2024 Southside Showcase II Review

Minnehaha hosted the later season edition of the 2023-24 Southside Showcase.  6 games on a frigid day didn't keep things from warming up inside.  Plus walking tacos on the menu.  You know I'm not missing that.  It was worth every penny.  Here's a review

Game 1: Mahtomedi 55 Burnsville 52
Burnsville would hold Mahtomedi at bay in the 1st half thanks to 9 makes from the deep beyond.  Leul Samuel and Soren Leafblad with 3 each in that spurt.  13 point 1st half lead for the Blaze is 10 at the break.  Its still a 48-40 point lead for Burnsville with under 12 minutes left but the Blaze won't make another field goal.  Mahtomedi with their 3 triples in the 2nd half to get back to even.  Then its Ben Carlson clutch for Mahtomedi late.  An offensive rebound for 1 free throw, a drive for 2 more to take the lead and 2 free throws off a Blaze turnover for the final score.  Teams trade turnovers and Burnsville can't get a good look on the final possession to tie.  Carlson leads all scorers with 25 points.  Jeremy Sherlock and Luel Samuel lead Burnsville with 12 each.

Game 2: Roseville 79 St. Paul Highland Park 58
A sleepy start from Roseville gets coach Jamin Cook's attention for a timeout less than 2 minutes in.  Roseville goes on a 28-8 run from there for a 32-14 first half lead.  34-21 Roseville at the break.  Highland Park fights back behind wing Quintice Combs.  A 3 point play and 2 triples to start a big 2nd half.  Then a Roseville double technical ejection ends with 2 of the 12 Combs FTs in the half.  All of a sudden the Roseville lead is down to 40-37 and still over 14 minutes left. The Scots run is 16-2.

But its all Roseville after that.  An 11-0 run pushes the lead back to 14.  Then run away in the last 7 minutes to win big.  Noah George and Kellen Little 18 each to lead 10 Roseville scorers.  Quintice Combs 24 of his 25 points in the 2nd half including 12 of 13 FTs to lead Highland Park.  For Highland Park, there's an old saying that you are what your record is.  In this case, a surprising 1-9.  After seeing them in person for the 1st time this season, I now see that.  This is not the team I had high hopes for when I mentioned them in my 1 month review a couple weeks ago and in my season previews.  Now I don't see a path to the top 4 in the St. Paul City.  Very porous defensively, especially in transition and help.  If you've followed me this season, bad transition defense has been a theme in general.

Game 3: #5AAA Minneapolis South 89 Park 68
Park head coach Mike Weah laid up with a torn achilles. Park kept this one tight in the 1st half with AJ Kennedy knocking down 3 triples.  Jumarion Weh with 2 late 3s to help South open a 6 point halftime lead.  South would pull away in the 2nd half.  Poet Davis with 12 of his 15 points in the half.  James Underwood adds a couple of 3s and Romero Walker picks it up inside.  42-36 at half becomes 65-46 with 9 minutes left.  Weh leads South with 22 points.  Kaeden Callais 15 of his 21 in the 2nd half to lead the Wolfpack.  Anthony Giadyu adds 15.

Game 4: #8AAAA Minneapolis Washburn 73 #3AA Holy Family 41
Holy Family should have just stayed over after playing at Minnehaha the previous night.  Washburn jumps out to a 12-0 lead behind a pair of Kyle Jorgensen 3s and bucket.  Holy Family gets out of their man to man and does see a little success with their usual 1-2-2 trapping the corners.  But Washburn picks that apart too.  On the other end, stellar defense from the Millers and nothing from Holy Family's role guys.  Coach Joe Burger went to just about anybody he could find to try and find a spark and nothing there.  The lead was 20 at half and 40 at running time. Washburn impressive in all aspects moving the ball, tough defense and knocking down shots.  Kyle Jorgensen 25 points and 9 boards on my sheet and he sat the last 10+ minutes.  That was largely stationed on the perimeter as he had 4 3s on the scoresheet.  Kole Hanson 11 to lead Holy Family.

Game 5: Osseo 57 Minneapolis Southwest 56
Southwest would make a couple of runs to take 1 point leads in this one, but Osseo had an answer each time.  A 10-1 run  to end the 1st half after a 23-22 SW lead.  Then Mason Dean with a SW bucket to put them up 53-51 with 4:10 left.  Dean too quick off the dribble as he took advantage of the Osseo bigs in the 2nd half for 7 buckets and 19 points overall.  De'Mari Larkins carried the 1st half offense then quiet until the stretch run.  But after SW took the lead, he was back.  Hanging jumper to tie it and 2 free throws for the lead.  Dean counters to tie it at 55 with 1:45 left.  Larkins another jumper, 1 SW free throw.  SW then gets a stop to get them 1 final chance with 8 seconds left.  Osseo gets the stop to hang on.  Dean leads SW with 19 points.  Liam Farniok 15, Dejaun Jones with 13 and 3 triples off the bench.  Abe Anderson out of the Southwest lineup for the day.  Larkins leads Osseo with 22 points, 16 in the 1st half.

Game 6: Minnehaha 74 St. Cloud Tech 68
Early 3 point play for Tameron Ferguson is a 10-9 Tech lead.  18-5 Minnehaha run with a George Norsman 3 pt play and layup included.  Tech would respond with their own 9-0 run before a Norsmann bucket broke that.  34-32 Minnehaha at the break.  Ferguson a steal for a dunk, a layup and 2 free throws to tie the game at 40.  Norsman 6 buckets in the 2nd half and then he adds 2 clutch 3s for a 10 point Minnehaha lead with 6 minutes left. Ferguson with his only 3 of the night and scores off a turnover to cut the margin to 2 with 1:05 left.  Lorenzo Levy with the dagger 3 with 50 seconds left seals it.  George Norsman leads Minnehaha with 18 of his 25 in the 2nd half.  Lorenzo Levy adds 21.  Tameron Ferguson played the best game I've seen him play over the last 2 years.  35 points on 12-24 shooting on my sheet (1-6 from 3, 10-15 FTs) with a handful of assists and rebounds.  Made his first 7 2 point attempts before finishing 4-11 from 2.  Tech was missing an important piece in shooter Palmer Baynes.  He was out sick.

All Showcase Team
Tameron Ferguson - St. Cloud Tech
Kyle Jorgensen - Minneapolis Washburn
De'Mari Larkins - Osseo
George Norsman - Minnehaha
Mason Dean - Minneapolis Southwest

Honorable Mentions
Kaeden Callais -Park
Ben Carlson - Mahtomedi
Quintice Combs - St. Paul Highland Park
Jumarion Weh - Minneapolis South