Its 2 nights of section finals to close out the non-Target Center portion of the 2018-19 season. First its section 3AAA final between St. Thomas Academy and one of the season's great surprise teams, Holy Angels. Then the section 4A final at Anoka-Ramsey between top seed CHOF and 11 seed Hope Academy. Though the seeding in 4A needs to desperately change as there was no way Hope was anything close to 11th (they beat the 5 on the road by 35 as an example). Pepsi provided for the final night makes it all worthwhile.
Thursday 3AAA Final: 1 Holy Angels 85 2 St. Thomas Academy 78
Jack Thompson with 11 early points as St. Thomas Academy opens up a 26-18 lead at the 8:20 mark. But Holy Angels counters that with a 2-3 zone and the top guards in that zone despite not applying a ton of ball pressure cause a ton of havoc deflecting passes. Forward Aaron Engel off the AHA bench with a pair of hoops. Matt Banovetz for 3 and 2 free throws as Holy Angels ties the game at 31 at the 5:51 mark. Banovetz with the 3 point play attacking the hoop and why not from 3 in transition and he'll add a FT. 11-2 AHA run and that allows the Stars to build a 48-41 halftime lead.
Thor Holien dominating inside early in the 2nd half for AHA. 2 deep postups for easy hoops. Run the floor for another easy score. He'll add 3 FT and another hoop for a 62-52 AHA lead with 11:50 left. Then St. Thomas Academy has their run. Jack Thompson goes bonus free throws and later a steal for 2 FTs to put the Cadets ahead. Soph Jamie Smith great bench minutes for the Cadets as well in the run with a couple of hoops and a free throw. Thompson with a jumper to close the 20-6 run. 72-68 St. Thomas Academy ahead with 3:50 left. Thompson backdoor off a set to keep the lead at 4. Banovetz then steps behind a drive and behind the line for a 3 with 2:32 left to put AHA back on top. Frosh Emmett Johnson with a big time 3 with just over 2 minutes left for a 78-74 AHA lead. STA scores and takes timeout. Then the clock doesn't start out of the timeout. Meanwhile the teams trade layups. Somehow thru a long stretch of the clock not running, the officials only take 5 seconds off. Holien with a layup and then AHA blocks a rim attack at the other end. Emmett Johnson closes it with a free throw and layup. Terrific night for the frosh Emmett Johnson with 28 points and he was a total nuisance on the defensive end too. Thor Holien with 15 of his 23 in the 2nd half. Jack Thompson with 21 points to lead the Cadets. Charlie Fafinski adds 20 points for St. Thomas Academy.
Friday 4A Final: 1 CHOF 65 11 Hope Academy 50
CHOF boys trying to get a win in the section final that the girls couldn't get last week. 10-2 CHOF run to build a 19-9 lead midway thru the 1st half. Hope sees the 3 ball start to fall with 3 those from Caleb Hoilien and 1 each from Elijah Wade and Kaleb Dube. Its a 19-5 Hope run and they take the lead 28-24. Wade gets in the post and adds 2 free throws for a 30-28 Hope lead at the half.
CHOF goes on a 16-0 run after Hoilien starts the half with a putback. Drake Eckman off the CHOF bench with 7 in a row during the run. Hope center and rebounding ace Samuel Ojebode sits with 4th foul during the run. CHOF was tough crashing the glass all night vs the Hope 1-2-2 zone and Ojebode's foul trouble didn't help that. 3 putbacks for CHOF during the run. 44-34 CHOF with exactly 10 minutes left. The lead grows to 11 but Hope has a late rally in them. Its the freshman Wade with the jumper and a putback that he's fouled on. He misses the free throw but Hope gets it back and he'll convert that too. He adds another jumper for 8 in a row. That cuts the lead to 50-45 with 4:47 left.
After a couple missed Hope triples, CHOF will take timeout and go 4 corners with 3:10 left. Clay Bluhm with a layup, then an over and back call on Hope with 1:56 left. A frustration kick of the ball to get the call and its a technical. The rest is free throws. McCaleb Alleman with 11 of his 18 in the 2nd half to lead CHOF. Isaac Collins with 14, Preston Alleman with 10 of his 12 in the 1st half. Caleb Hoilien with 22 points. Elijah Wade with 17 points. But those 2 had no help as the rest of the roster combined for 13. It will be very interesting to see where CHOF gets seeded. On 1 hand you say their section was awful and therefore they get no seed. But a deeper look reveals they play a mostly AA schedule that has inflated their QRF and they beat fellow tourney entrant Spring Grove head to head.
2019 2AAAA Semifinals Thoughts
To a PACKED house at Prior Lake for the 2AAAA semifinals. The rivalry between Prior Lake and Shakopee starts the night and then a 3rd meeting of Lake Conference foes Edina and Eden Prairie in the 2nd semifinal. People 3 deep on the rails once we get goign and the stands were full 40 minutes before game when I arrived. As much as I love a band it would have taken up a ton of needed room. But still great music all night with Ozzy Osborne, Journey, Scorpions and the Beastie Boys. Plus a jelly filled cupcake in the stands too. Why not since it was too full to deal with concessions.
Game 1: 1 Prior Lake 75 5 Shakopee 59
A very tight 1st half. Shakopee using an 11-2 run to take a 17-15 lead. Will Cordes with a bucket and pair of free throws in that run. Brooks Allen doing a very nice job harassing Dawson Garcia on the defensive end. Allen also doing it on offense with a triple and late bucket in the half. 24-23 Prior Lake at the break.
In the 2nd half the Prior Lake size and defense takes over. Robert Jones layup, Tyree Ihenacho putback, an offensive board for a Sam Nissen triple, Garcia scoring in the post. 36-27 Prior Lake with over 13 minutes left. Ihenacho a 3 point play, Nissen a triple, Ihenacho to the reverse and a Garcia free throw. 52-37 Prior Lake with 7:30 left as Shakopee has no defensive answer. Shakopee with a couple of 3s to hang around. But Ihenacho with the breakaway dunk of a turnover, Garcia lays in a dump off pass and why not Robert Jones for 3.61-45 with under 4 minutes left and no real danger from there. Robert Jones with 17 of his 23 after halftime. Dawson Garcia adds 21 for Prior Lake. Brooks Allen outstanding with 20 points for Shakopee. Will Cordes adds 14 for the Sabers.
Game 2: 2 Eden Prairie 63 3 Edina 40
Story of this one was the Eden Prairie defense. Edina goes scoreless for the last 7:30 of the 1st half as they couldn't buy a shot or many good looks. That allows Eden Prairie to double a 10 point lead to 20 at the half and they cruise from there. Ariel Bland was terrific with 14 of his 20 points in the 1st half. Eden Prairie wanted to use his quickness and that of Austin Andrews to attack Jacob Hutson off the bounce. Hutson was the only notable offense for Edina with 17 points. Jack Middleton held to 2 1st half points and a game total of 12 with only 3 field goals. The defensive work of Drew Edwards off the EP bench deserves a ton of praise for that. Drake Dobbs with 14 of his 21 in the 2nd half to keep the game out of reach. Just to show how much the Edina offense struggled. They had only 2 games this year under 60 points (59 vs BSM a couple weeks ago when I watched and 57 vs Orono) before tonight. The other 2 games vs Eden Prairie they scored 71 and 77.
That means Prior Lake will host Eden Prairie on Friday night for the 2AAAA championship and a trip to state. Expect a big time grind it out defensive struggle there as both teams are really good on that end. But how does Eden Prairie deal with the big front line of Prior Lake? A shame that this game is a section title game because its worthy of being a state title game. EP has now won 5 in a row including wins over Minneapolis North and Hopkins in that stretch to go with Edina and Minnetonka twice.
Game 1: 1 Prior Lake 75 5 Shakopee 59
A very tight 1st half. Shakopee using an 11-2 run to take a 17-15 lead. Will Cordes with a bucket and pair of free throws in that run. Brooks Allen doing a very nice job harassing Dawson Garcia on the defensive end. Allen also doing it on offense with a triple and late bucket in the half. 24-23 Prior Lake at the break.
In the 2nd half the Prior Lake size and defense takes over. Robert Jones layup, Tyree Ihenacho putback, an offensive board for a Sam Nissen triple, Garcia scoring in the post. 36-27 Prior Lake with over 13 minutes left. Ihenacho a 3 point play, Nissen a triple, Ihenacho to the reverse and a Garcia free throw. 52-37 Prior Lake with 7:30 left as Shakopee has no defensive answer. Shakopee with a couple of 3s to hang around. But Ihenacho with the breakaway dunk of a turnover, Garcia lays in a dump off pass and why not Robert Jones for 3.61-45 with under 4 minutes left and no real danger from there. Robert Jones with 17 of his 23 after halftime. Dawson Garcia adds 21 for Prior Lake. Brooks Allen outstanding with 20 points for Shakopee. Will Cordes adds 14 for the Sabers.
Game 2: 2 Eden Prairie 63 3 Edina 40
Story of this one was the Eden Prairie defense. Edina goes scoreless for the last 7:30 of the 1st half as they couldn't buy a shot or many good looks. That allows Eden Prairie to double a 10 point lead to 20 at the half and they cruise from there. Ariel Bland was terrific with 14 of his 20 points in the 1st half. Eden Prairie wanted to use his quickness and that of Austin Andrews to attack Jacob Hutson off the bounce. Hutson was the only notable offense for Edina with 17 points. Jack Middleton held to 2 1st half points and a game total of 12 with only 3 field goals. The defensive work of Drew Edwards off the EP bench deserves a ton of praise for that. Drake Dobbs with 14 of his 21 in the 2nd half to keep the game out of reach. Just to show how much the Edina offense struggled. They had only 2 games this year under 60 points (59 vs BSM a couple weeks ago when I watched and 57 vs Orono) before tonight. The other 2 games vs Eden Prairie they scored 71 and 77.
That means Prior Lake will host Eden Prairie on Friday night for the 2AAAA championship and a trip to state. Expect a big time grind it out defensive struggle there as both teams are really good on that end. But how does Eden Prairie deal with the big front line of Prior Lake? A shame that this game is a section title game because its worthy of being a state title game. EP has now won 5 in a row including wins over Minneapolis North and Hopkins in that stretch to go with Edina and Minnetonka twice.
2019 4AAAA Semifinals Thoughts
Its a rare final playoff Monday of the season. Usually this is an off night but thanks to the weather a bunch of games rescheduled for tonight. That includes the 4AAAA semifinals with an early start in Hastings. T-Rod and Stoney get whistles for the games. Hot Dog and Powerade on the menu.
Semifinal #1: 2 CDH 81 3 Tartan 76
Early pace favored Tartan. I like them going to 5 out curls with Antwan Kimmons being the top guy popping back. Jaeden King with a crazy 3 point play and puts back his own miss. He'll add a floater, a tough 2 and a big time 3 for a 25-14 CDH lead at the 6:17 mark. Kimmons not letting Tartan go away. He'll go coast to coast for 2 and add a pair of FTs. M'akil Weems with a drive for a dunk and another nifty finish scooping around defenders for 2 more. Tartan within 32-28 at the half. Kimmons and King carrying the offenses but more help for King thanks to Amari Carter knocking down a pair of 3s in the half.
That theme continues in the 2nd half. Critical sequence in the middle of the half. Will Burke scoring in the post, Kimmons misses 2 FTs, King with a pretty cut for a layup, Kimmons misses a dunk after a steal and Ben Gallaher buries a 3 on the other end for CDH. All of a sudden the lead is 13 with 9:30 left and Tartan is in deep trouble. Kimmons keeping it interesting with a 3 point play and another bucket. Weems with a nice backcut for a layup on a BLOB. He's fouled, Tartan gets the board but misses an open 3 that would have cut the lead to 6 with just over 6 minutes left.
CDH closes from there. Tre Holloman finds Carter running the floor for a layup. Holloman adds a floater and then a frozen rope from halfcourt to Burke for a layup to push the lead to 64-50. Carter adds another triple and another floater from Holloman keeps the lead at 13 with 2:37 left. A couple late 3s don't matter and CDH advances. Jaeden King with 27 points and 4 triples. He hit a bunch of really tough shots. Amari Carter adds 17 with 3 triples of his own. He definitely has taken his game up a notch this season. Quiet night for Curtis Jones adding 12 for the Raiders. Antwan Kimmons leads Tartan with 41 points and 3 triples. He was aggressive on the glass too. Langston Binns turned in a great outing with 18 points off the bench. M'akil Weems adds 13. But 3 starters go for 1 basket until the final 12 seconds. Just not enough offense for the Titans. But CDH also shot it very well which didn't allow Tartan to take those and run the other way.
Semifinal #2: 1 East Ridge 64 St. Paul Central 52
Central flat out running East Ridge out of the building and out working them in the 1st half. East Ridge with a couple of early time outs trying to get their bearings. Dion Ford back to back hoops, Daveonte Davis pops a jumper and Khai West with a layup off a double clutch Ronnell Porter feed. 23-19 Central at 7:35. East Ridge counters with a tough 2 and lob dunk from Kendall Brown. Ben Carlson adds a putback, post hoop and a swat as East Ridge gets their rhythm. West for 3 and then he'll leak out for a layup to put Central up 30-29 going to the half.
Second half is all East Ridge. Carlson in the post. Kendall Brown with his big height advantage on Porter bullies him in the post for 2. Carlson with 1 bucket and then flashes to the elbow for another jumper. Then a Carlson dunk. Courtney Brown scores and he'll add a 3 after a Carlson block. 49-39 East Ridge takes control. Davis with a 3 and a nice cut from Ford cuts the lead to 5. But the Raptors fly away with another Courtney Brown 3. Kendall Brown with a free throw and an open court bucket. Carlson caps the 8-0 run with a dunk. 57-44 East Ridge at that point and no more danger. Ben Carlson with 14 of his 22 in the 2nd half as he was the major factor in East Ridge pulling away. Kendall Brown with 16 points. Courtney Brown with a pair of 3s in the 2nd half as part of the big run as well. He finishes with 15. Dion Ford leads Central with 16. Daveonte Davis finishes with 14.
The Final
East Ridge vs Cretin-Derham Hall part 3 for the 4AAAA section title is Thursday night in Hastings. East Ridge won both regular season meetings by double figures. Jaeden King with 29 in the 1st meeting and did not play in the rescheduled game at CDH due to injury. Ben Carlson and Courtney Brown had big games in both meetings.
Semifinal #1: 2 CDH 81 3 Tartan 76
Early pace favored Tartan. I like them going to 5 out curls with Antwan Kimmons being the top guy popping back. Jaeden King with a crazy 3 point play and puts back his own miss. He'll add a floater, a tough 2 and a big time 3 for a 25-14 CDH lead at the 6:17 mark. Kimmons not letting Tartan go away. He'll go coast to coast for 2 and add a pair of FTs. M'akil Weems with a drive for a dunk and another nifty finish scooping around defenders for 2 more. Tartan within 32-28 at the half. Kimmons and King carrying the offenses but more help for King thanks to Amari Carter knocking down a pair of 3s in the half.
