2012 Class AAAA Championship

What an amazing night at the Target Center.  An ugly offensive display but both teams made clutch plays.  The full game log will be on Northstar Hoops Report.  Amazing display from both student sections.  Very entertaining to see both of them cheer.  No attendance numbers but the largest crowd that I've seen at state in my years of covering it on press row.  Lakeville North suffered through shooting that would put most teams way down and out.  Osseo would make critical plays and not just the final buzzer beater to hang on.  Overall a very entertaining tournament. 


Czar's Class AAAA All-Tournament Ballot
Tyler Flack - Lakeville North
Ryan Saarela - Lakeville North
Grant Erickson - Lakeville North
Ian Theisen - Osseo
Cal Bloom - Osseo (Bridge Tusler made the official team)
DJ Hebert - Osseo
Sander Mohn - Eden Prairie
Grant Shaeffer - Eden Prairie
Siyani Chambers - Hopkins
Demetrius Martin - Hopkins

2012 Class AAA Championship

Another amazing game at the 2012 state tournament.  Washburn doesn't take the lead until the overtime and then a very exciting 20 seconds of basketball to end the overtime.  Love to see no timeouts.  I can't say I've ever seen as many people in the upper deck of the Target Center for a state tournament game in my time.  An amazing atmosphere.  My entire game log will be on Northstar Hoops Report.

Czar's Class AAA All-Tournament Ballot (all 10 on official team)
Jerry Pratt - Minneapolis Washburn
Nick Anderson - Minneapolis Washburn
Joseph Doby - Minneapolis Washburn
Reid Travis - De La Salle
Luke Scott - De La Salle
Jarvis Johnson - De La Salle
Alex Illikainen - Grand Rapids
Austin Pohlen - Grand Rapids
Marcus Marshall - St. Paul Johnson
Quashingm Smith-Pugh - St. Paul Johnson

2012 Class AA Championship

Not the prettiest of finals in the class AA title game between Plainview-Elgin-Millville and Litchfield.  Certainly no super star to watch . A defensive struggle anticipated but overall the game was higher scoring than anticipated.  Beau Nelson stepped up big as PEM won the title 55-39.  Full game log will be on Northstar Hoops Report.  A big second half run by PEM would ultimately put this battle out of reach.  Who would have thought that this would be the PEM team to win a championship?  But so many different pieces.  Chase Montgomery and Beau Nelson were quality pieces to go with Cory Speer.


Czar's Class AA All-Tournament Ballot
Zach Kinny - Litchfield
Jon Terning - Litchfield
Dylan Koll - Litchfield (Mitch Wollin made final team)
Cory Speer - PEM
Sam Ruth - PEM
Beau Nelson - PEM
Jordan Bruhn - Perham
Jordan Cresap - Perham
Tyler Vaughan - Braham
Cameron Braund - Braham

2012 Class A Championship

An outstanding atmosphere for the Class A tournament game between #1 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa and #2 Southwest Minnesota Christian.  The lower bowl of the Target Center almost completely full.  I love the small town support and its a refreshing site from the big school and metro games I mostly watch.  Great to see a Brian Wilson look a like in the crowd.  Also saw the SW MN Christian students hold up umbrellas after a 3.  That's quality.  The game was a war with BBE controlling most of the 2nd half . BBE wins 54-45.   Zach Huisken and Brian Goodwin absolutely outstanding for their teams.   The entire game log will be part of my work for Northstar Hoops Report.


Czar's Class A All-Tournament Ballot
Brian Goodwin - BBE (my tourney MVP)
Connor Goodwin - BBE
Billy Borgerding - BBE (Kirby Montbriand made official team)
Zach Huisken - SW MN Christian
Andrew Top - SW MN Christian
Dominic Nibbelink - SW MN Christian (Klint Knudson made official team)
Nick Thompson - Rushford-Peterson
Trent Vix - Rushford-Peterson
Beau Herrig - MLBO
Carter Kirk - MLBO

2012 State Tourney Semis

Litchfield Dragon

So a very eventful set of semifinals at this year's state tournament.  I wrote full game logs for the AAAA and AA semifinals for Northstar Hoops Report so you can check those out there.  I didn't see the A or AAA semfinals so I'll leave those alone.  On the lighter side of things, the Perham band always a unique site and great rock variety.  Always fun to see a unique mascot, especially one that isn't prone to mange.  This mascot also serves as a blowtorch when needed (e.g Dave Lee's shirt on Friday night).  Its the Litchfield Dragon and while he gives an initial impression of Puff the Magic Dragon, this mascot needs no magic.  Also props to the PEM Bulldog (picture was posted on Twitter, follow me now if you're not, you're missing out).  Television wisdom for the younger readers, don't have a grandson with a dog collar.

