Catching up on News and Notes

Its July and that means the big recruiting period is here. I'll take a look at who's where on Monday. But here are some old news and notes worth catching up on.

1st is the Kevin Noreen signing with West Virginia. Great story from the Charleston, WV Gazette on how it all went down (Read it here).  Congrats to him on a great high school career and he's a better person.  For all the criticism he took during his high school career, it shows hard work pays off.  Hope he does well at WVU.

Second, a really nice story out of Red Wing where 7'1" Isaac Oeltjen signed with Boise State this week.  Boise State previously had signed 7'1" Ben Mills out of Wisconsin to fill that spot before they changed coaches.  Mills then left for Colorado (where they also had interest in Winona's Alec Brown at that time).  Oeltjen averaged 7.4 PPG for the 9-19 Wingers in an abbreviated senior season in 08-09 but he had numerous leg issues and worked his way back.  Very smart use of technology as part of that.  Nice article from the Idaho Statesman on how he put himself on the map. (read it here)

Third, Minnesota gets shutout of the new 2012 Scout.com top 75.  JP Tokoto from Menomonee Falls, WI drops to #26.  The Martin Brothers trio out of Iowa all makes it includes #18 Marcus Paige.  I've seen both play in person and Paige is very good (a notch above Siyani Chambers if you want a comparison), but no way should he be ahead of Tokoto.

Finally, Wisconsin voted this week to go to a 5 division playoff format (yuck).  It was 20 years ago that Wisconsin switched from 3 divisions (A, B, C) to 4 (1-4).  Some of the section travel is an absolute nightmare (particularly for my alma mater).  The smallest schools have very minor changes.  What it addresses are the smallest D1 schools with enrollments around 1000 playing against 2500 kids.  What's ridiculous about that argument is that D1 got 8 schools to state and everybody else got 4.  That's no longer true.  Doesn't really address the problem of urban private D3s (Racine St Cats, La Crosse Aquinas, Whitefish Bay Dominican and Manitowoc Roncalli are the culprits) dominating the state tournament and keeping out rural small public schools.  That was one of the driving forces behind all of the discussion in the first place. 

What's interesting is that the enrollment breakdowns (1200+ D1, 600+ D2, 201-600 D3 and 4, 200 and down D5) are very similar to what we have in Minnesota for our 4 divisions.  1161+ is 4A, 565+ is 3A, 220+ is 2A and single A is the rest.  Read all about the plan and see maps and enrollments here.

Noreen makes Scout's final top 100

Kevin Noreen made the final Scout.com top 100 for 2010.  He came in at #91 after not making the last list (somewhere between 101 and 107).  Here are the other players who have appeared locally and a comparison of where they were in the September 2009 rankings.

Harrison Barnes #1 (no change) - North Carolina
Josh Selby #5 (up from #10) - Kansas
Joe Jackson #23 (down from #17) - Memphis
Vander Blue #34 (down from #27) - Marquette
Dwight Powell #42 (up from #45) - Stanford
Trevor Releford #50 (no change) - Alabama
Alex Kirk #76 (up from #80) - New Mexico
Tobi Oyedeji #93 (down from #68) - Texas A&M
Evan Anderson drops out after being #90. - Wisconsin

MN shutout in final Rivals 2010 Top 150

Rivals released their final 2010 rankings today.  Kevin Noreen and Jacob Thomas both miss out on that final ranking.  

Here are the players from the list who made a local appearance.

#1 Josh Selby
#2 Harrison Barnes
#18 Joe Jackson
#24 Vander Blue
#25 Dwight Powell
#84 Crandall Head
#85 Tobi Oyedeji
#90 Trevor Releford
#101 Anthony Johnson
#116 Alex Kirk
#129 Brandon Peters
#139 Brandon Spearman
#143 Ahmad Starks

Kevin Noreen wins 2010 Mr Basketball Award

To the surprise of no one, Kevin Noreen of Minnesota Transitions was (quietly) named 2010 Minnesota Mr. Basketball.  Noreen led MTS to the Class A title over Sebeka with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 9 blocks in the state title game.  All of this with what has been reported as a ruptured spleen.  He finishes his career with the state record for total points (4086) and the record for most points in a single season (1205).  He averaged 36.5 points per game this season.  Its also very likely he'll hold the state's all-time rebound record as well (his last 4 year total is very close to David Hanson's record and Noreen played 6 years of varsity).

MTS vs Sebeka (2010 Class A Championship)

Very interesting game with Sebeka having an up and down style to run with MTS.  Then it gets really interesting when Kevin Noreen goes up to block a shot and comes down hard on his back only 2:04 into the game.  He'll stay in but definitely not 100%.  Sebeka gets out to a 13-4 lead before Kevin Noreen brings MTS back.  MTS getting good 2 on 1 looks vs the Sebeka pressure.  1 of the press breaks leads to a big Rodney Owens poster.  But MTS has also been really sloppy with 13 turnovers.  6-16 for everybody else on the team.  Joey Cuperus effective inside against Noreen who can hardly get off the floor.  He spends most of the last 16 minutes of the half hanging on the perimeter save 1 late post basket.  The Wolves get a break when Owens fouls Cody Pulju on a 3 at the first half buzzer but only 1 of 3 free throws are made.  32-30 Sebeka at the half and MTS has never had the lead.  MTS has used 3 timeouts already.  2 for injury and 1 in the last minute to stop a 10 second count.  One of the worst uses of timeouts I've seen in a long time.  Let's see if that haunts coach Sherman in the second half.  But there are all of the TV timeouts.  Other big question is if Kevin Noreen's back will stiffen up during the long halftime break.

My All-Tourney Picks: Kevin Noreen, Kyle Noreen and Rodney Owens - MTS.  Joey Cuperus, John Clark and Cody Pulju- Sebeka.  Casey Schilling and Trevor Gruis - Ellsworth,  Kasey Ollof and Nick Thompson - Rushford-Peterson.

MTS out and running vs the Sebeka press early in the half and Sebeka smartly gets out of it at about the 12 minute mark.  MTS has had their best offense when they broken the press so I like that move.  Kevin Noreen's size blocking and changing shots starting to be a factor with 6 blocks to this point.  Clark just made a ridiculous double-clutch with Noreen challenging.  Noreen with a layup at 7:40 for a 4 point lead (biggest so far) and Sebeka calls time to keep it close.  Shot challenged and missed and Owens runs out and finishes.  Danger time for the Trojans.  No points for Sebeka in the last 4 and a half minutes.  9-2 MTS over the last 7 minutes.  6 point lead MTS with 6 minutes and they pull the ball out.  Gack, too early for that. 1 turnover becomes a Sebeka hoop and Sebeka misses a chance to convert another.  Then a jump ball to MTS to save a turnover.  All of that in 1 minute.  53-48 at the 3:46 TV Timeout.  Kevin Noreen 1 block away from a triple-double.

Layup at the 3 minute mark extends the lead to 7 as MTS continues to spread.  Sebeka turns it over and MTS will hold.  Owens and Kevin Noreen tic-tac-toe for an Owens bucket.  Its another layup and the lead is 9.  Game set and finally MTS wins the elusive class A title 61-52.  Kevin Noreen finishes with 24 points, 15 boards and 9 blocks.  He ends his career with all time scoring records of 4086 (career) and 1205 (season).  Rodney Owens finishes with 22 points and 7 rebounds.  Cody Pulju 16 points to lead Sebeka.  John Clark 13 and Joey Cuperus 10 pts and 8 rebounds.  MTS shoots the lights out in the 2nd half.

