 lead.  Bench fest, snooze.  But hold the phone.  The MTS bench can't take care of the ball and running time goes away at 5:02.  Its a Red Lake 24-1 run after a banked in triple to cut the lead to 108-92 with 3 minutes left and that brings all the starters back in.  They finish the game 13-3 for a 121-95 MTS win.

For Red Lake, Sam Kingbird 35 points and 9 triples.  They just had no answer for the MTS diamond press.  They fall to 12-5 and host MTS in the final game of the regular season on March 6th.  That's 6 of 8 at home to end the season.  That should be enough to get them the #2 seed in the north subsection of 8AA .

For MTS, Kevin Noreen finishes with 55 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists on my sheet.  Rodney Owens 18 of his 30 in the first half.  Kyle Noreen 27 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists.  MTS now 17-3.  Forest Olivier = Anderson Varajeo.  I may have to give his hair the nod over Jayme Moten of New London-Spicer.