Don't Pack this one in

Prologue
Miserable weather means online viewing and while my planned game did come on, it didn't come in on time.  But happenstance is in my favor as  I pick up the #3AAA South St. Paul vs Mahtomedi game on YouTube as my alternate.  It takes until early 2nd half to get caught up, but this one didn't disappoint.  Not the Mahtomedi squad you expect with Will Underwood and Owen Carlson out.

Game Time
Quick start for South St. Paul as they jump out to a 16-6 lead just over 6 minutes into the game.  5 different Packers with buckets and Alonzo Dodd isn't one of them.  Mahtomedi hanging around with their 1-2-2 zone to try to slow down the high powered Packers offense.  AJ McCleery getting whatever he wants inside for Mahtomedi.  He scores 8 out of 10 for the Zephyrs.  Plus he draws the 2nd foul on Dodd at the 7:09 mark.  Mahtomedi with the lead down to 3 as Dodd sits.  Its McCleery again at the 3:18 mark with a 3 point play and that's the 2nd on Devin Newsome.  That brings Dodd back in as we're all tied at 29.  Dodd with 2 buckets to regain the lead.  McCleery closes out the half with yet another bucket.  35-34 South St. Paul at the break.

The second half sees South St. Paul come out with their 4 top starters sitting.  McCleery 3 more quick buckets as Mahtomedi takes the lead.  James Ecker gets hot with 2 bombs after a couple of free throws.  16-0 Mahtomedi run over a stretch of just under 5 minutes.  54-42 Mahtomedi leading with 10:05 left.  That will get the South St. Paul starters up off the bench.  America Fitch breaks the run with a 3 and those guys return at the 9:30 mark.  Dodd, bucket.  Tay Harmon steal and triple and give me 3 more on the inside out pass to beat the zone.  Dodd right corner 3, right wing 3 bang bang.  Dodd and Newsome add pairs of free throws.  Its a 22-4 Packers run (19-4 after starters return) over 6 and a half minutes.  64-58 South St. Paul leads with 3:06 left.  Mahtomedi with a bucket with 10.3 left to cut the margin to 2.  SSP makes the 1st free throw, misses the 2nd and gets it back.  Packers seal it by making 1 of those 2 freebies with 8.3 left.  South St. Paul survives 72-68.

Post Game
Mahtomedi falls to 2-3 overall, 0-1 in the Metro East.  AJ McCleery with 27 points to lead Mahtomedi.  3 others with 9 points.  South St. Paul was patient and moved the ball vs the 1-2-2 and 2-3 zones, only 11-27 shooting inside against it but 11-33 from 3.  But more importantly it slowed the pace to something manageable.  Mahtomedi continues Metro East play at home on Friday against upstart Henry Sibley Two Rivers.   Then a trip to another pleasant league surprise, St. Thomas Academy, next Tuesday.

#3AAA South St. Paul improves to 9-0. They survive despite their top 4 starters sitting out the first 8:30 of the 2nd half and first half foul trouble of their 2 stars.  Alonzo Dodd 19 points, most coming at critical times to lead South St. Paul.  Tay Harmon with 4 triples and 16 big points as well.  Plus his usual intense on ball defense.  Shawn West-Zimpel 11 points off the Packers bench.  Devin Newsome held to 7 points.  The Packers host Hill-Murray on Friday night before a quick Saturday afternoon turnaround vs #10AAA Austin in the Rochester Hoops Challenge.  That will be the 3rd game of the season against a top team from the Big 9 as they already have quality wins over Mankato East and Mankato West.

Czar Insights

For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  Mahtomedi's 26 turnovers didn't turn into a huge points off turnovers advantage for South St. Paul.  But 18 extra shots and 7 extra 3s overcomes Mahtomedi's shooting advantage.