Small School Delight

Prologue
To Macalester for the 4A and 4AA championships.  Jammed packed house at the Leonard Center for both games.  The always fun 500 ml bottle of Coke is the drink that closes out the official tally for the beverage counter (hard to track cups at state).  Boo the Toddler Ref is in the house for the late game.

Number of Teams I've Seen: 159 (70 courts)

Beverage Consumption Counter: 1658.7 ounces (107 days, 144 games, 2 scrimmages added on)
  • Pepsi: 844 ounces
  • Coke: 208.9 ounces
  • Dr. Pepper: 48 ounces
  • Sprite: 200 ounces
  • Sierra Mist: 12 ounces
  • Barq's Root Beer: 20 ounces
  • A&W Root Beer: 72 ounces
  • Red Powerade: 120 ounces
  • 0 Calorie Fruit Punch Powerade: 20 ounces
  • Red Gatorade: 96.9 ounces
  • Water: 500 ml
Hot Dog Counter: 22

Song of the Day: Fleetwood Mac - Seven Wonders

4A Championship (#3 Maranatha vs #2 Minneapolis North):
Cam Monson with a layup to start and a Jeremiah Hanson drive for 2 free throws.  4-0 MCA at 15:57 as the North offense can't get going.  JaQuan Sanders-Smith off the North bench with the nice give and go via Odell Wilson in the post and another layup.  Timeout North at 13:27 down 10-9.  Its Sanders-Smith again, this time its a 3 point play to give North their 1st lead.  He adds bonus free throws and Wilson with a jumper as the frosh continues to produce.  21-18 Polars at the 8 minute mark.  Hanson heating up as he buries back to back 3s as the North offense is really ragged.  He then outmuscles a Polar for a rebound and gets fouled.  Then a North attempt to save a loose ball goes haywire and Hanson turns that into a 3 point play.  4 straight turnovers, outworked on that rebound and they give up an offensive rebound of a free throw.  That's an ugly sequence for North.  31-26 MCA at 2:22 after that.  Isaac Johnson with a tough stepback, a 3 point play and running out for 2 more.  Monson with 3 of 4 free throws during that stretch.  Hanson with a technical free throw after the 2nd North delay of game call and he scores the last bucket of the half.  38-35 Maranatha at the half.  Hanson with 21.  Isaac Johnson with 10.

Jamil Jackson had a rough first half but got off to a quick 2nd half start with a hoop and a putback as the Polars score the 1st 6 of the second half.  Isaac Johnson to the left hand for 2 and Tyler Johnson for 3 to end the Polars 11-2 run.  46-40 North at 13:20.  Jackson sits with his 4th foul a minute later.  Monson with a free throw off a turnover, Hanson saves a miss for a Jake Meyen free throw and then Hanson scores.  49-48 North inside 10 to play.  Then the chess match begins.  MCA with a little momentum and in a 1-1-3 zone.  North looks a bit confused but they'll go 4 corners 2-1-2 and hold it.  Then a strange North timeout with 7:31.  MCA stays zone and North will hold for another 50 seconds.  But for some reason North decides to play at 6:40 and Sanders-Smith makes 1 of 2 free throws at 6:32.  MCA takes time and they'll come out man after they miss.  North misses and Hanson scores to tie it.  Jackson comes back in with 5:37 left.  Bad North miss and Damario Armstrong makes 2 free throws with 4:43 left for a 52-50 MCA lead.  They'll go back to the zone.  Tyler Johnson converts a turnover to tie it as its as 2 minute stretch of bad shots and turnovers both ways.  Hanson makes bonus free throws with 2:07 left, Sanders-Smith scoops for 2 but Jake Meyen scores the other way.  56-54 MCA 1:48 left.  Another bad shot and Armstrong makes an ill advised double clutch bank.  58-54 MCA 1:20 left.  Jackson makes 2 free throws and Maranatha helps the Polars by jacking a crazy shot.  Tyler Johnson to the rim for a monster dunk attempt over Hanson that almost went in.  He makes 1 free throw to cut the MCA lead to 1.  Hanson makes 1 of 2 free throws after the last MCA timeout.  North misses and MCA appears to get whacked but its an overrule to a jump ball with 30.3 left and it goes to MCA.  MCA travels with 20 seconds left, Jamil Jackson tips in a miss and North takes a timeout to set their defense with 9.4 left.  MCA gets in the inbounds and darn near turns it over.  But 1 outlet later they're on the break and its Monson under the rim.  Pump once and its a layup for the game winner with 2 seconds left but it doesn't go down, oh my goodness.  59 all and we'll play overtime.

