Weekly 360 Windmill - Dec 14 2015

2 major event weekends are in the books with outstanding games.  Let's fire up the Windmill for a look at the last full week of games prior to the holidays and a look back at the week that was.

Week 4 Review

• For those who missed my review of the main gym games at the Tip-Off Classic, read that here.  My predictions ended up 10-5.
• After back to back losses to 2 tough opponents, a great week for Minnetonka winning at Chaska and Edina and then knocking off CDH to finish the Tip-Off Classic.  Amar Miller 21 PPG in those 3 wins.
• SW Christian with 2 nice MCAA-South wins and then the big win over #2A Central MN Christian on Friday. Jack Jenson with a ridiculous line of 43 points, 12 boards and 6 assists in that Friday win.
• De La Salle back to back losses to very good teams over the weekend. They haven't lost 3 in a row since 2007.  Apologies to St. Agnes on Tuesday.  While there's no real reason to be concerned for the Islanders we did learn 2 things.  1) They struggle to defend quality bigs (which won't be a problem in AAA)  2) They've had their stars in foul trouble too much.
• We knew Osseo would bounce back from a down year last season but maybe not like this.  They blasted Blaine and Park Center in NW Suburban play this week.  Then a quality win over Eden Prairie in the Tip-Off Classic.  Osseo is looking at 10-0 going into post-holiday showdowns at Armstrong and at Champlin Park.
• Speaking of Eden Prairie, they did rebound with wins over Minneapolis South and Chanhassen.  Ryan Jacobus out of the lineup doesn't help as the next month of games is very tough.
• How fitting was it for Lakeville South to play Lakeville North in the 1st game after the tragedy there.  By all accounts a great atmosphere with great emotion there as South gave North all they wanted in a 1 point loss.  0-3 for the Cougars this week with 2 of the losses by a total of 3 points.  They also played Apple Valley fairly tough before losing by 20.
• Play of the year nominee on Tuesday when Oman Oman hit a full court buzzer beater for Austin to beat Northfield.  Full court heave off a missed free throw, incredible.
• St. Croix Lutheran (despite my complaints about their lineup) continues to win vs a murderer's row schedule.  Quality wins at SPA and vs Braham in the Tip-Off Classic.  No shame in a tight loss at Minneapolis North.  This week of rest is well-earned.
• Minneapolis Roosevelt now 1-4 after a home loss to Minneapolis Southwest on Thursday.  We knew losing their guards would be a big factor, but this isn't what we expected.  At Hopkins and Mpls North this week before hosting Tartan before Christmas doesn't help.
• A down year for Concordia Academy as they are now 0-6 and the closest game of the last 4 has been 26 points.
• Cristo Rey now 5-0 after beating Legacy on Friday.  This will be 1 of only 3 chances for quality wins against a very weak schedule.  Heritage at home and at Brooklyn Center before the new year are the other 2.

Week 5 Look Ahead

• Metro games on Tuesday that catch my eye
• Previously ranked Delano at #4AAA Fridley in an early 6:30 start.  Quality matchup in AAA there.
• #7AAA Orono at Minnetonka with plenty of guard play on display.  Expect Minnetonka to replace Edina in this week's AAAA poll.
• Eden Prairie at New Prague.  How will the small Eden Prairie lineup deal with Hanson and Walford.
• Non-Metro games stick out on Tuesday with these
• #2AAA Red Wing at #5AAA Austin in a Big 9 showdown.
• Chisago Lakes at St. Francis is important in the east half of  Mississippi 8.
• Rockford (5-0) at Watertown-Mayer (5-1).  Not only is this a quality matchup in 5AA West but it opens new conference play for them in the Wright County west division after being in the Minnesota River.
• Thursday metro games of note.
• Being its Christmas season, we get the all Holy match up when Holy Family visits Holy Angels.  O Come All Ye Faithful and Hark the Herald Angels Sing. 
• I'll be at a very interesting game in section 4A as 6-0 CHOF visits 4-1 Hope Academy.  CHOF beat Mounds Park Academy by 17 who beat Hope by 12.  This is a big game for Hope in terms of having a quality win for seeding purposes come section time as the EMAC champion usually gets no respect.
• Benilde-St. Margaret's at Cooper in the Metro West.  Cooper has beaten up the soft part of their schedule but they did play Armstrong to a 7 point game in their rivalry battle.  This will be a good test of where the Hawks really stand in addition to their home game with East Ridge on Tuesday.
• Friday is surprisingly quiet.
• Biggest game of the night is Mahtomedi at Tartan.  These are the clear top 2 in the Metro East and both should come in with just 1 loss each.  Winner takes early control of the conference race.
• Eastview at Apple Valley in the Apple Valley rivalry game.  Eastview with a nice 5-1 start with the only loss by 2 to Chaska.
• Bloomington Jefferson at Chaska in the Metro West opener for both teams with a week to prepare.  These 2 figure to battle for the top spots. 
• CDH at East Ridge in the Suburban East.  More to figure out where East Ridge is.
• Non-Conference matchup between Minnehaha at St. Louis Park.  The Orioles got their wings clipped vs Armstrong this week but have started strong.  A good test for a young Minnehaha squad.
•  Saturday games
• Pebblebrook (GA) and Auburn commit Jared Harper (a top 100 kid nationally) will take on #1A Minneapolis North in the 2nd weekend of the Johnson winter showcase.  Pebblebrook was last year's state runner up in Georgia.
• Brooklyn Center at Spectrum in a 5AA East game.  Spectrum's Zach Knollenberg is having a big season inside.  Brooklyn Center likely too athletic in this one.
• Elk River at Rogers in a school district rivalry game.  Its a boys girls doubleheader with a late afternoon start.