Final roaming Saturday of 10-11 Season

Prologue
Its the final run around and find games Saturday of the season.  I start with a 7AAAA battle in Andover, then a frigid look at the Polar League as Esko played Cromwell at the Target Center.  Finally, a private school showdown with Cretin-Derham Hall visiting De La Salle.  Quality Pepsi all day and Taco in a Bag at De La Salle.  As to music, roaming is appropriate, so this old tune makes sense.


Song of the Day
Wherever I may roam - Metallica

Game 1: Duluth Central at Andover
Our 1st bit of the day comes from the MSHSL site indicating Trojans as the nickname for the Denfeld/Central alliance.  It was also used by the public address all day.  Fine and dandy until you read the front of the Central jerseys.  Hunters.  Hmmm, call me confused.  Andover one of the many local converts to the Dribble Drive Motion.  Davis Johnson with a pair of 3s for Andover countered by a pair of Derek Meger free throws and hoop for Central.  16 all at the 9:47 mark.  But Central doesn't score a field goal for the next 5:30.  Davis Johnson with a pair of free throws and his 3rd triple of the day in a 13-1 run.  29-17 Andover leads.  Central cuts that to 31-23 at the break.  Jake Wagner with a putback and 3 in a 7-0 run to start the 2nd half.  42-23 with 15:58 left.  Central closes to 13 but Davis Johnson nails his 4th 3 of the night and that's the end of any hope.  72-54 Andover wins.  Davis Johnson 4 3s help him score 17 points to lead the Huskies.  Tyler Hartmann undersized, but outstanding in the post for all 12 of his points in the 2nd half.  Jake Wagner 13.  Soph Cameron Wold is one to keep an eye on down the road for the Huskies.  Junior forward Derek Meger leads Duluth Central with 16 points. He's a nice piece to build around for next year.  Duluth Central is now 16-8, but with Anoka now 2 games in front of Andover in the NW Suburban and Central's schedule strength 62 out of 65 AAAA teams in this week's CzarPI, do you seed them 6th behind 10-14 Andover and Anoka?

Game 2: Esko vs Cromwell (Target Center)
To the Target Center for a Polar League matchup between 2nd place Esko (#9AA in the CzarPI this week) and Cromwell.  Esko featuring the top and 3rd leading scorer in the league.  They didn't disappoint.  3rd is guard Jackson Lindquist.  He nails 4 3s in the 1st half to lead the offense.  The leader is bouncy forward Jake Stainbrook.  He had 14 in the 1st half and his jumper to start the 2nd half put him over 1000 points for his career.  Cromwell's top player Pat Dahl keeps the game close with a steal for 2.  27-20 Esko at the 5:50 mark.  But Cromwell goes the next 11:30 across halftime without a field goal.  Esko goes on a 31-1 during that time.  The starters sit with 11:15 remaining and we don't get mercy rule.  Esko rolls 73-38.  Lindquist finishes with 22 points.  Stainbrook 21 points.  .  Pat Dahl 19 points for Cromwell.

Game 3: #4AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall at #2AAA DeLaSalle
The day is highlighted by a close to full house on alumni night at DeLaSalle.  Benilde-St. Margaret's, Stillwater, Columbia Heights and Roseville amongst those scouting.  St. Mary's,.coolest guy in the NSIC and Augsburg amongst the colleges looking on.  Jonah Travis on fire all night.  He starts the night on the post for 2, he adds a free throws and a post dunk and 2 free throws off a putback.  10-5 DLS at 12:47.  Raijon Kelly counters for CDH with a pullup 3 and a jumper in a 7-0 run to put CDH on top.  Travis with a a pair of putbacks, including 1 for a 3 point play.  CJ Neumann goes glass and nails a 3 to tie the game at 17. Travis drives from the short corner vs the CDH 2-3.  Travis finishes the half with an emphatic 2 handed putback dunk and a pair of free throws.  29-23 DLS at the break.  Travis with a full game stat sheet in the first half with 18 points and 11 rebounds and an assist for 2 more.  He's in on the 20 of the 29 points.

DLS opens the half with 3 layups and a pair of free throws in an 11-4 spurt to start the half.  Only after Cortez Tillman nails a 3 to cut the lead to 40-30 at the 12:59 mark does CDH take a timeout.  I've never liked the "I refuse to call a timeout during a run until we break it with a score" philosophy.  LaMonte Hall for 3 and Travis is left all alone under the basket for an easy 2 handed dunk.  He grabs a miss and earns a FT.  46-30 Islanders with 9:20 left.  A kickout finds Neumann for 3 as CDH looks to start a comeback but its a set lob for Travis for a big 2 handed dunk to electrify the crowd.  Tillman and Kelly nail back to back 3s to cut the lead to 50-41 with 6:17.  Timeout DLS.  CDH proceeds to turn the ball over on their next 3 possessions.  DLS converts those into 2 drives for easy layups and a Travis putback.  The lead is never single digits again.  DLS wins 61-50. 

CJ Neumann hits 3 3s and leads CDH with 16 points.  Raijon Kelly with 3 3s of his own to finish with 13 points.  I had him 5-15 shooting as Melvin Collins and Tyler Moore had the defensive assignment most of the night.  Cortez Tillman with 10 points and the other 2 CDH 3s.  No Taylor Montero for the Raiders as he was at the Wisconsin football junior day.  CDH falls to 18-6 with a trip to Stillwater and the monster home game against Roseville to end the regular season.

For DeLaSalle, Jonah Travis was a man amongst boys inside.  He finishes with 32 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks on my sheet.  I also had him 12-14 from the floor and 8-10 from the foul line.  Marcas Dorsey with 8 points as he also played well inside.  Bretson McNeal with 1 3 at the start of each half for 6 points.  Only 3 3s when playing against 2-3 zone most of the night, but that zone didn't prevent the inside play.  DeLaSalle is now 22-3 and they wrap up their regular season against section and city rival Henry on Tuesday night.  Henry coming off a bad loss to Southwest Friday night.  Anybody know the last time Southwest in that series?