In overtime, Jackson a tip in to put North up 1.  Armstrong off the bounce, Sanders-Smith with a floater.  Armstrong to Monson for a layup.  64-63 MCA with 2:15 left in OT.  Hanson up and under but its a walk with 1:30 left.  Tyler Johnson puts back a miss and Hanson misses with 1 minute left.  North bails out MCA with a quick miss.  Monson makes 1 free throw and MCA gets the miss back for Hanson to score .  Sanders-Smith fouled and makes 2 with 33.1 left and we're tied at 67.  Maranatha takes their last timeout to setup the final possession . Its Armstrong off the bounce and he makes the floater with 14 seconds left.  North out of timeouts and here they come.  The push up the right wing and Jackson has an open right side look that's no good with 5 seconds left.  MCA grabs the rebound and North makes no attempt to foul?!?!?!?!  Maranatha wins 69-67 in OT.  Jeremiah Hanson leads all scorers with 33 points, Damario Armstrong with 11 and despite struggles in regulation came up large with 2 buckets and an assist for another in the OT.  JaQuan Sanders-Smith leads North with 15, Issac Johnson with 15.  Jamil Jackson with 12 and Tyler Johnson with 10 points but both of them struggled as well.

4AA Championship (#1 St. Croix Lutheran vs #3 Minneapolis Roosevelt):
To show you how respected Roosevelt was in the section, SCL had 2 losses all year (DLS and St. Thomas Academy), #1 in the state poll and power polls and a better record but Roosevelt still got the top seed.  Interesting defensive matchups as its Trenton Krueger who gets Elijah Hannah, Ade Lamu gets London Cobbs and Venkat Valluri gets Arione Farrar.  Ade Lamu active early for SCL with a pair of steals for a bucket and 2 free throws plus a tap in.   London Cobbs carrying the Roosevelt offense as he scores their 1st 9 points with 3 buckets and a triple.  That 3 starts a 7-0 Roosevelt run to put them up 13-10 at the 8 minute mark.  Trenton Krueger and a high low feed for free throws vs the 2-3 zone.  That surrounds a Cobbs 3.  16-15 Roosevelt.  Then Roosevelt coach Rob Mestas leaves the bench at the 4:30 mark and does not return.  Krueger with a 3 point play.  Cobbs fouled and then makes a free throw.  He won't take the 2nd due to blood on the cheek.  But a Roosevelt assistant fixes that by ripping off his tie and using it to get rid of the blood.   Arione Farrar finds Abdullah Aden for a momentum building 3 right before the half.  Roosevelt 23-18 lead going to halftime.

Lamu active again to start the 2nd half as he goes steal for 2 and steal for 2 free throws.  After Cobbs puts back his own miss, its Aage Rovney for 3 and Krueger with another 3 point play.  12-2 Crusaders run puts them back on top 30-26 with 14:20 left.  Cobbs will sit with his 4th foul at the 10:52 mark.  Rovney hit on a 3 for 2-3 FTs and Gunnar Maki converts inside to push the lead to 6 with 9:20 left.  Aden a BLOB 3, Farrar pull for 2 and then buries a 3.  That's a quick Roosevelt 8-0 run for a 38-36 Teddies lead with 7:12 left.  Cobbs back in with more than 6 minutes in a bit of a surprise considering how close the game is.  Lamu with a sick ridiculous block going high at the rim to smack one away.  Krueger with a layup and a SCL pins the backside of the zone for a Rovney 3 from the left corner with 4:10 left.  41-38 SCL back on top.  Roosevelt misses, SCL takes time.  They'll spread the floor but not hold against the zone.  That patience pays off in a Krueger layup thanks to great ball movement with 3:20 left.  43-38 SCL after their 7-0 run.  But the Crusaders can't take care of the ball (PG Valluri sitting).  Farrar to Cobbs for 3 after a turnover, another turnover leads to Cobbs getting hit on a 3.  He makes 2 of the 3 to tie the game at 43 with 1:29 left.  Another SCL turnover with 1:05 left.  Roosevelt takes another timeout to set up offense and SCL comes out 1-3-1.  They get a trap at the halfcourt circle to force another Teddies timeout with 37.8 left.

