Saturday with Saints and Nuns

Now that we're to the midpoint of the 2016-17 season, that means Saturday becomes a fairly quiet day on the schedule.  I see 1 game in person and then take in Bucky vs Minnesota and then another pair of teams I haven't seen online.  Quality pizza for the afternoon session with pizza.  A student dressed as a nun in the front row for the night session.

Game 1: Farmington at St. Anthony
Too warm for the Huskies to be out but oh well.  Rhys Langums starting strong inside for St. Anthony.  Aaron Smith adds a 3 and frosh PG Tait Nelson adds his own 3 and picks a pocket for 2 more.  21-14 St. Anthony 6 minutes in.  Sam Wilson carrying the Farmington offense.  The lead gets down to 5 before a 14-4 run opens the lead to 15.  That's down to 11 at the half.  Adam Weed with a 3 and Farmington has the lead down to 54-53 with 11:30 left.  But St. Anthony goes on a 10-0 run to open the lead back up.  Wilson with a hoop and 3 free throws before another Weed 3.  71-66 St. Anthony inside 6 left.  But too much Langums.  He converts a 3 point play, puts back a miss and makes 2 free throws to keep the lead at 9.  The rest of the way is free throws.  St. Anthony wins 93-78.   Rhys Langums finishes with 33 points inside.  Aaron Smith knocks down 6 3s on his way to 23 points.  Frosh PG Tait Nelson with 20.  Crafty lefty Sam Wilson with 3 triples and 31 points to lead Farmington.  Tough stretch for Farmington losing to Lakeville North on Tuesday, at the buzzer in OT to Tre Jones and Apple Valley and then the quick turnaround for this one.  St. Anthony makes 11 3s with the inside 33 from Langums.  That's a tough combination and they have a toughness to them.  Farmington playing 4 sophs and 2 juniors with Wilson as they build for the future.

Game 2: Prior Lake at #9AAAA New Prague
This is the start of the Hwy 13 series.  Next year when it moves to Prior Lake, they'll play all day with the grade school levels too.  Love that idea.  Both teams have wins at Delano by similar margins so this should be good.  The shot clock was in use but New Prague brings back memories of the old slowdown De La Salle teams with Jalen Jaspers.  New Prague would use a 9-0 first half run to take a 17-9 lead.  Trent West and Casey Gustina would bring Prior Lake back to within 21-20 at the half.  West with a pair of bombs as Prior Lake opens up a 33-27 lead.  West scores in the post countered by Zach Hanson driving.  Then its West for 3 countered by 2 Hanson free throws.  42-41 Prior Lake outside of 6 minutes to play.  Alex Preston with a drive, a 3 and a layup as Prior Lake opens the lead to 8.  New Prague makes 2 late 3s.  West at the line with 10.2 left up 2 for the bonus.  His 1st free throw is back iron, bounces up and falls in.  He also makes the 2nd so make the final New Prague bucket irrelevant.  Prior Lake wins 51-49.   Trent West impressive with 4 3s and 22 points to lead Prior Lake.  Zach Hanson playing well inside for New Prague as he finishes with 18.  Alex Preston with 7 of his 10 points in crunch time for the Lakers.  Prior Lake's 2-3 zone effective despite some good action by New Prague with the posts in the short corners screening.