Border teams push Minnesota to the limit

Prologue
Its the 2014 Breakdown Girls Tipoff Classic at Hopkins.  I sit in for 4 girls games including a classic between #1 Eastview and #2 Hopkins.  The day marks the 1000th game that I've seen in my 7+ seasons online.  But the real reason for my attendance is the 4 boys games on the schedule 3 Iowa teams and a Wisconsin team taking on some of the best Minnesota has to offer.  Since its a long day and its Hopkins that means not 1 but 2 trips to the concession stand for a walking taco.  3/8 of a gallon of Pepsi keeps me awake for the 14.5 hour day

Number of Teams I've Seen: 44

Beverage Consumption Counter: 276 ounces (17 days, 23 games, 2 scrimmages added on)

Pepsi: 124 ounces
Coke: 80 ounces
Sprite: 32 ounces
Red Powerade: 40 ounces

Hot Dog Counter: 3

Song of the Day
Beatles - A Hard Day's Night

Boys Game 1: #6AAAA Minnetonka vs Rice Lake (WI)
The showcase here was Marquette commit Henry Ellenson.  The 6'10" forward is the 17th ranked player in the Rivals 150.  He didn't disappoint.  He runs for a dunk, pivots in the post for a 2 handed smash on a post defender and hits a fade away.  That's part of 12 in a row as Rice Lake starts 6-0 and holds on to a 16-13 lead at 11:08.  Seth Coatta matching Ellenson on the other end with his shooting.  He bangs home a 3, pulls for 2, grabs a miss for 2 free throws and buries a 3 after an offensive board.  Cedric Boone chipping in with 3 bombs off the bench in the half.  That included one out of WORLD'S WORST OFFENSE action.  Coatta hits 4 3s for 22, Ellenson goes for 25 just in the 1st half. Tonka pulls out to a 47-37 lead thanks to their guard play.

Ellenson with a block that leads to a layup and a putback.  Then he buries a 3, runs for a free throw, dunks a miss and a sweet assist for a layup.  59-56 Tonka with 10:10 left.  Another Ellenson assist leads to a 3 and another fade away puts Rice Lake ahead 65-64 with 7:40 left.  The Rice Lake lead gets to 69-66 but Tonka scores 4 in a row to bring Ellenson right back in the game.  Justin Moes with a clutch 2nd half buries a 3 and Amar Miller buries a 3 to sandwich an Ellenson hoop.  Moes for 3 and a drive for 2 to push the lead to 7 with 2:45 left.  Rice Lake within 5 but they can't convert a turnover with 2:10 left.  Boone buries a dagger 3 to slam the door.  Minnetonka wins 92-81.  Justin Moes with 17 of his 19 in the 2nd half. Seth Coatta with 22 of his 26 in the 1st half.  Cedric Boone 15 off the bench.  The Skippers make 12 3s.  Henry Ellenson goes off for 48 and 14 boards on my sheet.  He did everything.  Lots of ball handling due to the Tonka guards pressure, catch and shoot, dunk inside, run the floor etc etc. Completely dominating performance.  I'm sure Rice Lake would have liked to get the ball in the guards hands more and have him go down and get a post touch. 

Boys Game 2: #1AAAA Apple Valley vs Waukee (IA)
Waukee is one of the top teams in Iowa's top division.  They feature a couple of high level players.  Forward Michael Jacobsen is a Nebraska commit and forward Anthony Nelson is an Iowa State football signee.  Nelson was too big for smaller AV guys and too quick for Brock Bertram.  He scored the 1st 10 of the game for Waukee.  Jordan Bolton in the lane at will for Apple Valley in the half.  Jacobsen quiet until a couple late 3s.  33-32 Waukee at the half.

Tre Jones running for the 1st 9 points of the 2nd half to give the Eagles the momentum.  Gary Trent knocks down a kick out 3 and another jumper.  Cam Kirksey with a putback and a pair of 3s.  That expands the Apple Valley lead to 58-43 with 11:30 left.  The lead remains at 14 with 7:35 left before Jacobsen comes back in the game with 4 fouls.  That triggers a 10-0 Waukee run with Jacobsen scoring 7 of those.  Jacobsen with a free throw with 1:04 left to cut the lead to 3.  Waukee gets a last chance to tie after 2 missed free throws but they turn it over with 10.3 left.  Bolton makes 2 to seal a 70-65 Apple Valley win.  Jordan Bolton and Cam Kirksey with 18 points each.  That offsets off days from Brock Bertram (6 pts) and Gary Trent (9 points).  Anthony Nelson scores 26 to lead Waukee.  Michael Jacobsen adds 21 and 8.  He showed a nice shooting touch and made plays down the stretch.  I really liked the sets Waukee ran.  Good job moving the defense with false action and then getting into a play. 

Boys Game 3: #1AAA De La Salle vs #2AAAA North Scott (IA)
North Scott featuring a loaded roster with Creighton commit Marlon Stewart and North Dakota commit Cortez Seales.  Seales with 3 early hoops and Stewart adds a couple as the Lancers jump out to a 14-5 lead.  North Scott getting on the glass and De La Salle settling for jumpers that aren't going in.  De La Salle grinds their way back into the game with Josh Collins knocking down a pair of 3s and then a 3rd off a set call (something Dave Thorson does better than anybody, find the hot guy).  25-24 De La Salle at the 3:50 mark.  North Scott with a pair of bombs and Seales converting a turnover.  Then Seales banks in a 3 at the buzzer for a 35-29 North Scott lead at the half.

Stewart pressed in the 1st half and was quiet later in the first half.  He comes out with a 3 point play and drive to push the lead to 13.  De La Salle regroups out of a timeout.  Sacar Anim for 3, Collins flares for another bomb.  Stewart to Seaels for 3 countered by another Anim 3.  Jarvis Johnson coast to coast and a Jeffrey Daubanton stick back.  The North Scott lead down to 49-48 with 8:20 left.  Seales comes back to life.  He drives for 2 and spins for a 3 point play.  After a pair of Anim hoops, its Seales again.  58-54 North Scott 4:51 left.  Collins will faceguard Stewart the rest of the way.  Stewart still gets enough touches to make 6-8 clutch free throws down the stretch.  North Scott wins 67-64.  Cortez Seales with a huge game of 30 points and double digit rebounds.  Marlon Stewart adds 21 and a handful of assists.  Josh Collins 5 3s on his way to 17 points.  Sacar Anim 21 points.

Boys Game 4: #4AAAA Hopkins vs #1AAAA Iowa City West (IA)
Another loaded Iowa squad led by sophomore stud Connor McCaffrey (son of Iowa Hawkeye coach Fran McCaffrey).  We get sightings of former Hawkeyes big men Brad Lohaus (son plays on the team) and the pride of Bowbells, ND, Les Jespen.  They jump on Hopkins 13-2 in the 1st 3:10.  Hopkins counters with a 13-1 run thanks to 5 on backdoor cuts from Vinnie Shahid and a couple of bombs from Xavier Johnson.  The Trojans counter that with a 23-4 run thanks to a McCaffrey 3 and 3 more bombs from David DiLeo.  41-27 Iowa City West at the half.  The lead is still at 18 inside 6 minutes to play and people are ready to nap due to the late hour.  Hopkins does make a late spurt to get as close as 14 and they had chances to get even closer.  But the outcome is never really in doubt.  Iowa City West wins 81-66.  David DiLeo leads the Trojans with 25 on 5 3s as one of 5 players in double figures.  Xavier Johnson 3 triples as he scores 17.  Simon Wright 15, John Warren 10