Thoughts from 2017 MLK Classic Night Games

To Minneapolis Henry for the annual MLK Classic.  Big afternoon for Jericho Sims vs Blake but I make my appearance just in time for the late 2 games.

Game 4: #1AA Minnehaha vs Waconia
Jalen Suggs banks in a 3 in the 1st 4 seconds of the game which was an omen.  Neither team gets an edge in the half.  Minnehaha playing too much 1 on 1, Waconia jacking a bunch of rushed 3s.  Nobody gains a 1st half edge as Minnehaha leads 29-27 at the break.  Suggs gets it going in the 2nd half and pulls away.  He scores 20 in the 2nd half, 15 in the game opening 19-5 2nd half run.  Waconia gets in a slight run at the end but it matter.  Minnehaha wins 71-57.  Jalen Suggs leads all scorers with 34 points, 20 in the 2nd half.  Nick Fulford leads Waconia with 16 points.


Game 5: #10AAAA Edina vs #4AAA Orono
Orono's shooting heats up in the 1st half as they go on a 10-2 run to lead 27-19 inside the 7 minute mark of the half.  Edina counters with 7 in a row before another Orono run, this one 11-2.  Colton Codute gets the drift corner 3 with 2 more bombs from fellow shooter Thomas Lecy.  That helps Orono to a 38-28 lead.  A pair of Walt McGrory hoops help Edina cut the margin to 42-36 at the half.  Max Bjorklund continuing his strong play with a free throw and a jumper off a counter to a post up play run for Jarvis Thomas earlier.    But the Hornets swarm and the sting is on.  Anders Nelson 2 hoops before Thomas picks up his 4th foul with 12:31 left. Walt McGrory for 2 and then Nelson and McGrory for 3.  Jack Middleton with a 3 to finish a 14-3 run and its Edina back on top 59-57 with 8:25 to play.

Walt McGrory for 3 and then Jack Middleton tips in a miss off a turnover. Edina in the lead 69-66 with 3:14 left as Orono takes time.  But Nelson buries a clutch 3 and McGrory with a tough deuce.  That puts Edina up 8 and they'll make their free throws.  Edina wins a fun one 80-71.  Walt McGrory 22 points, Anders Nelson 18 for the winners. Max Bjorklund with 18 for Orono, Thomas Lecy 4 3s for 12, Colton Codute 11.

Play of the Day
Orono started the game with a 1-4 dribble entry to the wing looking for the wing to cut low and zipper off Thomas to the top.  Instead of throwing to the top, Thomas ducks in on it for a post touch.  That was worth a couple of buckets early.  Then to start the 2nd half it was Bjorklund as the wing making the cut.  But instead of the zipper cut, Bjorklund pops back to the short corner for a wide open jumper with the defender cheating over the top of the post for the zipper movement.  Something I've also seen BYU do and that you could do as a counter for a baseline runner.