Millers tame Cougars

Prologue
A quiet Wednesday on the schedule so I'm at Como Park to see them play #2AAA Washburn.  A quality hot dog which The Czar rates a solid B+.  Washburn brings their cheerleading squad which makes things deafening.  Washburn without point guard Nick Anderson.  Como Park has Johnson transfer Kendarius Latimore.  Song of the day has to temporarily revert to my era.

Song of the Day
John Cougar Mellencamp - Pink Houses

Game Time
Como Park comes out in a 2-3 and packs it in, refusing to come out to the arc.  Washburn's offense early on consists of a pair of powerful dunks and putback from Jerry Pratt.  8-7 Washburn at the 13:40 mark.  Washburn can't make a shot and they have no energy.  All 5 starters sit and Como goes on a 9-0 run.  Dwight Anderson makes his first 3 of the night before Keiron Sauer scores 4 in a row for Como.  20-11 Como Park and Anderson picks up his 2nd foul with 6:07 left.  That stoppage allows Como Park to take a Momentum Killer timeout after the 13-3 run.  Washburn would go to a full court press and get opportunity traps in their halfcourt man defense.  That forces 7 Como Park turnovers which put Washburn on a 19-5 run.  Add in Como Park sagging to the foul line in their zone and leaving Anderson with open stand still 3s from the top of the key which he buried.  Washburn 35-29 lead at the half.  Anderson with 16 in the half on 4 3s.

The pressure continues in the 2nd half leading to more easy points.  Como Park sags the 2-3 zone even further with the guards getting only 1 foot to the free throw line.  The half is mostly ugly and not much to see.  I leave just before the end with the game.  Washburn wins 72-56 and it should not have been that close.

Post Game
For Como Park, Andre Schowalter-Perry leads the way with 18 points.  Keiron Sauer with 12.  A very depleted squad who looks to be in a fight with Harding and Humboldt to stay out of the league cellar.  Very interesting strategy to pack the 2-3 in but not being prepared for Anderson's shooting is not acceptable.  Overall it was very effective for an undermanned squad.  The Cougars fall to 0-2 with the loss.  They have a week off before back to back games next Thursday and Friday at Henry and at Concordia.

For Washburn, Dwight Anderson tops all scorers with 21 points.  Jerry Pratt 3 big dunks in the game for 16 points.  Center Joseph Doby 8 points but a pair of 3s made up most of those points.  Washburn had another kid who I had with 3 3s in the 2nd half (#15 Corey Puterbaugh maybe?  PA guy said Smith, no idea who it was).  The Millers were very lethargic early and settled for way too many 3s against the zone.  But the defense forced turnovers and generated points.  The ability to get surprise traps out of their man to man was fun to watch.  The Millers get through the season opener and start their home schedule on Friday against Hill-Murray.  Hill-Murray played without center Dave Simmet at Holy Angels yesterday so unknown if he'll play Friday.

Czar's Note 12/7/11: #15 for Washburn was North transfer Charles Smith.