A big comeback in the Metro West

Prologue
Back to the day to day grind now that January is here.  Its game 64 of my season and its takes me to the Haben Center for my 1st look at Benilde-St. Margaret's.  The Red Knights hosting Chaska in a battle of 2 of the best in the Metro West.  A quick night for the BSM pep band and they are most of the student crowd.  Surprising as the Red Knight students usually turn out well.  Back to water as well and nothing else for concessions.  Though I did miss out on what looked like good pizza.

Song of the Day
Love Yourself - Justin Bieber

Number of Teams I've Seen: 101 (35 courts, 2 new, 1 TV game)

Tickers are on hold to update with holiday concessions.

Game Time: 
The 1st half belongs to Myles Hanson and Chaska.  Hanson with a dunk, a jumper off a screen and roll and a 3 point play via the offensive glass.  Add in another putback and bucket.  He scores the 1st 11 Hawks points.  Meanwhile, Benilde's Swing Offense is generating absolutely nothing (why not last year's 2-3 high with many of the same guys).  Michael Wexler finally breaks the ice for BSM at the 9:50 mark.  So its 1 FG in the 1st 11:10 for the Red Knights.  But despite Hanson playing well with 21 points, Chaska only takes a 28-21 lead to halftime.  Nobody besides Hanson able to throw it in the ocean.

Luke Hennen 2 quick hoops to start the 2nd half for Chaska.  Luke Roskam (who we liked so much in the Eastview game) with a putback and Hanson to the rack for 2 more to end the 10-0 Chaska run.  38-21 Hawks with 13:43 left.  Then Eli Cave goes nuts for BSM.  2 hoops and he takes a charge on Hanson.  He follows that with another drive and a pretty screen and roll hoop and then he goes bombs away for 3.  Another pick and roll hoop and he has 13 in a row.  Payton Miller for 3 and a Will Whitmore free throw to end the 21-3 BSM run in 8:43.  42-41 Benilde-St. Margaret's leads with 4:52 left.  The first BSM lead since 5-4 5 minutes into the game.  Hanson with a steal for 2 to break the run and a field goal drought of over 8 minutes.  Then Sam Baker with a big 3 with 4:10 left to put BSM on top for good.  While they wouldn't make another field goal, 9-10 FTs down the stretch was enough.  A pair of late 3s give Chaska a chance but Hanson's 3 at the buzzer is just off.  Benilde-St. Margaret's comes from 17 down in the 2nd half to win 54-51.
 
Post Game
For Chaska, Myles Hanson with 21 of his 28 points in the 1st half to go with 10 rebounds on my sheet.  Chaska's man defense in the 1st half totally befuddled the Swing Offense.  Chaska falls to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the Metro West.  Tough loss for the Hawks as this one was in hand being up 17.  A win here would have been big in the league standings.  Road wins will be tough to come by against the top teams.  They host arch rival Chanhassen on Friday.

For Benilde-St. Margaret's, Eli Cave scores 15 of his 19 in the 2nd half.  His energy on both ends in the 2nd half totally changed the game.  Off night for Sam Baker with 14 points on 4-14 FGs on my sheet.  But he made the big 3 that put them on top for good.  Winona State coach Zach Malvik in the house watching their recruit.  The Red Knights shoot 17-19 from the charity stripe compared to 3-5 for Chaska.  Benilde-St. Margaret's is now 8-4 overall, 1-1 in the Metro West.  They host neighborhood rival St. Louis Park and Chanhassen next week.