Here's the Class A All-Tournament Team
Blake Lea - Rushford-Peterson
Kasey Ollof - Rushford-Peterson
Trevor Gruis - Ellsworth
Casey Schilling - Ellsworth
Joey Cuperus - Sebeka
John Clark - Sebeka
Alex Brockpahler - Sebeka
Kyle Noreen - MTS
Kevin Noreen - MTS
Rodney Owens - MTS

MTS vs Rushford-Peterson (Class A Semifinal)

So now the small school semifinals.  After last night's officiating debacle let's hope today is better.  Year after year we see stuff like this too.  That's bad for our game.  Big story of the day is the conduct of at least 1 Hopkins player after the 2OT win over Sibley last night.  For the record, I didn't see any of it but there's are enough credible people out there who did.  The stories I'm seeing and hearing are repulsive.  With 4A having the day off, there's a full day, almost 2, for this to fester but also to be investigated and solved.  Either way, this will be a big deal again tomorrow night.  You'll either see punishment or a lack of punishment will have people calling for heads at Hopkins.  Between and a bad jelly donut in the press room, not a good start to the day (and I'm all about donuts).

The Rushford band is behind me warming up with John Lennon's Imagine and Smoke on the Water, nice.  And then they open with Great Balls of Fire.  A great line yesterday.  The MTS wolf looks like a werewolf with mange.  HA!  Transitions is a heavy favorite and unlike yesterday where Springfield didn't do enough to exploit their size, expect Kevin Noreen to get a ton of inside touches against the short frontline.  Rushford-Peterson's tallest player is 6'4 but lefty soph Nick Thompson (nice player BTW) is really a wing so it comes down to 6'2 Nic Duneman.   But don't count out RP.   This is coach Tom Vix's 11th appearance at state.

RP doubling Kevin Noreen out of their 2-3 zone and why not with their success yesterday.  MTS with a1-2-2 zone, also like yesterday.  6 minutes in before Blake Lea finally hits a 3 to put RP o nthe board. Kevin Noreen responds with his first bucket on the next possession.  Very slow pace and this will keep RP in the game.  11-6 MTS as we go to the 2nd TV timeout at the 9:14 mark of the first half.  4 turnovers quick for RP but they've settled down.

Rodney Owens with a 3 and he's off to another hot start.  Ben Krambeer dives over press row head first and is OK to a major ovation.  A gasp from everybody looking over the rail to see if he was OK.  Owens again for 3 at the 6:50 mark to push the lead to double-digits.  19-8 MTS as we go to TV timeout #3 at the 6:31 mark.  RP only 3-11 from the floor but they've recovered half of those misses.

Thompson for 3 and a nice cut behind the cut and they find him for a layup. 22-13 MTS at the 5:40 mark.  Kevin Noreen responds with a 3 point play on the post.  He misses a bunny and RP comes back with a 3.  A behind the back pass is a MTS turnover and Thompson with another 3.  That's his 3rd.  11 points for him and we go to the last TV timeout of the half at the 3:59 mark.  25-19 MTS with the lead.  Rushford with 4 makes in a row.    Rushford-Peterson 5-7 from the 3 point line.   That's how they can win this one.

MTS finally generates a turnover from their trap and the Noreens play hot potato for a Kevin layup.  Kyle Noreen picks up a cheap 3rd foul at RP is trying to hold for the last shot.  He sits and MTS goes to halftime with a 27-21 lead. RP misses their last 5 shots to finish 7-20 shooting but 5-9 from 3.  Also 6 turnovers for the Trojans.  Rodney Owens 12 points and 5 boards, Kevin Noreen 8 points and 4 boards for MTS.  Nick Thompson 11 points and 3 triples to lead the Trojans.  It'll be very interesting to see if MTS comes out with anything to step up the pace in the second half. MTS didn't show any of their diamond press yesterday or in this game so far. We'll see if it comes out in the second half.

Nice inside out pass from Kevin to Kyle Noreen for 3.  MTS extends their 1-2-2 and Owens immediately takes a steal the other way for 2.   Right back to double-digits.  Kasey Ollof with a long 3.  Kevin Noreen rebounds and the long outlet.  Kyle Noreen finishes that.  35-24 MTS at the 14:51 TV timeout. 

Kevin Noreen with a block.  Then a steal becomes a Kyle Noreen layup.  Rodney Owens tips a rebound to Kevin Noreen for a layup.  39-25 MTS before Thompson hits a baseline jumper.  Owens to Kevin Noreen down the lane for 2 and the foul.  43-27 MTS at the 10:21 TV timeout.  Turnovers have hurt RP so far in the half.

MTS comes out 2-3 from the TV break and Blake Lea promptly punishes it with a left corner 3.  Timeout MTS and Kevin Noreen give and go with Owens down the lane for the 2 handed dunk.  That's how you finish against the pressure.  Now it could get ugly.  Kevin Noreen in the middle is a big target.  DeAngelo Potter on a skip from Kyle Noreen and the lead is 18.  Nick Thompson with another triple.  Off an MTS turnover, Owens comes up with a block and Kevin Noreen is at the other end for 2 free throws.  52-35 MTS at the 6:31 TV timeout.  Close the book on RP.  Their fans have been screaming for fouls on every little thing.  Its a little much. 

RP fouling with 3:21 left, interesting when they're down 56-41.  He takes it off a 1:45 and the benches empty.  RP boos the return of Kevin and Kyle Noreen with 22 seconds left but its only a 9 point game and MTS wasn't looking to score.  They get their wish as MTS turns it over anyway.  Rushford-Peterson never leads.  MTS wins 56-49.  MTS moves on to the class A title game against Ellsworth or Sebeka which should be outstanding.

Kevin Noreen finishes with 17 points and 11 rebounds.  Kyle Noreen 12 points.  Rodney Owens 18 points and 17 rebounds for MTS.  Nick Thompson with another performance for RP.  He finishes 6-8 from the 3 point line for 20 points (9 3s in the tourney).  Kasey Ollof and Blake Lea held to a cominbed 14 points.  RP shoots 16-42 compared to 23-38 for MTS.  A crazy 12-16 FGs for MTS in the 2nd half.

Kevin Noreen reaches 4000 career points

Minnesota Transitions wins the 4A East Subsection Championship over St. Agnes tonight.  Kevin Noreen with 44 points in the game to surpass the 4000 career points plateau with 4001.  He has a max of 4 games remaining in his career to make sure it stays above 4000 if the MSHSL decided to (wrongly) retract points from games against certain opponents earlier in his career.

To see the entire breakdown of the record, from the day Cody Schilling set the record through now, see my Kevin Noreen's State Scoring Record page.

MTS vs Red Lake Thoughts

Prologue
To MTS for renewal of the rivalry between Red Lake and MTS.  We even have T-Shirts for the double varsity event today.  We have the always loud MTS drumline and an appearance by the MTS Wolf (mascot).  Bushy tail included.  Free hot dogs as part of open house and everything else is a Haiti fundraiser.  Gotta like both of those.  MTS girls win big as soph DJ Bland is honored at halftime for passing the 1000 career points mark.

