Since I've seen plenty of Hopkins and will see plenty of Cretin-Derham Hall, I skip that matchup. Also thought John Warren would be out, so much for that with the injured hand as he played big. Instead I took the opportunity to do the entirely shocking. I made a point of seeing Bloomington Jefferson, yes that's right. Veteran readers will know that while I'm appreciative of the Jags style, I find somewhat like watching paint dry. Its a Metro West Conference showdown for the Jags at St. Louis Park and gives me a chance to brave the elements to see 2 new teams. Nice addition of an enclosure for concessions. And who's behind the counter, parents from my 14U AAU season. Always a pleasant surprise and a chance to talk to a former player is never a bad thing.
Beverage Consumption Counter: 776.9 ounces (48 days, 68 games, 2 scrimmages added on)
- Pepsi: 472 ounces
- Coke: 100 ounces
- Dr. Pepper: 12 ounces
- Sprite: 44 ounces
- Barq's Root Beer: 20 ounces
- A&W Root Beer: 12 ounces
- Red Powerade: 60 ounces
- Red Gatorade: 40 ounces
- Water: 500 ml
Song of the Day
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Game Time
A snail's pace early as a Ray Whilock drive for St. Louis Park ties the game at 4 at the 13:55 mark. Then the first of 2 big Jags run in the half. Soph Jack Tillotson off the bench for 2 and then buries a 3. Tommy Gathje fades off a downscreen for a 3 to end the 13-0 run. 15-4 Jefferson at 10:40. 5 in a row from St. Louis Park, Nick Kjos with 4 of those. Then 12 in a row from the Jags thanks to 3s from Tillotson, Doug Scherber and Tyler Wanzek. 27-9 Jags look to run away but 5 straight from Whitlock and an Orioles 3 after 2 Jefferson missed free throws cut the Jefferson lead to 27-17 at the half.
Second half is all Jefferson. Zach Ubben for 3, Gathje with the old fashioned 3 point play. Wanzek off the BLOB for another 3 and the lead is quickly 17. Eric Rasmussen for 3 for the Jags. Then a technical on Orioles coach Dave Breitenbucher for emphatically questioning a foul call on a rebound (difficult call it was with a taller player behind coming down on his guy). Wanzek makes the technicals and the Jags get a layup on the possession's SLOB. 43-23 and Jefferson coasts from there. The benches empty and a 3 point play with 0.1 left makes the final look far more respectable. Jefferson wins 60-47.
Post Game
St. Louis Park falls to 5-8 with the loss. Those 5 wins are over Irondale, Blake, Mound-Westonka, Richfield and Southwest so not gangbusters. But it is progress from last year. The Orioles still play plenty of young guys and have a couple freshman poised to be in the rotation next year if not by end of the year. Metro West play continues for the Orioles at Kennedy on Friday.
Bloomington Jefferson still runs their same old White and Black Set stuff. No surprise that they continue to be very disciplined and patient in those sets. With Gathje and Tillotson (and Riemersma in the future) they'll get high/low stuff out of it. They've also added some Euro ball screen continuity as well. Since coach Evens ran dribble drive with the youth kids, I wonder if or when he'll put that in down the road. Great balance from the Jags with Tommy Gathje leading with 11 points and I had 7 boards on my sheet. He's versatile enough that they'll use him in a wing capacity from time to time. Jefferson is now 7-3 with the win. They return to the neighborhood to take on Benilde-St. Margaret's on Friday. Then the Jags have a critical home showdown with Chanhassen next Tuesday.
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