Second half rallies and a Class A showdown

Prologue
Its a no event Saturday which means its time to tour the metro.  The day started with a another metro west look.  A cold walking taco still manages to supply calories there.  Coke washes that down.  Then its off to the northside for a class A showdown.  Then its always a pleasure to catch an outstate game here and there.  The Target Center supplies that with prep legend Joel McDonald on the bench.

Song of the Day
Garth Brooks - Thunder Rolls

Number of Teams I've Seen: 111 (39 courts, 2 new, 2 TV games, 70 varsity games)

Beverage Ticker: 420 ounces (3460 calories) + 5 liters (670 calories)

• Pepsi: 204 ounces (2300 Calories) + 1.5 liters (630 Calories)
• Coke: 24 ounces (280 Calories)
• Dr Pepper: 48 ounces (600 Calories)
• Sprite: 24 ounces (280 Calories)
• Water: 3 Liters + 120 ounces (0 Calories)
• Gatorade: 500 ml (40 Calories)

Hot Dog Ticker: 6
Pizza Ticker: 8
Walking Taco Ticker: 7

Game 1: Minneapolis Roosevelt at Robbinsdale Cooper
The surprising Hawks come in on a 9 game winning streak.  They flipped the benches to the other side of the court which makes for a weird look.  Cooper jumps out to a 10-3 lead with a couple of Nate Hill hoops.  Roosevelt counters with an 18-2 run thanks to 10 from guard Martez Rodgers.  That helps the Teddies to a 30-21 halftime lead.  But their offense disappears in the 2nd half.  After an opening 3 from Devon Hannah pushes the lead to 12, Cooper scores 25 of the next 29 points.  Melvin Newbern was all over the offensive board.  He scores 7 in a row early in the run.  Then after Hill scores to put the Hawks back on top, its Newbern with the clutch putback for the 3 point play.  That was right after Elijah Hannah fouled out for Roosevelt with 6:11 left.  Newburn hits his free throws down the stretch to put it away.  Cooper wins their 10th straight 53-41.  Melvin Newburn with 28 points, 19 after halftime.  Martez Rodgers 15 of his 19 in the 1st half for Roosevelt.  5 field goals was all the offense the Teddies could muster in the 2nd half.

Game 2: #3A Central MN Christian at #1A Minneapolis North
The Central Minnesota Christian fans turned out in force for this one.  They ended up outnumbering the North fans and taking over the North student section.  Impressive for a 2 hour trip on a cold weekend.  The story of this one was turnovers.  Jamil Jackson and Tyler Johnson running and dunking.  Central Minnesota Christian would be within 23-20 at the 7:30 mark.  But North would go on a 17-4 run thanks to a Tyler Johnson dunk and Isaac Johnson knocking down a pair of 3s.  The lead was 20 at half and more of the same in the 2nd half.  North wins 79-49.  Tyler Johnson with 20 points, Jamil Jackson 15.  Isaac Johnson 4 3s for 12.  Ethan Brouwer leads CMCS with 14.  Don't sleep on CMCS.  They run really good halfcourt motion offense and will be a very tough out in section 3A.  Plus they have 3 starters and 2 reserves coming back next year.

Game 3: Hibbing vs Zimmerman (at Target Center)
Its late night at Target Center with games running an hour behind for the last tip.  Hibbing coach Joel McDonald is 1 only 9 players to score more than 3000 career points.  He has the Bluejackets at 7-2 and fighting for a top seed in 7AAA.  The Zimmerman Thunder have Thunder Heyer on the roster.  You can't make this stuff up, how perfect.  Now all we need is a tourney with the Chanhassen Storm, Eastview Lightning, Houston Hurricanes and Zimmerman and we have that element of the weather completely covered.  This was one was very even throughout.  Hibbing up 3 with about 4 minutes to go but Hibbing wouldn't score another field goal.  Zimmerman finishes the game on a 14-1 run.  Thunder Heyer leads all scorers with 17.  Minot St commit Kody Dwyer 13 points and 8 boards on my sheet.  Taylor McEachern adds 14.  Not a good loss for Hibbing in terms of section seeding.  Travis Carruth leads them with 13 points.  But besides point guard Nate Stark who runs a good show for them, they have 4 starters coming back next year so the Bluejackets have plenty to look forward to.