That theme continues in the 2nd half. Critical sequence in the middle of the half. Will Burke scoring in the post, Kimmons misses 2 FTs, King with a pretty cut for a layup, Kimmons misses a dunk after a steal and Ben Gallaher buries a 3 on the other end for CDH. All of a sudden the lead is 13 with 9:30 left and Tartan is in deep trouble. Kimmons keeping it interesting with a 3 point play and another bucket. Weems with a nice backcut for a layup on a BLOB. He's fouled, Tartan gets the board but misses an open 3 that would have cut the lead to 6 with just over 6 minutes left.
CDH closes from there. Tre Holloman finds Carter running the floor for a layup. Holloman adds a floater and then a frozen rope from halfcourt to Burke for a layup to push the lead to 64-50. Carter adds another triple and another floater from Holloman keeps the lead at 13 with 2:37 left. A couple late 3s don't matter and CDH advances. Jaeden King with 27 points and 4 triples. He hit a bunch of really tough shots. Amari Carter adds 17 with 3 triples of his own. He definitely has taken his game up a notch this season. Quiet night for Curtis Jones adding 12 for the Raiders. Antwan Kimmons leads Tartan with 41 points and 3 triples. He was aggressive on the glass too. Langston Binns turned in a great outing with 18 points off the bench. M'akil Weems adds 13. But 3 starters go for 1 basket until the final 12 seconds. Just not enough offense for the Titans. But CDH also shot it very well which didn't allow Tartan to take those and run the other way.
Semifinal #2: 1 East Ridge 64 St. Paul Central 52
Central flat out running East Ridge out of the building and out working them in the 1st half. East Ridge with a couple of early time outs trying to get their bearings. Dion Ford back to back hoops, Daveonte Davis pops a jumper and Khai West with a layup off a double clutch Ronnell Porter feed. 23-19 Central at 7:35. East Ridge counters with a tough 2 and lob dunk from Kendall Brown. Ben Carlson adds a putback, post hoop and a swat as East Ridge gets their rhythm. West for 3 and then he'll leak out for a layup to put Central up 30-29 going to the half.
Second half is all East Ridge. Carlson in the post. Kendall Brown with his big height advantage on Porter bullies him in the post for 2. Carlson with 1 bucket and then flashes to the elbow for another jumper. Then a Carlson dunk. Courtney Brown scores and he'll add a 3 after a Carlson block. 49-39 East Ridge takes control. Davis with a 3 and a nice cut from Ford cuts the lead to 5. But the Raptors fly away with another Courtney Brown 3. Kendall Brown with a free throw and an open court bucket. Carlson caps the 8-0 run with a dunk. 57-44 East Ridge at that point and no more danger. Ben Carlson with 14 of his 22 in the 2nd half as he was the major factor in East Ridge pulling away. Kendall Brown with 16 points. Courtney Brown with a pair of 3s in the 2nd half as part of the big run as well. He finishes with 15. Dion Ford leads Central with 16. Daveonte Davis finishes with 14.
The Final
East Ridge vs Cretin-Derham Hall part 3 for the 4AAAA section title is Thursday night in Hastings. East Ridge won both regular season meetings by double figures. Jaeden King with 29 in the 1st meeting and did not play in the rescheduled game at CDH due to injury. Ben Carlson and Courtney Brown had big games in both meetings.
Tracking 4AA and semis in 8AAAA
A fun 3 days of hoops on the schedule. A pair of coin flip type matchups in section 4AA start and end the stretch. A pair of quality semifinals in section 8AAAA gets sandwiched inbetween. Quality pizza and Pepsi at Monticello in my 1st visit to that quality setup. A rare appearance from Chipotle Gal for the Saturday matinee. Bethel and Crown staff also appear there.
Thursday: 9 Concordia 82 8 Humboldt 65
This was the 8 vs 9 game in Section 4AA. Both teams go zone. Humboldt straight 2-3 while Concordia goes matchup out of their 2-3. Concordia knocks down 10 3s in the 1st half against that zone. That is part of opening up a 35-8 lead just 11 minutes into the game. Humboldt stays man too long but once they go man they manage to get the lead all the way down to 8 with 7 minutes left. Concordia no flow on their offense and everything going in for the Hawks in the 2nd half. But a silly Humboldt technical switches the momentum. That results in a free throw. A pair of sets result in a backdoor 3 point play and a triple. Concordia coasts from there. Aaron TerHaar with 5 triples and 26 points to lead Concordia. Barnabas Preble adds 19 points. Desmond Lugo 4 3s and 3 FTs being fouled on a 3 for 15 points to lead Humboldt.
Friday Game 1: 1 Maple Grove 65 4 St. Michael-Albertville 48
Maple Grove would use a 23-7 spurt in the 1st half to open up a 32-13 lead late in the 1st half. Hot shooting from Kyle Dreyer included 3 triples and 11 points in that run. STMA with 4 late 3s after that to close the half on a 12-2 run and cut the lead to 34-25 at the break. STMA would cut the lead to 5 a couple of times in the 2nd half. Peyton McLean with 3s during a couple of different spurts to keep the game tight. Maple Grove slows the pace. Nate Adams starts with a bucket and then a dagger 3 after a long possession pushes the lead back to 14 and the Crimson are out of danger. Nate Adams 17 points, Kyle Dreyer 16, Jared Rainey 15 for great Crimson guard production. Ryan McGinnis good backup center minutes as well for Maple Grove. Peyton McLean and Evan Wieker lead STMA with 11 points each. The Knights have a talented junior class for next year when they'll join the Lake Conference.
Friday Game 2: 2 Buffalo 84 3 Moorhead 71
Buffalo would open a 18 point halftime lead behind the interior play of Aidan Bouman and the attacking of Tony Dahl. Moorhead star Maleeck Harden-Hayes sits with 2 fouls at the 7:19 mark and Buffalo goes +12 with him sitting. Bouman picks up his 4th foul with 12:54 left and sits. Harden-Hayes nicely attacking in the half and that draws that 4th foul. He adds a bucket and a putback and the lead is down to 7 with just over 11 minutes left. Buffalo coach Josh Ortmann not messing around and he'll roll the dice by putting Bouman right back in the game. That pays off as Bouman plays the rest of the game. Harden-Hayes fouls out on a tough reach and strip call with 4:44 left. Drew Hagen fouls out with 3:22 left. Soph Brady Walthall trying to keep Moorhead close at the charity stripe but there's not enough left. Aidan Bouman leads Buffalo with 28 points dominating the blocks. Tony Dahl very effective out of the 2-1-2 dribble drive for 22 points. Good minutes from freshman point guard Antonio Bluiett as well. Moorhead gets 19 points from Brady Walthall. Maleeck Harden-Hayes with 12 of his 14 in the 2nd half. Both teams return a ton for next year. Buffalo has their top 6 coming back. Moorhead returns everybody except Harden-Hayes. Buffalo and Maple Grove meet on Thursday in St. Michael for the 8AAAA championship.
Saturday: 5 Trinity 45 4 Minneapolis Edison 42
Edison would make the game hectic early. But Trinity would settle down after a couple of minutes. Edison goes over 9 minutes without a field goal. But a 3 from Jeremiah Thompson to break that streak cuts the lead to 12-9 just outside the 6 minute mark. Trinity beats the buzzer with a jumper off an offensive rebound for a 24-15 halftime lead.
Ben Maslow 2 early 3s in the 2nd half. The 2nd is at the 13:12 mark for a 32-19 Trinity lead. That's the last Trinity FG of the game. After the lead grows to 34-20, Edison's defensive chaos pressure starts to take effect. Edison goes on an 18-3 run for the lead. Antonio Simmons with a nice slip of an elevator screen for a layup and then 2 free throws to cap that run. 38-37 Edison with 3:38 left. Simmons and Jermaine Cornell with steals for layups. 42-40 Edison 1:45 left and we have a loud gym. Maslow ties it with 2 freebies with 1:38 left. Edison turns it over and Anthony Rumpza with 2 free throws for the lead with 9-0 seconds left. Edison runs offense and misses. Trinity rebounds and holds. Trinity misses both FTs with 17 seconds left and Edison still has a chance down 2. They miss with 7 seconds left. 1 Trinity free throw gives Edison 1 last possession. But they dribble it off a foot and time runs out. Antonio Simmons 13 points to lead Edison. Ben Maslow 15 points to lead Trinity. Michael Ennis adds 14 points. Trinity advances to play Minnehaha on Tuesday.
Thursday: 9 Concordia 82 8 Humboldt 65
This was the 8 vs 9 game in Section 4AA. Both teams go zone. Humboldt straight 2-3 while Concordia goes matchup out of their 2-3. Concordia knocks down 10 3s in the 1st half against that zone. That is part of opening up a 35-8 lead just 11 minutes into the game. Humboldt stays man too long but once they go man they manage to get the lead all the way down to 8 with 7 minutes left. Concordia no flow on their offense and everything going in for the Hawks in the 2nd half. But a silly Humboldt technical switches the momentum. That results in a free throw. A pair of sets result in a backdoor 3 point play and a triple. Concordia coasts from there. Aaron TerHaar with 5 triples and 26 points to lead Concordia. Barnabas Preble adds 19 points. Desmond Lugo 4 3s and 3 FTs being fouled on a 3 for 15 points to lead Humboldt.
Friday Game 1: 1 Maple Grove 65 4 St. Michael-Albertville 48
Maple Grove would use a 23-7 spurt in the 1st half to open up a 32-13 lead late in the 1st half. Hot shooting from Kyle Dreyer included 3 triples and 11 points in that run. STMA with 4 late 3s after that to close the half on a 12-2 run and cut the lead to 34-25 at the break. STMA would cut the lead to 5 a couple of times in the 2nd half. Peyton McLean with 3s during a couple of different spurts to keep the game tight. Maple Grove slows the pace. Nate Adams starts with a bucket and then a dagger 3 after a long possession pushes the lead back to 14 and the Crimson are out of danger. Nate Adams 17 points, Kyle Dreyer 16, Jared Rainey 15 for great Crimson guard production. Ryan McGinnis good backup center minutes as well for Maple Grove. Peyton McLean and Evan Wieker lead STMA with 11 points each. The Knights have a talented junior class for next year when they'll join the Lake Conference.
Friday Game 2: 2 Buffalo 84 3 Moorhead 71
Buffalo would open a 18 point halftime lead behind the interior play of Aidan Bouman and the attacking of Tony Dahl. Moorhead star Maleeck Harden-Hayes sits with 2 fouls at the 7:19 mark and Buffalo goes +12 with him sitting. Bouman picks up his 4th foul with 12:54 left and sits. Harden-Hayes nicely attacking in the half and that draws that 4th foul. He adds a bucket and a putback and the lead is down to 7 with just over 11 minutes left. Buffalo coach Josh Ortmann not messing around and he'll roll the dice by putting Bouman right back in the game. That pays off as Bouman plays the rest of the game. Harden-Hayes fouls out on a tough reach and strip call with 4:44 left. Drew Hagen fouls out with 3:22 left. Soph Brady Walthall trying to keep Moorhead close at the charity stripe but there's not enough left. Aidan Bouman leads Buffalo with 28 points dominating the blocks. Tony Dahl very effective out of the 2-1-2 dribble drive for 22 points. Good minutes from freshman point guard Antonio Bluiett as well. Moorhead gets 19 points from Brady Walthall. Maleeck Harden-Hayes with 12 of his 14 in the 2nd half. Both teams return a ton for next year. Buffalo has their top 6 coming back. Moorhead returns everybody except Harden-Hayes. Buffalo and Maple Grove meet on Thursday in St. Michael for the 8AAAA championship.
Saturday: 5 Trinity 45 4 Minneapolis Edison 42
Edison would make the game hectic early. But Trinity would settle down after a couple of minutes. Edison goes over 9 minutes without a field goal. But a 3 from Jeremiah Thompson to break that streak cuts the lead to 12-9 just outside the 6 minute mark. Trinity beats the buzzer with a jumper off an offensive rebound for a 24-15 halftime lead.
Ben Maslow 2 early 3s in the 2nd half. The 2nd is at the 13:12 mark for a 32-19 Trinity lead. That's the last Trinity FG of the game. After the lead grows to 34-20, Edison's defensive chaos pressure starts to take effect. Edison goes on an 18-3 run for the lead. Antonio Simmons with a nice slip of an elevator screen for a layup and then 2 free throws to cap that run. 38-37 Edison with 3:38 left. Simmons and Jermaine Cornell with steals for layups. 42-40 Edison 1:45 left and we have a loud gym. Maslow ties it with 2 freebies with 1:38 left. Edison turns it over and Anthony Rumpza with 2 free throws for the lead with 9-0 seconds left. Edison runs offense and misses. Trinity rebounds and holds. Trinity misses both FTs with 17 seconds left and Edison still has a chance down 2. They miss with 7 seconds left. 1 Trinity free throw gives Edison 1 last possession. But they dribble it off a foot and time runs out. Antonio Simmons 13 points to lead Edison. Ben Maslow 15 points to lead Trinity. Michael Ennis adds 14 points. Trinity advances to play Minnehaha on Tuesday.
AAA belongs in the city
Its back to back AAA playoff nights in St. Paul.
Tuesday: Bloomington Kennedy 78 St. Paul Harding 51
In 3AAA, 6 seed Kennedy gave up the opening FT and then proceeded to go on a 37-6 run. Harding giving up a bunch of points thanks to turnovers. Only 2 FGs for Harding in almost the 1st 13 minutes. Jaylen Williams 3 early bombs. Laronte Marmont drawing 4 fouls on forward Alex Addai in the 1st half. There wasn't an answer for him in the post. Soph Amarion Hanspard adds 11 points in the 1st half as well. That 30 point gets down to 22 at a couple of points but never closer than that as Kennedy rolls. They'll play St. Thomas Academy in the semis on Friday. Terrell Barber leads Kennedy with 16 points, Amarion Hanspard 14, Laronte Marmont with 13. Simeon Sharp with 18 and Jovan Christian with 16 to lead Harding. Christian finishes his career with 1645 career points. That ties him for the Harding school record with current Brooklyn Center assistant coach Steve Priestley.
Wednesday: St. Paul Johnson 43 Fridley 39
Back to St. Paul for the 4AAA 3 vs 6 game. But the real reason I'm attending is to get in 1 last walking taco for the season. Have to wash that down with quality Pepsi. Fridley comes out in a common delay game as they try to pass and cut/backcut against the Governors pressure defense. The 1st possession lasts 99 seconds. Not a stall, but patience. Casey Fisher for 3 off the elevator screen for an 11-6 lead at the 7:07 mark. Julian Borney back to back hoops for Johnson as they regain the lead 14-13 last in the half. Micah Coewenhoeven with a floater in the last minute for a 17-16 Fridley lead at the half.
Johnson's played 11 guys and their defense got to Fridley to force a bunch of sloppy turnovers. Kevin Knox 4 easy hoops in a 12-1 Johnson run for a 30-20 Govs lead with 11-2 left. Fridley might have let it go too long before their timeout (but thankfully no MoKiller). They score the next 7 to pull within 3 with 6 minutes left. They'll get a couple chances to tie but can't convert.
