Storm cloud over the rim

Prologue
I was going to watch the big Tri-Metro showdown between DeLaSalle and Richfield but the NFHS feed was busted at the start of the game.  A quick backup plan to a game I already had planned for later viewing takes me to Jefferson at Chanhassen.  Its a chance to get in a look at the final team in the league I haven't seen in the host Storm.

Game Time
Chanhassen takes control right away with a 9-0 run.  Grant Muffenbier with a corner triple and a pair of free throws to warm up the storm clouds.  Chanhassen then misses 8 straight shots with 5 turnovers thrown in.  That allows Jefferson to score the next 8 points and close the margin to 9-8 at around the 8 minute mark.  Only 1 more basket for the Jags in the half.  Ben Giles and Braden Barger each knock down a pair of treys.  16-3 Chanhassen run to end the half.  They lead 25-11 at the break.  Jefferson shoots 4-25 in the half.

Austin Boll with a jumper and 3 point play to keep the storm brewing at the start of the 2nd half. Will Schliecher with 4 2nd half buckets for Chanhassen as the lead grows to 50-22 with 4:40 left.  Finally the storm clouds blow away from the rim as Jefferson scores on 8 of their last 9 possessions.  They'll make 6 of their last 8 shots to keep the score more respectable.  Chanhassen wins 55-37.

Post Game
Bloomington Jefferson falls to 4-3 in the Metro West with the loss.  They are now 5-3 overall with this being their 3rd straight loss.  Jefferson turns it over 18 times and is 1-12 from 3.  They start the game shooting 8-44 from the floor.  They makes the outside wind chill seem appealing.  Jefferson is at St. Louis Park on Thursday.

Chanhassen improves to 2-5 overall and in the conference.  The Storm host Cooper on Firday and then visit rival Chaska next Tuesday.  In a crazy bit of scheduling, they'll end their season with all 6 of their available non-conference games.  Ben Giles with 2 first half 3s and 12 points to lead the Storm.  Braden Barger adds 2 3s and10 points off the bench.  Fun to get a look at freshman Max Woods in the starting lineup.  The first 3 losses of the season were by at total of 10 points and that included the 1st games against Cooper and Chaska.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Chanhassen	Bloomington Jefferson
Effective FG %	52.3%	27.9%
Offensive Rebound %	22.2%	44.2%
Free Throw Rate	27.3%	25%
Turnover %	26.2%	30%
Points Per Possession	0.90	0.62

Chanhassen wins 3 of the 4 factors. The huge margin in EFG carries the day in this one as Jefferson just couldn't get anything to fall.  Turnover numbers high for both sides but didn't generate much in the way of offense for either side.