Prologue
Off to the island for the first of 3 or 4 DeLaSalle games in a row on my schedule (something I'm not a fan of but this game, the Border Battle and the BSM game are too big to miss). DeLaSalle trying to make up for their Tri-Metro loss back in December 50-44 at Blake. No upgrades at the concession stand tonight but A&W Root Beer is always a good variety choice. We get one of the finest bands around in the DeLaSalle band. They don't disappoint with this locally flavored tune for our
Song of the Day
Prince - When Doves Cry
Game Time
Blake had a ton of success with their 3-2 zone in the first game but in this one they go man to man. Interesting start as the teams trade 5 second calls on the first possessions. Hard to know that rule even existed anymore. Reid Travis puts back a miss after a big Blake block. That's his first opportunity for a 3 point play and he converts one on a lob. 7-0 DLS at the 15:30 mark and Blake goes to their zone. The lead gets to 9-0 but the zone slows the pace. John Veil for 3 and adds a free throw later. Kebu Johnson down the lane and finishes right handed (he's lefty). That cuts the DeLaSalle lead to 14-10 at the 7:30 mark. Veil with a drive and pulls up for 3 to force a DeLaSalle timeout at the 4:46 mark. 19-15 Islanders lead. That sparks DLS to the next 6 points, but Blake would fight back with a Veil assist for a 3 point play and Kebu drives for a righty dunk. Trey Shepherd with a putback at the buzzer for a 27-21 halftime lead for DeLaSalle.
Then 3 Blake turnovers early in the second half are painful. Shawn Fitzgibbons converts 1 for a layup, Luke Scott another and he follows that with a 3. The lead balloons to 35-23 with 15:51 to play. Blake fights back again with the next 6 as Kebu takes a turnover for a dunk and goes to the reverse layup. 35-29 DLS with 14:01 left. DLS pushes the lead back to 11. Blake looking for another comeback. JR Bascom with a turnaround and then they miss a reverse layup. Travis grabs it and throws the long bomb to Tyler Moore for a layup. 44-34 DLS with 5:05 left. The teams trade a pair of buckets before Blake misses a pair of good looks at 3s before Kebu Johnson makes a jumper and Paul Blake scores. 49-42 DLS with 2:08 left. But there's not enough time for a run now. DeLaSalle wins 58-49.
Post Game
For Blake, Kebu Johnson leads with 15 points, John Veil with 13. JR Bascom with 9 of his 11 in the 2nd half. They ran a ton of pick and roll with Veil and Johnson being the handlers and really didn't get much out of it. The Bears fall into a tie in the loss column at 11-1 in the Tri-Metro, 14-3 overall. This was the 1st in a 5 game road swing. Next is Monday at Roosevelt. Big road test at Minnehaha in mid-February.
For DeLaSalle, Reid Travis 15 points and 8 rebounds. He had 3 huge blocks in the 2nd half including 2 on the same possession that ended up in a turnover. 13 for Luke Scott. The Islander offense vs zone wasn't pretty but their defense was once again outstanding. Veil and Johnson with almost no good looks. Islanders are now 10-1 in the Tri-Metro and 12-3 overall. A stuff test at Sun Prairie, WI in the Border Battle on Saturday before the big showdown with #1AAA Benilde-St. Margaret's on Tuesday night.
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