Fridley with a miss inside the 2 minute mark but they'll steal it back for 2 Isaac Burns free throws. That cuts the Govs lead to 34-33. Then a Fridley pick pocket and they'll go the other way for a missed layup. Johnson immediately lays it in on the other end. After a quick Fridley missed 3, Johnson will hold. On a drive, Fridley tries to foul, no whistle and the foul finally gets called as frosh Mac Thomas lays the ball in. Frustrating call. That pushes the Johnson lead to 6 with 53.7 left. Burns counters with a 3, Johnson makes 1-2 FTs and Hassan Kamara hits a 3 with 12 seconds left. That cuts the lead to 1. Johnson makes 2 free throws, Fridley misses a forced 3 and Thomas seals it with 1 of 2 FTs with 1.8 left. Govs advance to play Totino-Grace in the semifinals. That's currently scheduled for Saturday night but we'll see if the weather changes that. Freshman Hassan Kamara with 15 points to lead Fridley but he struggled with his shot and turnovers. Issac Burns adds 12 points. Mac Thomas leads Johnson with 10 points. Johnson struggled shooting it but they absolutely crushed Fridley on the offensive glass with pure effort.
Tuesday: Bloomington Kennedy 78 St. Paul Harding 51
In 3AAA, 6 seed Kennedy gave up the opening FT and then proceeded to go on a 37-6 run. Harding giving up a bunch of points thanks to turnovers. Only 2 FGs for Harding in almost the 1st 13 minutes. Jaylen Williams 3 early bombs. Laronte Marmont drawing 4 fouls on forward Alex Addai in the 1st half. There wasn't an answer for him in the post. Soph Amarion Hanspard adds 11 points in the 1st half as well. That 30 point gets down to 22 at a couple of points but never closer than that as Kennedy rolls. They'll play St. Thomas Academy in the semis on Friday. Terrell Barber leads Kennedy with 16 points, Amarion Hanspard 14, Laronte Marmont with 13. Simeon Sharp with 18 and Jovan Christian with 16 to lead Harding. Christian finishes his career with 1645 career points. That ties him for the Harding school record with current Brooklyn Center assistant coach Steve Priestley.
Wednesday: St. Paul Johnson 43 Fridley 39
Back to St. Paul for the 4AAA 3 vs 6 game. But the real reason I'm attending is to get in 1 last walking taco for the season. Have to wash that down with quality Pepsi. Fridley comes out in a common delay game as they try to pass and cut/backcut against the Governors pressure defense. The 1st possession lasts 99 seconds. Not a stall, but patience. Casey Fisher for 3 off the elevator screen for an 11-6 lead at the 7:07 mark. Julian Borney back to back hoops for Johnson as they regain the lead 14-13 last in the half. Micah Coewenhoeven with a floater in the last minute for a 17-16 Fridley lead at the half.
Johnson's played 11 guys and their defense got to Fridley to force a bunch of sloppy turnovers. Kevin Knox 4 easy hoops in a 12-1 Johnson run for a 30-20 Govs lead with 11-2 left. Fridley might have let it go too long before their timeout (but thankfully no MoKiller). They score the next 7 to pull within 3 with 6 minutes left. They'll get a couple chances to tie but can't convert.
Fridley with a miss inside the 2 minute mark but they'll steal it back for 2 Isaac Burns free throws. That cuts the Govs lead to 34-33. Then a Fridley pick pocket and they'll go the other way for a missed layup. Johnson immediately lays it in on the other end. After a quick Fridley missed 3, Johnson will hold. On a drive, Fridley tries to foul, no whistle and the foul finally gets called as frosh Mac Thomas lays the ball in. Frustrating call. That pushes the Johnson lead to 6 with 53.7 left. Burns counters with a 3, Johnson makes 1-2 FTs and Hassan Kamara hits a 3 with 12 seconds left. That cuts the lead to 1. Johnson makes 2 free throws, Fridley misses a forced 3 and Thomas seals it with 1 of 2 FTs with 1.8 left. Govs advance to play Totino-Grace in the semifinals. That's currently scheduled for Saturday night but we'll see if the weather changes that. Freshman Hassan Kamara with 15 points to lead Fridley but he struggled with his shot and turnovers. Issac Burns adds 12 points. Mac Thomas leads Johnson with 10 points. Johnson struggled shooting it but they absolutely crushed Fridley on the offensive glass with pure effort.
Flaming Comets strike
Prologue
Its the best month of the year, March. That means playoff time! What better way to start that by finishing up my Monday nights for the season with a visit to a TCAC school. That's been a Monday theme throughout this season so its fitting that I take in the section 4A 16 vs 17 game at Groves Academy vs Kaleidoscope. Its Kaleidoscope's 1st year so this is their 1st ever playoff game. They lost the regular season meeting by 9. I arrive early but don't take in any beverages. We get a 3 man recognized officiating crew for this game which was a major surprise. In the TCAC, you never know what you'll get.
Game Time
Story of this game was the Kaleidoscope duo of junior Jacob Donnett and freshman guard AJ Kargel. After a 14 all tie, the game was all Kaleidoscope. Donnett already with 8 and 2 3s decides to add another 5 triples and 27 points...in the first half. The lefty Kargel not getting cheated either. He adds 8 of his 23 in the half during a 10-0 run that blows the game wide open. 46-25 Comets at 5:40 and they aren't threatened after that. 62-39 Comets at the break. Donnett was ice cold in the 2nd half but still knocked down a couple more 3s. Kargel with 4 more bombs of his own during the 2nd half. Kaleidoscope cruises to a 103-65 win. Jacob Donnett finishes with 47 points and double digit rebounds. He makes 9 3s on the night. AJ Kargel adds 7 triples of his own on the way to a 41 point night. Can't remember if I've ever seen teammates put up 40 in a game before. Makes me think of Alex English and Kiki Vandeweghe during their Nuggets days. Almost all of those treys of the uncontested variety. Sam Goldstein leads Groves with 19 points. He had his way working in the post. Larry Mohamed adds 18 for the Griffins. Groves finishes the season 5-18. Kaleidoscope advances to play 9 seed Heritage tomorrow at 5:30 PM. The winner of that game will return to Groves to play 8 seed Chesterton on Thursday night.
Its the best month of the year, March. That means playoff time! What better way to start that by finishing up my Monday nights for the season with a visit to a TCAC school. That's been a Monday theme throughout this season so its fitting that I take in the section 4A 16 vs 17 game at Groves Academy vs Kaleidoscope. Its Kaleidoscope's 1st year so this is their 1st ever playoff game. They lost the regular season meeting by 9. I arrive early but don't take in any beverages. We get a 3 man recognized officiating crew for this game which was a major surprise. In the TCAC, you never know what you'll get.
Game Time
Story of this game was the Kaleidoscope duo of junior Jacob Donnett and freshman guard AJ Kargel. After a 14 all tie, the game was all Kaleidoscope. Donnett already with 8 and 2 3s decides to add another 5 triples and 27 points...in the first half. The lefty Kargel not getting cheated either. He adds 8 of his 23 in the half during a 10-0 run that blows the game wide open. 46-25 Comets at 5:40 and they aren't threatened after that. 62-39 Comets at the break. Donnett was ice cold in the 2nd half but still knocked down a couple more 3s. Kargel with 4 more bombs of his own during the 2nd half. Kaleidoscope cruises to a 103-65 win. Jacob Donnett finishes with 47 points and double digit rebounds. He makes 9 3s on the night. AJ Kargel adds 7 triples of his own on the way to a 41 point night. Can't remember if I've ever seen teammates put up 40 in a game before. Makes me think of Alex English and Kiki Vandeweghe during their Nuggets days. Almost all of those treys of the uncontested variety. Sam Goldstein leads Groves with 19 points. He had his way working in the post. Larry Mohamed adds 18 for the Griffins. Groves finishes the season 5-18. Kaleidoscope advances to play 9 seed Heritage tomorrow at 5:30 PM. The winner of that game will return to Groves to play 8 seed Chesterton on Thursday night.
2019 Better Than Chalk Section Predictions
Its March and that means playoff time. Section play in the metro starts on Monday so let's do our annual predictions. The goal is to do better than just picking the high seeds. We'll do these in order of small schools to big schools
Section 2A
Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity opens on Monday at Mayer Lutheran in a 3 vs 6 game. Mayer Lutheran played without forward Baden Noennig on Friday in a loss at Blake. These teams met in January in Lester Prairie with Mayer Lutheran winning by 7. Leading scorer for Mayer Lutheran from that game didn't play on Friday either. I think Mayer Lutheran has their hands full but they barely survive and advance.
Section 4A
This is where I will win or lose the competition. Once again section 4A goes to a system of tiered byes. The top 4 seeds automatically advance 3 rounds to the quarters on Saturday. Seeds 5 thru 8 don't start until Thursday. Seeds 9 thru 11 skip the opening round. The bottom 10 open on Monday.
Round 1 (Monday 3/4):
17 Kaleidoscope at 16 Groves
20 Metro Schools College Prep at 13 Bethany
21 Lincoln Intl at 12 MTS
19 Hmong at 14 Lakes International
18 Community of Peace at 15 Mounds Park Academy
My rule for these pigtail type games is to always pick chalk and I will do that here. Kaleidoscope lost at Groves by 9 in mid December. That was despite 27 and 15 from their top player Jacob Donnett. Larry Mohammed with 22 for Groves in that game. I expect it to be close and I'll see it in person. Bethany vs Metro Schools College Prep I think will be closer than the seed line indicates but Bethany survives at home. MTS blew out Lincoln twice in the regular season, I see that happening again. Hmong Academy lost by 2 at LILA in January, expect another close one there but I'll take home court. At home, Mounds Park Academy beat COPA by 14 3 weeks ago. Yahya Madar is the most difficult matchup in the section. He helped lead a big run to the section final last year. MPA advances.
Round 2 (Tuiesday 3/5)
16 Groves at 9 Heritage
13 Bethany at 12 MTS
14 LILA at 11 Hope Academy
15 Mounds Park Academy at 10 North Lakes
I take Heritage over Groves. MTS beat Bethany big twice in the regular season, expect that again. MTS too athletic and too much offensive firepower. Too much Caleb Hoilien for Hope, they'll advance without trouble over LILA. Cole Donelan will help North Lakes hang around but there's no matchup for Madar. Give me the upset here for MPA.
Round 3 (Thursday 3/7)
9 Heritage vs 8 Chesterton (at Groves)
12 MTS at 5 Hiawatha
11 Hope at 6 Legacy
15 Mounds Park Academy at 7 Christian Life
Oh I love the upsets here and this round is make or break for the picks. Heritage takes out Chesterton. A high scoring entertaining affair between MTS and Hiawatha. But Hiawatha is young so give ME MTS here. Hope lost at home to Legacy on a buzzer beater early in the year. They get revenge on the road. Mounds Park upset Christian Life last year during their Cinderella run and it happens again here.
Quarterfinals (Sat 3/9)
9 Heritage at 1 CHOF
12 MTS at 4 West Lutheran
11 Hope at 3 Liberty
15 Mounds Park Academy at 2 Avail Academy
CHOF won big at Heritage 2 weeks ago, they'll advance again. West Lutheran beat MTS by 9 in the Avail tourney over the holidays. They'll get a challenge but ultimately survive. Liberty's 2-3 extended zone will bother Hope to start but give me the upset here. Caleb Hoilien with a big game there and too much quickness from Hope will force turnovers. Toughest game to for me to pick is the last one and why not do it again. To beat the drum, there's no matchup for Yahya Madar.
Semis: (Tues 3/12)
4 West Lutheran at 1 CHOF
15 Mounds Park Academy at 11 Hope
CHOF beat West Lutheran big in the last couple of weeks. I love the Troy Kokkinen vs McCaleb Alleman matchup. Lions advance. As to the other game, its a new Cinderella story this season. Hope advances at home in the final game in their gym. Hope too good at the guard spots. Madar vs Hoilien features 2 of the best players in the section.
Final (Fri 3/15 at Anoka-Ramsey)
11 Hope vs 1 CHOF. CHOF won the regular season meeting at home by 17 in early February. This meeting is closer but CHOF moves on to state.
Section 4AA
Same idea in 4AA with the tiered byes. AFSA not playing the tourney series so only 15 teams.
Round 1 (Tues 3/5)
13 Twin Cities Academy/Great River at 12 Nova Classical
14 St. Paul Washington at 11 New Life
15 Math and Science at 10 St. Agnes
Nova finished 2 games better in TCAC D1 but the teams split their 2 regular season meetings with home wins. That includes an 11 point TCA win 2 weeks ago. TCA with more firepower and they win again. Akepevwe Akwunuma will be too much inside. New Life beat Washington just before Christmas and I see it happening again despite a big game from PG Zaveon Smith. St. Agnes no problems with Math and Science.
Round 2 (Th 3/7)
9 Concordia at 8 Humboldt
13 Twin Cities Academy at 5 Trinity
11 New Life at 6 St. Paul Academy
10 St. Agnes at 7 St. Paul Prep/HSRA
Concordia pulls the upset at Humboldt as I see Humboldt having difficulty generating enough offense. Trinity takes out a game TCA/GR squad. St. Agnes avenges a 1 point loss to HSRA. New Life just beat SPA by 9 to end the regular season. SPA tries to return the favor at home but I'll take an upset here.
Quarterfinals (Sat 3/9)
9 Concordia at 1 Minnehaha
5 Trinity at 4 Minneapolis Edison
11 New Life vs 3 Cristo Rey at Minneapolis Washburn
10 St. Agnes at 2 St. Croix Prep
Minnehaha overwhelms Concordia. Trinity knocks off Edison. Cristo Rey takes out New Life. Sst. Croix Prep too much firepower for St. Agnes.
Semis (Tues 3/12)
5 Trinity at 1 Minnehaha
3 Cristo Rey at 2 St. Croix Prep
Minnehaha no problems advancing. St. Croix Prep gets a rematch of a 3 point home loss from a couple weeks ago. But note that's the game where James Sommer got hurt for CRJ. He hasn't played since but you know he'll want to come back for this one. Lots of guard play here in a very entertaining game. I'll take St. Croix Prep to get revenge in a tight one.
Final (Fri 3/15 at St. Paul Washington)
2 St. Croix Prep vs 1 Minnehaha
Jalen Suggs continues his great play. No solution for Chet Holmgren. Minnehaha wins.
Section 5AA
Th 3/7 at High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Tues 3/12 at STMA, Fri 3/15 at SCSU
9 Blake at 8 Brooklyn Center (winner vs 1 Minneapolis North)
13 PACT at 4 Litchfield
12 Watertown-Mayer at 5 Holy Family
14 ISM/ERA vs 3 Maranatha at Osseo
11 SW Christian at 6 Providence
10 HLWW at 7 Rockford (winner vs 2 Breck)
Lots of young guard play on display in that 8 vs 9 game. Blake with their 3 soph guards and BC with their entire lineup of youth. I like what Blake runs and BC doesn't defend well. Give me Blake here. Litchfield no problems with PACT. Holy Family wins a rematch with Watertown-Mayer. MCA big over International School. Providence gets another home win over SW Christian. Rockford blew out Howard Lake in their season opener. Rockford advances.