The AA Semifinal between Litchfield and Perham has already ignited the almost annual shot clock debate caused by the AA semifinals.  There's definitely a different taste for a defensive brand of basketball that isn't one for most average fans and can be difficult for many hardcore fans.  Great twitter debate amongst some of the Tri-Metro coaches tonight about it (and that's a largely AA league).  The game made up for much of the pain with a clear out and buzzer beater for the win.  Litchfield with no name that sticks out but as much a team as any team out there.

Ditto that for Plainview-Elgin-Millville who took out St. Peter in the quarters and then handled Braham in the semis.  They have athletes, some size and Cory Speer orchestrated it.  Braham got another big night from Tyler Vaughan but not enough depth.  After 34, 12 and 7 to steal one from St. Croix Lutheran, he added 35 and 10 tonight.  Only other loss of the year for Braham was in the season opener at Hopkins.

Speaking of Hopkins, I have to talk about the Osseo vs Hopkins semifinal.  What an amazing game that has to go down as one for the ages.  It takes me back to Armstrong vs Buffalo from 2007 but even better.  Each team had responses for the other.  Big plays.  Siyani Chambers goes out with 3 state titles and a semifinal loss where he stepped up large.  Just no good way to give the game enough words.

A tale of 2 games in the other AAAA semifinal.  Eden Prairie wins the first 16 minutes by 14 and then Lakeville North dominates from there.  The Panthers front line impressive again and their defense holds down Grant Shaeffer after his quarterfinal explosion vs Eastview.  Disappointing Eden Prairie crowd for the game.  Eden Prairie will end up with Eastview, Lakeville North and Hopkins at state.  Great matchup of front lines in the state title game with Johnson, Bloom, Gichaba and Theisen going up against Saarela, Rasmussen and Flack.  2 very strong and even teams.

2012 State Tourney Day 1

Much to my dismay I'm stuck in the real world for the day sessions for the forseeable future.  But an entertaining day at the state tourney none the less.  Thankfully I could listen on MSBN (thanks for the shout out on the Hopkins telecast guys).  I have detailed reports from the AA quarters at Target Center during the night session as part of my Northstar Hoops Report work and if you're not a member shame on you, join now, its all hoops all the time, if you're a fan there's no place you'd rather be.  Enough self-promotion, the games speak volumes so here's some thoughts on day 1 story lines.

So much for the top seeds rolling.  #1 Hopkins was lucky to escape with a victory in a game I was totally wrong about.  #3 Eastview goes out to Eden Prairie (not all that surprised at that one) and #2 Lakeville North had a struggle with Moorhead.  #1 Washburn barely survived Rocori . #2 St. Peter crumbles late and #3 Braham needs a crazy comeback ending to beat St. Croix Lutheran.  That last game was one that some may have thought was the best draw in the AA bracket.

Turn on the lights, the Party is just beginning.  Tyler Vaughan goes nuts in Braham's win.  Mitch Weg played very well in Worthington's loss to Perham.  Perham's Jordan Bruhn jumps on to the big state with a great performance.  By the way Eden Prairie's Grant Shaeffer had 2 points in the 1st half and then scored 39, yes 39! after halftime including 20 in a row. going into the overtime.  Throw in a 3 at the regulation buzzer to force overtime and you have a performance for the ages.

Duluth East not only having players give up medals at the section final but everybody including the coaching staff wearing Akolda Manyang T-Shirts.  Head Coach Chuck Tolo really going all out for the kid.  He feels its worth his job which I commend if the kid is truly innocent.  Hopefully it all works out for the kid and everybody in the program but a gigantic mess brewing there.  Hard not to wonder what would have happened if Akolda had played and couldn't because he was innocent.  If guilty then the East program has all kinds of egg on its face and it could cost Tolo his job (and it might anyway).

Litchfield probably the least flashy and noteworthy of any of the teams playing but they're sound and well-coached.  The matchup with Perham is a very interesting one in Friday's semifinals.  They made Watertown-Mayer pay for mistakes which all good teams do.