Inner City Bragging Rights

We stay in the big city limits for 2 more nights of games.  First another south Minneapolis showdown then a St. Paul City clash.

Wednesday: Hope Academy 91 MN Transitions 61
Both teams playing with short benches.  Hope with yet another injury.  This keeps Kaleb Dube out of the Lions lineup.  MTS only with 7 guys.  Somehow they end up in their red jerseys which match Hope's red jerseys.  So MTS wears yellow mesh over top of those to keep some semblance of order.

Caleb Hoilien carrying the Hope offense with 18 of the 1st 22 Lions points.  But Hope only up 6 as we go under 6:30 left in the 1st half.  Hoilien to Caleb Irving for 3 before going coast to coast for a 3 of his own.  Frosh Noah Farmer2 layups (1 from Hoilien), Irving driving for 2 and Hoilien finds him for 3.  That helps Hope stretch the lead to 18 at the half.  MTS gets no closer than 13 the rest of the way.  Hope's Caleb Hoilien with 36 points, 13 boards, 5 assists for 12 more points, 3 steals and 5 blocks on my officially unofficial stat sheet.  He ends the night with 1999 points for his career.  He'll go for 2000 on senior night.  Caleb Irving adds 19 stepping into the 2nd fiddle role.  Anthony Key leads MTS with 16 points.  Lashone Patterson adds 15 for the Wolves.

Thursday: Johnson 101 Washington 69
Senior night at Johnson as they take on Washington.  Its also a night to celebrate the 2010 Govs state championship team that went 32-0.  They are the last AAA or AAAA team to run the table.  What a loaded roster that was with Estan Tyler, Roosevelt Scott and Marcus Mitchell (all D1 talents) plus Maxie Rosenbloom.  Members of that team receiving their jerseys during a pregame ceremony.  Vern Simmons also honored at halftime.  Over 400 wins in his career and it may be his last regular season home game.  Its a big game for Johnson too.  With a win here and on Monday at winless Como Park, they'll host the Twin Cities Game.  No walking taco is a shock.  I decide to stop along the way for a proper Russian meal of Beef Stroganoff.  A meal definitely fit for a Czar.

As to the game, Washington jumps out to a 12-4 lead.  Drew White with a hot 1st half as he goes for 23 points.  Johnson decides to scramble and trap him and that leads the Govs back.  Larry Harris for 3 and a Johnson layup off a turnover to take the lead.  34-30 Johnson at the 3:01 mark.  Washington timeout to stop the bleeding.  White 5 in a row and Washington stays within 48-41 at the break.  The 2nd half is all Johnson.  Shots don't fall for Washington, turnovers become easy hoops and White doesn't get touches.  Drew White with 25 points but only 2 in the 2nd half.  Zaveon Smith with 12 points.  Johnson gets 5 in double figures.  Govs have now won 14 out of 15 after a 1-6 start.