Teddies shot no good, Cobbs hustles to snare the miss and Krueger bumps him with 22 seconds left.  That's his 5th foul.  Cobbs makes the 1st free throw but misses the 2nd.  Roosevelt runs down that miss too and Farrar is fouled with 18 seconds left.  Timeout SCL before the free throws.  Farrar misses the front end and here come the Crusaders.  Down the right side we go and the ball eventually ends up in the hands of Tommy Metcalf, the 5th guy you would think of in the Crusaders starting 5.  Maybe he's not even in the game if Krueger doesn't foul out.  But who cares, its an open 12 footer from just off the left lane line and its pure with 7 seconds left!  Roosevelt pushes the ball back and Farrar gets called for a walk right at the 3 point line with 0.7 left.  St. Croix Lutheran wins a thriller 45-44.  Trenton Krueger 14, Ade Lamu and Aage Rovney 12 as the big 3 do their part for SCL.  London Cobbs leads all scorers with 21 points, Arione Farrar with 11.

What an amazing night of basketball.  The stands were packed and people were 2 and 3 deep on the 3 rails.  Great fans, great hoops and an overall great environment.  Heartbreak hotel for the Minneapolis City Conference (and my picks) as they lose all 3 of their section finals by a combined 7 points. On a more serious note, best wishes to Rob Mestas, hope he gets well soon.

Revenge is best served cold

Prologue
Off to Farmington for another epic section final matchup.  Its the 3AAAA final between #2 Apple Valley and #4 Cretin-Derham Hall.  This is a rematch of last year's amazing final where CDH pulled the double OT upset.  Early arriving crowd and we end up with a full house including the rails.  Both bands on hand with outstanding work.  CDH kids with a beach theme.  AV students with business suits to match the team's Unfinished Business season mantra.  Another quality game means we have to have a bottle of Pepsi.  Tonight I don't pass on the pizza though. But this game should never happen until state.  Having 2 of the 4 or 5 teams playing each other in the final 16 should be avoided and a reason why I'm a huge fan of a 64 team seeded proposal.

Number of Teams I've Seen: 159 (68 courts)

Beverage Consumption Counter: 1641.8 ounces (106 days, 142 games, 2 scrimmages added on)
  • Pepsi: 844 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: 72 ounces
  • Red Powerade: 120 ounces
  • 0 Calorie Fruit Punch Powerade: 20 ounces
  • Red Gatorade: 96.9 ounces
  • Water: 500 ml
Hot Dog Counter: 21

Song of the Day: Brown Eyed Girl  - Van Morrison (AV Pep Band)

Game Time:
Interesting defensive matchups at the start.  Donnell Gresham on Gary Trent, Trent on Sam Neumann.  I felt Apple Valley need a good start and they got it.  Gary Trent a couple of jumpers to get him going.  Tre Jones converts a turnover and Brock Bertram scores to sandwich a 3 and free throw from Donnell Gresham.  12-10 Apple Valley 4 minutes in.  CDH gets it going with Rosga free throws and putback.  Sam Neumann 2 long 3s after another Trent jumper.  Jalen Ousley-Brown 2 free throws to end a 12-2 CDH run and force an Eagles timeout at 10:38.  22-14 CDH on top.  Apple Valley right back with their own run.  Trent for 3, Jones a layup, Cam Kirksey converts a turnover, Jordan Bolton makes a free throw.  The run is 9-0 and CDH gets the MoKiller timeout after 2 Rosga free throws.  Those Rosga freebies come on Bertram's 3rd foul.  24-23 CDH with exactly 6 minutes left in the half.  Neumann starts to post Trent inside and scores 5 straight CDH points out of it.  Chris Perry tips in a miss for a 31-27 CDH lead at 3:20.  Riley Parham goes spin cycle, Trent leaks out on a turnover and makes a free throw.  Jones for 2 (misses the 3 pt play chance) and 2 late free throws to end a 9-0 run.  But Gresham is fouled on a 3 with 0.1 left to put a dent in the run.  36-34 Apple Valley at the break.  Gary Trent 15 efficient points.  Sam Neumann 11, Joe Rosga 9. 

