Crimson take another rivalry game

Prologue
Off to a rivalry doubleheader between Osseo and Maple Grove.  Thanks to the Maple Grove gym troubles and the big game, we'll move across the parking lot and Osseo gets both home games this year.  Good call to move it as Osseo Junior High would have been too crowded for this one.  We get an appearance from the Osseo band.  The concession stand asks me if my Pepsi will go on the beverage counter, absolutely it will.  We'll have the usual Domino's sausage pizza to go with it.  Then a mom with a free brownie after the game.   Czar living large (note to self, get bigger belt). 

Number of Teams I've Seen: 153 (63 courts)

Beverage Consumption Counter: 1489.8 ounces (91 days, 127 games, 2 scrimmages added on)

• Pepsi: 704 ounces
• Coke: 192 ounces
• Dr. Pepper: 48 ounces
• Sprite: 200 ounces
• Sierra Mist: 12 ounces
• Barq's Root Beer: 20 ounces
• A&W Root Beer: 60 ounces
• Red Powerade: 120 ounces
• 0 Calorie Fruit Punch Powerade: 20 ounces
• Red Gatorade: 96.9 ounces
• Water: 500 ml

Hot Dog Counter: 17

Song of the Day
Rick Springfield - Jenny (867-5309) (Osseo band)

Game Time:
Brad Davison scores the 1st 3 points of the game and Reed Nikko adds a 3 point play for a 8-3 lead.  Mitchell Rekstad off the bench with 2 steals for layups to break an 8 all tie.  Frosh Zach Theisen off the bench for 3 at the 8 minute mark.  But Osseo's offense goes south as they don't score for the next 6 and a half minutes.  Maple Grove scores 12 in a row during that time to open up a 13 point lead.  But a pair of 3s from Allen Anderson and Theisen in the last minute of the half cut the Maple Grove lead to 25-19 at the half.    Osseo with 1 FG in a stretch of over 9 minutes but thanks to the last 2 threes, the Orioles are right in the game.

Jack Hutchinson for 3 and Brad Davison ends the 9-2 run with 4 free throws.  34-21 Maple Grove with 14:11 to play.  Davison to Nikko for a dunk and another Nikko layup to push the lead to 14.  Mar Mar Hughes 5 in a row countered by 5 in a row from Tywhon Pickford.  Soph Matt Bezdicek off the bench and triggers a 7-0 run with 2 hoops sandwiching a transition 3 from Theisen.  The lead is down to 7, 43-36 with 7:13 left.  Davison scoring and Nikko scoring going back to the left on the left block for a layup with 4:25 left to push the lead to 11.  Maple Grove makes 8 free throws and gets 2 Nikko dunks the rest of the way to close it out.  Maple Grove wins ugly 63-53.

Post Game
Osseo finishes the season 13-12, 12-7 in the NW Suburban west division.  That's still good for 3rd place in a very down season for the Orioles.  They're looking at the 4 vs 5 game against Centennial in the 1st round of the 5AAAA playoffs next Thursday.  Centennial may host again but Osseo won the regular season meeting by 9 a month ago.  Elliot Kane knocks down 4 3s and leads the Orioles with 14 points.  Allen Anderson also in double figures with 12.  Next year's likely wing duo of Mar Mar Hughes and Zach Theisen each score 9 points off the bench.

Maple Grove ends the regular season on a 9 game winning streak and they win the NW Suburban west division at 17-2 and a 22-3 overall record.  Tywhon Pickford continues to impress with 18 points.  Reed Nikko and Brad Davison 15 points.  Nikko showing more assertiveness in the post which was nice to see.  Hughes physical play did help to hold Davison in check but he still managed to score 11 of his 15 at the charity stripe.  The Crimson appear locked in the 2 seed in 5AAAA.  But who they play is up in the air.  Cooper, Park Center and Irondale all locked in a battle for 6-8.  Irondale has the worst power ranking but they have a head-head win over Park Center who beat Cooper.  Irondale visits the Pirate Ship tomorrow to close the season with seeding implications out there.  My guess is Maple Grove will get Cooper in the 2 vs 7 game as the winner at the Pirate Ship will get 6 and the loser 8.