The 2nd full week of the 2024-25 season is in the books. Teams starting to get in the flow of things as we prepare for the holiday break. Here's what caught my eye this week. By the way, if you're looking for the holiday schedules, I have a full set of them here.
Chaska Follow Up
I said last week we'd learn a lot about
Chaska this week. A tough 24 hours for them over the weekend as they
lost to Prior Lake and Farmington. Prior Lake junior wing Zach
Christofferson 9th man in but came up huge with 14 points and 3 triples
as the Lakers rallied from 8 down in the first half. Chaska 2 turnovers in
the last 1:04 of that game when it was a 1 possession game were very
costly.
Forwards On Display
While most of the top prospects were at the Tip Off Classic last week, I had the chance this week to take in a couple 2026 bigs that weren't there. Faribault and Ryan Kreager made the trip for a battle of green at Hill-Murray. Kreager dominated early as the Falcons opened on a 10-0 run and won 66-44. 4 of his 5 blocks were early and kept the Pioneers at bay. He finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks on my sheet.
Then Friday night was the first boys game on Galvin Court as White Bear Lake moves operations to the North campus. Let's hope Donatelli's pizza is still on the concession stand menu.. The court is named after longtime boys coach Jim Galvin who led the Bears during their dominance in 1984 and 1985 where they won 2 state titles and 52 straight games. Nice pregame ceremony for that. As to the game itself, the Bears jumped out to a 14-0 lead against a rebuilding Forest Lake squad and won 68-55. Forest Lake would go 1-3-1 and keep it from getting completely out of hand. Huge night for White Bear Lake big man Colin Piper against the small Rangers lineup. He goes nuts for 30 points and 22 rebounds on my officially unofficial stat sheet.
Owen Wilcek with most of his 24 points in the 2nd half for Big Lake in a 81-73 loss at Hutchinson. He knocked down a couple of 3s in that game. Fellow senior forward Max Siegrist also productive with 18 points for the Hornets.
Two Rivers forward Julian Greer with 5 triples and 34 points in a nice road section win for the Warriors at St. Paul Highland Park.
In 2027, a couple of names caught my attention. Forward Tyler Erickson came off the Woodbury bench and knocked down 4 triples to help lead the Royals to a 80-73 win at Roseville. Gideon Horne wasn't in the Hope lineup when I saw them the 1st time but he came off the bench this week. That was in a 71-44 blowout section win over New Life Academy. New Life in major rebuild mode this season.
Southside Showcase
Simley was down 17 to Maranatha early in the 2nd half of the 1st game of Saturday's Southside Showcase at Benilde-St. Margaret's. They would cut that margin down to 8 with 4:10 left. Then coach Willie Braziel broke out a 1-2-2 zone and the Spartans went on a 12-0 run to end the game and steal a 70-66 victory. That's my adjustment of the week.
Its a very very young Simley roster with 3 sophomores (1 starting), plus a starting freshman PG and the starting PF is an 8th grader. Add in 2 junior starters and they setup nicely long term. They're off to a 3-1 start with games this week at Highland Park, the Metro East opener at home vs Hill-Murray on Friday and Saturday's game vs West Lutheran.
More youth on hand as Moorhead stayed in town for a Friday/Saturday metro back to back. The Spuds held off Rosemount 76-67. A late 10-1 run in a 3 point game put it out of reach. Moorhead starts 3 sophs and bring a frosh off the bench. David Mack leads that talented group. He had 16 in this game and 23 in the Friday loss to Buffalo. But its senior PG Brian Zarazua that holds it all together. He had 20 points and a handful of assists to lead the Spuds. Moorhead with single digit losses to Buffalo and Fargo Davies to start the year. Spuds won't be an easy out in 8AAAA. I'd love to see North Dakota realign and include Moorhead in a version of the Eastern Dakota Conference with Wahpeton and the Fargo schools. While the travel logistics make sense, playing in a non-Minnesota conference would be a nightmare seeding wise.
Rosemount got another solid game from Peyton Gholson with triples. He also played well in the win over Jefferson earlier in the week. Big man Jordan Vanwinkle with a productive 2nd half as Rosemount stayed close.
The Big Stage
Game 1: Maple Grove 54 Eden Prairie 52
Eden Prairie played without point guard Hamze Yusuf. Max Lorenson 25 to try and make up the difference. Maple Grove with a 16-2 2nd half run to go up 47-40 with 8:10 left. But the Crimson would go on a offensive drought of almost 6 minutes which allowed this one to come right down to the wire. Eden Prairie with a 10-0 run during that time. Eden Prairie trailing by 2 late and fouled on a 3 for 3 free throws with 6.7 left. But they miss all 3 free throws. Keegan Harney leads Maple Grove with 16 points, soph Baboucarr Ann adds 3 triples and 12 points.
