Wisconsin raids the border

Prologue
Its Border Battle week and I'll preview of that tomorrow night as I won't be doing a game.  But I get an early border battle game as Hudson visits Simley.  Hudson is second in the Big Rivers, the big school league across the border.  They have 8 games against Minnesota opponents this year.  Crazy.  They've already split with St. Thomas (win) and Hastings (loss) from the Metro East with a February game against North St. Paul on the schedule as well.  Blah hot dog and gatorade tonight on the concessions menu.  Simley always has quality music so we take this classic from a timeout.

Song of the Day:  AC/DC - Money Talks

Number of Teams I've Seen: 122 (40 courts + 2 online).  14 out of state, 9 girls

Beverage Ticker: 727.6 ounces (7895 Calories)
63 days, 85 games, 2 scrimmages added on

• Pepsi: 252.9 ounces (3160 calories)
• Coke: 144 ounces (1720 calories)
• Dr. Pepper: 24 ounces (300 calories)
• Sprite: 52 ounces (620 calories)
• A&W Root Beer : 28.9 ounces (410 calories)
• Mug Root Beer: 20 ounces (260 calories)
• Red Gatorade/Powerade: 201.8 ounces (1425 calories)

Hot Dog Ticker: 11
Pizza Ticker: 8
Walking Taco Ticker: 6

Game Time:
Defense was not at a premium in this one.  Leading scorers for Hudson Jamie Wirth and Garrett Hendricks again carrying the Raidres offense.  DeAndre Smith is an athletic bowling ball for Simley and he's carrying the Simley offense.  Mitch Monson with good bench minutes in the 1st half for Hudson as well.  He hits a pair of jumpers to keep the lead at 10.  Smith with 7 late for Simley.  Wirth counters those with a hoop and a late 3.  42-32 Hudson at the break.

Hudson starts the half strong.  Post Sam Gerard with 2 free throwa nd 2 hoops to push the lead to 13.  A 10-3 run after that would grow the lead to 54-38 with 13:32 left.  Hendricks converts a turnover into a layup and Wirth buries a 3 as Hudson grows the lead to 69-49 with 8:30 to go.  The rout appears to be on so Hudson starts going deeper into their bench. Simley quickly buries 2 3s via Isaiah Robinson and Sam Vujovich.  That cuts the lead to 15 inside 6:30 to play and the Hudson starters are back at the scorers table. 

Simley gradually cuts into the lead as neither team can stop fouling in the 2nd half.  Andrew Johnson with good 2nd half bench minutes for Simley. He makes a layup and 2 free throws to get the lead down to 9 with 2:27 left.  Smith would add a putback, a 3 point play to cut it to 8 and a late 3, but the lead was too much for Simley to overcome.  Hudson wins 95-85.  The teams shot a combined 55 free throws in the 2nd half.  By my count 27 of those came in the last 3:16.

Post Game
Simley's DeAndre Smith continues to be a problem for opponents.  He leads all scorers with 34 points.  Jake Binley struggled with his outside shot but like almost everyone on this night, he made a living at the line.  He scored 20 points via 10 free throws. Sam Vujovich with 3 triples and 11 points to also reach double figures.  Simley's transition defense and defense of the side pick and roll were what did them in on this night.

Hudson improves to 3-3 in their Minnesota tour this season.  Their head coach was the sophomore coach (I believe) at South St. Paul last year.  Jamie Werth with 25 points to lead the Raiders.  Garrett Hendricks adds 24.  There's youth in the lineup with 3 sophomores playing and 2 of them starting.  They are at Highland Park in 2 weeks and then end that same week at North St. Paul.  That will complete their 8 game Minnesota tour with 6 of them here.