Apple Valley keeps Trent with a transition 3 off a turnover, Kirksey a free throw and Jones for 2 to force a CDH timeout 94 seconds into the half.  Bertram back to back inside hoops to end the 19-3 run across the half and 10-0 to start the half.  Good work by Apple Valley to go horns into high low action and keep going to it.  No CDH FG during that 6 minutes.  Gresham with a 3 to cut the margin to 48-39 with 13 minutes left.  Bolton for 3 to push the lead to 14.  Ousley-Brown scores and Rosga adds a free throw to cut it to 11 with 10 minutes left.  Kirksey and Bertram both sitting with 4 fouls.  Big chance for a CDH run. 

Neumann for 3 with 8:17 left and the Apple Valley lead is still 10, 57-47.  But CDH just can't buy a hoop in the 2nd half.  Trent scores, Steve Christiansen a right baseline drive for an easy 2 to push the lead to 14.  Bertram and Kirksey come back in with 6:14 and 5:40 left and there went CDH's chance.  Trent buries back to back 3s to slam the door.  Then just for good measure Trent makes 1 free throw, grabs his miss of the 2nd and throws it off CDH.  He'll score 1 more time as Apple Valley as its a 17-0 run to slam the door.  Apple Valley wins 74-50.

Post Game:
Cretin-Derham Hall finishes their season 25-4.  They have a 17 game winning streak snapped.  The Big 3 of Gresham/Rosga/Neumann combine to shoot 10-39.  The team shoots a horrific 6-29 (20.7%) in the 2nd half including 3-18 from 3.  That leads to an overall mark of 15-51 (29.4%) for the game.  Yikes.  Hard to win any game with a shooting number like that.  Donnell Gresham finishes with 13 points and 10 rebounds (3/11 FG).  Sam Neumann 5/16 FG on his way to 14 and 6.  Joe Rosga 10 points on 2-12 shooting.

Apple Valley advances to state where I would give them 2 seed behind Champlin Park (if the Rebels advance vs Wayzata, otherwise the top seed).  Gary Trent comes up big with 29 and 11.  10-20 FG, 4-6 from 3.  Tre Jones was outstanding with 14 points and had a couple of impressive finishes against size.  Brock Bertram chips in with 10 and 8 despite the first half foul trouble.  The Eagles shoot 53.8% for the game . They run away in the 2nd half 38-16.  Apple Valley wins the points off turnovers margin 17-5 and holds CDH to only 8 points in the paint.

Royals return to State

Prologue
Its the 2015 Section 6AAAA Championship game between #5 Eden Prairie and #6 Hopkins.  These teams played a classic to end the regular season.  Have to expect that again.  Sold out crowd at Cooper for this one.  No pizza on my menu which is a bad choice by me but a game this good does require Pepsi.  We get both pep bands as an added bonus.  Augustana and Concordia with full or close to full staffs to see John Warren.  St. Thomas and Bethel also in the building. 

Number of Teams I've Seen: 159 (67 courts)

Beverage Consumption Counter: 1621.8 ounces (105 days, 141 games, 2 scrimmages added on)

  • Pepsi: 824 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: 72 ounces
  • Red Powerade: 120 ounces
  • 0 Calorie Fruit Punch Powerade: 20 ounces
  • Red Gatorade: 96.9 ounces
  • Water: 500 ml
Hot Dog Counter: 21

Song of the Day: Lips are movin - Meghan Trainor

Game Time:
The offense is slow to start but Graham Hutson breaks the ice with a 3 just before 4 minutes in for Hopkins.  Ishmael El-Amin with the pull up, a John Warren floater and Erik Davis runs the floor for a 3 point play at 10:07 to force an Eden Prairie timeout.  El-Amin adds a jumper and Vinnie Shahid with a 3 point play at 8:37.  22-14 Hopkins in front.  Josh Lanasa punishes Hopkins for gambling for a steal by taking it strong for a dunk.  Blake Cashman cuts for 2 and Jake Ruppert adds a layup to cut the margin to 2 at 5:50.  Ryan Jacobus with a layup and a 3 to put the Eagles back up 30-29.  Xavier Johnson's late 3 sends Hopkins to the locker room up 32-31.