Game Time
MTS goes diamond press and forces a handful of turnovers in the first 2 minutes.  Kevin Noreen with 3 hoops and a pair of assist to be part of the first 11 Wolves points.  17-2 MTS at 15:10.  Doesn't help that Red Lake can't make a bunny either.  Sam Kingbird with his first triple to cut the lead to 34-17 at 9:54.  Kevin Noreen with a steal for 2, a putback and then a layup after a Rodney Owens block.  40-17 going to a Red Lake timeout with 8:53 left in the half.  Kevin Noreen then living at the foul line.  4 in a row, then a give and go for a 3 point play and 2 more free throws.  51-22 Wolves at 6:22.  3 straight turnovers for 3 easy Red Lake buckets including Sam Kingbird with a pair of layups give the Warriors 7 in a row to force an MTS timeout.  Up and down we go the rest of the half.  72-47 MTS at the break.  Kevin Noreen with half of those (36) and 11 boards.  Sam Kingbird with 5 triples in his 21 points in the half.

Second half is a layup drill for each team as there's absolutely no defense being played.  That favors MTS as they start the half 15-6 and open the lead up to 96-57 after a Kyle Noreen steal and pass to Rodney Owens for a layup with 13:01 left.  MTS starting to pull the starters.  Owens and Potter are gone.  Kyle Noreen leaves at 10:47 and Kevin Noreen leaves at 9:12 with a 107-68 lead.  Bench fest, snooze.  But hold the phone.  The MTS bench can't take care of the ball and running time goes away at 5:02.  Its a Red Lake 24-1 run after a banked in triple to cut the lead to 108-92 with 3 minutes left and that brings all the starters back in.  They finish the game 13-3 for a 121-95 MTS win.

For Red Lake, Sam Kingbird 35 points and 9 triples.  They just had no answer for the MTS diamond press.  They fall to 12-5 and host MTS in the final game of the regular season on March 6th.  That's 6 of 8 at home to end the season.  That should be enough to get them the #2 seed in the north subsection of 8AA .

For MTS, Kevin Noreen finishes with 55 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists on my sheet.  Rodney Owens 18 of his 30 in the first half.  Kyle Noreen 27 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists.  MTS now 17-3.  Forest Olivier = Anderson Varajeo.  I may have to give his hair the nod over Jayme Moten of New London-Spicer.

MN Preps Interview with John Sherman

There's been a ton of controversy around Kevin Noreen and the all-time state scoring record.  The Star Tribune has provided their take on the whole thing.  I've had my say with the analysis of the data and what I've said in the numerous games I've seen and the data I've provided here.  The one extended viewpoint that isn't out there is that of MTS.  That's now fixed as Michael Much of Minnesota Preps did a free interview with MTS coach John Sherman to get his thoughts.  With all the info that's out, you can read the John Sherman interview here and draw your own conclusions.

2010 Mr Basketball Final 25 named

The final 25 for the 2010 Minnesota Mr Basketball award have been announced.  Here they are followed by my commentary.

Peter Crawford 6-5 Benilde-SM
Chad Calcaterra 6-10 Cloquet
Jake Thomas 6-3 Columbia Heights
Calvin Godfrey 6-8 Cooper
Seantrel Henderson 6-8 Cretin-Derham Hall
Dyami Starks 6-2 Duluth East
Vinard Birch 5-10 Eastview
Brett Ervin 6-5 Eden Prairie
Trevor Gruis 6-8 Ellsworth
Zach Riedeman 6-5 Forest Lake
Mike Rostampour 6-7 Henry Sibley
Jordan Jackson 6-2 Henry Sibley
Yuriy Malashenko 6-5 Jordan
Shaun Condon 6-2 MACCRAY
Taylor Hanson 6-6 Minnehaha Academy
Cole Stefan 6-3 Minnetonka
Aaron Anderson 6-2 Osseo
Kevin Noreen 6-10 Minnesota Transitions
Jordan Hughes 5-10 Mpls. Patrick Henry
Alonzo Traylor 6-7 Mpls. South
Ben Bucholz 6-7 Perham
Marshall Bjorklund 6-6 Sibley East
Scott Nystrom 6-2 St. Cloud Tech
Taylor Filipek 6-6 Willmar
Alec Brown 6-11 Winona

Biggest surprise to me in the list was the omission of Alex Hanks of St. Cloud Tech.

My final 5 right now are Kevin Noreen, Alec Brown, Calvin Godfrey, Marshall Bjorklund and Jacob Thomas.  I pick those 5 based on skill, impact on the game and their teams and team performance.  The 1st 4 are from teams that have been in the top 5 in the top 2 classes and have dominated.  The 5th spot was much tougher but Thomas gets the nod with 27 PPG (which includes an 8 point game in a holiday blowout so he could be averaging 28-29 a game) and the big games against Hopkins (38), BSM (47) and Staples-Motley (33).  MACCRAY's Shaun Condon makes a great case with 24.5 per game for the top ranked team in Class A.  Or if you're going small school do you take Ellsworth's Trevor Gruis and his 18.6 and 11.9 boards. I already have Bjorklund here from the MN River, but 21 and almost 16 a night from Yuriy Malashenko is hard to ignore. 

A statistical look at the Kevin Noreen Scoring Record

So with all the insults and concerns flying around about Kevin Noreen breaking the all-time scoring record, I decided to look at the actual data and see if the numbers point anything out.

Since I could only find information for Cody Schilling from his sophomore year on, we'll start there and look at the last 3 years of their careers (obviously Noreen's senior year will only be to date).  At the start of his sophomore year Cody had scored 731 points, he scored 2697 of his career points (78.7%) in his last 3 years.  Kevin Noreen started his sophomore year with 935 points and has scored 2494 since (72.4%).  Since the numbers below include team records and QRF, I only include Minnesota teams.  That removes 15 Schilling games from Iowa and South Dakota.  It removes 3 Wisconsin and 1 Canadian game from Noreen's books.  Also note that QRF numbers for this season for Noreen are lower because the season is not yet complete and the numbers accumulate per game played.

In the last 3 seasons of their careers through today, the games break down as follows.

Cody Schilling: 71 Class A games, 5 AA games, 6 AAA games, 1 AAAA game for 83 Minnesota games
Kevin Noreen: 54 Class A games, 14 AA games, 4 AAA games, 3 AAAA games for 75 Minnesota games.

Those opponents break down as follows. 

Cody Schilling
The average class A opponent had a record of 14.4-11.6 with a QRF of 87.8 which places at 62.46

• 28.61 PPG in 28 games vs opponents in the top 40 of class A (roughly top 25%)
  
• 26.91 PPG in 11 games vs opponents in the bottom 50 of class A (roughly bottom 25%)
  
• 28.44 PPG in 47 games vs opponents in the top 80 of class A (roughly top half)
• 26.75 PPG in 24 games vs opponents in the bottom 90 of class A (roughly bottom half) 

• 28.6 PPG in 5 games vs Class AA.  Those teams had an average record of 10.8-14.4, QRF of 70.78 and places of  81.8

• 24.5 PPG in 6 games vs Class AAA.  Those teams had an average record of 14.2-12, QRF of 83.3 and places of 27.2

• 20 points in 1 career game vs #5 QRF, 24-5 Rochester Mayo from Class AAAA

Kevin Noreen
The average class A opponent had a record of 14.7-9.8 with a QRF of 83.7 which places at 64.1.  Note: For 2 games vs Math and Science and Dunwoody in 2008-2009, there was no QRF so I assigned a QRF of 20 which was a rank of 165.  The Dunwoody game in 2007-2008 is not included as there is no record or QRF information available for them.

