Targeting the big matchup

A busy Saturday in the metro.  Full slate of games at the Target Center with 5 varsity games.  Then one of the most anticipated games of the year with #1AAA De La Salle taking on #1AAAA Cretin-Derham. Let's get to it.

Game 1 (Target Center): Lester Prairie/Holy Trinty 62 PACT 48
T-Shirt guns and intro video included for this one.  Lester Prairie decides to go box and 1 all day on PACT's Cade Johnson.  Tyler Scheevel getting the main task of slowing him down.  Michael Ziermann distributing early then adding a couple hoops late.  Dylan Ruzicka adds a pair of late 3s.  Frosh Jordan Stone with a pair of late 3s to keep the PACT offense moving.  38-30 LP/HT at the half.

PACT finding the skip pass effective vs the box and 1.  Issac Erickson knocks down 3 early 3s, 2 of them via that skip pass.  That pulls PACT within 43-41 with 13 minutes left.  Johnson with a hoop and nice backcut for 2 throws to keep the Panthers within 4 with 9:13 left.  But PACT only scores 1 more field goal the rest of the way as the offense can't find its way.  Ziermann closes it out with 2 hoops and 2 free throws plus a nice assist for another layup.  Ziermann finishes with nice all-around line of 15 points 10 rebounds and 7 assists.  Parker Bayerl 14, Evan Lee with 13.  Cade Johnson with 17 points to lead PACT.  Isaac Erickson with 5 3s for all 15 of his points.

Game 3 (Target Center): Nova Classical Academy 72 ISM/ERA 57
We end the day where it began with the late night TCAC game. ISM coming in last in the top division.  Nova leading the 2nd division.  I pick the game up midway thru the 1st half and see Nova open up a 9 point lead just inside the 5 minute mark.  But Micah Hjelle hits a 3 to end a 10-0 ISM run and give ISM a 26-25 lead.  Nova 31-30 at the break.  Isaiah Bourdreax picks his game up in the 2nd half as Nova starts to pull away.  He scores a pair of hoops in a 14-5 spurt that allows the Knights to push the lead to double digits.  Zach Breen would try to keep ISM close with 10 in the 2nd half but the lead is too much.  Forward Noah Olson too much inside for Nova with 22 points.  Shae Nelson 19, Isaiah Boudreaux 13, Mathieu LaFrombois with 12.  Zach Breen 18 to lead ISM, Micah Hjelle 17.

Game 2: #1AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall 77 #1AAA De La Salle 66
Now to the big show.  A sell out at the large gym backs up the hype around the game.  Gabe Kalscheur does suit up and play coming off an ankle injury.  He has a big 1st half with 4 3s and 19 points.  He hit 2 3s to end the half to keep DLS within 43-31 at the break.  A 17-3 CDH run before that breaks open a 4 point game. Sy Chatman starts that with an offensive rebound for a 3 point play.  Jacob Prince 2 hoops and Chatman finishes the run by dunking off a turnover.

Jamison Battle with 2 early 3s and another Kalscheur bomb pulls DLS within 51-48 with over 13 minutes left.  The rest of the game has some chippy play with it in a bit of a surprise.But the story ultimately is CDH being too big, long and tough inside.  Every CDH bucket in the last 8+ minutes was at the rim.  Daniel Oturu and Sy Chatman dominate the glass and swat a boat load of shots.  Many of those blocks in highlight reel fashion.  Daniel Oturu 25 points, double digit boards and a fist full of blocks.  Sy Chatman with 17 points with his fair share of boards and blocks.  Ryan Larson outplays Tyrell Terry at the point guard spot.  Larson with 14, Terry with 8 before fouling out late.  Gabe Kalscheur with 19 of his 24 points in the 1st half.  Jamison Battle heated up in the 2nd half to finish with 19 points.  CDH played with fire having Chatman guard Kalscheur.  Chatman not used to having to guard a shooter and that movement.  That's what allowed Kalscheur to get loose as Chatman was often a step late.  I was surprised that Jacob Prince didn't see more time with that task.