Falcons rebound against Osseo

Prologue
Off to Armstrong for a NW Suburban game vs Osseo.  These teams sitting 1st and 3rd in the West Division.  Armstrong needing a win to keep pace with Maple Grove in that top spot.  Osseo would fall out of any chance for 2nd with a loss.  Quality Jet's Pizza and an appearance from the Armstrong band.  Then the always unique 16.9 oz bottle of Red Gatorade to go with it.

Number of Teams I've Seen: 148 (60 courts)

Beverage Consumption Counter: 1365.8 ounces (84 days, 117 games, 2 scrimmages added on)

• Pepsi: 664 ounces
• Coke: 192 ounces
• Dr. Pepper: 48 ounces
• Sprite: 160 ounces
• Sierra Mist: 12 ounces
• Barq's Root Beer: 20 ounces
• A&W Root Beer: 36 ounces
• Red Powerade: 100 ounces
• 0 Calorie Fruit Punch Powerade: 20 ounces
• Red Gatorade: 96.9 ounces
• Water: 500 ml

Hot Dog Counter: 17

Song of the Day
Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings

Game Time:
Center Kameron Bettie out of the lineup for Osseo.  He had 22 points in the first meeting.  Armstrong jumps out to a 10-3 lead with 6 points from Sean Burns.  Osseo would respond with their own 10-3 run thanks to 3s from Charlie Hohenstein and Elliot Kane.  Jubie Alade with a steal and hoop that starts a 7-0 run.  Burns finishes that run with a 3 point play.  He scores again to push the lead to 11 before an Allen Anderson 3 ends the half.  33-25 Armstrong at the half.

Mar Mar Hughes with a 3 and a hoop to start the 2nd half as Osseo closes to within 35-30.  But an Osseo timeout may have killed their momentum as they go ice cold.  Alade for 3 and 2 free throws on a putback.  Evan Nolan with a pair of 3s.  Frosh Race Thompson scores off a turnover and puts back a miss for 2 more.  Vennie Williams back to back hoops.  Race Thompson in the post and True Thompson with a 3 point play.  Osseo goes almost 7 minutes without a hoop and only 2 hoops in 10 minutes.  The Armstrong run totals 26-5 in just under 9 minutes.  61-35 Armstrong with 7:21 left before frosh Zach Theisen breaks that run with a 3.  Armstrong's bench is a bit sloppy at the end but the outcome is never in doubt.  Armstrong wins 69-54.

Post Game:
Osseo falls to 12-5 in the NW Suburban and will finish 3rd in the West Division.  They are 13-10 overall.  Elliot Kane with 3 triples on his way to 17 points.  Mar Mar Hughes with 9 of his 11 in the 2nd half.  No one else more than 6.  Tough for the Orioles to generate offense.  As to section play, they're looking at the 4/5 game vs Centennial.  Centennial's power ranking is better but Osseo won the head-head meeting at Centennial.  I'd give them the home game even if they are 1 game back. They host Totino-Grace on Tuesday before going across the parking lot to play Maple Grove in the season finale.

Armstrong recovers from losing 3 out of 4 and gets back on the winning track.  They are 18-5 overall and 14-2 in the league.  They are still tied on top of the West with Maple Grove.  They host the Crimson on Tuesday with the outright division title in the balance.  Sean Burns leads the Falcons with all 15 of his points in the 1st half.  Evan Nolan adds a pair of 3 on his way to 12 points. Jubie Alade with 11 and frosh Race Thompson with 10 bench points. Jerome Dixon held to 5.  As to section seeding, I see the Falcons fighting with Edina for the 4 vs 5 home game in the crazy loaded section 6AAAA.