Trojans live by the sword again

Prologue
Its a quiet Monday night on the schedule and with a looming late season snowstorm to mess up the Tuesday schedule, why not get enough travel in for both nights with a long trip to New Prague for their Missota matchup with Northfield.  Nice opportunity to see a couple of teams that aren't suburbs, exurbs or anything metro.  Nice job with parents night for the seniors.  Quality work also by the New Prague pep band with tunes like Lady Gaga's Bad Romance (blah blah..blah blah blah..).  Very good crowd of parents and students on hand for the game as well for what was essentially a meaningless school night game.  UW-La Crosse (with the coolest guy in the WIAC), Gustavus and St. Mary's all in the building watching tonight.  Perfect timing for the arrival as I followed the Dominos pizza guy in for the cheese pizza.

Game Time
Not much to write tonight as this one gets out of hand quickly.  Its thanks to Trevor O'Brien.  He nails back to back 3s and a layup for an 11-0 lead.  Lets add in another 3, a bucket on the post and a putback for good measure.  A 4th 3 would be nice so lets add that too.  He scores 18 of the 1st 23 New Prague points with 4 bombs.  23-4 Trojans at the 8:40 mark.  Eric Shepley makes 5 free throws in a row as Northfield tries to stay even after that piont.  35-16 at the half with New Prague leading.  The second half is all about the seniors playing.  Adam Bartusek knocks down a 3 in the last 10 seconds to get his name in the book with the rest of the seniors.  New Prague rolls 67-37.

Post Game
New Prague is led by Trevor O'Brien's 24 points and 4 3s.  22 of those points in the 1st half.  Joe Kneip and Sergio Najera each make 3 3s on their way to 11 points.  The Trojans bring back memories of their state upset of St. Paul Johnson as they drain 13 3s on the night.  This is with a big lineup and guys like O'Brien and Najera stepping out and combining for 7 3s, not the old dribble drive system they used to run.  The entire front line graduates but the starting guards are back along with soph star Paul Friendshuh.  Great work by their offense shredding the Northfield 2-3.  Pass and cut to the middle and quick unselfish kick outs from that.  Trojans improve to 16-9 and can jump into a 2nd place tie with a win at AHA on Friday.  A win over Holy Angels (who still has 2 huge games to battle for a 3 seed in ultra tough 6AAA) in my opinion would give them the final edge for a semifinal home game in 1AAA with Kasson-Mantorville

Northfield ends up with no one in double figures.  They fall to 5-19 and 0-13 in the Missota.  They host Chaska on Friday.