North blows out Blake. Maranatha knocks off Providence in a rematch of a 10 pt regular season game. Breck no problems with Rockford but Roddy going at the 7 foot Calvin Sisk is something to see. Best game of Saturday at St. Michael is the Holy Family vs Litchfield matchup. Litchfield in a tight one. North then takes out Litchfield and Breck over Maranatha in the semis. Maranatha with lots of guys to throw at David Roddy in that fun semifinal. North then takes out Breck for a trip to state.
Section 1AAA
5 Red Wing at 4 Simley (Wed 3/6). Simley advances with no problem but then gets bounced by Austin on Saturday afternoon in Rochester.
Section 3AAA
Tues 3/5, Fri 3/8 at High Seeds, Final Th 3/14 at Bloomington Jefferson
8 South St. Paul at 1 Holy Angels
5 Richfield at 4 St. Croix Lutheran
7 St. Paul Highland Park at 2 St. Thomas Academy
6 Bloomington Kennedy at 3 St. Paul Harding
Holy Angels and St. Thomas Academy advance without issue. Harding holds off Kennedy at home. Richfield won a tight one at St. Croix Lutheran right after the new year. They have 2 wins since. SCL gets the revenge win at home.
In the semis, Holy Angels survives and advances. St. Thomas Academy no issues in their semifinal. Holy Angels with a nice matchup of defensive guards vs St. Thomas Academy in the final. Charles Johnson guarding Jack Thompson is a fun matchup to see. I can't pick all top seeds to win titles so give me St. Thomas Academy here.
Section 4AAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Th 3/14 at St. Paul Washington
8 Hill-Murray at 1 Mahtomedi
5 Columbia Heights at 4 St. Anthony
7 Como Park at 2 Totino-Grace
6 Fridley at 3 St. Paul Johnson
Mahtomedi and Totino-Grace no issues in round 1. St. Anthony beat Columbia Heights by 15 in their meeting in early February. Huskies advance again but this time its closer. Fridley has won 3 straight after losing 7 in a row. Johnson is not the Johnson of years gone by and has not been good in this calendar year. They have a loss and OT win over a Harding team that Fridley beat easily. Give me Fridley here in an entertaining up and down game. In the next rounds, Mahtomedi beat St. Anthony by 30 in the regular season. I see another easy win in the semis. Totino-Grace takes out neighbor Fridley in the semi. Mahtomedi then takes out Totino-Grace in the finals.
Section 6AAA
Tues 3/5 and Sat 3/9 High Seed, Th 3/14 Final at Chanhassen
8 Minneapolis Roosevelt at 1 De La Salle
5 Minneapolis Henry at 4 Mound-Westonka
6 Orono at 3 Waconia
7 Benilde-St. Margaret's at 2 Robbinsdale Cooper
De La Salle no problems with Roosevelt in round 1. Henry lost by 1 at Mound-Westonka at the start of February. I'll take Mound-Westonka here in a tight game. Tough draw for Waconia who just lost to Orono at home by 8 on Friday. Waconia won the 1st meeting by 6 at the end of January. Expect another tight game. Orono has lost a bunch of tight game and both have played tough schedules. Game is a coin flip so I'll take home court advantage. Tough draw for Cooper as well as these teams also split. Double digit wins on home court for each team. Game is at home so Cooper wins.
Cooper being at home is big in the semis. But Waconia's discipline and Cooper's lack of defense makes the difference here. Waconia advances. De La Salle advances in the semis with home court. In the final, Waconia nothing to scare De La Salle with so De La Salle moves on to try to reclaim the AAA state title.
Section 1AAAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Fri 3/15 Rochester
8 Owatonna at 1 Lakeville North
5 Farmington at 4 Lakeville South
6 Rochester Mayo at 3 New Prague
7 Rochester Century at 2 Rochester John Marshall
Top 2 seeds no issues. Lakeville South and Farmington tied at 9-9 in the South Suburban but Lakeville South won both meetings 56-53. Expect another tight game but I'll go with the old idea that its hard to beat a team 3 times. Give me Farmington. The 3 vs 6 game is one of the more fascinating games on the schedule. You have a defensive minded New Prague squad vs a high powered offense but last in points allowed squad in Rochester Mayo. Hunter Nielsen and Tyler Kemp will have their hands full guarding the Madsen twins. New Prague ran the table in the Wright County East but lost to Lakeville South and Farmington. But Mayo has lost 5 out of 6 including a terrible loss to Albert Lea. New Prague survives here. (Czar's Note: New Prague actually beat Lakeville South and Farmington)
Can we just play the Lakeville North vs Farmington game at Lakeville South or Apple Valley to save everybody the trip to Rochester? Lakeville North and JM advance in the semis so they can meet again in the final. Expect another sold out crowd for a dynamite matchup of Tyler Wahl vs Matt Hurt. But Wahl has far more help and Lakeville North moves on again.
Section 2AAAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Fri 3/15 Highest Seed
8 Bloomington Jefferson at 1 Prior Lake
5 Chaska at 4 Shakopee
6 Chanhassen at 3 Edina
7 Minnetonka at 2 Eden Prairie
Boom goes the dynamite here. Wow is this section loaded. Prior Lake won by 25 at Jefferson and have no problems in the rematch unless Jefferson bores them to death. Eden Prairie got a great draw moving up to 2. I can't justify that seed at all based on their body of work but the coaches went with the eye test. By that standard, this seed makes perfect sense. They blew out Tonka twice and will win again to advance. Edina gets a tough test from Chanhassen but survives at home. The 4 vs 5 game is the best one on the board. Chaska held off a late rally to win at Shako by 3 in mid December. Charlie Katona vs Cole Nicholson is a very good matchup. Hawks have won 17 out of 18. Shakopee's only losses besides that Chaska loss are to Prior Lake and Lakeville North in South Suburban play. Chaska advances again.
That sets up a pair of high quality semifinals. Prior Lake takes out Chaska with too much size. Edina and Eden Prairie play a rubber match to advance. Eden Prairie now has everybody healthy so I'll pick them to win a tight one. But their lack of size is too much to overcome in the finals. Prior Lake moves on to state. That's all assuming Dawson Garcia is back for the semis and final. If he's out, Prior Lake doesn't get thru that championship game.
Section 3AAAA
Tues 3/5 and Fri 3/8 High Seeds, Th 3/14 final at Farmington
8 Henry Sibley at 1 Eastview
5 Apple Valley at 4 Park
6 Hastings at 3 Eagan
7 Rosemount at 2 Burnsville
Eastview takes out Sibley. Burnsville won both meetings with Rosemount big including by 24 at Rosemount. Burnsville advances. Size vs Shooting in the Hastings vs Eagan game. Eagan won the regular season meeting at Hastings by 4. Eagan advances. Apple Valley vs Park is very interesting. But Apple Valley has won only 2 games all calendar year (both over Rosemount) and struggles to score. I'll take Park to advance in a close one with too much Charlie Gorres.
Eastview then takes out Park. Burnsville beat Eagan twice in the regular season. Eagan has lost 11 of 13 give me Burnsville here. Burnsville and Eastview split their 2 meetings with Burnsville winning at home by 4 on Friday and losing by 2 at Eastview in early February. Expect a tight final with Eastview hanging on to advance. Too much Steven Crowl in that one.
Section 4AAAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Th 3/14 at Hastings
8 Woodbury at 1 East Ridge
5 St. Paul Central at 4 White Bear Lake
6 North St. Paul at 3 Tartan
7 Stillwater at 2 Cretin-Derham Hall
A couple of rivalry games here. Woodbury played East Ridge tough in the 2nd meeting at East Ridge but the Raptors advance. Tartan beat NSP twice and Tartan moves on again. But last year Damien Johnson had a great game plan for the section game to take away Antwan Kimmons. Expect a real battle there. CDH no problems with Stillwater and Jaeden King is back. Central coming off the big Twin Cities Game win goes into White Bear Lake. Daveonte Davis vs Jeremy Beckler is a fun matchup. But another hidden story is Ronelle Porter defending Sam Schwartz. White Bear Lake survives and moves on.
Tartan then gets CDH in the semis and give me Tartan here. CDH likes to run up and down and not defend. Tartan will control pace and take advantage of the tough shots CDH takes. East Ridge is a bad matchup for White Bear Lake. Raptors won both meetings including the last one by 26 last week. East Ridge then takes out Tartan in a defensive battle in the championship game. Tartan not enough offense besides Antwan Kimmons in that game.
Section 5AAAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Tues 3/12 at Coon Rapids, Fri 3/15 at Rogers
8 Irondale at 1 Park Center
5 Centennial at 4 Osseo
6 Roseville at 3 Spring Lake Park
7 Mounds View at 2 Champlin Park
Top 2 seeds no problems. Spring Lake Park won by 12 at Roseville in December, they'll win the rematch at home. Osseo handled Centennial on the road a month ago and will win that rematch as well. The Park Center vs Osseo rivalry in the semis will be interesting. Park Center won easily at home but only by 1 at Osseo. They'll survive here. Champlin Park finished the regular season with a 16 point win at Spring Lake Park. The Rebels win again in the semis. Park Center won big at Champlin Park when they met in the regular season. Pirates too deep for the Rebels and Park Center moves on to state.
Section 6AAAA
Tues 3/5 High Seeds, Fri 3/8 and Wed 3/13 at Osseo
1 Hopkins vs 4 St. Louis Park/5 Minneapolis South
2 Wayzata vs 7 Minneapolis Washburn
3 Robbinsdale Armstrong vs 6 Minneapolis Southwest
Note these seeds are not posted at time of this writing but I can't see them going any other way. Pure chalk for the 1st 2 rounds. Armstrong had no problems at Southwest in December and should win easily at home. St. Louis Park no problems taking out Minneapolis South in the 4 vs 5 game. Wayzata big over Washburn. Hopkins and Wayzata both win the semis without a ton of trouble. Wayzata knocked off Armstrong earlier in the season.
Then the 3rd meeting and another meeting in the section final between Hopkins and Wayzata. Hopkins has been my pick the last 2 years and lost. Hopkins destroyed Wayzata by 27 at Wayzata in the final regular season meeting last year. This year they win easily by 15 at Wayzata in the 2nd meeting. Hmmm, seems like a pattern. The pattern means I pick Hopkins here. Wayzata's depth is an advantage but Hopkins has a major inside advantage with Nnaji and Zimmer. Hopkins breaks the curse and moves on to state.
Section 7AAAA
Tues 3/5 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 at Princeton, Th 3/14 at Elk River
8 St. Francis at 1 Blaine
5 Coon Rapids at 4 Anoka
6 Andover at 3 Cambridge-Isanti
7 Forest Lake at 2 Duluth East
This section returns to Elk River for its final. As always its a wide open section. Forest Lake beat Duluth East by 9 at home without John Schrader. Now Schrader is back but the game is on the road. I'll still take Forest Lake to pull the upset. Anoka won 2 tight games (1 in OT) vs Coon Rapids. Coon Rapids lost 8 in row before a final night win. Anoka wins again. Cambridge-Isanti too much firepower for Andover.
Blaine was able to grind out a couple of wins vs Anoka in the regular season. They do it again in the semis. Cambridge-Isanti beat Forest Lake early in the year. Its a different Forest Lake team now and they'll keep Cambridge from getting up and down. I still think Cambridge has too much firepower and shoots it too well and will advance. But Blaine will be too much in the final.
Section 8AAAA
Tues 3/5 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 at St Cloud St, Th 3/14 Neutral Site
8 St. Cloud Tech at 1 Maple Grove
5 Brainerd at 4 St. Michael-Albertville
6 Rogers at 3 Moorhead
7 Elk River at 2 Buffalo
The top 3 seeds all have no problem in rematches in round 1. STMA won by 9 at Brainerd on opening night. Give me that win again with STMA hosting after the long trip. Maple Grove lost to STMA by 7 on Dec 11th but MG gets revenge in the semis. Buffalo lost at home to Moorhead by 11 in early December. Love the Matt Willert vs Malik Harden-Hayes matchup here. Buffalo has won 19 of their last 20 though and they also get a W. Buffalo beat Maple Grove at Maple Grove in mid January. This one will likely be at Monticello and another classic. Buffalo is hot so I'll stay with that streak to take the Bison to win the rematch of last year's section final.
Section 2A
Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity opens on Monday at Mayer Lutheran in a 3 vs 6 game. Mayer Lutheran played without forward Baden Noennig on Friday in a loss at Blake. These teams met in January in Lester Prairie with Mayer Lutheran winning by 7. Leading scorer for Mayer Lutheran from that game didn't play on Friday either. I think Mayer Lutheran has their hands full but they barely survive and advance.
Section 4A
This is where I will win or lose the competition. Once again section 4A goes to a system of tiered byes. The top 4 seeds automatically advance 3 rounds to the quarters on Saturday. Seeds 5 thru 8 don't start until Thursday. Seeds 9 thru 11 skip the opening round. The bottom 10 open on Monday.
Round 1 (Monday 3/4):
17 Kaleidoscope at 16 Groves
20 Metro Schools College Prep at 13 Bethany
21 Lincoln Intl at 12 MTS
19 Hmong at 14 Lakes International
18 Community of Peace at 15 Mounds Park Academy
My rule for these pigtail type games is to always pick chalk and I will do that here. Kaleidoscope lost at Groves by 9 in mid December. That was despite 27 and 15 from their top player Jacob Donnett. Larry Mohammed with 22 for Groves in that game. I expect it to be close and I'll see it in person. Bethany vs Metro Schools College Prep I think will be closer than the seed line indicates but Bethany survives at home. MTS blew out Lincoln twice in the regular season, I see that happening again. Hmong Academy lost by 2 at LILA in January, expect another close one there but I'll take home court. At home, Mounds Park Academy beat COPA by 14 3 weeks ago. Yahya Madar is the most difficult matchup in the section. He helped lead a big run to the section final last year. MPA advances.
Round 2 (Tuiesday 3/5)
16 Groves at 9 Heritage
13 Bethany at 12 MTS
14 LILA at 11 Hope Academy
15 Mounds Park Academy at 10 North Lakes
I take Heritage over Groves. MTS beat Bethany big twice in the regular season, expect that again. MTS too athletic and too much offensive firepower. Too much Caleb Hoilien for Hope, they'll advance without trouble over LILA. Cole Donelan will help North Lakes hang around but there's no matchup for Madar. Give me the upset here for MPA.
Round 3 (Thursday 3/7)
9 Heritage vs 8 Chesterton (at Groves)
12 MTS at 5 Hiawatha
11 Hope at 6 Legacy
15 Mounds Park Academy at 7 Christian Life
Oh I love the upsets here and this round is make or break for the picks. Heritage takes out Chesterton. A high scoring entertaining affair between MTS and Hiawatha. But Hiawatha is young so give ME MTS here. Hope lost at home to Legacy on a buzzer beater early in the year. They get revenge on the road. Mounds Park upset Christian Life last year during their Cinderella run and it happens again here.