• 27.55 PPG in 22 games vs opponents in the top 40 of class A (roughly top 25%)
• 41 PPG in 9 games vs opponents in the bottom 50 of class A (roughly bottom 25%)
• 28.2 PPG in 35 games vs opponents in the top 80 of class A (roughly top half)
• 38.42 PPG in 19 games vs opponents in the bottom 90 of class A (roughly bottom half)

• 28.5 PPG in 14 games vs Class AA. Those teams had an average record of 12.2-10.5, QRF of 78.98 and place of 47.2.

• 34.25 PPG in 4 games vs Class AAA.  Those teams had an average record of 12.25-9, QRF of 64.48 and place of 28.5

• 26.7 PPG in 3 games vs Class AAAA.  Those teams had an average record of 9.3-10, QRF of 64.63 and place of 25.7

Conclusions
Based on the above data, I draw these conclusions.

Did Noreen have huge games against bad teams?  Absolutely as that is the number that jumps out.  Good players will have big games against bad teams so the numbers shouldn't be alarming.  Star players dominate weaker opponents.  Do Schilling's lower totals vs that same competition mean anything?  No because he was also an outstanding passer.  As somebody who has watched MTS multiple times do they keep him all game and press just to run it up.  No way.  That said, there are games where I would have pulled him sooner.  But running it up is just too harsh a term to use.  I thought what coach Jihad did with Tayler Hill over at South was worse when pursuing the girls record.

Those games vs bad competition (defined as bottom 50 of class A) only make up about 11% of the schedule and Cody Schilling played just as many of those games.  The totals vs top 40 and bottom 50 class A teams will even out between them once Noreen plays his tournament games this year (he'll get a bad game, maybe 2 in the opening rounds and then top 40 games for most of the rest.).  To say that Noreen ran up huge numbers against a bad schedule and Schilling didn't just isn't supported by the data.  I think any objective look at the Class A schedules has to say they're pretty equal.

As to the higher class, its no contest.  Noreen will double the games that Schilling played against a higher class and he's clearly been more productive in those games and the competition is at least as good (note how AA is superior).  If this season is any indication, Noreen is averaging 30.7 points in 10 games against teams from a higher class.  Schilling averaged 25.3 in 6 games against a higher class as a senior.  In fairness to Schilling, due to conference games and being in the middle of nowhere, Ellsworth couldn't schedule the kind of non-conference games that MTS has the ability to being a metro team that's not in a league.  At the same time, its also difficult to fill 26 games when you don't have a league since most teams have league play all January and February.

Bottom Line
Both are outstanding players with great careers and earned the records.  They both handled the hype and hysteria with great class and dignity.  I just wish everyone else would do the same.

Kevin Noreen breaks MN career scoring record

Kevin Noreen

Prologue
To Minneapolis Roosevelt for a confusing start time as they host Minnesota Transitions with Kevin Noreen needing 39 points to pass the all time career scoring mark of 3428 points set 2 years ago by Ellsworth's Cody Schilling.  Talking to Kevin before the game, he was looking forward to getting it done tonight to put it behind him.  Ridiculously small crowd of about 110 people and zero media besides me.  John Millea (Star Trib) and Ray Richardson (Pioneer Press), I'm beyond disappointed that you weren't there and I'll leave it at that.  Serves the Red Star right when they've refused to cover MTS the last 2 years.  Lehigh in the building to watch Kyle Noreen.

NOTE: The Star Tribune is reporting that 5 games or so may be thrown due to the teams not being sanctioned so this may not necessarily be the record, but for my purposes its tonight.

Game Time
Slow pace early as MTS as usual insists on playing zone.  Roosevelt very deliberate and a Calvin Jenkins floater pulls them within 7-6 at the 15:20 mark with Kevin Noreen already having 5 points.  Kyle Noreen picks up his second foul during a 12-0 run that Kevin Noreen finishes with a post up (9 points).  Kyle with a steal to Kevin for 2 at 7:30 (14 pts), 28-13 MTS and it looks like the record will fall early.  But Roosevelt stays patient as Kyle Noreen spends most of the rest of the half on the bench.  34-24 MTS at the half as Kevin Noreen stays at 14 points with 5 turnovers.  Most of those turnovers on fouls that weren't called by this poor officiating crew.  25 points to go and it looks very questionable if he'll get the record on this night.

To the second half, MTS stays with a soft 1-2-2 zone (groan) but it holds Roosevelt scoreless for the 1st 5:15 of the half while MTS goes on a 15-0 run to break this one wide open.  Kevin Noreen gets it going during the run with a nice cut for 2, a pair of sweet assists, then a pair of buckets for him to push his total to 20.  But he's still not on pace to break the record tonight.  Kevin with a layup at the 11 minute mark, then a putback and a layup at 8:45 for 26 points.  Roosevelt's press helping MTS get up and down and get Noreen points.  Owens finds Noreen for 2 and then a putback for a 3 point play and then he puts back his own miss at the 6 minute mark for 33 points.  65-34 MTS.  Now the crowd knows the record will fall.  A layup at 5:05 and 2 free throws at 3:52 give him 37 points.  Then after a Roosevelt putback, they press.  Kevin catches in the middle and from the foul line takes 1 dribble left and knocks down a left elbow jumper on the east basket at 3:28 to break the record at 7:23 PM Central Time.  Timeout MTS with a 73-41 lead.  Standing ovation from the crowd and Roosevelt makes an announcement and gives him the game ball.  The bench is emptied and MTS wins 81-51.

For Roosevelt, they fall to 4-12 with the loss, but with the disaster that is the west subsection of 4AA, this may help their power ranking.  James Smith the only Teddy in double figures with 10 points.  A winnable game at Minneapolis Southwest awaits on Friday.

For MTS, Kevin Noreen needed 39 and got 39 as he now has 3429 career points and could reach 4000 (see my tracker here).  Kyle Noreen finishes with 10 points after first half foul trouble.  Rodney Owens with 14 points in a productive game for him.  MTS a bit out of whack tonight as they tried to get Kevin Noreen the record, but credit to Kevin as he wasn't selfish about getting it with at least 4 assists on my officially unofficial sheet.

Steve Froemming from Steven's Sports Report and I had the chance to do a quick audio interview with Kevin Noreen after the game.  Click here to listen to the interview

Kevin Noreen photo courtesy of MNPhotoNet.net

2010 TWolves Shootout Thoughts

Here are my thoughts from the 2010 TWolves Shootout

Game 1: Orono vs #6AAA Grand Rapids
Tight game at the half before a 12-2 second half Orono run puts them up by 6 with 8 minutes left.  Grand Rapids right back with a 10-0 run to regain the lead.  6'8 post Kevin Rabbers with 6 points in the run, Eric Stark with the other 4 and an assist in the run.  5 point Grand Rapids lead with 1:30 to go in regulation but they can't hold it.  Jordan Smith goes glass and the foul with 54.7 left and Grand Rapids can't snag the rebound.  That's gets putback to cut the lead to 2.  Then 2 missed free throws.  Jeremy Borg (19 and 12 in a big game for him) slips a screen for an easy layup to tie the game and force OT.  Orono gets the 1st 9 of OT and they win 74-65 easily.  Jordan Smith 25 points on 9-21 shooting on my sheet to lead Orono.  For Grand Rapids, Eric Stark 18 points but 6-21 shooting.  Michael Johnson 15 points but was quiet in the 2nd half.  Nice upset win for Orono and its not out of the question that we could see these teams again at state with Orono leading the power rankings in section 5 and Grand Rapids being the favorite in section 7.


