East to West Double Dip

Its a rare chance at a mid-week doubleheader so no way I'll pass that up.  The reschedule of the 2/16/21 game between Harding and Washington is varsity only so they'll take the early 6 PM timeslot.  With Washington being the last previewed team that I haven't seen until now, my list is now complete.  Then its a battle for 1st place in the Skyline with the traditional 7:30 start for St. Croix Prep at Maranatha.

Game 1: St. Paul Harding 61 St. Paul Washington 50
No NFHS scoreboard or clock for this one and no public address.  This one is a battle in the bottom half of the league.  Harding 2 wins over Como Park who beat Washington twice and these 2 haven't played.  La'Kendrick Reed vs Alex Addai inside in a battle of top threats for each side.  Salman Ahmed continuing his big week against that crew.  33 vs Como Park earlier this week.  He knocks down 3 triples in the 1st half to help Harding open a 34-23 halftime lead.  Washington with a late rally.  Ka'von Trotter fouled on a triple for 2 of 3 FTs.  Reed not once, not twice, not 3 times, but a 4th time to finally get the ball in the bucket.  A double digit lead down to 52-48 with 3:48 left.  Ahmed closes it out as he gets a mismatch out front.  He drives for 1 layup and Addai cleans up his miss for another hoop.  Frustration boils over for a Washington technical and another Ahmed bucket.  Harding out of danger and they'll close it out.  Salman Ahmed with 20 points to lead the Knights.  Alex Addai with 14.  Michael English all 12 of his points in the 2nd half.  La'Kendrick Reed leads Washington with 14 points.  Hamza Kadir adds 3 triples off the bench and 13 points.  Tyquan Allen with 11 and Ka'von Trotter with 10.  The teams combine to shoot 7-41 from 3.

Four Factors

FACTOR	St. Paul Harding	St. Paul Washington
Effective FG %	50.9%	32.1%
Offensive Rebound %	40%	35.3%
Free Throw Rate	18.2%	14.9%
Turnover %	19.7%	12.9%
Points Per Possession	1.00	0.81

Game 2: #8AA St. Croix Prep 71 Maranatha 45
No time on the clock but we can play it slow as its Hollywood making a Skyline appearance with the whistle.  St. Croix Prep won the 1st meeting between these teams on opening Saturday 75-51.  Sloppy start for Prep as they go 1 bucket in 13 trips after each team scores on their 1st 2 possessions.  10-8 was the last Maranatha lead.  Andrew Howard and Addison Metcalf convert turnovers for a 19-14 lead.  Maranatha keeps the margin at 24-20 as the half starts to wind down.  Then Prep closes the half on a 10-0 run with Metcalf scoring half of those points.  34-20 SCPA at the break.  Howard runs out for a layup to complete the 16-0 run across the half.  40-20 Prep.  Maranatha never gets closer than 17 after that.  Its the 29th straight conference win for St. Croix Prep.  Addison Metcalf leads the Lions with 27 points.  Andrew Howard adds 18.  Bailey McDonald leads Maranatha with 12 points.  JaRory Purnell and Jeremiah LaVelle with 10 points.  Maranatha shoots 4-31 from 3.  St. Croix Prep with a huge edge at the foul line going 19-26 to only 3-7 for MCA.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Maranatha	St. Croix Prep
Effective FG %	28%	49.1%
Offensive Rebound %	31.7%	30.6%
Free Throw Rate	9.3%	49.1%
Turnover %	16.4%	24.3%
Points Per Possession	0.62	0.96