Quarterfinals (Sat 3/9)
9 Heritage at 1 CHOF
12 MTS at 4 West Lutheran
11 Hope at 3 Liberty
15 Mounds Park Academy at 2 Avail Academy
CHOF won big at Heritage 2 weeks ago, they'll advance again. West Lutheran beat MTS by 9 in the Avail tourney over the holidays. They'll get a challenge but ultimately survive. Liberty's 2-3 extended zone will bother Hope to start but give me the upset here. Caleb Hoilien with a big game there and too much quickness from Hope will force turnovers. Toughest game to for me to pick is the last one and why not do it again. To beat the drum, there's no matchup for Yahya Madar.
Semis: (Tues 3/12)
4 West Lutheran at 1 CHOF
15 Mounds Park Academy at 11 Hope
CHOF beat West Lutheran big in the last couple of weeks. I love the Troy Kokkinen vs McCaleb Alleman matchup. Lions advance. As to the other game, its a new Cinderella story this season. Hope advances at home in the final game in their gym. Hope too good at the guard spots. Madar vs Hoilien features 2 of the best players in the section.
Final (Fri 3/15 at Anoka-Ramsey)
11 Hope vs 1 CHOF. CHOF won the regular season meeting at home by 17 in early February. This meeting is closer but CHOF moves on to state.
Section 4AA
Same idea in 4AA with the tiered byes. AFSA not playing the tourney series so only 15 teams.
Round 1 (Tues 3/5)
13 Twin Cities Academy/Great River at 12 Nova Classical
14 St. Paul Washington at 11 New Life
15 Math and Science at 10 St. Agnes
Nova finished 2 games better in TCAC D1 but the teams split their 2 regular season meetings with home wins. That includes an 11 point TCA win 2 weeks ago. TCA with more firepower and they win again. Akepevwe Akwunuma will be too much inside. New Life beat Washington just before Christmas and I see it happening again despite a big game from PG Zaveon Smith. St. Agnes no problems with Math and Science.
Round 2 (Th 3/7)
9 Concordia at 8 Humboldt
13 Twin Cities Academy at 5 Trinity
11 New Life at 6 St. Paul Academy
10 St. Agnes at 7 St. Paul Prep/HSRA
Concordia pulls the upset at Humboldt as I see Humboldt having difficulty generating enough offense. Trinity takes out a game TCA/GR squad. St. Agnes avenges a 1 point loss to HSRA. New Life just beat SPA by 9 to end the regular season. SPA tries to return the favor at home but I'll take an upset here.
Quarterfinals (Sat 3/9)
9 Concordia at 1 Minnehaha
5 Trinity at 4 Minneapolis Edison
11 New Life vs 3 Cristo Rey at Minneapolis Washburn
10 St. Agnes at 2 St. Croix Prep
Minnehaha overwhelms Concordia. Trinity knocks off Edison. Cristo Rey takes out New Life. Sst. Croix Prep too much firepower for St. Agnes.
Semis (Tues 3/12)
5 Trinity at 1 Minnehaha
3 Cristo Rey at 2 St. Croix Prep
Minnehaha no problems advancing. St. Croix Prep gets a rematch of a 3 point home loss from a couple weeks ago. But note that's the game where James Sommer got hurt for CRJ. He hasn't played since but you know he'll want to come back for this one. Lots of guard play here in a very entertaining game. I'll take St. Croix Prep to get revenge in a tight one.
Final (Fri 3/15 at St. Paul Washington)
2 St. Croix Prep vs 1 Minnehaha
Jalen Suggs continues his great play. No solution for Chet Holmgren. Minnehaha wins.
Section 5AA
Th 3/7 at High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Tues 3/12 at STMA, Fri 3/15 at SCSU
9 Blake at 8 Brooklyn Center (winner vs 1 Minneapolis North)
13 PACT at 4 Litchfield
12 Watertown-Mayer at 5 Holy Family
14 ISM/ERA vs 3 Maranatha at Osseo
11 SW Christian at 6 Providence
10 HLWW at 7 Rockford (winner vs 2 Breck)
Lots of young guard play on display in that 8 vs 9 game. Blake with their 3 soph guards and BC with their entire lineup of youth. I like what Blake runs and BC doesn't defend well. Give me Blake here. Litchfield no problems with PACT. Holy Family wins a rematch with Watertown-Mayer. MCA big over International School. Providence gets another home win over SW Christian. Rockford blew out Howard Lake in their season opener. Rockford advances.
North blows out Blake. Maranatha knocks off Providence in a rematch of a 10 pt regular season game. Breck no problems with Rockford but Roddy going at the 7 foot Calvin Sisk is something to see. Best game of Saturday at St. Michael is the Holy Family vs Litchfield matchup. Litchfield in a tight one. North then takes out Litchfield and Breck over Maranatha in the semis. Maranatha with lots of guys to throw at David Roddy in that fun semifinal. North then takes out Breck for a trip to state.
Section 1AAA
5 Red Wing at 4 Simley (Wed 3/6). Simley advances with no problem but then gets bounced by Austin on Saturday afternoon in Rochester.
Section 3AAA
Tues 3/5, Fri 3/8 at High Seeds, Final Th 3/14 at Bloomington Jefferson
8 South St. Paul at 1 Holy Angels
5 Richfield at 4 St. Croix Lutheran
7 St. Paul Highland Park at 2 St. Thomas Academy
6 Bloomington Kennedy at 3 St. Paul Harding
Holy Angels and St. Thomas Academy advance without issue. Harding holds off Kennedy at home. Richfield won a tight one at St. Croix Lutheran right after the new year. They have 2 wins since. SCL gets the revenge win at home.
In the semis, Holy Angels survives and advances. St. Thomas Academy no issues in their semifinal. Holy Angels with a nice matchup of defensive guards vs St. Thomas Academy in the final. Charles Johnson guarding Jack Thompson is a fun matchup to see. I can't pick all top seeds to win titles so give me St. Thomas Academy here.
Section 4AAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Th 3/14 at St. Paul Washington
8 Hill-Murray at 1 Mahtomedi
5 Columbia Heights at 4 St. Anthony
7 Como Park at 2 Totino-Grace
6 Fridley at 3 St. Paul Johnson
Mahtomedi and Totino-Grace no issues in round 1. St. Anthony beat Columbia Heights by 15 in their meeting in early February. Huskies advance again but this time its closer. Fridley has won 3 straight after losing 7 in a row. Johnson is not the Johnson of years gone by and has not been good in this calendar year. They have a loss and OT win over a Harding team that Fridley beat easily. Give me Fridley here in an entertaining up and down game. In the next rounds, Mahtomedi beat St. Anthony by 30 in the regular season. I see another easy win in the semis. Totino-Grace takes out neighbor Fridley in the semi. Mahtomedi then takes out Totino-Grace in the finals.
Section 6AAA
Tues 3/5 and Sat 3/9 High Seed, Th 3/14 Final at Chanhassen
8 Minneapolis Roosevelt at 1 De La Salle
5 Minneapolis Henry at 4 Mound-Westonka
6 Orono at 3 Waconia
7 Benilde-St. Margaret's at 2 Robbinsdale Cooper
De La Salle no problems with Roosevelt in round 1. Henry lost by 1 at Mound-Westonka at the start of February. I'll take Mound-Westonka here in a tight game. Tough draw for Waconia who just lost to Orono at home by 8 on Friday. Waconia won the 1st meeting by 6 at the end of January. Expect another tight game. Orono has lost a bunch of tight game and both have played tough schedules. Game is a coin flip so I'll take home court advantage. Tough draw for Cooper as well as these teams also split. Double digit wins on home court for each team. Game is at home so Cooper wins.
Cooper being at home is big in the semis. But Waconia's discipline and Cooper's lack of defense makes the difference here. Waconia advances. De La Salle advances in the semis with home court. In the final, Waconia nothing to scare De La Salle with so De La Salle moves on to try to reclaim the AAA state title.
Section 1AAAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Fri 3/15 Rochester
8 Owatonna at 1 Lakeville North
5 Farmington at 4 Lakeville South
6 Rochester Mayo at 3 New Prague
7 Rochester Century at 2 Rochester John Marshall
Top 2 seeds no issues. Lakeville South and Farmington tied at 9-9 in the South Suburban but Lakeville South won both meetings 56-53. Expect another tight game but I'll go with the old idea that its hard to beat a team 3 times. Give me Farmington. The 3 vs 6 game is one of the more fascinating games on the schedule. You have a defensive minded New Prague squad vs a high powered offense but last in points allowed squad in Rochester Mayo. Hunter Nielsen and Tyler Kemp will have their hands full guarding the Madsen twins. New Prague ran the table in the Wright County East but lost to Lakeville South and Farmington. But Mayo has lost 5 out of 6 including a terrible loss to Albert Lea. New Prague survives here. (Czar's Note: New Prague actually beat Lakeville South and Farmington)
Can we just play the Lakeville North vs Farmington game at Lakeville South or Apple Valley to save everybody the trip to Rochester? Lakeville North and JM advance in the semis so they can meet again in the final. Expect another sold out crowd for a dynamite matchup of Tyler Wahl vs Matt Hurt. But Wahl has far more help and Lakeville North moves on again.
Section 2AAAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Fri 3/15 Highest Seed
8 Bloomington Jefferson at 1 Prior Lake
5 Chaska at 4 Shakopee
6 Chanhassen at 3 Edina
7 Minnetonka at 2 Eden Prairie
Boom goes the dynamite here. Wow is this section loaded. Prior Lake won by 25 at Jefferson and have no problems in the rematch unless Jefferson bores them to death. Eden Prairie got a great draw moving up to 2. I can't justify that seed at all based on their body of work but the coaches went with the eye test. By that standard, this seed makes perfect sense. They blew out Tonka twice and will win again to advance. Edina gets a tough test from Chanhassen but survives at home. The 4 vs 5 game is the best one on the board. Chaska held off a late rally to win at Shako by 3 in mid December. Charlie Katona vs Cole Nicholson is a very good matchup. Hawks have won 17 out of 18. Shakopee's only losses besides that Chaska loss are to Prior Lake and Lakeville North in South Suburban play. Chaska advances again.
That sets up a pair of high quality semifinals. Prior Lake takes out Chaska with too much size. Edina and Eden Prairie play a rubber match to advance. Eden Prairie now has everybody healthy so I'll pick them to win a tight one. But their lack of size is too much to overcome in the finals. Prior Lake moves on to state. That's all assuming Dawson Garcia is back for the semis and final. If he's out, Prior Lake doesn't get thru that championship game.
Section 3AAAA
Tues 3/5 and Fri 3/8 High Seeds, Th 3/14 final at Farmington
8 Henry Sibley at 1 Eastview
5 Apple Valley at 4 Park
6 Hastings at 3 Eagan
7 Rosemount at 2 Burnsville
Eastview takes out Sibley. Burnsville won both meetings with Rosemount big including by 24 at Rosemount. Burnsville advances. Size vs Shooting in the Hastings vs Eagan game. Eagan won the regular season meeting at Hastings by 4. Eagan advances. Apple Valley vs Park is very interesting. But Apple Valley has won only 2 games all calendar year (both over Rosemount) and struggles to score. I'll take Park to advance in a close one with too much Charlie Gorres.
Eastview then takes out Park. Burnsville beat Eagan twice in the regular season. Eagan has lost 11 of 13 give me Burnsville here. Burnsville and Eastview split their 2 meetings with Burnsville winning at home by 4 on Friday and losing by 2 at Eastview in early February. Expect a tight final with Eastview hanging on to advance. Too much Steven Crowl in that one.
Section 4AAAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 and Th 3/14 at Hastings
8 Woodbury at 1 East Ridge
5 St. Paul Central at 4 White Bear Lake
6 North St. Paul at 3 Tartan
7 Stillwater at 2 Cretin-Derham Hall
A couple of rivalry games here. Woodbury played East Ridge tough in the 2nd meeting at East Ridge but the Raptors advance. Tartan beat NSP twice and Tartan moves on again. But last year Damien Johnson had a great game plan for the section game to take away Antwan Kimmons. Expect a real battle there. CDH no problems with Stillwater and Jaeden King is back. Central coming off the big Twin Cities Game win goes into White Bear Lake. Daveonte Davis vs Jeremy Beckler is a fun matchup. But another hidden story is Ronelle Porter defending Sam Schwartz. White Bear Lake survives and moves on.
Tartan then gets CDH in the semis and give me Tartan here. CDH likes to run up and down and not defend. Tartan will control pace and take advantage of the tough shots CDH takes. East Ridge is a bad matchup for White Bear Lake. Raptors won both meetings including the last one by 26 last week. East Ridge then takes out Tartan in a defensive battle in the championship game. Tartan not enough offense besides Antwan Kimmons in that game.
Section 5AAAA
Wed 3/6 High Seeds, Tues 3/12 at Coon Rapids, Fri 3/15 at Rogers
8 Irondale at 1 Park Center
5 Centennial at 4 Osseo
6 Roseville at 3 Spring Lake Park
7 Mounds View at 2 Champlin Park
Top 2 seeds no problems. Spring Lake Park won by 12 at Roseville in December, they'll win the rematch at home. Osseo handled Centennial on the road a month ago and will win that rematch as well. The Park Center vs Osseo rivalry in the semis will be interesting. Park Center won easily at home but only by 1 at Osseo. They'll survive here. Champlin Park finished the regular season with a 16 point win at Spring Lake Park. The Rebels win again in the semis. Park Center won big at Champlin Park when they met in the regular season. Pirates too deep for the Rebels and Park Center moves on to state.
Section 6AAAA
Tues 3/5 High Seeds, Fri 3/8 and Wed 3/13 at Osseo
1 Hopkins vs 4 St. Louis Park/5 Minneapolis South
2 Wayzata vs 7 Minneapolis Washburn
3 Robbinsdale Armstrong vs 6 Minneapolis Southwest
Note these seeds are not posted at time of this writing but I can't see them going any other way. Pure chalk for the 1st 2 rounds. Armstrong had no problems at Southwest in December and should win easily at home. St. Louis Park no problems taking out Minneapolis South in the 4 vs 5 game. Wayzata big over Washburn. Hopkins and Wayzata both win the semis without a ton of trouble. Wayzata knocked off Armstrong earlier in the season.
Then the 3rd meeting and another meeting in the section final between Hopkins and Wayzata. Hopkins has been my pick the last 2 years and lost. Hopkins destroyed Wayzata by 27 at Wayzata in the final regular season meeting last year. This year they win easily by 15 at Wayzata in the 2nd meeting. Hmmm, seems like a pattern. The pattern means I pick Hopkins here. Wayzata's depth is an advantage but Hopkins has a major inside advantage with Nnaji and Zimmer. Hopkins breaks the curse and moves on to state.
Section 7AAAA
Tues 3/5 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 at Princeton, Th 3/14 at Elk River
8 St. Francis at 1 Blaine
5 Coon Rapids at 4 Anoka
6 Andover at 3 Cambridge-Isanti
7 Forest Lake at 2 Duluth East
This section returns to Elk River for its final. As always its a wide open section. Forest Lake beat Duluth East by 9 at home without John Schrader. Now Schrader is back but the game is on the road. I'll still take Forest Lake to pull the upset. Anoka won 2 tight games (1 in OT) vs Coon Rapids. Coon Rapids lost 8 in row before a final night win. Anoka wins again. Cambridge-Isanti too much firepower for Andover.
