2016 Tartan Holiday Tourney Day 1

Day 1 of my 2016 tournament adventures takes me to Tartan for their annual holiday classic.  Its a couple of cans of Pepsi for liquid nourishment.  Plus a quality walking taco despite no lettuce as it had been frozen  Hate it when that happens, but its an ingredient that isn't mission critical.  I survive the absolutely treacherous ice-covered parking lot to see these 4 games.

Game 1: Forest Lake vs Cristo Rey
Jericho Sims active on the offensive glass with 3 early tip ins.  13-10 Forest Lake at the 12:20 mark.  Then no Pumas field goals for almost 7 minutes as Forest Lake goes on a 16-0 run.  Mitch Jerde 7 points in that run.  The lead stretches to 42-19 at halftime.  Sims with a couple of early dunks and adds some stats late.  But the outcome is never in doubt.  Forest Lake wins 76-51.  Jericho Sims 34 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks on 12-21 shooting and 10-13 FTs to lead Cristo Rey.  Rest of the team with only 7 field goals.  Jake Larson with 22 points to lead Forest Lake.  Jack Breitbach with a nice game of 12 points for the Rangers as well.

Game 2: St. Paul Como Park vs Spring Lake Park
No Jason Jett for Como Park and no Zach Ojile for Spring Lake Park.  That's top guys out for each team.  CJ Chandler with 3 bombs in the 1st half vs the Spring Lake Park 2-3 zone.  Kyrin Woodard making plays out of the high post as well.  Lefty guard Kameron Davis carrying the Spring Lake Park offense.  35-30 Spring Lake Park at the half.  Davis with a hoop at the 10:30 mark for a 48-45 Panthers lead.  Then an 11-0 Como Park run to put the Cougars ahead.  Spring Lake Park would attempt to rally behind a Davis 3, freshman Gabe Myren with a steal for a 3 point play and a Davis 3 point play.  Back to even at 63 with 2:27 left.  Chandler with 2 free throws, the teams make a mess of a handful of possessions.  Then Spring Lake Park misses 2 FTs to tie inside a minute left.  3 of 4 free throws around a Panthers turnover seal it.  Como Park wins 68-63.  Kyrin Woodard 24 points, CJ Chandler with 5 3s on his way to 18 points.  Kameron Davis with 26 to lead Spring Lake Park.

Game 3: Rogers vs Carmel Catholic (IL)
Rogers would knock down 8 first half 3s on their way to a 43-23 halftime lead.  The lead would get down to 16 in the 2nd half, but no closer than that.  Rogers wins 82-57.  Nick Camarote with 5 3s on his way to 20 points.  Forward Jordan Belka also with 20 points.  Point guard Trevor Brenning with 11 points in a nice showing off the Royals bench.  Brian Julien leads Carmel Catholic with 22. 

Game 4: Chisago Lakes at Tartan
Tartan would start hot with Jordan Horn knocking down a pair of 3s and scoring inside via the Swing Offense.  That's new to the Tartan arsenal this year.  23-13 Titans just past the midway mark of the 1st half.  Terrell James flares for 3 and Noah Whalen buries his 3rd bomb of the half.  31-15 Tartan at 6:20. Soph Will Tinjum with a late pair of hoops and a 3.  But Jordan Thompson sends Tartan to the break with a 3.  40-26 Titans.  Whalen with a quick bomb for a 17 point lead.  But they don't blow this one open.  Chisago Lakes counters with an 8-0 run to put the margin back to single digits.  Kingston Myles sat the 1st half but his 3 with just over 10 left pushes the league back to 14.  Then its James with his 2nd dunk of this half on a baseline drive and he rises up big time for the slam to keep the lead there inside of 8 left.  Eric Thompson would knock down a couple of late 3s as the lead slips under 10 1 last time.  Tartan wins 61-50.  Trevin Nelson and Will Tinjum with 14 each for Chisago Lakes.  Noah Whalen 4 3s and 14 points to lead Tartan.  Jordan Horn with 3 3s and 11 points all in the 1st half.