Taming Cats

Now that we're starting to wind down the regular season in February, that means no local all day events on the schedule.  So to get in a pair of games and cross another local team off my to do list, its a doubleheader on the east side of St. Paul.  First its a trip to the always outstanding Lansing Center at Mounds Park Academy.  They get in a boys/girls doubleheader against Eveleth-Gilbert.  Then its a short hop to Johnson to see Chisago Lakes make the trip south.

Game 1: Eveleth-Gilbert 74 Mounds Park Academy 49
Outside winning their own holiday tourney, its been a really long year for Mounds Park.  The Panthers get a bunch of good looks early but can't get them to go.  Frosh Carter Mavec with a couple of 3s.  Soph Will Bittman with a putback and the foul to push the lead to 16 for Eveleth-Gilbert.  Shane Fruchterman with a pair of 3s and he ends the half with a steal for 2.  That keeps Mounds Park within 18 at the half.  Just not enough firepower for Mounds Park Academy.  This was their closest loss of the season as they fall to 3-14.  Eveleth-Gilbert improves to 8-12 and they only use 1 senior.  5 of the 1st 8 in the rotation are underclassmen.  Mounds Park JV very young as its mostly freshmen.

Game 2: St. Paul Johnson 82 Chisago Lakes 61
Too much chaos from Johnson in the halfcourt.  Too much quickness too.  Julian Hodges 21 points.  Jesse Foster productive inside as well with 20 points.  The bench chips in with 25 points and 4 triples.  Chisago Lakes not able to get much going in the halfcourt thanks to the Johnson defense.  Johnson remains hot as they've won 11 out of 12 in the new year.  That was after losing 6 of their first 7.  Next up is a big conference showdown at Highland Park on Thursday night.  Highland Park with a sweep of their remaining schedule could force a 3 way tie on top of the league.  Most conference tie scenarios would send the Scots to the Twin Cities game if it gets to that point.