Blaine was able to grind out a couple of wins vs Anoka in the regular season. They do it again in the semis. Cambridge-Isanti beat Forest Lake early in the year. Its a different Forest Lake team now and they'll keep Cambridge from getting up and down. I still think Cambridge has too much firepower and shoots it too well and will advance. But Blaine will be too much in the final.
Section 8AAAA
Tues 3/5 High Seeds, Sat 3/9 at St Cloud St, Th 3/14 Neutral Site
8 St. Cloud Tech at 1 Maple Grove
5 Brainerd at 4 St. Michael-Albertville
6 Rogers at 3 Moorhead
7 Elk River at 2 Buffalo
The top 3 seeds all have no problem in rematches in round 1. STMA won by 9 at Brainerd on opening night. Give me that win again with STMA hosting after the long trip. Maple Grove lost to STMA by 7 on Dec 11th but MG gets revenge in the semis. Buffalo lost at home to Moorhead by 11 in early December. Love the Matt Willert vs Malik Harden-Hayes matchup here. Buffalo has won 19 of their last 20 though and they also get a W. Buffalo beat Maple Grove at Maple Grove in mid January. This one will likely be at Monticello and another classic. Buffalo is hot so I'll stay with that streak to take the Bison to win the rematch of last year's section final.
Closing the Regular Season with a Bang
Its the final day of the regular season. Now due to snow there's more games than usual. But the 2 staples of the final Saturday still remain. That's the Twin Cities Series and the TCAC Conference Tournament title games. The timing works out so that I manage to get see both this year.
Twin Cities Championship: Central 77 North 74
This year was unique for the Twin Cities Series in that Central and North both swept the 3 titles. North ran away in the freshman game for a 76-43 win. In the JV game, North hit a 3 in the last minute to take the lead and would win 60-57. That was against a Central squad that will basically be their varsity team the next 2 years.
As to the big game, Eli Campbell would get hot in the 1st half. He hits 3 3s in a 18-4 run that puts North up 25-16 at the 8:30 mark. Central cuts that to 2 thanks to a couple Ronnell Porter buckets. Then Omar Brown with 6 in a row, Campbell adds another 3 and Brown with a block that leads to a Campbell layup. Brown finishes the 13-1 North run with a dunk. North's 1-2-2 zone giving Central trouble. North takes a 45-31 lead to the break.
North scores 9 in a row after Central scores the 1st bucket of the half. All of a sudden the lead is 54-33 with 15:36 left. Campbell with his 6th 3 of the night in that run. Timeout Central but it doesn't help much. Omar Brown with a layup from Campbell and Clifford Brown buries a 3. 61-39 North under 12:30 left to play. But here comes Central.
Daveonte Davis 5 in a row. Dion Ford adds 3 free throws and runs the floor for a layup. North's lead down to 64-51 as we cross the midpoint of the half. Central going to their own 1-2-2 and its giving North fits. Khai West 2 steals which leads to a 3 point play and bonus free throws. Davis adds 2 free throws. 66-60 North with 6:30 left after the 21-5 run. North with 6 of the next 8 to push the lead back to 10 with 5 minutes left.
Ford 2 buckets and another West steal for a bucket. Ford tips in a miss, North misses 2 free throws and Luke McElroy from the top of the key for 3 with 44 seconds left and Central has the lead 75-74. Out of North's last timeout, Central uses their last 2 fouls to give. North misses a 3 with 3.2 left and Davis closes it out with 2 free throws. Central comes back from 22 down with 12:30 left to win. The Minutemen outscore North 15-2 in the final 4:45. Daveonte Davis leads Central with 24 points. Dion Ford adds 19. Khai West 11 points off the bench and his defense was a major factor. Eli Campbell 19 of his 23 in the 1st half. He had nothing after a free throw with 10:23 left. He didn't find any spots against the Central zone. Omar Brown another very good game with 16 points and he did harass Davis on the defensive end.
TCAC D2 Championship: Liberty Classical Academy 60 Avail Academy 58
Then its off to Hiawatha Collegiate for the TCAC D2 title game. This game is the 4th meeting of these teams this season. But best of all we get another appearance from the rhino (the Avail mascot). Forwards Thomas Conroy and Hans Dykstra leading their teams in the 1st half. A late 6-0 spurt by Liberty thanks to 2 Conroy putbacks gives the Lions a 34-30 halftime lead.
Avail with an early 15-2 run in the 2nd half run. Joey Ritzema with a 3 point play to draw the 4th foul on Conroy with 12:36 left. He adds a putback as well. Freshman Josiah Schaap gets his offense going as well with a free throw, bucket and ends the run with a 3. 47-38 Avail with under 11 minutes to play. Liberty with a very thin bench so they'll leave Conroy out there with the 4 fouls. That gamble will pay off. He adds 2 free throws working inside. Schaap counters with a bucket and bonus free throws. Conroy comes back with 2 hoops. 53-47 Avail with 7:43 left.
A Liberty putback, Conroy 2 freebies and he'll score off of a missed bonus front end. After an Avail missed front end, Conroy makes his bonus free throws and we're tied at 55 with 3:42 left. Schaap breaks that 8-0 run with a bucket. Conroy all over the offensive glass and it results in 1-2 FTs. After an Avail missed front end its Conroy attacking for 2 more. Fans on their feet as that gives Liberty the lead 58-57 with 2:18 left. Liberty 3 late turnovers but Avail has a couple of misses. Then a tough illegal screen call against Liberty with 52.7 left and Avail still can't convert. Who else but Conroy as he makes 2 free throws with 16.9 left. Avail gets 1 last chance to set up a play with 4.1 left. They miss a 3 and an offensive board at the horn is no good. Liberty evens the season series at 2-2 with the Valor. Liberty outscores Avail 17-5 over the last 8 minutes. Thomas Conroy with 17 of his 29 in the 2nd half including the last 9 for the Lions. Ryan Grill's size also a factor as he ends with 15 points. Josiah Schaap with 12 of his 17 in the 2nd half to lead Avail. Hans Dykstra with 12 of his 14 inside in the 1st half for the Valor.
Twin Cities Championship: Central 77 North 74
This year was unique for the Twin Cities Series in that Central and North both swept the 3 titles. North ran away in the freshman game for a 76-43 win. In the JV game, North hit a 3 in the last minute to take the lead and would win 60-57. That was against a Central squad that will basically be their varsity team the next 2 years.
As to the big game, Eli Campbell would get hot in the 1st half. He hits 3 3s in a 18-4 run that puts North up 25-16 at the 8:30 mark. Central cuts that to 2 thanks to a couple Ronnell Porter buckets. Then Omar Brown with 6 in a row, Campbell adds another 3 and Brown with a block that leads to a Campbell layup. Brown finishes the 13-1 North run with a dunk. North's 1-2-2 zone giving Central trouble. North takes a 45-31 lead to the break.
North scores 9 in a row after Central scores the 1st bucket of the half. All of a sudden the lead is 54-33 with 15:36 left. Campbell with his 6th 3 of the night in that run. Timeout Central but it doesn't help much. Omar Brown with a layup from Campbell and Clifford Brown buries a 3. 61-39 North under 12:30 left to play. But here comes Central.
Daveonte Davis 5 in a row. Dion Ford adds 3 free throws and runs the floor for a layup. North's lead down to 64-51 as we cross the midpoint of the half. Central going to their own 1-2-2 and its giving North fits. Khai West 2 steals which leads to a 3 point play and bonus free throws. Davis adds 2 free throws. 66-60 North with 6:30 left after the 21-5 run. North with 6 of the next 8 to push the lead back to 10 with 5 minutes left.
Ford 2 buckets and another West steal for a bucket. Ford tips in a miss, North misses 2 free throws and Luke McElroy from the top of the key for 3 with 44 seconds left and Central has the lead 75-74. Out of North's last timeout, Central uses their last 2 fouls to give. North misses a 3 with 3.2 left and Davis closes it out with 2 free throws. Central comes back from 22 down with 12:30 left to win. The Minutemen outscore North 15-2 in the final 4:45. Daveonte Davis leads Central with 24 points. Dion Ford adds 19. Khai West 11 points off the bench and his defense was a major factor. Eli Campbell 19 of his 23 in the 1st half. He had nothing after a free throw with 10:23 left. He didn't find any spots against the Central zone. Omar Brown another very good game with 16 points and he did harass Davis on the defensive end.
TCAC D2 Championship: Liberty Classical Academy 60 Avail Academy 58
Then its off to Hiawatha Collegiate for the TCAC D2 title game. This game is the 4th meeting of these teams this season. But best of all we get another appearance from the rhino (the Avail mascot). Forwards Thomas Conroy and Hans Dykstra leading their teams in the 1st half. A late 6-0 spurt by Liberty thanks to 2 Conroy putbacks gives the Lions a 34-30 halftime lead.
Avail with an early 15-2 run in the 2nd half run. Joey Ritzema with a 3 point play to draw the 4th foul on Conroy with 12:36 left. He adds a putback as well. Freshman Josiah Schaap gets his offense going as well with a free throw, bucket and ends the run with a 3. 47-38 Avail with under 11 minutes to play. Liberty with a very thin bench so they'll leave Conroy out there with the 4 fouls. That gamble will pay off. He adds 2 free throws working inside. Schaap counters with a bucket and bonus free throws. Conroy comes back with 2 hoops. 53-47 Avail with 7:43 left.
A Liberty putback, Conroy 2 freebies and he'll score off of a missed bonus front end. After an Avail missed front end, Conroy makes his bonus free throws and we're tied at 55 with 3:42 left. Schaap breaks that 8-0 run with a bucket. Conroy all over the offensive glass and it results in 1-2 FTs. After an Avail missed front end its Conroy attacking for 2 more. Fans on their feet as that gives Liberty the lead 58-57 with 2:18 left. Liberty 3 late turnovers but Avail has a couple of misses. Then a tough illegal screen call against Liberty with 52.7 left and Avail still can't convert. Who else but Conroy as he makes 2 free throws with 16.9 left. Avail gets 1 last chance to set up a play with 4.1 left. They miss a 3 and an offensive board at the horn is no good. Liberty evens the season series at 2-2 with the Valor. Liberty outscores Avail 17-5 over the last 8 minutes. Thomas Conroy with 17 of his 29 in the 2nd half including the last 9 for the Lions. Ryan Grill's size also a factor as he ends with 15 points. Josiah Schaap with 12 of his 17 in the 2nd half to lead Avail. Hans Dykstra with 12 of his 14 inside in the 1st half for the Valor.
March 1st, 2019 CzarPI
Labels:
18-19 CzarPI
This is the 8th CzarPI of the 2018-19 season (see CzarPI Explained Here).
It includes games through Friday, March 1st, 2019. There are a small handful of those March 1st games that are not included. The value in
() after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking
within their class.