Game 2: #4AA Staples-Motley vs #2A Minnesota Transitions
Staples-Motley tries to slow the pace with a 1-3-1 but their bigs still get in foul trouble vs Kevin Noreen despite double and triple teaming.  Jon Bristow with 3 fouls in 7 minutes.  Rodney Owens with a great start for MTS.  He gets a layup and then a steal for 2 more to push MTS to a 6 point lead.  Staples hangs around but Owens with another steal for a dunk and then he finds a cutting Kevin Noreen for a layup.  23-15 MTS with 7:18 left to force a Staples-Motley timeout.  Out of the timeout, MTS holds the ball vs the 1-3-1.  Staples has to go man and this one is over.  Staples-Motley gets 1 field goal in the last 9 minutes.  33-18 MTS at the half.  2nd half, MTS picks apart the man D.  Staples-Motley goes the 1st 7 minutes without a field goal in the 2nd half.  So 1 field goal in 16 minutes across halftime, ouch.  58-36 easy win for MTS in a game that I thought would be very close since both teams had tight losses to Columbia Heights.  Kevin Noreen with 24 points and 9 rebounds on my sheet (officially listed at 12).  Jordan Riewer in and out of the lineup all day as there were issues with blood on his uniform.  Only 3 points for him.

Game 3: #7AA Plainview-Elgin-Millville vs #1AA Crosby-Ironton
A possible state semifinal preview between these 2 teams.  PEM was previously ranked #1, now CI on top.  Interesting 2-3 matchup zone from Crosby-Ironton.  PEM playing 1-3-1 most of the way though they surprisingly went man late.  CI with no size and Cole Olstad was just a beast for PEM.  CI had no answer for him and the Rangers couldn't get any offense besides Mark Hoge.  Very close all the way to the end.  Crosby with many chances late to tie that didn't convert.  PEM hits late free throws for a hard fought 51-41 win.  Mark Hoge 17 for CI.  Cole Olstad 23 for PEM.

Game 4: Henry Sibley vs North Lawndale College Prep (IL)
Paul Bunch, big body inside for NLCP.  But he sat a lot in the 1st half.  When he was in, he was a factor blocking shots.  2nd half story was Jermaine Winfield of NLCP.  He dominated inside on his way to 18 points, most inside in the 2nd half.  50 all with 5 minutes left when Winfield scores inside for the lead.  Sibley then turns it over for 2 free throws.  Rostampour misses a front end and Bunch follows up a miss with a dunk.  That's a 6 point cushion but NLCP pulls the ball out too early and Sibley almost makes them pay.  But 2 Winfield putbacks and a steal finally puts the one out of reacy.  62-54 North Lawndale wins.  Paul Bunch 11 points 7 boards and 7 blocks.  Jake Kreuser with a nice day of 15 pts and 14 boards with 3 blocks.  Mike Rostampour with another interior struggle against good inside talent.  He struggled against Christian Faith Academy's athletes over the holidays and was only 3-14 inside yesterday, but he did have 14 boards.

Game 5: Linn-Mar, IA vs Minnetonka
Fun game here.  Marcus Paige with a floater for a 6 point LM lead early.   Then sharpshooters Matt Bohannon and Cole Stefan trade deep 3s.  Paige wraps the ball around and goes for a layup to get a nice oooh from the crowd.  21-13 Linn-Mar inside of 9 minutes.  But Stefan with a pair of bombs in a 14-5 Tonka run over the last 3:15 of the half.  36-31 Skippers at the half.  2 Tonka turnovers equal layups and then Paige with a 3 for a 55-46 Linn-Mar lead with 11:40 to go.  Stefan and Chad Howard with back to back 3s to cut the lead to 3 with 10:45 left.  Paige for 3 again.  Bohannon with a 3 and its 64-55 Linn-Mar with 8:30 left.   Tor Anderson 2 freebies, Nick Latzke with a block for a Leonard Glass layup and a Stefan layup.  64-61 Linn-Mar with 7:33 to go.  Another Stefan bomb keeps Tonka close 70-66 with 5:40 to go.  Paige with an assist and Bohannon with a foul line jumper.  Stefan inside 2 countered by a Paige pullup.  Stefan from New York City for 3 countered by a Paige drive.  Linn-Mar doesn't let Tonka get back and then make free throws for a 88-71 win.  Cole Stefan with 8 triples from every metro suburb, 16-24 shooting as he goes completely nuts for 40 points.  Linn-Mar is more than Paige (20 pts and 6 assists, 16 and 4 of those in 2nd half).  Matt Bohannon is a nice mid to low-major shooting guard (younger brother of UW's Jason Bohannon).  He finished with 26 points and 4 triples of his own.  Interesting that Minnetonka took Tor Anderson off of Paige in the 2nd half and moved him over to defend Bohannon in the 2nd half.

Game 6: #1AAAA Hopkins vs #8AAAA Champlin Park
This one to me had blowout written all over it with Hopkins losing at North on Friday.  But as I was doing podcast for the 1st half of this one I see Brandon Davis knock down back to back triples from Jasper Duberry to force 1 Hopkins timeout down 11.  Then its 33-19 Champlin Park with 2:57 left in the first half.  Duberry for 3 at the first half buzzer and Champlin Park is up 10.  DJ Peterson with 3 quick fouls and sits for a large part of the half.  Hopkins went deep into the bench with a couple of guys (Selmer, Martin) who normally aren't in the rotation.

2nd half Hopkins awakens with pressure defense and ice cold Champlin Park shooting.  A 26-4 Hopkins run over the 1st 9:10 of the second half puts the Royals up 54-42 with 9:50 left.  Joe Coleman with a 3 and 2 old-fashioned 3 point plays on not smart fouls during the run.  The lead stays at 10-12 points and it looks like Hopkins will just cruise.  But its not quite over.  Duberry a pair of freebies at 3:16, Coleman misses 2 freebies, Brandon Davis 2 freebies, DJ Peterson misses a front end, Josh Pella with a tip.  A tieup goes to Champlin Park and Pella tips in a miss and gets fouled for a 3 point play.  All of a sudden its 70-67 Hopkins with 1:09 left.  But Siyani Chambers makes 4 big free throws to put this one away.  74-69 Hopkins wins.  Joe Coleman with 24 points and a pair of 3s during the game.  Nice to see him shoot the ball better.  Marvin Singleton 20 points as there wasn't a good answer for him inside.  Jasper Duberry leads Champlin Park with 17 points.  Jordan Reibling with 11 points off the Rebels bench as he was 1 of 5 Rebels in double figures.

Bob Gibbons updated 2010 rankings

Noted recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons came out with an updated top 200 for the class of 2010 this week.  Kevin Noreen moves up to #157 from #172 and in a surprise Jacob Thomas drops out after being #143 in the last rankings.

The entire Bob Gibbons rankings can be found here.

For the list of ranked Minnesota players, check out my Minnesota player rankings page.

Transitions gets first ever win over Minnehaha

Prologue
A thoroughly miserable night for travel in the metro and the crowd at Minnehaha reflected it.  But this is my favorite facility so that helps.  And a big game as #3A Minnesota Transitions visits the #6AA Redhawks.  You have to love the 24oz bottles at the concession stand, but I wish the sloppy joes would have been ready.  The JV game makes up for it too as Minnehaha leads by 12 at the half, gets down 7 in the second half and then MTS banks in a 3 on a broken play at the buzzer to win 69-66.  And we have a special appearance by the MTS drum line.  And there was no warning to bring ear plugs.  Bolshevik!  Gotta love the Redhawks snazzy new black home uniforms.  St. Mary's and Augsburg on hand to watch tonight as well. 

