Let's Get It Started

2020 Playoffs here we go.  A couple of pigtail games on the docket before we jump into hardcore section play.  Monday takes me to the 3AAA 8 vs 9 pigtail game.as that section in AAA has the extra team this year.  Then its my 1st trip to Jump City to see if MTS can pull off another 4A seed upset and make my picks look outstanding.

Monday: Henry Sibley 57 St. Thomas Academy 53
Low scoring 1st half as neither team could convert shots.  Particularly St. Thomas who missed a bunch of easy layups on this night.  They use a late 10-2 1st half run to lead 22-21 at the break.  32-29 Cadets maintaining the lead with under 12 minutes left.  Sibley with a 13-1 run to regain the lead.  Tre Michaels off the bench with a big 3 and a Joey Hazzard putback during that run.  42-33 Sibley with 6 minutes left.  Center MJ Davis with a putback and the harm with 3:20 left.  That looks like a dagger.  But Davis promptly fouls out as Yenika Fondungallah (who had fouls of his own all night) comes right back with a 3 point play.  Grady O'Neal fouled on a 3 for 2-3 freebies and loops off the staggered double to bank in a straight away 3.  That sandwiches a Sibley missed front end.  49-46 Sibley clinging to the lead with 2:11 left.  The rest is basically free throws.  Cam Latvis makes 6-8 free throws and the Warriors got 8-10 FTs in the last 1:33 to survive a couple of turnovers.  They'll visit top seed Richfield in the 3AAA quarterfinals on Wednesday.  MJ Davis 14 points and I was told 19 rebounds cleaning up inside.  He'll be a nice project big for somebody at the JUCO level (already has a couple offers there).  Cam Latvis with 12 of his 14 points in the 2nd half for Sibley.  Yenika Fondungallah and Jamie Smith with 10 each as all 10 Cadets score.  St. Thomas Academy's super young lineup finishes with just 2 wins, both over Hill-Murray.  Sibley sweeps the season series of Mendota Heights rivals 3-0.

Tuesday: HSRA 61 MTS 44
MTS going back to back as they upset Groves last night.  They had beaten HSRA twice this year so I liked the upset here.  With apologies to Brian Sandifer, I didn't have any camo in my outfit tonight.  Jacquez Fondern 10 early points for HSRA with a couple of 3s.  But its the pair of 2s before his 3rd foul that help ignite a 19-4 HSRA run later in the 1st half.  That breaks a 10 all tie.  But MTS would cut into that 15 point margin before the half.  Post Anthony Key with a 3 to stop the bleeding.  That helps MTS outscore HSRA 12-3  over the last 4 minutes.  32-26 HSRA at the break.  The kid running the clock gets replaced just before the break after his 3rd instance of forgetting to start it.  3 strikes and you're out kid.  MTS bench very unhappy with him to the point of a late technical in the half.

The second half is all HSRA.  Fondern with 2 triples to force a quick MTS timeout. Then he'll add another easy bucket.  Jaelen Thomas puts back a miss and the run is 12-0.  HSRA with their biggest lead of 44-26.  Lashone Patterson was most of the MTS offense as expected.  He goes coast to coast for 2, makes 2 FTs and is fouled on a putback that results in 2 more made freebies.  That's Fondern's 4th foul with 9:11 left.  MTS has the lead down to 45-35 and has the momentum.  But 3 straight layups as MTS misses a couple chances.  8-0 HSRA run slams the door.  Jacquez Fondern leads all scorers with 24 points.  He knocked down 4 3s.  Jaelen Thomas adds 14.  Lashone Patterson with 20 to lead MTS.  Only 2 field goals but other players in the 2nd half for the Wolves.  They played with just 5 guys.  HSRA advances to play 8 seed Avail Academy (RHINO ALERT!) on Thursday night in the 3rd round of the section 4A playoffs. Winner of that advances to the quarterfinals on Saturday at CHOF.