Starting the new year in section style

Prologue
So after a long weekend with The Crown Prince, its back to the gym to start the new year.  Its a good start too as I take in a quality section 6AAA matchup between #2AAA Delano and Benilde-St. Margaret's.  The Haben Center with a small crowd for this one.  Baby Hollywood headlining tonight's officiating crew.  No concessions for me so the counter is sad.

Number of Teams I've Seen: 94 (26 courts).  14 out of state, 8 girls

Beverage Ticker: 522.7 ounces (5555 Calories)
43 days, 59 games, 2 scrimmages added on

• Pepsi: 220.9 ounces (2760 calories)
• Coke: 84 ounces (1000 calories)
• Dr. Pepper: 12 ounces (150 calories)
• Sprite: 20 ounces (240 calories)
• A&W Root Beer : 16.9 ounces (240 calories)
• Red Gatorade/Powerade: 168.9 ounces (1165 calories)

Hot Dog Ticker: 7
Pizza Ticker: 5
Walking Taco Ticker: 5

Game Time:
Its Benilde-St. Margaret's out to a 7-0 lead thanks to a long 2 and an inside-out 3 from super soph Jamison Battle.  Delano rallies behind junior PG Cal Wishart.  He has a 3 point play followed by a pair of left wing triples.  Then he adds a pair of freebies for an 11-9 Delano lead just 4 minutes in.  After a Red Knights hoop to break that 11-2 spurt, Delano runs off 22 of the next 28.  Wishart starts the run with a steal and behind the back assist for a layup, then back to back buckets.  He'll finish the run with a 3 and bucket.  He'll add his 4th 3 to push him to 24 points for the half.  41-23 Delano at the break.

Junior wing Gabe Alada starts the 2nd half for Benilde-St. Margaret's and his job is to be the 1st guy to faceguard Wishart.  BSM runs off the 1st 9 points of the half in just over 2 minutes to cut the lead in half.  Alada with a pair of layups in that spurt as he contributes on both ends.  A scramble leads to a Battle triple and the lead is down to 7.  Wishart with 2 steals for 2 free throws and his only bucket of the 2nd half.  That bucket is sandwiched inbetween a pair of nice post moves from Carter Uphus off the BSM bunch.  Uphus then swats a shot and BSM makes the jumper on the other end to keep the margin at 7, 54-47 with 10:25 left. After a Delano hoop, its Alada with a score and assist, Battle makes a free throw and hot shooting Derek Drees buries his 3rd 3 of the half to end a 13-3 run.  Delano's 18 point halftime lead is down to 2, 57-55, with just under 8 minutes to play.

Wishart would live at the line in the 2nd half.  3 of 4 FTs from him push the lead to 6, then a nice set off the side ball screen to throw ahead and then find Nick Cayler for a finish inside.  67-59 Delano with 4:10 left.  BSM doesn't get closer than 6 after that.  Wishart goes over the 1000 career points mark with late free throws.  Delano wins 76-68.

Post Game
Great balance from the Benilde-St. Margaret's lineup as they end up with 5 scorers in double figures.  Derek Drees 14, Jamison Battle 13.  Will Whitmore and junior bench guys Gabe Alada and Carter Uphus with 10 each.  The Red Knights got a big boost from those 2 bench guys.  The halftime adjustment holds Wishart to 1 2nd half field goal after 8 (4 3s) in the 1st half.  The Red Knights fall to 5-5 overall and have lost 4 of their last 5.  But those 4 losses are all to teams ranked in the top 5.  Its another stiff test in the section on Thursday as they visit #4AAA Orono.

For Delano, Cal Wishart leads the way with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals on 9-21 FG shooting.  24 of those points were in the 1st half.  Nick Cayler with 10 points inside for the Tigers.  Too much Wishart as there was no answer for him off the dribble.  In the 1st half he made shots and in the 2nd half it was 12-16 free throws.   Shot selection is something to keep an eye on for this group.  They took some quick and ill-advised shots in the 2nd half which allowed Benilde-St. Margaret's to make their run.  Delano improves to 8-1 on the season.  They are at Richfield on Friday.