Class AAAA
Class AAAA
- Park Center - 62.38 (6) 0-0 vs higher, 25-1 vs lower
- Hopkins - 60.9 (4) 2-0 vs higher, 17-4 vs lower
- East Ridge - 58.81 (39) 1-0 vs higher, 22-2 vs lower
- Lakeville North - 58.81 (12) 0-1 vs higher, 22-3 vs lower
- Prior Lake - 58.66 (19) 1-3 vs higher, 22-0 vs lower
- Eden Prairie - 58.27 (1) 3-4 vs higher, 14-5 vs lower
- Edina - 57.79 (3) 2-5 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
- Champlin Park - 56.81 (22) 0-4 vs higher, 21-1 vs lower
- Moorhead - 56.68 (20) 0-1 vs higher, 16-4 vs lower
- Wayzata - 56.56 (2) 3-8 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
- Shakopee - 56.46 (18) 2-4 vs higher, 19-1 vs lower
- Buffalo - 56.23 (47) 0-2 vs higher, 20-4 vs lower
- Tartan - 56.01 (63) 0-1 vs higher, 23-1 vs lower
- Maple Grove - 55.99 (13) 1-4 vs higher, 19-2 vs lower
- Chaska - 55.77 (45) 3-3 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
- Rochester John Marshall - 54.8 (51) 2-3 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
- St. Michael-Albertville - 54.47 (41) 1-5 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
- Robbinsdale Armstrong - 53.96 (17) 1-6 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
- Cretin-Derham Hall - 53.9 (40) 2-5 vs higher, 18-1 vs lower
- St. Paul Central - 53.61 (54) 0-4 vs higher, 19-1 vs lower
- White Bear Lake - 53.35 (58) 2-4 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
- Blaine - 53.11 (56) 0-5 vs higher, 19-1 vs lower
- Duluth East - 53.09 (43) 1-4 vs higher, 14-4 vs lower
- Chanhassen - 52.88 (21) 2-6 vs higher, 15-3 vs lower
- New Prague - 52.6 (14) 2-7 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
- St. Louis Park - 52.22 (42) 2-7 vs higher, 16-1 vs lower
- Brainerd - 51.91 (30) 6-7 vs higher, 9-4 vs lower
- Osseo - 51.16 (16) 4-6 vs higher, 11-5 vs lower
- Eastview - 50.67 (9) 3-8 vs higher, 12-3 vs lower
- Minnetonka - 50.62 (5) 3-13 vs higher, 10-0 vs lower
- Rochester Mayo - 50.19 (48) 1-8 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
- Spring Lake Park - 50.03 (15) 3-9 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
- Cambridge-Isanti - 49.68 (35) 4-9 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
- North St. Paul - 49.09 (36) 3-9 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
- Lakeville South - 47.3 (31) 1-11 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
- Rochester Century - 47.2 (46) 3-10 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
- Anoka - 46.84 (49) 3-8 vs higher, 9-5 vs lower
- Centennial - 46.81 (34) 2-12 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
- Farmington - 45.38 (24) 2-13 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
- Rogers - 44.76 (29) 4-13 vs higher, 7-2 vs lower
- Burnsville - 43.7 (11) 3-15 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
- Irondale - 43.11 (23) 3-14 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
- Bloomington Jefferson - 42.92 (38) 3-13 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
- Stillwater Area - 42.89 (59) 1-10 vs higher, 10-4 vs lower
- Coon Rapids - 42.49 (37) 3-15 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
- Roseville - 42.41 (32) 3-14 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
- Park of Cottage Grove - 42.29 (53) 2-13 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
- St. Cloud Tech - 41.84 (44) 4-16 vs higher, 3-3 vs lower
- Eagan - 41.34 (27) 2-16 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
- Hastings - 39.77 (62) 3-13 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
- Forest Lake - 39.66 (26) 3-17 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
- Andover - 39.52 (7) 4-18 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
- Woodbury - 38.77 (33) 4-18 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
- Apple Valley - 38.66 (10) 3-19 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
- Minneapolis South - 38.62 (61) 3-15 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
- Mounds View - 37.55 (50) 6-18 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
- Elk River - 37.3 (8) 6-20 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- St. Francis - 36.97 (60) 4-19 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
- Owatonna - 36.53 (28) 2-18 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
- Henry Sibley - 35.6 (52) 4-19 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
- Minneapolis Washburn - 34.21 (55) 3-20 vs higher, 0-2 vs lower
- Rosemount - 33.57 (25) 3-22 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
- Minneapolis Southwest - 31.38 (57) 4-21 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Waseca - 60.91 (10) 0-0 vs higher, 25-1 vs lower
- DeLaSalle - 59.63 (13) 1-1 vs higher, 18-1 vs lower
- Marshall - 58.07 (17) 1-1 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
- Mankato East - 57.14 (27) 1-1 vs higher, 21-3 vs lower
- Bemidji - 56.99 (48) 0-0 vs higher, 20-3 vs lower
- Hibbing - 55.68 (49) 0-0 vs higher, 19-5 vs lower
- Austin - 55.09 (35) 1-3 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
- Mound Westonka - 54.44 (40) 1-3 vs higher, 19-3 vs lower
- Princeton - 54.39 (60) 0-3 vs higher, 23-0 vs lower
- Alexandria - 53.73 (45) 2-1 vs higher, 15-7 vs lower
- Mahtomedi - 53.49 (56) 1-3 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
- Fergus Falls - 53.03 (6) 3-5 vs higher, 11-6 vs lower
- Waconia - 52.71 (7) 2-5 vs higher, 13-6 vs lower
- Worthington - 52.49 (22) 2-4 vs higher, 13-4 vs lower
- Holy Angels - 52.41 (62) 0-3 vs higher, 21-1 vs lower
- Sartell-St. Stephen - 52.4 (41) 2-6 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
- Northfield - 51.63 (30) 2-5 vs higher, 15-4 vs lower
- Hermantown - 51.6 (11) 3-6 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
- Delano - 50.86 (39) 3-8 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
- Cloquet - 50.78 (5) 4-9 vs higher, 8-3 vs lower
- St. Cloud Apollo - 50.62 (8) 5-9 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
- Duluth Denfeld - 49.51 (9) 5-7 vs higher, 5-5 vs lower
- St. Paul Johnson - 49.06 (55) 3-5 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
- Willmar - 48.49 (36) 5-10 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
- Winona - 48.4 (46) 2-9 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
- Minneapolis Henry - 48.37 (57) 2-7 vs higher, 12-3 vs lower
- Robbinsdale Cooper - 47.77 (18) 3-8 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
- St. Paul Harding - 47.38 (63) 2-4 vs higher, 12-5 vs lower
- St. Thomas Academy - 46.72 (42) 2-11 vs higher, 13-0 vs lower
- Columbia Heights - 46.59 (4) 3-9 vs higher, 6-5 vs lower
- St. Croix Lutheran - 46.56 (54) 2-8 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
- Totino-Grace - 46.47 (1) 3-15 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
- Grand Rapids - 46.24 (3) 7-13 vs higher, 2-3 vs lower
- Becker - 45.29 (38) 6-9 vs higher, 4-6 vs lower
- Monticello - 44.81 (43) 4-10 vs higher, 7-5 vs lower
- Little Falls - 44.76 (34) 5-13 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
- Detroit Lakes - 44.71 (16) 2-14 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
- St. Anthony Village - 44.47 (61) 3-8 vs higher, 10-5 vs lower
- Minneapolis Roosevelt - 44.19 (50) 4-11 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
- Fridley - 43.9 (25) 6-12 vs higher, 3-4 vs lower
- Orono - 42.57 (2) 5-17 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
- Zimmerman - 42.01 (26) 7-14 vs higher, 1-4 vs lower
- Big Lake - 41.99 (47) 5-15 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
- St. Paul Highland Park - 41.14 (52) 4-12 vs higher, 4-5 vs lower
- Simley - 40.47 (59) 2-11 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
- Benilde-St. Margaret's - 40.43 (12) 4-17 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
- Bloomington Kennedy - 40.01 (32) 4-17 vs higher, 2-3 vs lower
- Faribault - 39.83 (23) 1-14 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
- Chisago Lakes Area - 39.12 (51) 4-16 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
- Rocori - 38.39 (19) 5-19 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
- Sauk Rapids-Rice - 37.81 (21) 5-21 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Hutchinson - 37.57 (29) 3-19 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
- New Ulm - 36.66 (31) 2-19 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
- Richfield - 36.66 (37) 3-18 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
- South St. Paul - 36.3 (58) 3-17 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
- St. Paul Como Park - 36.14 (53) 3-19 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
- North Branch - 35.26 (33) 5-21 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Mankato West - 34.36 (14) 2-20 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
- Kasson-Mantorville - 32.81 (20) 3-18 vs higher, 1-3 vs lower
- Albert Lea - 32.38 (24) 3-20 vs higher, 0-2 vs lower
- Dassel-Cokato - 31.66 (28) 2-22 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Hill-Murray - 29.85 (44) 2-23 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
- Red Wing - 25.24 (15) 3-23 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Minnehaha Academy - 62.25 (1) 0-0 vs higher, 19-2 vs lower
- Perham - 61.16 (11) 0-1 vs higher, 24-0 vs lower
- Melrose - 58.97 (8) 0-0 vs higher, 22-4 vs lower
- Lake City - 57.61 (57) 0-0 vs higher, 21-2 vs lower
- Osakis - 57.42 (92) 0-1 vs higher, 24-0 vs lower
- Maranatha Christian - 57.25 (20) 0-2 vs higher, 21-3 vs lower
- Hawley - 57.18 (16) 1-2 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
- Albany - 56.28 (32) 1-1 vs higher, 20-4 vs lower
- East Grand Forks - 56.04 (31) 0-3 vs higher, 20-1 vs lower
- Breck - 55.77 (77) 1-1 vs higher, 19-3 vs lower
- St. Cloud Cathedral - 55.49 (25) 1-3 vs higher, 18-4 vs lower
- Jordan - 55.32 (100) 0-1 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
- Spectrum - 55.31 (79) 1-2 vs higher, 21-2 vs lower
- Esko - 55.05 (17) 0-3 vs higher, 17-5 vs lower
- Crosby-Ironton - 54.83 (98) 0-1 vs higher, 21-3 vs lower
- Caledonia - 54.8 (37) 0-2 vs higher, 19-3 vs lower
- Litchfield - 54.58 (59) 0-2 vs higher, 21-3 vs lower
- New London-Spicer - 54.11 (38) 3-3 vs higher, 16-4 vs lower
- St. Croix Prep - 53.98 (80) 2-2 vs higher, 18-3 vs lower
- Pequot Lakes - 53.97 (47) 2-5 vs higher, 18-1 vs lower
- Greenway - 53.39 (81) 0-4 vs higher, 19-1 vs lower
- Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta - 53.23 (9) 3-5 vs higher, 12-3 vs lower
- Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - 52.93 (22) 1-5 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
- Stewartville - 52.87 (44) 1-3 vs higher, 16-4 vs lower
- Pine City - 52.81 (124) 0-0 vs higher, 23-3 vs lower
- Minnewaska Area - 52.68 (23) 3-6 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
- St. Charles - 52.44 (78) 1-1 vs higher, 15-6 vs lower
- Providence Academy - 52.25 (27) 4-4 vs higher, 11-6 vs lower
- Holy Family Catholic - 52.07 (12) 2-8 vs higher, 13-3 vs lower
- Moose Lake-Willow River - 52.03 (91) 1-4 vs higher, 18-3 vs lower
- La Crescent-Hokah - 52.01 (72) 1-4 vs higher, 15-2 vs lower
- Dover-Eyota - 51.97 (69) 1-6 vs higher, 17-1 vs lower
- St. Peter - 51.83 (60) 0-6 vs higher, 19-0 vs lower
- Martin County West - 51.81 (93) 0-2 vs higher, 16-4 vs lower
- Cristo Rey Jesuit - 51.81 (83) 2-4 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
- Pipestone Area - 51.67 (18) 2-5 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
- Minneapolis North - 51.47 (39) 1-5 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
- Jackson County Central - 51.38 (10) 3-7 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
- St. James Area - 50.98 (49) 1-6 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
- Rochester Lourdes - 50.95 (36) 2-8 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
- Breckenridge - 50.51 (6) 4-8 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
- Roseau - 50.49 (117) 0-4 vs higher, 20-1 vs lower
- Redwood Valley - 50.49 (14) 5-8 vs higher, 7-3 vs lower
- Pierz - 49.91 (88) 0-4 vs higher, 14-6 vs lower
- Barnesville - 49.74 (19) 1-9 vs higher, 15-0 vs lower
- Zumbrota-Mazeppa - 49.39 (86) 1-6 vs higher, 15-2 vs lower
- Royalton - 49.13 (114) 1-3 vs higher, 17-5 vs lower
- Plainview-Elgin-Millville - 49.12 (53) 3-9 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
- High School for the Recording Arts - 49.04 (121) 1-2 vs higher, 12-4 vs lower
- Trinity School - 48.94 (109) 0-6 vs higher, 18-2 vs lower
- Eden Valley-Watkins - 48.33 (26) 1-7 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
- Rockford - 48.24 (61) 2-9 vs higher, 13-2 vs lower
- Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - 48.11 (106) 4-6 vs higher, 9-6 vs lower
- Cannon Falls - 48.1 (76) 3-9 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
- Virginia - 47.95 (62) 2-9 vs higher, 12-3 vs lower
- Pine Island - 47.7 (58) 3-10 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
- St. Paul Academy - 47.48 (107) 2-6 vs higher, 13-4 vs lower
- Maple Lake - 47.4 (94) 3-9 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
- Pillager - 47.26 (84) 2-9 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
- Foley - 47.1 (41) 2-9 vs higher, 10-4 vs lower
- Mora - 46.76 (35) 3-10 vs higher, 7-5 vs lower
- Milaca - 46.75 (51) 3-8 vs higher, 6-6 vs lower
- Mesabi East - 46.71 (82) 3-9 vs higher, 10-3 vs lower
- Annandale - 46.52 (5) 4-14 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
- Proctor - 46.49 (46) 5-12 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- Southwest Christian - 46.35 (64) 2-11 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
- Minneapolis Edison - 46.05 (122) 0-7 vs higher, 15-2 vs lower
- Paynesville Area - 45.58 (63) 4-11 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
- Glencoe-Silver Lake - 45.53 (67) 2-12 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
- Blake - 45.15 (48) 3-10 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
- Duluth Marshall - 45.15 (68) 4-12 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
- Brooklyn Center - 45.09 (28) 4-12 vs higher, 6-4 vs lower
- Fairmont - 45.03 (45) 4-9 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
- Sauk Centre - 44.8 (4) 4-14 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
- Luverne - 44.64 (54) 3-11 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
- Tracy-Milroy-Balaton - 44.61 (97) 3-9 vs higher, 8-3 vs lower
- Blue Earth Area - 44.29 (34) 3-12 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
- Nova Classical Academy - 43.88 (120) 1-6 vs higher, 12-5 vs lower
- Chatfield - 43.79 (50) 3-12 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
- Kimball Area - 43.78 (105) 5-14 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City - 43.78 (21) 3-14 vs higher, 7-2 vs lower
- Lewiston-Altura - 43.71 (87) 3-10 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
- Barnum - 43.66 (89) 1-13 vs higher, 12-0 vs lower
- Concordia Academy - 43.42 (43) 5-14 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
- Watertown-Mayer - 43.33 (56) 4-15 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- New Life Academy - 42.96 (75) 4-11 vs higher, 7-3 vs lower
- Thief River Falls - 42.8 (15) 1-15 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
- Belle Plaine - 42.7 (110) 3-11 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
- Warroad - 42.7 (118) 2-10 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
- New Richland-H-E-G - 42.13 (40) 2-12 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
- Rush City - 41.81 (111) 1-10 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
- St. Paul Humboldt - 41.3 (119) 2-11 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
- LeSueur-Henderson - 41.06 (103) 2-12 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
- International Falls - 40.82 (90) 4-13 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- Twin Cities Academy/Great River - 39.82 (123) 5-12 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
- Crookston - 39.73 (13) 3-18 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
- Byron - 39.51 (30) 2-16 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- Two Harbors - 39.44 (85) 2-16 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
- St. Agnes - 39.36 (74) 5-17 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
- Benson - 38.93 (7) 3-17 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
- Maple River - 38.46 (66) 3-17 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
- Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 37.53 (33) 1-15 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
- Park Rapids Area - 37.22 (65) 2-14 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- Bagley - 37.2 (42) 3-17 vs higher, 3-3 vs lower
- Math and Science Academy - 37.13 (125) 1-9 vs higher, 7-3 vs lower
- Aitkin - 35.8 (73) 4-18 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
- Wadena-Deer Creek - 35.06 (95) 2-17 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- Sibley East - 34.67 (112) 1-16 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
- PACT Charter - 33.43 (96) 3-20 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
- St. Paul Washington - 33.41 (99) 3-18 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
- Norwood-Young America - 32.81 (102) 3-17 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
- Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop - 32.59 (101) 2-15 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
- Holdingford - 32.04 (24) 3-20 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Triton - 32.02 (108) 3-18 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
- International School of MN/Eagle Ridge - 31.79 (115) 2-19 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
- Windom Area - 27.42 (2) 1-23 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
- Winona Cotter/Hope Lutheran - 27.4 (71) 2-17 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
- Montevideo - 26.17 (3) 1-21 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Medford - 25.04 (70) 1-20 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