Game Time
A pair of fun matchups as Rodney Owens (the KC player of fame) goes up against Parker Hines.  Taylor Hanson and Kevin Noreen get the other premier matchup.  Austin Brown really didn't do much to warmup (coming off injury) but he's en fuego to start.  15-14 Transitions at the 10:27 mark and Brown has 11 of the points for Minnehaha.  That's a good thing as Hines and Hanson can't find the net.  But the Redhawks do start to find the range, specifically Hines.  His deep 3 at the 6 minute mark gives the Redhawks their first lead, 25-22.  He then nails 2 more triples for a 31-30 Minnehaha lead outside of 3 minutes.  He adds a layup for 13 out of 15 Redhawks points.  Lefty David Wallendorf was the only player off the bench for MTS in this one and boy did he produce.  He nails 3 triples and a layup in the last 2:45 of the half for the final 11 MTS points of the half.  41-40 MTS at the break.  Hines with 15, Brown with 14.  Kevin Noreen with 14 and 6.  Wallendorf with 11.  Taylor Hanson only 1-5 for 2 points.

MTS comes out box and 1 (actually a 1-3 formation with Owens on top and Kevin Noreen in the middle) on Brown in the 2nd half (maybe triangle and 2 on Hines) with Kyle Noreen getting the task.  Minnehaha getting some chances to penetrate but nobody can pull away.  Hanson with a 3 to keep the MTS lead at 1, 53-52 with 13:30 to go.  Kevin Noreen with a 3 point play and Owens with 2 but misses the And 1.  That's the 4th foul on Hanson and he has to sit.  Austin Brown appears to get fouled at the rim with no call and Wallendorf converts that into a layup.  63-54 Transitions and coach Johnson is hot.  7-0 fouls against Minnehaha at this point in the half and he earns the technical with 11:39 to go.  DeAngelo Potter with a drive for 2 and an Owens dunk extend the lead to 14 with 9:30 to go after a 16-3 run.  Hanson is back with the 4 fouls but has to guard Wallendorf instead of Kevin Noreen.

Minnehaha slowly claws back.  Hanson with a jumper.  Brown with a pullup and 3 free throws.  Hines with a layup.  That's a 9-2 Minnehaha run.  71-64 Transitions with 4:20 to go and coach Sherman is not at all pleased with his guys.  Hanson nails a 3 after an Owens charge and its a 4 point game with 3:15 left, 71-67.  The Redhawks will get no closer.  Hanson now has to guard Kevin Noreen.  While Kevin was very passive on this night in the 1-4 low set, he wasn't on this possession.  Hanson has to let him go (4 fouls) and the lead is back to 6.  MTS holds and the rest is a forced 3 point and foul shooting contest.  MTS wins 85-75.

For Minnehaha, they fought back from the deficit and early shooting struggles.  Austin Brown and Parker Hines each finish with 24 points.  Brown 7-15 but only 2-7 in the 2nd half.  Hines finishes 10-22.  Taylor Hanson rebounded from a tough first half to finish with 15 points and 6 rebounds (5-5 in the 2nd half).  Had a tough night going at Kevin Noreen, but I thought he could have gotten another call or 2.  After those 3, only 12 points. Minnehaha with another tough test as they face #9AA Braham in the Breakdown Tip-Off Classic at Minnetonka on Saturday.

For MTS, Kevin Noreen finishes with 30 points and 17 rebounds to close within 467 points of the all time scoring record.  I had him 10-14 from the floor but only 9-14 from the charity stripe.  DeAngelo Potter with 17 points and 6 boards on the night.  His 4 of 4 from the line late put this one away.  Rodney Owens with a quiet 15 points.  Very willing passer and plays with nice poise.  But he's athletic and can get out and finish on the break.  Kyle Noreen 10 points and 8 rebounds.  Depth could be an issue for MTS as they only played 6 and no Mac Ingram tonight.  MTS went zone late in the 1st half and stuck with it the rest of the way (if you count the box and 1 stuff).  Its early, but the zone was porous.  That's something that needs work.  They get #7AAA Minneapolis Henry Saturday night at the Breakdown classic in what should be a really entertaining game.

Scout.com's latest top 100 for 2010

No Minnesotans in this edition of the Scout.com top 100 for 2010. No surprise there but the rankings aren't totally bare for Minnesota as we do have a player in the positional rankings. Drumroll please.

Kevin Noreen is the #26 Power Forward.

Here are the notables in the Scout.com list

Harrison Barnes #1 (no change)
Josh Selby #10 (no change)
Joe Jackson #17 (no change)
Vander Blue #27 (up from #47 in July)
Dwight Powell #45
Trevor Releford #50 (up from #72)
Tobi Oyedeji #68 (down from #58)
Alex Kirk #80 (down from #66)
Evan Anderson #90 (down from #70)
Anthony Johnson drops out

Two MN Players in Bob Gibbons Top 175

Bob Gibbons (one of the nation's longest running recruiting analysts) just released his post summer 2009 top 175 (more like 200) for the class of 2010. Jacob Thomas comes in at 143 and Kevin Noreen comes in at 172. Other players who have appeared locally

#2 Harrison Barnes
#13 Joe Jackson
#14 Josh Selby
#34 Tobi Oyedeji
#65 Evan Anderson
#76 Trevor Releford
#93 Alex Kirk
#100 Brandon Spearman
#101 Vander Blue
#103 Cody Larson
#104 Dwight Powell
#120 Ahmad Starks
#124 Anthony Johnson
#150 Zach McCabe
#175 Jesse Berry

Read the entire rankings here

Rivals.com also came out with their post summer 2009 top 150 for the class of 2010 today. No Minnesota players in the list. Here's the list of those who have appeared locally and the comparison to where they were ranked at the start of July.

Harrison Barnes #2 (no change)
Josh Selby #4 (up from #7)
Joe Jackson #12 (up from #18)
Vander Blue #22 (up from #31)
Dwight Powell #23 (up from around #50 if I recall correctly)
Tobi Oyedeji #81 (up from #108)
Trevor Releford #97 (up from #150)
Anthony Johnson #99 (down from #88)
Alex Kirk #108 (down from #106)
Brandon Spearman #115 (down from #100)
Brandon Peters #118 (new)
Ahmad Starks #131 (new)

Read the new Rivals rankings here

2009 MN Comets Shootout Championship Day

On the road again to St. Cloud for the bracket games of the 2009 MN Comets Shootout.

16U Semis and Championship
1st seminfinal, Comets Elite vs Heat Elite. 27-21 Comets at the half when I join the party. That after bumping the lead to 8, the Heat come back and cut the lead to 2. Comets go on a 12-3 run. 45-34 Comets with 7:44 to play. The Heat have another run in them as they cut the lead to 49-45 with 4:40 to play. After a missed layup, the Comets start to turn the ball over. Riley West with a steal for 2 and another turnover give Drew Preiner a drive and hoop to tie the game at 49 with 3:40 to play. That's a 15-4 run over 4 minutes. Jayme Moten (New London-Spicer and great hair) buries a long 3 with a minute left for a 57-54 Comets lead. After a missed 3 by the Heat, they don't foul and manage to get a turnover with 25 seconds left. Rob Daul gets a good look at the tying 3 from the right corner but its in and out with 9 seconds left. With 2 fouls to give, there may not be enough time left. But the Comets overthrow the wide receiver on an open touchdown pass and the Heat will get the ball back under their rim. Drew Preiner's 3 is short and the Comets move on 57-54.