Owen Chose turnaround and a 3 and Cashman runs out for a layup.  Hopkins not messing around as they take time down 38-34 with 13:45 left.   John Warren scores and El-Amin converts after a bad EP shot.  Hopkins pressure really pushing EP out on the floor away from the scoring zone.  But EP not going away.  Lanasa 2 layups and why not bury the 3 from straight away.  7-0 Lanasa run and its another Hopkins timeout.  45-40 EP with 9:46 left.  Hutson with a layup and Warren tips out a rebound and it eventually becomes a Shahid 3 to tie it.  Game really physical during this stretch with almost nothing being called but it was consistent.

El-Amin off ball screens for 2 hoops and its Hopkins back up 49-48 with 5:45 left.  Cashman 2 free throws, Jacobus with 1 of 2 free throws.  Eden Prairie grabs the miss and Lanasa turns that possession into a pretty 3 point play.  Then after a Hopkins miss its 2 on 1 and Cashman gives it up for Chose for a layup with 2:57 left.  Critical 8-0 run for the Eagles puts them up 56-49.  Hopkins calls timeout to regroup.

Shahid with a clutch 3 off hammer action and the extra pass, teams trade misses and then another quick EP shot.  That gives Hopkins the ball back and El-Amin goes up and under to take the hit.  He makes 1 of 2 with 1:32 left.  EP lead down to 3.  EP called for a double dribble but El-Amin misses.  Then Cashman drags the pivot foot for another turnover.  Xavier Johnson 3 to tie goes in and out.  EP rebounds and brings it back.  Pat Rock has a 10 second call as the trail but the lead official waves him off and grants EP's last timeout with 40.8 left (EP bench in the frontcourt).  Karma rears its head as Jacobus slips and falls as he catches the inbounds.  That's a walk and Hopkins still has life.  El-Amin hit with 34.1 left and he makes both ends of the bonus.  Brady Rudrud runs for a layup and the lead is still 3 with 27 seconds left.   Hopkins will play without a timeout and El-Amin hits the tough fadeaway for a long 2.  Hopkins still trails by 1.  Hopkins fouls Chose with 13.8 left and takes a timeout.

After the timeout, Chose misses the front end and here we go.  Hopkins will push to the front court, they miss a 3, Warren grabs a miss, another miss.  Ball loose just below the foul line as time is running out.  Shahid grabs it and heaves it toward the basket and its a foul call!  Shahid to the line with 1.3 left.  Cold blooded daggers as both free throws are nothing but net.  Xavier Johnson steals the inbounds.  Hopkins wins 59-58 to advance to state.

Post Game
Eden Prairie finishes their season 24-5.  Josh Lanasa 15 points to lead the Eagles.  He had 11 of those in the 2nd half.  Blake Cashman adds 10.  Owen Chose and Ryan Jacobus 9 each.  Brady Rudrud adds 8.  This one will eat away at the Eagles.  3 bad shots, 3 turnovers, a missed front end and 2 offensive boards (on the last possession) all in the last 3 minutes.  After some good long possessions early, Hopkins was able to ratchet up the pressure and force EP out.

Ishmael El-Amin leads Hopkins with 17 points off the bench, 11 in the 2nd half.  Vinnie Shahid 8 of his 11 in the 2nd half.   Both came up large down the stretch.  John Warren only 6 points but I also had him for at least that many rebounds.  Most cases you would say Hopkins really stole one and frankly you'd be right.  But Hopkins has done this time and time again over the years.  Once again they find a crazy way to win and take advantage of the Eagles mistakes.


Trojans conquer the Crimson

Prologue
Its a rematch of a late January showdown between 3 seed Wayzata and 2 seed Maple Grove.  Wayzata gave away an 11 point lead in the last 5 minutes in that meeting.  A surprisingly late and not as full as expected crowd.  An early arrival means plenty of time to add another hot dog to the counter and a can of A&W to go with it.  The Wayzata band outstanding from start to finish.  We get today's song (straight link, no rick rolling here) and then after the game we get Pharrell's Happy on the way out the door.

