Columbia Heights Jamboree and opener thoughts

I got to see the last 6 matchups of the day at the Columbia Heights Jamboree after returning from opening night in The Old Kingdom last Tuesday .  Games were 2 halves of 10 minutes each.  Running time and only 1 free throw shot on shooting fouls.  2nd half was usually reserves in all of the games.  Here are some thoughts.

Concessions
Quality upgrade to the Taco in a Bag.  And at coach Braziel's direction, you can't bypass the pizza either.  But Coke products instead of Pepsi products, not sure about that one.

Mpls South vs Orono
Wow did South look bad.  Though I don't think they had Carnell Sheppard.  Nothing but 3s, no real direction on the offensive end.  Orono jumped on them 18-3 to win the 1st half 27-7.  14-3 of that was with the starters.  South did come back with a late 3 point play to win the 2nd half 11-9.  Orono didn't use any of their usual kitchen sink defensive schemes, we'll see if they pull any of them out on Thursday at St. Michael-Albertville. 

Southwest vs North St. Paul
North looked to get out and run but then devolved into THE WORLD'S WORST OFFENSE.  Though I did like their simple secondary break to get in to it.  Hunter Books with a productive day in the post.  Wild end to the 1st half as Southwest survived 2 turnovers in the last 30 seconds to get the ball back and make a layup at the horn to split the half at 10.  Southwest down 7-5 before an 8-0 run over the next 5+ minutes.  2 late layups for the Lakers put this one away.  SW wins the second half 17-13.

Como Park vs Henry
Nothing like city battles.  Deonte Blakemore on the bench in street clothes for this one for Henry.  Como Park has better athletes and more size than Central but they're far more dysfunctional than Central.  Terrance Williams quiet for Como in this one until a late run in the 2nd half blew that half open.  Despite all that, Como wins the 1st half 12-9 and then runs away 20-7 in the second half with the last 11 points.  Quiet days for Tim Gill and Latrell Love inside for Henry.  Wunell Beard is undersized but he'll be a productive guard for the Patriots.

DeLaSalle vs Holy Angels
No Melvin Collins for DeLaSalle.  20-2 DLS to start the 1st half, 10-0 Islanders to start the 2nd half.  Too much defense and Holy Angels is rebuilding.  Total mismatch.  But freshman guard Jordan Dembley was one of the few bright spots for Holy Angels.  The lefty was one of the few who didn't wilt under the defensive pressure.   There was one very interesting bit from the game and that was Riley Dearring playing point guard.  That would get him the ball at the end of the same secondary break set that DLS ran last year.  D wins the halves 24-8 and 22-8.

Benilde-St. Margaret's vs St. Paul Central
BSM coach John Moore experimenting with different alignments. Isaiah Zierden played all point guard in the 1st half with Danon Briggs and Isaiah Gray not playing at all.  Then he moved to the 2 in the 2nd half.  Central got out to a 7-0 lead in the 1st 5 minutes before Will Dunn (he came off the bench with Sanjay Lumpkin in the 1st half) brought the Red Knights back.  Dunn's 3 point play tied the game at 1:50 and his floater just before halftime won the 1st half 17-15.  Battle/Washington/Zierden all start the 2nd half on the bench. Central again even in the 1st 5 minutes but a Zierden floater pushed the lead to 2 possessions.  BSM wins the 2nd half 14-10.

Minnetonka vs Columbia Heights
Major missing pieces in this one as Tommy McDermott (bad hammy) sat out for Tonka.  No Zach Lofton for Columbia Heights.  Tonka still working on basic defensive stuff as coach Dasovich looks like a traffic cop on the sidelines directing his defense.  Nick Latzke with a couple of triples out of the 4 out-1 in motion.  Tonka wins 11-9 in the 1st half.  All 9 Heights points from Keanu Glover.  Sleeper player who's a strong guard who can rebound and score.  2nd half was cancelled just 19 seconds in due to an injury. 

Wisconsin Opening Night
As to the opening night in Wisconsin last Tuesday, the game was what was expected.  Stockbridge got hammered 91-36 by Green Lake.  Green Lake star wing Matt Van Sycoc with 26, 10 and 6 on 12-14 shooting in 26:02 of playing time.  66-20 Green Lake going to the 4th quarter and Van Sycoc was put back in for another 5+ minutes.  Very disappointing.  That was against a team with only 7 on the bench who started 3 sophs and a freshman.  I know Green Lake only had 9 on the bench, but sit the star down.  Great setup of 8 rows of nice bleachers, nice entrance area and big concession stand (though I only had a Pepsi).  And a quality job by the Stockbridge pep band too.  We need more pep band appearances here.