Game 2: Edina 66 Lakeville South 63
Lakeville South with 4 3s early in the 2nd half as they opened a 15 point lead. Edina holds Lakeville South to 1 single point in the last 5 minutes as they finish the game on a 9-1 run. Edina sophomore forward Vincent Cronin injured early in this one and did not return. Billy DeMars 21 points to lead all scorers. Mason Mohs adds 13 critical points off the Hornets bench including the go ahead bucket in the last minute. Keaton Ressler 20 points and 4 triples to again lead Lakeville South but nobody else in double figures.
Game 3: Minnetonka 67 Waconia 64
Waconia jumped out to a 13-2 lead. Minnetonka would respond with a 25-9 spurt to take the lead. They would keep that lead at 49-38 with about 10 min left. Waconia came roaring back with 18-7 run to take the lead 56-55. Will Kirsch and Jacob Hudson went back and forth all day. Kirsch with a bucket for the lead but Hudson immediately counters with a beautiful cut for a bucket to put Tonka back on top. Waconia misses and Tonka closes it out with free throws. Will Kirsch with 34 to lead Waconia. Jacob Hudson with a breakout performance for Minnetonka with 30 points and 4 triples. Caleb Francois another good game adding 18. Anthony Ortiz with 13 and the 2 final bonus freebies. Tonka played without Isa El-Amin again and no Duke Richardson.
Game 4: #8AAAA St. Louis Park 90 Park Center 69
Close first half but St. Louis Park runs away in the 2nd half. The Curtis twins go for 37 of their 59 points in the 2nd half. Both dominant as Micah went for 32 and Marley went for 27. Xavier Frelix leads Park Center with 20 poits. No Abu Keita for Park Center and Emmanuel Jentzen played limited minutes.
Game 5: #2AAAA Hopkins 113 #8AAA Richfield 92
Hopkins turned Richfield over early and often in this one as they started on a 13-0 and 30-12 run. CJ Armstrong with a monster day would pull the Spartans within 36-26 on a 3 point play at the 6:32 mark. He had 22 of the 26 Richfield points at that mark. Hopkins counters with a 23-5 run over the next 4 minutes and its over. Anthony Smith with 34 points, JJ Semanko with 18 to lead Hopkins. Once again they don't need a big game from Jayden Moore. Now 3 impressive wins over some of the best of class AAA for Hopkins. CJ Armstrong doesn't disappoint for Richfield. He goes for 26 in the first half and adds another 27 in the 2nd half to finish with 53 points.
Game 6: #4AAA Totino-Grace 77 #3AA Breck 58
A battle of last year's AA and AA champs. TG bench outscores Breck 27-6 thanks to 12 points each from Tian Chatman (1st game back) and star frosh Daniel Zoa. Chace Watley's 16 points leads 5 Eagles in double figures. Breck gets 19 from Miles Newton. 8 of those were early and a couple were late. He was largely quiet inbetween. JP Musoke adds 15. TG uses a 15-2 run late in the 1st half to take a 9 point halftime lead. Then another 12-2 run midway thru the 2nd half to blow the game open.
Game 7: #1AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall 75 #1AAA Orono 65
Now from last year champs to top ranked this year. 7-0 CDH start but Brady Wooley counters with 3 hoops to quickly bring Orono back. Nolan Groves with 18 of his 29 in the 1st half to keep it a 2 point CDH lead at the half. JoJo Mitchell sat a large chunk of the 1st half with 2 fouls and CDH is a very different team with him sitting. He scored all 13 of his points in the 2nd half. A couple of those buckets helped push the lead to 14. Orono did get 2 highlights in this game. A monster post dunk from Wooley and a huge chasedown block by Groves. Tommy Ahneman a solid double double and good passing from the post too. He finishes with 17 points. Soph star Ty Schlagel terrific with 20 points. Monteff Dixon also very productive with 14 points. Just too much CDH firepower. Brady Wooley with 17 points for Orono.
Interesting note that the first 3 games between the non-ranked teams had a combined winning margin (8 pts) that was less than the winning margin in any of the final 4 games that involved the ranked teams and high-profile matchups.
Czar Viewing Stats Year To Date
Number of Varsity Games Watched: 50
Number of Teams Seen: 86
Pepsi Consumption at games: 56 ounces
Coke Consumption at games: 0 ounces
Hot Dogs Consumed: 1