- Staples-Motley - 22.6 (29) 1-23 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Kenyon-Wanamingo - 22.52 (55) 1-24 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Tri-City United - 22.28 (104) 1-24 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - 21.76 (113) 1-25 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Academy for Sciences & Ag - 17.93 (116) 1-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Eveleth-Gilbert - 0 (52) 0-25 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Cass Lake-Bena - 58.8 (36) 0-0 vs higher, 25-1 vs lower
- BOLD - 58.04 (4) 1-1 vs higher, 20-2 vs lower
- Ada-Borup West - 57.78 (53) 0-0 vs higher, 21-1 vs lower
- Minneota - 56.82 (91) 0-0 vs higher, 23-2 vs lower
- Henning - 56.58 (98) 0-0 vs higher, 24-1 vs lower
- Springfield - 56.41 (61) 0-1 vs higher, 23-1 vs lower
- North Woods - 55.94 (73) 0-2 vs higher, 23-0 vs lower
- Spring Grove - 55.67 (60) 0-0 vs higher, 18-3 vs lower
- Parkers Prairie - 55.66 (33) 1-1 vs higher, 20-3 vs lower
- Ortonville - 55.28 (82) 0-1 vs higher, 17-1 vs lower
- Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - 55.09 (129) 0-0 vs higher, 23-1 vs lower
- Minnesota Valley Lutheran - 55.03 (78) 1-1 vs higher, 19-2 vs lower
- Randolph - 54.79 (121) 0-1 vs higher, 23-1 vs lower
- Hayfield - 54.62 (65) 1-2 vs higher, 21-2 vs lower
- CHOF - 54.34 (57) 1-1 vs higher, 19-4 vs lower
- Hancock - 53.97 (32) 1-2 vs higher, 18-4 vs lower
- Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey - 53.92 (104) 0-1 vs higher, 22-2 vs lower
- Southwest MN Christian - 53.33 (80) 1-0 vs higher, 19-5 vs lower
- Cromwell-Wright - 52.85 (146) 0-1 vs higher, 21-2 vs lower
- Pine River-Backus - 52.44 (116) 0-2 vs higher, 22-2 vs lower
- Mahnomen/Waubun - 51.97 (12) 1-4 vs higher, 16-4 vs lower
- Lac qui Parle Valley - 51.63 (10) 1-4 vs higher, 15-6 vs lower
- Win-E-Mac - 51.5 (69) 0-5 vs higher, 21-1 vs lower
- Murray County Central - 51.2 (97) 2-3 vs higher, 16-3 vs lower
- Dawson-Boyd - 51.11 (6) 4-3 vs higher, 8-6 vs lower
- Avail Academy - 50.85 (141) 0-0 vs higher, 14-5 vs lower
- Russell-Tyler-Ruthton - 50.75 (38) 2-6 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
- Cedar Mountain - 50.59 (92) 1-4 vs higher, 19-2 vs lower
- Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 50.53 (5) 2-4 vs higher, 12-7 vs lower
- Sacred Heart - 50.51 (123) 0-1 vs higher, 18-5 vs lower
- New Ulm Cathedral - 50.32 (72) 2-6 vs higher, 17-0 vs lower
- Blooming Prairie - 50.26 (95) 0-4 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
- Lakeview Christian - 50.24 (114) 0-2 vs higher, 18-5 vs lower
- Nashwauk-Keewatin - 50.11 (93) 1-4 vs higher, 17-4 vs lower
- Nevis - 49.91 (15) 2-5 vs higher, 14-5 vs lower
- Hinckley-Finlayson - 49.81 (112) 1-4 vs higher, 18-3 vs lower
- Rushford-Peterson - 49.68 (14) 2-8 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
- Renville County West - 49.67 (30) 2-7 vs higher, 13-2 vs lower
- Westbrook-Walnut Grove - 49.57 (85) 3-6 vs higher, 16-1 vs lower
- Ashby - 49.46 (58) 0-5 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
- Mayer Lutheran - 49.45 (64) 2-6 vs higher, 15-3 vs lower
- NCE/U-H - 49.12 (11) 1-9 vs higher, 15-1 vs lower
- Grand Meadow - 48.95 (103) 1-5 vs higher, 17-2 vs lower
- Red Lake - 48.77 (13) 3-9 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
- Chisholm - 48.64 (108) 1-4 vs higher, 15-5 vs lower
- Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - 48.39 (35) 3-6 vs higher, 10-3 vs lower
- Central MN Christian - 48.19 (8) 5-7 vs higher, 7-5 vs lower
- Kingsland - 48.11 (66) 1-8 vs higher, 15-1 vs lower
- Walker-Hackensack-Akeley - 48.03 (52) 2-8 vs higher, 13-2 vs lower
- Nicollet - 47.86 (117) 0-5 vs higher, 15-2 vs lower
- Browerville/Eagle Valley - 47.81 (46) 2-8 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
- Fertile-Beltrami - 47.41 (136) 1-4 vs higher, 16-5 vs lower
- New York Mills - 47.34 (127) 0-6 vs higher, 19-1 vs lower
- Liberty Classical Academy - 47.31 (157) 1-2 vs higher, 15-4 vs lower
- Deer River - 47.22 (20) 3-9 vs higher, 10-4 vs lower
- West Central Area - 47.15 (31) 2-9 vs higher, 12-0 vs lower
- Hiawatha Collegiate - 47.03 (158) 1-2 vs higher, 13-3 vs lower
- United South Central - 46.85 (56) 1-7 vs higher, 13-5 vs lower
- Red Lake County - 46.82 (54) 3-7 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
- Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 46.71 (71) 4-8 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
- Badger/Greenbush-Middle River - 46.58 (94) 2-8 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
- Cook County - 46.36 (105) 2-4 vs higher, 10-7 vs lower
- Ely - 45.73 (131) 3-6 vs higher, 13-4 vs lower
- T/ML/GHEC - 44.94 (109) 2-9 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
- Brandon/Evansville - 44.75 (47) 4-10 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
- West Lutheran - 44.72 (59) 2-8 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
- Mountain Iron-Buhl - 44.64 (99) 3-10 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
- Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity - 44.41 (67) 3-9 vs higher, 10-3 vs lower
- Chesterton Academy - 44.24 (162) 1-3 vs higher, 13-3 vs lower
- Clearbrook-Gonvick - 43.98 (152) 2-8 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
- Mankato Loyola - 43.75 (55) 2-11 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
- Schaeffer Academy - 43.72 (128) 2-6 vs higher, 11-6 vs lower
- Minnesota Transitions Charter - 43.71 (159) 1-5 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
- Kittson County Central - 43.59 (118) 2-7 vs higher, 8-3 vs lower
- Christian Life Academy - 43.48 (143) 3-8 vs higher, 10-4 vs lower
- Bigfork - 42.99 (115) 3-9 vs higher, 9-5 vs lower
- Upsala - 42.89 (120) 1-11 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
- North Lakes Academy - 42.76 (161) 2-5 vs higher, 12-5 vs lower
- Fosston - 42.45 (51) 2-10 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
- Legacy Christian - 42.4 (18) 5-14 vs higher, 4-3 vs lower
- Pelican Rapids - 42.3 (1) 2-15 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
- Hills-Beaver Creek - 42.22 (102) 0-8 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
- Bethlehem Academy - 41.77 (40) 2-13 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
- Houston - 41.75 (76) 2-12 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
- Hope Academy - 41.69 (130) 4-10 vs higher, 6-5 vs lower
- Braham - 41.48 (149) 1-11 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
- Blackduck - 41.12 (48) 3-14 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
- Northome/Kelliher - 41.04 (75) 4-14 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
- MACCRAY - 40.85 (26) 3-14 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- Red Rock Central - 40.03 (90) 0-10 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
- Floodwood - 39.95 (134) 0-11 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
- Bethany Academy - 39.92 (110) 1-10 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
- Lyle/Austin Pacelli - 39.43 (96) 1-10 vs higher, 7-2 vs lower
- Menahga - 39.39 (81) 0-11 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
- Battle Lake - 39.28 (9) 2-14 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
- LeRoy-Ostrander - 38.67 (106) 2-12 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
- Fond du Lac Ojibwe - 38.05 (50) 2-15 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
- Heritage Christian - 38.05 (49) 4-17 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
- Lakeview - 37.77 (25) 2-16 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
- Lanesboro - 37.71 (89) 3-12 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
- Hill City - 37.6 (153) 2-10 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
- Canby - 37.4 (16) 3-15 vs higher, 2-3 vs lower
- Isle - 37.11 (140) 2-12 vs higher, 7-4 vs lower
- Alden-Conger - 37.02 (156) 0-9 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
- McGregor - 36.98 (125) 2-12 vs higher, 4-7 vs lower
- Kaleidoscope Charter - 36.94 (154) 2-9 vs higher, 3-5 vs lower
- Northern Freeze - 36.87 (68) 2-17 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- Adrian - 36.65 (77) 1-13 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
- Silver Bay - 36.59 (126) 2-15 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
- Madelia - 36.56 (155) 1-11 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
- Stephen-Argyle - 36.39 (23) 3-17 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
- Frazee - 36.35 (2) 1-17 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
- Park Christian - 36.33 (29) 2-14 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
- Wrenshall - 36.32 (139) 4-15 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
- Yellow Medicine East - 36.29 (7) 3-19 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
- Mabel-Canton - 35.87 (87) 4-15 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
- St. Clair - 35.63 (124) 2-14 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
- Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's - 35.51 (43) 1-15 vs higher, 7-2 vs lower
- Goodhue - 35.51 (63) 2-16 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
- Lakes International Language Academy - 35.5 (148) 3-13 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
- St. John's Prep - 35.27 (100) 2-14 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
- Metro Schools College Prep - 35.12 (163) 2-6 vs higher, 2-3 vs lower
- Sebeka - 34.84 (86) 2-15 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
- Sleepy Eye - 34.76 (44) 3-16 vs higher, 4-3 vs lower
- Verndale - 34.22 (88) 3-16 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
- Wabasha-Kellogg - 34.09 (41) 3-18 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
- Carlton - 33.99 (138) 4-17 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
- Onamia - 33.57 (133) 4-14 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
- Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - 33.31 (113) 3-16 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
- Lake Park-Audubon - 33.3 (3) 2-17 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
- Lincoln International - 33.08 (145) 1-6 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
- Northland - 33.04 (160) 3-14 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
- Swanville - 32.68 (122) 4-15 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
- Southland - 32.04 (27) 4-18 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
- South Ridge - 31.47 (107) 3-19 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
- Rothsay - 30.58 (19) 2-19 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
- East Central - 30.24 (119) 3-19 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
- Cleveland - 29.88 (111) 2-17 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
- Ellsworth - 29.74 (42) 0-14 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
- Mounds Park Academy - 29.68 (74) 2-18 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
- Wheaton/Herman-Norcross - 29.05 (28) 2-15 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
- Heron Lake-Okabena - 27.67 (101) 1-17 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
- Goodridge/Grygla - 27.62 (84) 2-20 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
- Groves Academy - 27.55 (151) 1-16 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
- Fulda - 27.16 (79) 2-21 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
- Wabasso - 27.14 (39) 2-19 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
- Climax/Fisher - 25.69 (62) 1-20 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
- Hmong Academy - 25.41 (150) 1-16 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
- Bertha-Hewitt - 23.15 (22) 1-22 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
- Warren-Alvarado-Oslo - 22.93 (83) 2-22 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
- Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart - 22.89 (21) 2-21 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- MN Academy for the Deaf - 22.7 (144) 1-10 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
- Underwood - 22.5 (17) 2-21 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
- Edgerton - 22.11 (37) 1-20 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Community of Peace Academy - 21.55 (142) 2-20 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Littlefork-Big Falls - 19.57 (132) 0-17 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
- Lake of the Woods - 17.32 (147) 1-19 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
- Laporte - 14.82 (24) 1-22 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Fillmore Central - 0 (34) 0-26 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley - 0 (45) 0-19 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Glenville-Emmons - 0 (70) 0-21 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Cherry - 0 (135) 0-19 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
- Ogilvie - 0 (137) 0-22 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
Expanding the Kingdom
The final 2 nights of the 2018-19 regular season have me on the road for 1 non-metro game and seeing another team outside my metro list on the final night. No great concession stories or visits, just hoops. That's not a bad thing.
Thursday: Alexandria 67 Big Lake 62
Fire up that train for a chance to see Alexandria star soph Treyton Thompson play. For the game, Big Lake with a 19-4 run out of halftime to take a 3 point lead midway thru the 2nd half. Alexandria would counter with a 10-2 run to take the lead for good, but it was tight late. Guard Carrson Jones with slick inbounds pass off the defender's back to himself for a layup in the last minute was a major dagger. Thompson finishes with 18 points and 3 blocks on my officially unofficial stat sheet. He needs strength but the upside and skill is definitely there. Big Lake center DeVonne Harris gave him all he wanted with 20 points on his own. Alexandria soph Colton Roderick adds 12 points. Alexandria with the 2 sophs plus a freshman point guard seeing time. Very bright future for the Cardinals.
Friday: Blake 63 Mayer Lutheran 50
Mayer Lutheran playing this one without star forward Baden Noennig (Upper Iowa commit). They give up the 1st 7, counter with an 18-3 run into a MoKiller timeout. Blake comes out of that with an 18-0 run of their own. A pair of 3 point plays to start the run and then Sam Deignan with 10 points in a row off the Blake bench. Despite no Noennig, the Crusaders were still too big and that size kept them close. Sawyer Kubasch with 10 in the half including a bucket and 2 free throws in the later stretches and Kaleb Winter with a putback in the last minute of the half. 31-27 Blake at the half.
Forward Sawyer Kubasch with a post up and and a pretty 3 point play on a slick pick and roll pocket pass. But Mayer Lutheran is still down 7 with 8:07 left. Frosh guard Dylan Nelson for 3 and bonus freebies and the Blake lead is at 6 with 5:47 left. Rob Grace puts the game away for Blake with 8 straight points. A nice lefty finish, then 2 off the pick and roll with an immediate steal for 2 more. Mayer Lutheran has to trap and he is left alone for an easy layup. That's the end of a 9-0 Blake run that puts the game away. Rob Grace finishes with 24 points, 13 in the 2nd half. Sam Deignan with 15 off the Bears bench. Sawyer Kubasch with 15 to lead Mayer Lutheran. Blake finishes their regular season tomorrow at home against Mounds Park Academy. Then they'll open section 5AA play in the 8 vs 9 game at Brooklyn Center on Thursday. Fun matchup there. Mayer Lutheran opens section 2A play on Monday at home in a rematch with 6 seed Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity. More on that game in my upcoming Better Than Chalk section predictions.
Thursday: Alexandria 67 Big Lake 62
Fire up that train for a chance to see Alexandria star soph Treyton Thompson play. For the game, Big Lake with a 19-4 run out of halftime to take a 3 point lead midway thru the 2nd half. Alexandria would counter with a 10-2 run to take the lead for good, but it was tight late. Guard Carrson Jones with slick inbounds pass off the defender's back to himself for a layup in the last minute was a major dagger. Thompson finishes with 18 points and 3 blocks on my officially unofficial stat sheet. He needs strength but the upside and skill is definitely there. Big Lake center DeVonne Harris gave him all he wanted with 20 points on his own. Alexandria soph Colton Roderick adds 12 points. Alexandria with the 2 sophs plus a freshman point guard seeing time. Very bright future for the Cardinals.
Friday: Blake 63 Mayer Lutheran 50
Mayer Lutheran playing this one without star forward Baden Noennig (Upper Iowa commit). They give up the 1st 7, counter with an 18-3 run into a MoKiller timeout. Blake comes out of that with an 18-0 run of their own. A pair of 3 point plays to start the run and then Sam Deignan with 10 points in a row off the Blake bench. Despite no Noennig, the Crusaders were still too big and that size kept them close. Sawyer Kubasch with 10 in the half including a bucket and 2 free throws in the later stretches and Kaleb Winter with a putback in the last minute of the half. 31-27 Blake at the half.
Forward Sawyer Kubasch with a post up and and a pretty 3 point play on a slick pick and roll pocket pass. But Mayer Lutheran is still down 7 with 8:07 left. Frosh guard Dylan Nelson for 3 and bonus freebies and the Blake lead is at 6 with 5:47 left. Rob Grace puts the game away for Blake with 8 straight points. A nice lefty finish, then 2 off the pick and roll with an immediate steal for 2 more. Mayer Lutheran has to trap and he is left alone for an easy layup. That's the end of a 9-0 Blake run that puts the game away. Rob Grace finishes with 24 points, 13 in the 2nd half. Sam Deignan with 15 off the Bears bench. Sawyer Kubasch with 15 to lead Mayer Lutheran. Blake finishes their regular season tomorrow at home against Mounds Park Academy. Then they'll open section 5AA play in the 8 vs 9 game at Brooklyn Center on Thursday. Fun matchup there. Mayer Lutheran opens section 2A play on Monday at home in a rematch with 6 seed Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity. More on that game in my upcoming Better Than Chalk section predictions.
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