Its official Minnesota kickoff for the 2017-18 season. Great to be back at it for an 11th season. Since I didn't see a Wisconsin game during my Thanksgiving visit to The Old Kingdom, its only fitting that I still get in a Wisconsin team for my official opener. That's River Falls visiting St. Paul Johnson. Johnson a very fitting place to start the season with the walking taco on the menu. No salsa or sour cream makes for a dry version, but the basic lettuce and cheese with the standard Doritos makes it a solid B. But I only wish people would realize how valuable it is to crush the bag of Doritos first. 7-Up gets the beverage counter rolling for another season.
Song of the Day: Break on Through (To The Other Side) - The Doors
Number of Teams I've Seen: 2
Beverage Ticker: 12 ounces (140 Calories)
1 day, 1 game
- 7 Up: 12 ounces (140 calories)
Game Time:
River Falls features Big Rivers Player of the Year and North Dakota State signee Jaxon Knotek on the wing. He has an assist for 3 and a 3 of his own early. Add in a pair of hoops from Ryan Spafford and River Falls jumps out to a 10-4 lead, time debatable due to it not running for a long period right after the 1st possession. Knotek scores in the post but is countered by a pair of Terrel Turner triples for Johnson. But its Knotek trailing the break for another great look at 3 and its good for a 22-14 Wildcats lead at the 8:52 mark.
After a 3 extends the lead to 10, Johnson rallies. Kyle Lee with a fadeaway, Nueadean Adam for 3, Keylon Jackson with 3 the old fashioned way and Jordan Mobley scores after an offensive board of a free throw (biggest crime in the game). Johnson within 27-26 at the 4:30 mark. Knotek carrying the Wildcat offense with another bucket and Spafford adds 2 free throws. Lee another bucket and Turner another bomb. A late turnover gives the Govs a chance to regain the lead but a late jumper by Lee is no good. 32-31 River Falls up at the half.
2 wide open layups with solid passes being made give River Falls a 5 point edge to start the 2nd half. After trading buckets, Johnson's full court pressure finally starts to take its toll. 4 River Falls turnovers lead directly to buckets. Knotek tries to get a breather but the turnovers only allow him a 23 second bench rest. The Johnson run is 15-4 in about 3 minutes. That puts the Govs up 48-40 with 12:42 left.
River Falls replies with a 11-3 run of their own. Knotek wasn't getting any touches as Johnson decided to practically face guard him. But he took matters into his own hands but putting back his own miss for a 3 point play, 2 free throws out of a post up and another putback. 51 all with 7:20 left. Then the pace slows but Johnson able to get to the lane and get the next 3 buckets. After a Mobley FT they have the ball up 5 but turn it over with 2:05 left. River Falls misses a front but Knotek with a steal for a dunk with 1:12 left and the Wildcats still have a chance down 3. But that's the last gasp. Mobley makes both ends of the bonus while River Falls turns it over twice and misses a FT block out to cost them 2 free throws. Johnson misses 5 FTs in the last 35 seconds but that only keeps it close. Johnson wins 63-59
Post Game
For River Falls, NDSU signee Jaxon Knotek finishes with 24 points and 16 rebounds on my sheet. I had him 9-21 from the field but that was with his 1st 4 as misses. He showed a very versatile game handling the ball, trailing the break for 3s or playing in the post. Outside of 1 3 minute flurry in the 2nd half, the defense keying on him after the big 1st half (15 pts, 9 rbs) took him out of the game. Forward Ryan Spafford did a bunch of dirty work inside on his way to 16 points. Nobody else with more than 5 points for the Wildcats.
For Johnson, they end up with 3 players in double figures. Terrel Turner and Jordan Mobley with 13 each and Kyle Lee with 11. Johnson's pressure did exactly what its intended to do by just continuing to wear on the opponent. The Govs guard play will be very good to them in league play. The quartet of Kyle Lee, Shemar Tucker-Adams, Jordan Mobley and Terrel Turner had 45 of the 63 points. Expect that trend to continue. They aren't great shooters but they get into the lane and will share the ball. St. Paul Johnson opens 1-0 and they visit Brooklyn Center for the Centaurs opener on Friday.
Strategy Session
Johnson has long been known for their full court scrambling pressure. While that is a calling card for the Govs, I want to talk offense. There were a couple of things that the Govs did that I liked and really fit their lineup well. First was a simple 3 out 2 in dribble weave with a random big stepping up for the high ball screen in it from time to time. That was effective in getting the guards going down hill and good discipline not to settle for bad 3s.
The other very effective set that the Govs used was a horns look with the point guard (mostly Lee) coming off both elbow screeners to his right hand and being able to turn the corner or kick to Turner for 3 on the ball side. That was largely how Turner got his 3 point looks. They'll also use a baseline runner look but that didn't net them anything.