In the 2nd semifinal, Terry Porter Elite defeated 43 Hoops (2nd team as the top team played up) 38-34.

In the final, Terry Porter Elite was up 40-30 with 10 minutes left. Down 48-40, the Comets come back with 3 straight bombs in a 14-0 run. That gives the Comets a 54-48 lead with 2 minutes left and they hang on 63-59 for the 16U Championship.

Impressive Comets roster. Brian Reeves (Willmar) and Simon Krych (Holdingford) were a star pair on the front line during the tournament. Rob Daul averaged 15.8 PPG during the season for Hill-Murray. It looks like he'll be the guy replacing Alex Richter's production and style in the Heat lineup as he was impressive during the 2nd half of the Heat/Comets semi. Big body to deal with inside and has an ability to step away and be productive. Add in the Preiner twins from Tartan and this team will not be an easy out.

17U Quarterfinals (6-8 predictions)
Q1: Comets Elite-Hanson over 43 Hoops Hemmingson 72-40. I took in the 1st half of this one. This Comets team plays 2 waves of guys. The 2nd wave of Mike Johnson, Erik Tengwall, Alex Hanks, Taylor Filipek, and Zach Noreen is amazing for them. And that's no slight to the solid performances of Shaun Condon and Scott Willenbring. Noreen was an especially tough matchup for Dominique Dawson with his ability to step out and nail 3s. Dawson had trouble scoring over defenders inside. He's a 1-man band for the 43 Hoops 2nd team.

Q2: Pump N Run 17s vs TNL. Back and forth in the 1st half but TNLs pace. 17 All with 6:43 left in the half, then 23-21 TNL before they stretch it to 35-24 on a Jasper Duberry 3. 35-28 TNL at the half. An 8-0 run early in the 2nd half by PNR cuts the lead to 38-36. 47-41 TNL with 9 minutes left before the shots don't fall and that's not good for TNL with Spencer Cummings out of the game. PNR goes on a 22-3 run with some of that against TNL traps after PNR got the lead and spread the court with about 5 minutes left. 65-56 PNR wins. The number of easy bunnies that PNR missed inside was unbelievable in this one. Kevin Noreen had 3 of them on the 1st 3 possessions of the game (and this wasn't the only game where he had trouble finishing). TNL played zone most of the way and kept PNR at bay with it as they didn't get much inside.

Q3: Heat Elite vs Fury Elite. 4 point game with about 6 minute left before Dajon New'll starts a run with a steal and 2. Fury wins 63-54.

Q4: 43 Hoops Harris steamrolls Terry Porter Elite 72-32 after a 40-18 halftime lead.

17U Semifinals (4-4 predictions)
Semi #1: Free food on the line for me as Fury Elite takes on 43 Hoops Harris. A MN Preps reader said I'd get a free meal if Fury makes the final so I'll take in this game instead of the other semifinal. Talk about quickness with Dajon Newell vs Vinard Birch at the point spot. My stomach is cheering as Fury is out to a 14-3 lead at the 9 minute mark. But Birch leads 43 Hoops back with 6 points in a 12-3 run over the next 3 minutes. Josh Pella finishes a 18-6 run for a 21-20 43 Hoops lead with 3 minutes left in the half. But Fury finishes the half on a 10-3 run for a 30-24 halftime lead.

Fury adds on the 1st 7 of the 2nd half with 2 Newell steals for 2 easy buckets. 37-24 with 12:51 left. 17-3 in the 6 minutes across halftime. 41-28 Fury with 9:40 left after back to back jumpers (Jack Wittenborg of Jefferson I think). Back comes 43 Hoops with 2 bombs from Jordan Reetz (2nd from NBA range), Clay Horne goes strong takes the contact and scores for a 3 point play with 7:27 left to cut it to 4. Birch takes a turnover the other way for 2 and adds 2 FTs with 5:48 left to tie the game at 43. 15-2 run over 4 minutes for 43 Hoops. 2 Fury triples sandwich a 43 Hoops triple. Horne dunks with 2:34 left and to cut the Fury lead to 50-49. Pella with 2 freebies at 1:58 for a 52-51 43 Hoops lead. Yuriy Maleshenko misses a 3 with 1:50 left. After spreading the floor, Max Rosenbloom puts back a miss with 54 seconds left for a 3 point lead. Up 3 and defending, Birch leaves his guy for a steal and dives on the floor and gets the timeout with 18 seconds left. Reetz with 2 FTs and 43 Hoops wins 57-52. Bolshevik! There goes my free food.

Semi #2: Bitter and hungry I take in the end of Comets Elite-Hanson vs Pump N Run. Game flow to this point as follows. Comets had a 7 point lead with 3:44 to go in the 1st half. Dyami Starks of PNR (Duluth East) nailed a triple at the 1st half horn to conclude a 15-4 run and PNR was up 34-30 at the break. That lead was 10 with 12:41 left and 4 with 8:17 left. Comets took the lead 53-52 with 6 minutes left. 59-57 Comets with 2:55 left and the 2nd unit mentioned above is in as I turn and watch full time.

Alex Hanks (St. Cloud Tech) with a strong move and he finishes the 3 point play. 62-59 Comets with 2:20 left. After a PNR turnover, Michael Johnson (Grand Rapids) with an ill-advised drive that Starks converts with a floater. Eric Tengwall misses a front end with 1:27 left. Kevin Noreen has a 3 go in and out but Carlos Emmory puts it back with 1:07 left. 63-62 PNR. Hanks forces and misses with 40 seconds left. Starks with 2 FTs with 31 seconds left. Hanks with 2 FTs with 9 seconds left 65-54 PNR. I'm saying foul Emmory at this point. He gets it but the defender gets caught on the wrong side and Emmory is off to the races. It takes a jersey grab to stop him and that's an intentional foul with 7 seconds left. He misses both and I'm thinking that he should come out. But not only does he stay in, he gets the inbounds pass and I'm screaming to foul him which happens. He steps up and buries both like Larry Bird, no doubt about them. 67-64 PNR wins.

17U Championship - 43 Hoops 17U Harris vs Pump N Run 17U
PNR goes 2-3 zone, interesting. One of the tourney highlights with Kevin Noreen throwing it up from half court and Emmory flies in from Fargo like Superman and throws it down. 13-11 PNR at 8:40. Clay Horne with a layup at 7:30 for a 16-15 43 Hoops lead. But they can't find the range as they get only 1 FG in the next 7:25. Steve Tecker with a back, Mike Rostampour with a steal for 2 FTs and a Dyami Starks jumper give PNR a 29-20 lead before Tim Lubke buries a 3 to beat the halftime buzzer. 29-23 at the half PNR leads.

Emmory with 6 quick points early in the 2nd half to push the lead to 35-25. Tony Gerding with a pair of triples in a 8-2 43 Hoops run. Timeout PNR at 10:47 with a 37-33 lead. Gerding with 2 freebies and Jordan Reetz calls home to Fall Creek, WI to cut the lead to 1. PNR man-man down the stretch which is interesting. Out of a timeout, Mike Rostampour gets Tim Lubke on him inside and converts the mismatch with 6:10 to play. 43-39 PNR. Leonard Glass with a putback and Lubke with a triple with 4:43 left and 43 Hoops leads 45-44. 2 missed bunnies by PNR during that quick run. PNR not to be denied. Rostampour with 2 FTs, Kevin Noreen gets the 2nd pass out of a drive and buries a wide open 3. Clutch. Starks for 2 and Emmory with 1 of his too many to count dunks during the tourney to finish a 9-0 over 2:12. 53-45 PNR with 2:31 to play. PNR wins the title 54-45. I had Carlos Emmory with 20 points on my sheet. Tim Lubke hot in this one but his 3 or 4 triples weren't enough in this one.

