An IMAC Grinder

Prologue
Taking our chances again with the NFHS setup its an IMAC matchup on my schedule.  Undefeated St. Paul Academy taking on Providence Academy.  Providence playing without guard Liam Carney in their lineup.  Big loss for the Lions.

Game Time
Jimmy Fafinski taking care of his points and those of Carney as well.  He scores the 1st 11 Providence points. Lions jump out to an 11-2 lead at the 13:19 mark of the first half.  SPA claws back to within 5 thanks to a Clarke Baskerville triple.  Providence with a 9-0 run including a Fafinski bomb to push the lead to 24-10 at the 8:10 mark.  SPA stays with a 2-3 zone that showed some success and it holds Providence to 3 FG the rest of the half, but 2 were putbacks.  Spartans within 30-21 at the half.

Mark McCarthy 2 buckets and 2 FTs for Providence as they keep the lead around the 10 mark.  Brandt Baskerville with a 3 at the 6 minute mark and SPA is hanging around down only 8.  McCarthy with a dangerous foul line jumper with 2:20 left to keep the lead at 10.  Fafinski closes it out with a 3 point play and a tip dunk off a turnover.  Providence wins 62-50.

Post Game
St. Paul Academy falls to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the IMAC.  They play in the St. Paul Harding tourney next week where I may see them again.  Brandt Baskerville and Tysen Hayes with 14 points each to lead the offense.  Not much offensive firepower so expect them to grind games out with a slow pace.

Providence improves to 2-3 overall, 2-0 in the IMAC.  Jimmy Fafinski too much to handle with 33 points.  4 triples plus attacking the glass off the bounce or getting offensive boards.  Forward Mark McCarthy adds 12 of his 19 in the second half.  They're also limited on offense with Carney out of the lineup (27 points in the 1 game he played).  But McCarthy and Fafinski showed they can fill in.  They'll have to as only 2 other players scored for the Lions.  Providence travels to Dassel-Cokato on Tuesday for their last game before the holidays.

Czar Insights

For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  Just not enough offense for SPA.