2013 ARCC Showcase Thoughts

Prologue
Thanksgiving weekend means we can be thankful for the 1st major in-season event of the season.  Anoka-Ramsey hosted their inaugural showcase.  Only 3 teams of the 12 teams officially ranked coming into the day but at least 3 others that deserve consideration.  Slices of Little Caesar's pizza take care of my food.  Though the late slice had to be cheese because the 2 people in front of me took the last 2 slices of sausage.   A pair of 20 oz Pepsi bottles smuggled in from The Old Kingdom and 20 oz of Coke kindly donated by the far too kind ARCC staff up the beverage total.  Musically, plenty of great 80s.  Since the season now moves into high gear and with no internet it felt like we were underground, this old hit seems appropriate.

Song of the Day
Land Down Under - Men at Work

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 132 ounces  (11 games, 10 days)

  • 12 oz Dr Pepper
  • 20 oz Red Powerade
  • 20 oz Red Gatorade
  • 60 oz Pepsi
  • 20 oz Coke
Game 1: #2AA Perham vs Breck
Breck took a couple of games on the chin to fall out of this week's poll.  Perham turned this into a layup fest.  5 of their 1st 6 buckets layups (with the other being a pretty 15 foot banker in transition).  14-5 Yellowjackets just over 5 minutes in.  Breck claws back with a 10-0 run but they give up a 15-2 run late in the 1st half.  Perham up 10 with 11 minutes left, Breck cuts it to 1 with a 9-0 run.  Graydon Kulick with a 3 point play to start the run and an offensive board for free throws to finish it.  Perham takes time and goes 4 corners with 7 minutes left to hang on to the lead.  They turn it over and a layup on those first 2 possessions.  Breck misses 2 free throws and then after a long possession they miss a decent look.  Perham scores the next 4 to take a 6 point lead.  Breck gets a late 3 from Mo Lawal and 1 last heave from Kevin Linehan that doesn't go in.  Perham wins 55-52 with 20 of their 22 field goals at the rim.  That number is just ridiculous for offensive efficiency.  Hunter Salathe 17 points for Perham.  Mo Lawal 24 points and 4 bombs for Breck.  Will Culliton held to 8 points on 3-14 shooting.  Breck still adjusting to the new style of play for coach Mike Anderson as they looked out of whack on offense and defensively, Perham got anything they wanted.

Game 2: Minneapolis South vs Moorhead
Great production from Kyle Lumbar and Romeo Barber off the South bench.  Barber came in to man the middle because Spuds center Nick Weismann was having his way.  Lumbar with 14 of his 18 in the 1st half.  Barber 9 of his 15 in the 2nd half and he earned himself a ton of playing time going forward.  Story of this game was Moorhead's Cody Dorow.  He goes off for 27 of his 36 in the 2nd half, adds 10 boards and 4 assists.  17-22 from the floor for him.  Soph Payton Bowdry would come up with a 3, a pair of bonus free throws, and an offensive board for 2 more free throws to keep South ahead.  Kenley Farrow also clutch for South 7-8 FTs in the 2nd half.  South hangs on to win 85-79.  Another nice win for the Tigers after spanking Breck last week.  Center Nick Weismann 21 for the Spuds.  Bowdry 16, Farrow 15 as South put 4 players in double figures

Game 3: #5AAA Austin vs Marshall
Connor Winkleman 3 triples in the 1st half for Marshall.  Riley Sharbono 11 points and it looked like Marshall had the Packers 3-2 zone figured out.  Sharbono quickly for 3 and a Tigers putback with 15:50 left have Marshall on top 40-35.  But Marshall would only get 1 more field goal the rest of the game.  Zach Wessels with 11 of his 19 in the 2nd half.  Bret Lukes with 10 of his 15 and a pair of big triples in the 2nd half.  Austin blows this one away in the last 15 minutes as they win 66-46.  Riley Sharbono finishes with 17.

Game 4: Spring Lake Park vs Park Center
11-1 Pirates out of the gate.  Spring Lake Park's Collin Price heats up with 3 bombs as the Panthers pull even at 17 thanks to a 16-6 run over 4 minutes.  Park Center would counter with a 16-4 run and the Panthers respond again with a 12-1 run.  Park Center 36-33 at the half. Too much speed in the 2nd half as the Pirates pull away.  73-50 Park Center goes on to win.  Amani Hooker and Isaiah McKay 18 each while Isaac Matthews added 17.

Game 5: #9AAAA Roseville vs Eastview
24-23 Roseville inside of 6 minutes to play but all Roseville after that.  Too many weapons and too much pressure defense.  The lead was 12 at the half and Roseville ran off to a 86-51 win from there.  Kyler Briggity leads the way with 22 points and 3 3 pointers.  Drew Guebert leads Eastview with 11.  Its a young Eastview squad with only 2 seniors (center Jordan Machacek is the notable one) so expect struggles this year as they build for next season with a large junior class and 3 sophomores.  Lance Gardner sat out for Roseville.  Loved forward Jesper Horsted's activity for Roseville, he had 12 points as the 2nd leading scorer for Roseville, 10 of those in the 1st half.  Gives them a quality duo with Derek Magnuson inside.

Game 6: East Ridge vs Shakopee
A fun game that was tight the entire way.  1st half was an inside showcase for Shakopee.  Jake Maiers destroying anybody trying to guard him as he would face up Ryan Keenan or Ryan Mathis and take them to the rim and go over the top.  33-32 East Ridge at the half.  East Ridge would limit the Sabers post touches and jump out to a 48-40 lead with 9:52 to play.  Shakopee not helping themselves at the charity stripe with a 2-9 FT shooting start to the 2nd half.  Evan Hagen 2 big buckets and a Steffon Mitchell 3 get Shakopee right back in the game.  Hagen again and then Shakopee goes 1-3-1 to force a turnover.  That results in a Dominick Schleper 3 point play on a ridiculous reverse layup finish.  Tyler Weiss puts back a miss and its 56-54 Sabers with 3:05 left (16-6 run over 6:45).  Sid Tomes promptly counters with a 3.  57-56 East Ridge.  Next Sabers possession, Weiss spins baseline but gets called for the charge.  East Ridge misses a front end with 1:50 left and Mitchell converts a tough post to post pass from Maiers for a layup.  East Ridge turns it over.  Then Mitchell is trapped on the wing, sideline official see him on the end line, baseline official has a foul 1st (right call).  Mitchell steps up and drains both free throws with 50.8 left.  East Ridge turns it over but Tomes steals it back and misses a good look from 24 feet with 30 seconds left.  Shakopee goes on to get the 63-58 win.  Steffon Mitchell with 17 points to lead all scorers.  Jake Maiers 15, Tyler Weiss 12.  Jake Knupp 14, Sid Tomes 13 for East Ridge. Ryan Keenan 6 points and sat down the stretch.  He was never a factor.  East Ridge now a surprising 1-2 but they figure to heal quickly as 4 of their next 5 are against St. Louis Park, Mpls SW, Hastings and Park.

Breakout Performers:
  • Cody Dorow - Moorhead
  • Romeo Barber - Minneapolis South
  • Jesper Horsted - Roseville
  • Jake Maiers - Shakopee

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