Heritage stars show out in the city

Prologue
Its only fitting that I end the regular season almost as I began it.  It was a road game for Heritage on night 2 of the season. Now its Heritage closing out my regular season schedule with a trip to Como Park.  All the section 4A contenders, North, Praiire Seeds and Cristo Rey in the house scouting.  Hot dog and a bottle of gatorade on the menu.   Then a stray walking taco ends up in my hands.  That will work.  Waistline very happy. 

Song of the Day:
Disturbed - Sounds of Silence (Simon and Garfunkel cover)
  
Number of Teams I've Seen: 158 (62 courts, 2 new, 2 TV games, 129 varsity games)

Beverage Ticker: 834 ounces (7470 calories) + 9 liters (1370 calories)

• Pepsi: 356 ounces (4200 Calories) + 2 liters (840 Calories)
• Coke: 92 ounces (1080 Calories)+ 500 ml (200 Calories)
• Dr Pepper: 60 ounces (750 Calories) 
• Mug Root Beer: 40 ounces (520 Calories)
• Sprite: 56 ounces (660 Calories) + 500 ml (200 Calories)
• Water: 5.5 Liters + 200 ounces (0 Calories)
• Gatorade: 500 ml (40 Calories) + 40 oz (160 calories)

Hot Dog Ticker: 19
Pizza Ticker: 12
Walking Taco Ticker: 12
Pork Sandwich Ticker: 6

Game Time:
The first half is all offense.  Como Park's Demetrice Mitchell takes a turnover and we have lift off.  Heritage makes the mistake of challenging him and they'll get the foul and signed poster.  9-7 Cougars after the free throw.  Zach Johansen with a huge night.  He buries a 3, then 3 straight turnovers for Como result in Heritage layups (2 by Johansen).   Johansen for 3 and the foul to end a 15-1 Heritage run.  22-10 Heritage at 12:05.  Mitchell with 2 hoops, Donald Ventrelli with 2 layups.  That helps keep the rest of the half even.  Mostly is layup after layup.  CJ Woda with 3 of those and a late putback to put Heritage up 48-44 at the break.

Mitchell with a drive for 2 and 4 free throws.  53-52 Como Park with 13:28 left. Johansen drives for 2, then 3 straight Como Park turnovers (sounds familiar) for 2 layups and a Johansen 3.  9-0 run for a 62-56 Heritage lead with 11:22 left.  Jack VanderTop with a hoop before Johansen makes 2 free throws and then a nice give and go for 2 from Woda.  That pushes a 5 point lead to 11 with 3:25 left and that's your ball game.  Heritage wins 83-74.

Post Game:
Adnan Guled with a couple of late 3s and another hoop to keep it interesting.  He finishes with 4 3s and 22 points.  Demetrice Mitchell adds 20.  Tom Fritts with 14 inside.  Como Park finishes the regular season 11-15 and have lost 5 straight.  They ended tied for 4th in the St. Paul City at 5-7.  They go on the road to Johnson on Wednesday in the 2/7 game in section 4AAA.

Heritage finishes the regular season 19-7, 14-1 in the MCAA (13-0 regular season champs, lost MCAA tourney title game at New Life).  No Ben Allen in the Eagles lineup again which costs the thin squad a starter.  Tonight it didn't matter.  CJ Woda goes for 33 and had to have double digit boards.  Zach Johansen had 16 of the 1st 22 Heritage points on his way to 29 points.  He made 4 of his 5 3s in the 1st half.  Pressure bothered Heritage which I'm sure all the scouts noticed.  They will host the winner of Calvin Christian and St. Paul Prep on Thursday.  That's in the section 4A round of 16.  Then the road of Cristo Rey and Prairie Seeds just to get a shot at North.  No guarantees there.