2021 Section 3AAAA Qtrs Viewing

Prologue
The big school playoffs roll on with a 4 vs 5 game in section 3AAAA.  Park of Cottage Grove hosting Eagan in this one.  Plenty of talent to preview for next year on display with Park going with a junior dominated lineup.  Eagan's lineup with a bunch of seniors but the leading scorers are a pair of sophs and the top big man is a junior.

Game Time
A cold start for both teams.  Eagan's Oscar Khazon gets a bucket and a steal for another 2. 6-2 Eagan 5 minutes in.  Eagan stretches that lead to 11-2.  Then its Jayden Lane with 12 of the next 14 for Park as they pull back to even at 18 at the 7:15 mark.  Khazon with a pull up and a wing triple to put Eagan back on top.  They'll go to halftime up 27-23.

Park goes 1-3-1 to start the 2nd half and its effective.  Lane with a steal for a bucket and we're immediately tied at 27.  He'll add 2 more bombs and another tough finish.  Pharrel Payne adds a putback.  10-2 Park run and they lead 37-32 with 13:45 left.  3 straight Eagan turnovers to end the run.  They continue to struggle vs the zone as Lane takes another steal for a dunk.  Khazon trying to keep Eagan close.  He buries a left corner 3 off a turnover and adds a tough 2.  

That 2nd bucket vs man as Park switched out of the zone after a timeout.  Payne with a dunk and a pair of free throws to keep Park ahead 50-41. Timeout Eagan and Park will go back to the 1-3-1. Evan Bearth for 3 and a blocked shots gives him a layup. Lane another steal for a bucket. Park stretches the lead to 61-46 and its over.  Park wins 65-52.

Post Game
Soph guard Oscar Khazon with 22 points to lead Eagan.  He was out the 1st time I watched Eagan this year.  Fellow soph Emmanuel Schmitter adds 10 points.  Good young group to build around for coach Kevin McKenzie.  Eagan finishes their season 6-13.

Jayden Lane outstanding for Park.  He created on offense, hit 4 3s and was a pest in the 1-3-1 zone on defense.  He finishes with 26 points to lead all scorers.  Pharrel Payne had a quiet first half but finished with 15 points.  Evan Bearth also in double figures with 11 points.  The move to the 1-3-1 in the 2nd half was the critical moment.  Then a quick step away from it to avoid a set play before closing the game with it.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Park	Eagan
Effective FG %	54.6%	57%
Offensive Rebound %	43.3%	26.1%
Free Throw Rate	12.7%	9.3%
Turnover %	17.9%	27.3%
Points Per Possession	1.16	0.95

Park was cold in the 1st half but almost made up the EFG value.  Wolfpack shot 17-29 in the 2nd half.  Czar's Law takes the L to fall to 96-24 on the season.  8 2nd half turnovers for Eagan leading to 3 transition buckets for Park.  13 offensive rebounds also a factor for Park.  Very clean game with only 11 total free throw attempts.