Stars survive in Triple Overtime

Prologue
Bah Humbug.  Who needs a holiday party anyway?  The Czar is in the mood for Christmas cheer but after losing in bowling 106-104 in the 10th frame, I need some basketball.  But I left room after the party for my 4th slice of pizza of the season.  Beverage 18 puts me on pace to clear 300 ounces tomorrow.   Nice quick ceremony in the pregame to honor AHA coach Larry McKenzie for his 250th career win.  He did that on Monday at Hill-Murray.  Minnehaha and CDH on hand for scouting purposes.

Game Time
Jordan Dembley off a great start.  An assist to Danny Sullivan for 3, then to Charlie Koontz for a layup.  He then takes it coast to coast for his own bucket.  Joey Poehling from 18 feet straight away and its 14-4 Holy Angels at the 11 minute mark.   Back to back St. Thomas 3s cuts the lead into the lead.  St. Thomas timeout at 7:18 down 16-12.  Holy Angels repsons with 1 triple and then Dembley to Delshon Strickland for another 3.  26-16 after another Dembley assist for a layup, 3:40 left in the half.  Mitch Newberg for 3 and AJ Piram banks in a 3 at the buzzer for a 9-1 run to end the half.  That cuts the AHA lead to 27-25 at the half

Koontz with a pair of buckets and then a Dembley block on 1 end and spin move for 2 on the other.  35-27 Holy Angels.  St. Thomas responds with the next 7 points.  Jalen Patterson with a 3 point play in the run but as the run ends he has to sit with 4 fouls.  35-34 Holy Angels leading with 11:15 to play.  Strickland generating offense for the Stars.  He knocks down a 3 and a floater.  Then a pretty assist for a layup and knocks down a difficult 3.  47-41 Holy Angels with 6 to play.  Dembley and Koontz back in after a breather.  AHA struggling with turnovers late and Jordan Dembley not with the ball in his hands.  Strange.  John Neuberger goes glass after a turnover and offensive rebound to cut the AHA lead to 49-47 with 2:42 left.  The teams trade baskets.  Then Dembley with a tough miss and its tied up.  Arrow goes to St. Thomas with 55.8 left.  Patterson drives to tie it with 17 ticks left.  AHA will play on and not take a timeout.  Dembley drives and its a charge with 1.3 left.  Tied at 51 and we'll go to overtime.

Strickland with a tip with 1:20 left to tie the game at 53.  Holy Angels takes a timeout and goes to a small lineup with no Koontz or Sullivan.  St. Thomas patient with their offense.  Patterson takes the ball to the bucket and Strickland smothers it for a jump ball with 8.4 left.  Arrow to Holy Angels.  They'll advance the ball to halfcourt and take a timeout with 5.7 left to get their offense back in.  But they get absolutely nothing on the inbounds.  Dembley heave is no good and we'll play a 2nd OT tied at 53.

A tough call inside from halfcourt sends Koontz to the line where he makes the 1st and the Stars grab the miss of the 2nd.  1:18 left tied at 56.  They hold and almost turn it over at half court.  It was a bum that very easily could have been called a foul or over and back.  Holy Angels sets up 1 last play out of a time out with 13.2 left.  Dembley with the early kickout for 3 that's no good.  St. Thomas can't get past halfcourt with the rebound.  We'll go to a 3rd overtime tied at 56.

Koontz with a dunk after a no call on the St. Thomas end.  60-58 AHA and St. Thomas uses their timeout here with 1:59 left.  Nick Griffin to the basket for 2 to tie it with 1:45 left.  Dembley with a drive and finish with 1:20 left.  That broke a string of 8 straight misses for him.  Neuberger looked trapped in the corner but both AHA guys left him.  He put it on the deck and went glass again with 40 seconds left.  62 all as Holy Angels advances to the front court  and takes time with 20.8 left.  Out of the timeout they'll hold.  Dembley off the right wing screen from Koontz.  Dembley finds Koontz, shot up no good but Koontz grabs it and puts it back with 7 ticks left.  St. Thomas has to hurry back, they don't get it in right way.  Ben Fiers gets it and pushes it up the right side line.  His attempt from 30 feet on the right wing is just off the iron at the buzzer.  Holy Angels hangs on to win 64-62 in triple overtime.

Post Game
Tough one for St. Thomas but they did make a comeback after never leading in regulation.  Nick Griffin 17 points to lead the way on my sheet.  Jalen Patterson 13.  Not sure where the book got their 19 and 16 from.  They're not the most athletic group but they do have some length and shooters.  Patterson is a key difference maker for them.  He's seeing some point guard time due to Nick Waldvogel being out of the lineup.  The Cadets fall to 0-2 with a tough schedule coming up.  Minnehaha and Sibley at home.  Then a rivalry game at CDH before play Armstrong and either Edina or St. Louis Park in the Edina tournament.  Then back to league play with home games against Mahtomedi and Richfield.

For Holy Angels, Charlie Koontz leads with 16, 4 in the 3rd OT and the game winner.  Delshon Strickland 8 of his 15 in the 2nd half allowing Koontz and Dembley to get a breather.  Jordan Dembley had an off night shooting 6-15 with 6 turnovers but did add 5 assists.  He finished with 14 points and came up big in the 3rd OT.  The Stars improve to 4-2 with the win.  They play at Holy Family on Saturday before playing in the Catholic Spirit tournament.  Then tough road trips to Blake and Chaska to start the new year.