Fighting the snow

The darn white stuff still hanging around so that will slow and delay my travels but not stop them.  So on the road we go thru the snow this week.  As has been fairly common on Mondays and Wednesdays this season, its TCAC delight.  In between, we'll fit in an adventure to the NW suburbs for a showdown in the Metro West.

Monday: Hope Academy 71 Minnesota Transitions 55
A matchup of 2 teams battling for position in section 4A.  Remember that last year 4A and 4AA went to a tiered system of byes.  So a 1 seed difference could mean an extra game.  We'll see what happens with that this season.  Hope would open a 12 point halftime lead only to see a Wolves 11-0 run bring the game back to within 1 with under 13 minutes left.  But Hope star Caleb Hoilien goes for 13 of 17 Lions points (with an assist on 1 of the 2 other buckets) just after that.  Hope pushes the lead back to 14.  MTS gets 1 last chance down 9 and they have the ball after a blocked shot with about 4 minutes to go.  Wolves can't convert and Hope buries a 3 on the other end to clear any doubt.  Sam Ojebode does his usual dirty work on the glass for Hope.  Caleb Hoilien with 5 3s and 30 points to lead all scorers.  Michael Emery Minor with 27 to lead MTS.  Guard Kyriaun Christian adds 16 for the Wolves.  MTS has beat up on the lesser part of the section and with their ability to score quickly, they are one of the wildcards to watch in the section. 

Wednesday: Chesterton Academy 55 MSAD 34
To the Galleria for an off night of shopping.  OK maybe not, but its right next door.  Of course, after all of the walking I did thru the building, I felt like I had done the 3 blocks to get there.  Gym is buried in a back corner of the building and the logical entrance (which I exited by) was of course locked.  Neat little popcorn machine working and 3 rows of chairs for "bleachers".  But its obstructed view seating.  For those who saw the picture on twitter (and if not, LOOK NOW!), I had to peer around the pillar to get the full floor.  As to the game itself, by the time I finally made it in MSAD had taken a 9-3 lead.  But I'm not good luck for the Trojans.  Its all Chesterton from there.  36-22 at the break, lots of Chesterton guys see time even early.  Knights win easily.  Chesterton is in a very tight pack of 6 teams right behind the leaders in section 4A.  But they have losses to Christian Life and Liberty Classical who are also in that pack.  MSAD playing with only 6 guys.

Tuesday: Chaska 80 Robbinsdale Cooper 51
The good news for Cooper in this one is that they kept Cole Nicholson from going for another school record.  He had 51 points in their 1st meeting this season.  Bad news he still had 28 with no good answer for him.  11 point game at the half.  Chaska blows it open with a 16-2 run to start the 2nd half.  Nicholson with the last 7 points of that run.  55-30 Chaska with under 12 minutes left.  That's just about enough for Cooper coach Bo Powell as he keeps his star 3 guards on the bench most of the rest of the way.  Not a good effort on either end for Cooper.  Too many clean looks and way too many easy catches and scores for Cole Nicholson.  Then again Cooper really has no good matchup for him either.  Conner Krenos adds 18 points for Chaska.  Jalen Justice leads Cooper with 11 but all in the 1st half.  Chaska has won 5 in a row and 11 of 12 since a holiday loss at Eden Prairie.  That only loss was a buzzer beater loss at St. Louis Park.  Chaska remains tied with St. Louis Park on top of the Metro West at 8-1.  The teams have their rematch in Chaska next Friday.  Cooper now a disappointing 4-5 (10-9 overall) and tied for 4th in the league with their 3rd straight loss.  But with their firepower at the guard spots, they are capable of beating absolutely anybody in AAA.  Not a team you want to see come playoff time.