Number of Teams I've Seen: 159 (67 courts)

Beverage Consumption Counter: 1609.8 ounces (104 days, 140 games, 2 scrimmages added on)
  • Pepsi: 812 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: 72 ounces
  • Red Powerade: 120 ounces
  • 0 Calorie Fruit Punch Powerade: 20 ounces
  • Red Gatorade: 96.9 ounces
  • Water: 500 ml
Hot Dog Counter: 21


Song of the Day:

Game Time:
Brad Davison was very quiet in the last meeting until the last 5 minutes.  No such thing today.  Off the ball screen for 3, a deuce and he'll bank home a long 3.  Then another bomb and a drive.  Then a pass for Jack Hutchinson free throw and a steal for 2.  That means he's in on the 1st 18 Maple Grove points, scoring 16 of them.  Wayzata would keep up thanks to Jack Sowada.  Double curl BLOB for 3, a putback, a drive and a 3.  18 all at 9:40.  Then back to back 3s from soph Ryan Lindberg and a 3 from Ty Gelinske to end a 14-2 run.  27-20 Trojans at 5:30.  Davison pulls off the ball screen, scores again and then buries another 3 in a 9-2 Crimson run to cut the margin to 2.  He adds 4 free throws to cut the lead to 1 before Sowada drives and reverses to end the half's scoring.  36-33 Wayzata at half.  Davison with 27 of the 33 and a pass that became 2 free throws.

Johnny Beeninga quiet in the 1st half but he drives for 2 and then finishes off glass over Reed Nikko.  Soph Gavin Baumgartner with a 3 and Beeninga with a pair of hoops to push the lead to 9.  50-41 Wayzata with 13:13 left and Maple Grove needs a timeout after the 11-3 run.  Austin Slater with a putback and Baumgartner with a great hustle play to grab an offensive board and finish all in 1 motion while taking the hit.  55-43 Wayzata after that 3 point play.  Davison with 4 in a row to cut the lead to 6 and Wayzata takes time with 8:44 left.   Baumgartner sandwiches a Davison hoop with a layup and 2 free throws.  But out of the free throws, Davison goes over the top of the 1 time only Wayzata 2-3 zone to Nikko for a dunk.  Davison then for 3, MG draws and offensive foul and Davison finds Tywhon Pickford all alone for a layup on the inbounds.  Timmy Bishop drew that charge and then gets a steal and a timeout.  61-58 Wayzata lead with 5:34 left but Maple Grove has the momentum and the ball with a chance to tie.  They can't convert and Slater puts back a miss with Nikko helping on a drive.  Lindberg then hits another big 3 and Davison gets called for a charge at the 3:50 mark.  Bishop forces another turnover for a Davison layup with 3:33 left.  68-62 Wayzata lead.  But Maple Grove wouldn't score again.  Slater with 2 free throws after he grabs another miss.  Beeninga 2 free throws going to the rim, Slater 2 layups vs traps and Wayzata puts it away.  Wayzata wins 77-62 but it was much closer than that.

Post Game
Maple Grove finishes the season 23-4.  Brad Davison goes for 42 points on 14-23 shooting with a handful of rebounds and assists.  Reed Nikko with 11 of the other 20 and a handful of blocked shots, mostly early in the game.  No other help on this night though.  Timmy Bishop came in and committed 3 quick fouls with about 10 minutes left but then his defensive energy became a factor forcing at least 3 turnovers.  I would have liked to see more Mitchell Rekstad to help space the floor for Davison.

Wayzata moves on to play Champlin Park in the 5AAAA final at Rogers on Friday night.  Great balance from the Trojans.  Jack Sowada goes for 21 points, Austin Slater 17, Johnny Beeninga 13, Gavin Baumgartner 12 and Ryan Lindberg 9.  Ty Gelinske with quality energy guarding Davison in the 1st half.  I loved the tactic of forcing Davison left on everything, ball screen or not.  No double teams to let his passing become a major factor, stay home fight over the screen and get back.  Despite giving up 42 to him, he wasn't the same threat going left as when going right.  More of a passer going left than a scorer.   But he's still crafty enough to get steals and get himself to the line to create offense.  Add that with 5 made 3s and you still end up with a big night.