Falcons win section 4A clash

Prologue
The first full week of the 2011-2012 season begins with a trip to Minneapolis North for their opener with FAIR.  A tumultuous offseason at North with a pair of coaching changes and the drop from section 6AAAA to 4A.  That leads to former coach Brett McNeal returning to the bench.  These teams both with athletes to make a run in section 4A.  No hotdogs so my options are candy (which I did last week) so I'll try the popcorn.  Healthy without the butter but not running back for more.  Really strange JV game where FAIR's Deonte Blakemore (formerly of Mpls Henry) goes nuts in the scorebook in the 2nd half.  He pulls up from halfcourt on not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 occasions.  He buries 1 and is fouled by the North 2-3 trap on another.  Over a point per possession which is outstanding.  He throws in a bunch of other really tough 3s during the half but North wins by 22.  Not a single word or movement from the coaching staff on all the tough shots, specifically the halfcourt ones.  Really makes you wonder what they're trying to accomplish.

Song of the Day
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

Game Time
To the varsity game and North top player Jaylin Dubose picks up 2 quick fouls and sits the last 14:38 of the half.  Low scoring and even early.  Thanks to a triplicate of 3s, 13-8 North at the 9:17 mark.  Then FAIR goes to a 1-3-1 and North never did find an answer.  A 14-2 run culimating with Darrion Scott converting a turnover into a layup puts FAIR up 22-15 at the 4:25 mark.  That bucket would start a run of 10 straight points for Scott to end the half.  A late North 3 would keep them within 30-24 at halftime.

Scott comes out with the 1st 5 Falcons points of the second half for a total of 15 in a row. His 3 point play to end that personal spurt sends Dubose right back to the bench with his 3rd foul.  35-26 FAIR with 16:32 to play.  Lee Gaines would score back to back buckets to cut the lead to 7 before a 9-0 FAIR run pushes the lead to 16.  Dubose comes back in with 12:33 left just before John Warren ends the run off a double screen for a triple from the left corner.  Dubose makes a difference with a great block hustling back after a turnover and North hustles to track down the loose ball.  Out of a timeout, Dubose converts the effort into a 3.  He follows up with a steal for a free throw and an assist to Corey Jones.  Lead is cut to 10 and North switches from 2-3 to 3-2 zone and extends it to good effect.  Jones with a putback with 5:35 to cut the lead to 46-39.  That's a 9-2 North run.  Interestingly enough Dubose comes out with 5:03 left with North down 9and didn't return (don't think he fouled out).  Desmond Williams controls the paint down the stretch for FAIR with back to back layups and a pair of trips to the line (1-4 FTs though).  FAIR wins 54-45.

Post Game
For North, post Corey Jones leads the way with 14 points.  Lee Gaines 13 points.  Jaylin Dubose held to 6 with the foul trouble.  North was a very different team when he was on the floor.  He showed a real burst with the ball that FAIR didn't have a match for.  Add in the hustle and a full game from him would have been a difference.  North is off until next Friday when they travel to St. Paul Johnson.

For FAIR, Darrion Scott leads the way with 22 points on 9-24 shooting as his shot wasn't falling in the 2nd half.  But he's still their difference maker.  Desmond Williams very effective inside as he reached double figures with 12 or 13 points.  A definite presence for the Falcons down lown.  Akil England 15 points.  The 1-3-1 for the Falcons was the difference in the game as it generated offense.  The Falcons host St. Croix Prep in their Metro Charter Conference opener on Thursday.