Quick Final Thoughts

• Carlos Emmory would be my tourney MVP as he was amazing all tournament long. Keep in mind that this was after not playing this entire high school season. He was a man amongst boys going around, through and mostly over everybody.
  
• Dyami Starks had a nice weekend for the 17s PNR also.
  
• Clay Horne looks like a totally different player than during the winter season. He will really blow up this summer if his play this weekend continues.
• Speaking of 43 Hoops Harris, I totally underestimated them. I had questions about their offense which I think came true in the championship game. However, their defense is something I didn't count on. Summer ball gets a rep as run and gun don't guard anybody. More than anybody else you'll see, they prove that wrong as they really really get after it defensively. With Vinard Birch at the point of that pressure and a bunch of interchangable athletic wing pieces they can sustain it too.
  
• I'm told Trey Scott lit up the Comets Elite-Seevers squad in pool play. From nowhere to Fall League week MVP to 20 PPG for a state qualifying Spring Lake Park team. A very nice story.
• Terry Porter teams both very athletic and more than I expected. If Garrett Wenzelburger is who I think it was, he played well in the 16U final.
• I correctly picked 6 of 8 pool winners, the final 4 and the winner. The 1 major wrong pick costs me free food. Drat!
  
• Overall a very fun event. Too bad Net Gain didn't make it.
  

Arlington at MN Transitions Thoughts

A Wednesday game in the kingdom as Arlington travels to MN Transitions. Last year this was a thriller with Virgil Baker nailing a buzzer beater to win it. Holy Family looking on for their game next Tuesday against MTS. And we have one of more quick trigger refs in the metro doing the game. For those of you who had him in your fantasy leagues, he tossed the MTS JV coach during the first half of the JV game.

Furious pace to start. Jerrell Washington with 7 quick MTS points and we're tied at 14 barely 3 minutes into the game. Deondre White goes right baseline and hammers one home to wake the crowd up. That gives Arlington an 18-16 lead at 13:35. Washington with a 3 point play and then Kevin Noreen with back to back triples and a hoop for 8 in a row. 29-25 MTS at 9:10. MTS then starts to pull away. Kyle Noreen with a 3, Kevin Noreen with a layup and then a 3 point play from Kyle. Kevin finds Kyle for 3 near the end of the run. 22-5 MTS over 5:30 to give the Wolves a 51-31 lead with 3:37 left in the half. Kyle then shoots a 3 that hits front iron and then settles on the bracket supporting the rim. Try that at home to see how soft a touch you have . 54-38 MTS at the break. Kevin Noreen with 17 and 7. Jerrell Washington with 15. Andre Ingram with 6 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks for MTS. Deondre White with 13 points to lead Arlington.

After an Arlington 3 to open the half, MTS gets a Washington putback and 3 point play along with a Kevin Noreen 3 point play for an 8-0 run. 62-41 MTS at 16:37. Kevin Noreen with a couple of layups and a couple of putbacks, Washington with a dunk and then a reverse dunk as MTS blows the game open. 78-50 with 11:35 remaining. So after the 1st hoop of the half by the Phoenix, MTS on a 24-9 run over 6 minutes. Washington goes left baseline for a thunderous 2 handed dunk and the foul with 3:07 left to put MTS at the century mark. 100-76 and both Washington and Kevin Noreen are done for the night. MTS wins 104-87.

Final score doesn't reflect that MTS controlled the 2nd half. My sheet may not be right but it should be pretty close. Kevin Noreen with 31 and 13, ho hum. Jerrell Washington with 35. Andre Ingram with 7 points, 9 boards and 6 blocks patrolling the middle. DeMarkeo Jones with 30 for Arlington in the loss.

MN Transitions breaks the Roosevelt curse

So MN Transitions had lost 4 straight to Roosevelt. That included a bitter loss last year where Roosevelt came from behind to win. Would Kevin Noreen finally get a win against the Teddies?

MTS comes out in their standard 1-2-1-1 press. They make 5 of 6 free throws and get a Jerrell Washington layup for the 1st 7 of the game in 1:04. Roosevelt gives up the 1st 10 before James Smith makes a couple free throws at 14:53. Gobana Sameru with the 1st Roosevelt FG, a three, at 14:05 and its 10-5 MTS. Daniel Bolden with 3 at 11:41 to keep the margin at 5, 20-15 Wolves. Roosevelt doing a good enough job against the press to get MTS out of it and using a 2-3 zone to slow pace. But MTS won't be denied. They get a big dunk from Washington for a 32-17 lead. Kevin Noreen picks up his 3rd foul on a reach in at 5:15 and he's gone to the bench for the rest of the half but the margin is 38-20. Washington goes off in his absence converting half court Roosevelt turnovers into 2 big dunks and another layin. 44-20 Wolves. He then knocks down back to back triples late in the half for a 54-23 MTS halftime lead. Washington with 21 on 4 dunks. Kevin Noreen with 14 quick ones and finishes the half with 18.

Kevin Noreen comes out en fuego in the 2nd half. 9 of the 1st 11 points and he assisted on the other 2. No defense at all early in the half as both teams go up and down and get whatever they want. Noreen gets his 4th at 13:28 on a charge but he'll stay in with a 74-33 lead. He then gets a couple of buckets, 2 and the foul and makes a 3. 88-43 at the 11 minute mark and Kevin has 24 in the half. He adds 1 more triple before the mercy rule sets in and the stars sit out all of the mercy rule time. 112-61 Minnesota Transitions wins.

For Roosevelt, Calvin Jenkins with 17 as he was left open for 3 triples. They have South and Armstrong this week. Funny that South coach Joe Hyser showed up for the 2nd half of this one to scout. I can't imagine he got much out of that.

For MTS, Kevin Noreen finishes with 42 points, but because he was out high in the MTS halfcourt trap, only 2 rebounds. But big brother giveth as I had Kyle Noreen for 13 rebounds. Jerrell Washington with 30 and he had a couple of monster dunks where he really got up. When he stayed straight up and down on his shot from deep he was effective, but he had at least 3 misses where he was fading away unnecessarily. Interesting that Washington and especially Noreen played out high in the MTS trap with Kyle Noreen and Mac Ingram on the 2nd line. Kevin Noreen may be long at 6'8, but he's not quick. MTS gave up a ton of dribble penetration in the zone trap which is never good. They also didn't shoot it well tonight. Kyle Noreen was especially cold. MTS gets to face a couple of interesting players coming up as they host Cotton on Saturday and then I'll see them again next Monday against Robbie Anderstrom and New Life Academy. That dribble drive motion that NLA runs would be nice against the MTS zones.

I won't embarrass the person who mentioned this to me, but this was an interesting point and is the subject of the poll that went up tonight. With St. Bernard's and Minnehaha losing very good groups of seniors and Zach Towle graduating for Concordia, should MTS move to AA. This year ends the current 2 year classification period and MTS could opt up for 2 years starting next year. Vote now.