Orioles get their revenge

Prologue
Its a rematch of one of the big games of the season as #1 Park Center goes on the road to #4 Osseo.  Osseo needing a win to force a tie on top of NW Suburban and Section 5AAAA standings.  20 oz of Sprite and the always quality Osseo pizza on the schedule.  The adult section eventually fills in but a disappointing crowd on the student side.  The Mr. Basketball committee out in full force to see this one.

Game Time
Osseo with an early 9-1 run thanks to a tough bucket from Wheeler Baker and an assist from Bridge Tusler to Ian Theisen.  Tusler ends the run with a steal for 2.  The Big 3 give Osseo a 11-5 lead at the 12:55 mark.  Quinton Hooker left all alone on a screen and roll and he promptly buries the 3 at the 6:20 mark.  18-17 Osseo hanging on to the lead.  Treyton Daniels with a left wing drive and strong 2 handed flush finish as Park Center stays within 25-21.  8 of the last 11 to Osseo mostly with Theisen on the bench with 2 fouls.  33-24 Osseo at the half.  Bridge Tusler with 11 points, Quinton Hooker with 9 to lead their teams.

Ian Theisen with his 2nd bucket of the half at the 14:49 mark for a 40-30 lead.  Then Hooker steps up with an assist for a Treyton Daniels reverse layup.  Hooker then with his own layup.  Hooker steals a post entry pass, goes behind his back and to the other end for a 3 point play.  Big spurt for the Pirates and Osseo needs a timeout.  40-37 Orioles leading with 12:34 remaining.  Then a tough offensive foul call against Wheeler Baker sends him to the bench with 4 fouls at the 12:18 mark.  Tusler keeps the Osseo offense going with 4 free throws and another assist to Theisen inside.  Daniels driving for 2 for the Pirates and then flying in on the offensive glass for a putback with 8:15 left.  46-44 Osseo clinging to the lead.

Tusler making both ends of the bonus.  Then he misses a drive and Theisen cleans it up for a 3 point play.  Tusler snares a rebound and the full court pass to Matt Miedtke for a layup with 6:30 remaining.  Theisen inside and fouled for 2 free throws.  56-47 Orioles as they try to pull away.  Now Park Center needs a timeout with 5:58 left.  Soph Arione Farrar with a 3 and then takes advantage of having a bigger slower defender on him.  That drive with 2:35 left cuts the Osseo lead to 58-55.  Tusler with 3 of 4 free throws. Then Hooker misses a contested 3 with 1:45.  Tusler then with a inbounds layup with 1:25 for a 7 point lead.  Osseo goes on to win 66-56.

Post Game
Park Center gets 19 points from Treyton Daniels to lead them in scoring.  Quinton Hooker held to 15 points and except for the 1 spurt early in the 2nd half, was largely a non-factor.  Not having Devin Buckley on the court took a major threat off the floor and he was huge in the 1st meeting.  But their defensive pressure on the Osseo ballhandlers was very effective.  Expect to see teams go to more of that against the Orioles.  Park Center now 17-2 and tied with Osseo at 13-1 in the Northwest Suburban.   Park Center finishes the week a Friday home tilt against Coon Rapids.

Osseo has an identical record.  Bridge Tusler was outplayed thoroughly by Hooker in the 1st meeting and returned the favor tonight.  22 points to lead all scorers with a handful of rebounds and some great outlet passes.  More importantly he hounded Hooker all over the court and did a great defensive job denying the ball and keeping Hooker in check.   Ian Theisen stepped up with an effective first half and big 2nd half.  He finishes with 21 points and 13 rebounds on my sheet.  That's the kind of game he needs against a team like Park Center.   A tough stretch of the schedule continues for Osseo with trips to Champlin Park, Armstrong a home date with Maple Grove and a trip to Wayzata in the next 4 games.

As to the #1 seed in section 5AAAA, I think Park Center is still the strong favorite for it.  Not sure when the seeding is done in 5AAAA but the season finale on March 1st at Minnetonka could be the difference maker.  The Park Center case is simple.  They beat Apple Valley with Tyus, Osseo lost to Apple Valley without Tyus.  Even a loss to Minnetonka may not be enough for the Orioles to jump up.  If either wins the Northwest Suburban outright, then its a no-brainer.