A defensive playoff tune up

Prologue
Now its back to the South Suburban for the #3AAAA Eastview vs #6AAAA Shakopee rematch.  This looked like it might decide the league title, but Eastview already clinched coming in.  Shakopee trying to keep 2nd place in the league all to themselves rather than share it with Lakeville North

Game Time
A really rough start for Eastview.  They start 2-15 shooting with 8 turnovers.  The only 2 makes were steals for a dunk and a layup by Henry Shannon.  The best offense of the 1st half was Shakopee looking for Sam West inside as Eastview went small on him with one of the bigs having to guard Nick Katona.  West took advantage for 8 first half points.  Its a 12-2 start for Shakopee.  Mick Wherley with a right corner triple, an inside bucket and 2 of 4 free throws late in the half. Shakopee stretches the lead to 26-13 at the break. 

Shakopee with 3 early buckets as Eastview turns it over 3 more times.  32-18 Sabers when their offense falls apart.  Eastview turns it over 4 more times before they finally start getting some shots up.  Grayson Stalboerger for 3.  Kenji Scales for 3 and 2 FTs. Brady Schmitz backdoor for 2 and adds 2 FTs.  Zach Spann and Aryan Kohli for 3s.  Shakopee can't throw it in the ocean to get the MoKiller timeout.  The Eastview run is 20-1 with 8 Shakopee turnovers included.  Eastview on top 38-33.  Shakopee in a stretch of 1 FG in 20 trips.  Wherley and Shannon trading points.  Wherley's 2 FTs with 1:54 left keep Shakopee within 42-39.  Kenji Scales 3-4 FTs with a Shannon swat sandwiched inbetween.  

Scales both ends of the bonus before Katona hits a 3 and gets fouled.  The FT is no good but Shakopee still within 1 possession.  47-44 Eastview with 50 seconds left.  They miss a front end and Wherley goes quick to cut the lead to 1.  Eastview breaks the press but turns it over in the front court with 10 seconds left.  Shakopee out of timeouts.  They get it to the front court.  Katona gets a wide open look at the top of the key at the buzzer that's no good.  Eastview wins 47-46. 

Post Game
Shakopee falls to 13-5 on the season.  But with Lakeville North's upset loss to Prior Lake, the Sabers still claim 2nd place outright in the South Suburban.  Mick Wherley with 20 points.  Sam West with 8 of his 10 in the 1st half.  Nick Katona held to 8 points.  The Shakopee still likely the top seed in the wide open section 2AAAA bracket.

Eastview wins the South Suburban at 16-2.  They'll be the top seed in the 3AAAA playoffs and open with Burnsville next week.  Kenji Scales 10 points to lead the Lightning.  1 triple and 7 of 8 from the free throw line for Scales.  Henry Shannon held to 8 points.  Grayson Stalboerger all 8 of his points in the 2nd half with a couple of 3s.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Shakopee	Eastview
Effective FG %	35.6%	51.4%
Offensive Rebound %	42.1%	18.2%
Free Throw Rate	48.9%	37.1%
Turnover %	31.7%	33.9%
Points Per Possession	0.77	0.80

This one wasn't pretty but Czar's Law still holds to go to 94-21 on the season.  Eastview started 2-15 and then finished the game 13-20 from the floor.  Shakopee started 12-25 and then finished 3-20 as the game totally flipped early in the 2nd half.    But they do get the perfect analytics shot chart.  Turnovers end up being a wash.  Shakopee with the edge on the offensive board and at the foul line.  But they leave 8 points at the charity stripe.  The 0.80 PPP for Eastview may take the cake for lowest winning value of the season.