Goliath falls

Prologue
Off to Farmington for the 3AAAA championship game between Cretin-Derham Hall and Apple Valley.  The expected full house on hand.  Great games tonight in Monticello (5 OT in 8AAAA final), Marshall advances to state in OT, SW MN Christian loses and this one didn't disappoint either.  Red Gatorade is the beverage with sausage pizza.  Quality 40 minute pregame performance from the Apple Valley band.

Song of the Day
Runnin down a dream - Tom Petty

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 1376 ounces  (124 games, 106 days)

• 12 oz 7 Up 
• 20 oz Barq's Root Beer
• 20 oz Mug Root Beer 
• 80 oz Sprite 
• 84 oz Dr Pepper
• 160 oz Red Powerade
• 272 oz Red Gatorade
• 184 oz Coke 
• 544 oz Pepsi

Game Time
Big key in this game was a good start for CDH.  They get that with Donnell Gresham scoring the 1st 5 and Michael Hannon from deep.  Timeout Apple Valley at 16:46 trailing 8-2 and that's despite 4 offensive boards.  Tyus Jones 4 points to cut the lead to 2.  Sam Neumann putback, Gresham with another 3, Neumann for 3.  George Hottinger with a layup and Neumann with a layup after a turnover.  22-15 CDH at 12:50.  Tyus coast to coast for the And 1 and he adds a steal for 2 to tie the game at 26.  Tyus on the run for 2 more to conclude the 16-4 Apple Valley run.  Tobroxen with a layup and Tyus to Brock Bertram for a bucket on the pick and roll.  Loose ball ends up with a Tyus 3.  Hannon with a jumper and then 1 of many abuses he had of the Eagles bigs off the bounce.  44-38 Apple Valley at the half.  Early on the pace was absolutely furious but CDH made an effort to slow the game down.

Hottinger a pair of buckets countered by Tyus for 2 and then Tyus dunks a turnover.  51-44 Apple Valley 4 minutes into the half.  Hannon with a drive to start a spurt, Neumann blocks Tyus and Hannon makes 2 free throws off of it.  Then Hannon buries a 3 after a Tyus bucket and we're tied at 53 (9-2 run).  Tyus playing out of the right block finds Bertram for a layup and then goes to the reverse for 2 of his own and scores again.  Dennis Austin and Bertram add buckets and the Eagles lead is 65-57 with 6:45 left.

CDH always able to score.  Neumann for 3, Joe Rosga steals an outlet pass and no fear as he immediately drills the right wing 3.  Tyus trying to take over as he scores the next 3 but misses 3 free throws in that stretch.  Then he swats a shot away on the help side.  But there's that Hannon guy again as he takes an inside out feed from Neumann and drills the 3 and drills another on the next possession.  Then its Neumann for 3 with 1:45 left and CDH has the lead.  Tyus called for the offensive foul going to the rim with 1:36 left. Oh my.  CDH ball up 72-70.  After 2 Rosga free throws, Tyus goes straight to the rim for 2.  After a timeout, he steals the inbounds and makes 2 free throws to tie the game at 74.  CDH will hold for the last shot.  Gresham no good off the high screen, rebound no good, Rosga a great look from 10 feet with 8 ticks left is in and out.  CDH has 1 last chance from under their basket with 1.3 left but turns it over.  We'll play overtime.

CDH wins the tip and holds until they turn it over at the 2:37 mark.  Apple Valley misses 30 seconds later and now CDH will continue to hold.  They hold until a timeout with 13 seconds left.  Its Rosga off a double high ball screen to Gresham who's shot is no good and we'll play a second overtime.

Tyus opens the overtime scoring (in the 2nd OT) with a drive that's countered by another Hannon 3.  Apple Valley misses and Gresham makes 2 free throws.  Austin makes 1 free throw on an offensive board to cut the lead to 79-77 with 1:45 left.  But Apple Valley doesn't score again.  Austin and tyus go down with injuries with 58.5 left.  Big delay before Austin is stretchered off, Tyus comes back out to an ovation during the delay.  But at that point the game is over as CDH is up 10  Cretin-Derham Hall pulls the upset 89-77 in double overtime.

Post Game
Apple Valley finishes the season 27-2 and the loss breaks a 55 game winning streak against Minnesota opponents.  Tyus Jones finishes his outstanding career with 35 points.  What a pleasure to watch one of the best ever to come out of the state during these last 5 seasons.  Brock Bertram with a big double double with 19 points.  The rest of the roster only comes up with 23.  Apple Valley not showing any outside shooting in the game and didn't pound the ball inside nearly enough.  Tyus with some great success off a flat ball screen at mid-court but we only saw it late and a couple of times.  Didn't see that huge killer instinct from him that we've seen in the past either.  Almost like Apple Valley thought they could just turn it on and win.  Honestly I thought this game was more about what they didn't do than what Cretin-Derham Hall did on the strategy side.

Cretin-Derham Hall was successful running early and much to my chagrin they slowed the tempo.  But give them credit it worked.  Michael Hannon goes bezerk with 5 3s and 26 points.  Donnell Gresham also large with 22 points and a pair of 3s.  Joe Rosga 15 and Sam Neumann with 3 bombs and 16 points.  CDH managed to not get completely crushed on the glass which was a huge factor.  Seeding them for the state tourney is an interesting debate.  On 1 side you have this win.  On the other you have 2 losses to Woodbury, a team that Tartan just beat and Tartan is still scrambling to be seeded.  If Lakeville North and Champlin Park lose, maybe they're the 2 seed (Hopkins will clearly be #1).  But if those 2 win, now they're likely looking at 4.  The 5 seed is a scramble of the remaining teams.   Cretin's secondary guys stepped up big and Apple Valley's didn't and that was your difference.  CDH buries 12 3s and when they shoot it well they are extremely dangerous and difficult to guard. 

Apple Valley clinches another conference title

Prologue
Its Super Tuesday with 5 Conference Titles possibly at stake tonight.  I venture to #5AAAA Lakeville North for their South Suburban showdown with #1AAAA Apple Valley.  Lakeville North could share the crown with a win while Apple Valley would win it outright with a win.  We get a bad officiating crew which lived up to its billing.  Full house in the stands and all the way around the railings.  The large North pep band also up on the rail with the tuba section.  Mr Basketball committee chairman Ken Lien getting jiggy with the drum line just before tip.  A great selection of 80s from them.  We get 1 classic from the band and repeated later on the public address.

Song of the Day
Sweet Child O'Mine - Guns N Roses

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 1268 ounces  (107 games, 90 days)

• 12 oz 7 Up 
• 20 oz Barq's Root Beer
• 20 oz Mug Root Beer 
• 68 oz Sprite 
• 84 oz Dr Pepper
• 160 oz Red Powerade
• 212 oz Red Gatorade
• 184 oz Coke 
• 508 oz Pepsi

Game Time
JP Macura with a pair of sweet Dirk Nowitzki fades from the left block for a 6-2 Lakeville North lead.  Tyus Jones countering with a floater off the ball screen, a free throw and then he finds Robert Tobroxen for 3 to put Apple Valley up 10-8 at the 11:10 mark.  Macura with 2 free throws and a putback.  Tyus to the rim off the ball screen for 2 and he knocks down a 3.  Macura again in the post for 2 free throws.  Brock Bertram a 3 point play on the BLOB, then Macura blocked and Dennis Austin scores for a 23-16 Apple Valley lead at the 3:15 mark.  Macura gets away with a pushoff and then converts a 3 point play.  Tyus to Bertram on the screen and roll but that leads him directly into his 3rd foul just before the half.  Tyus with a pair of free throws, JP with a 3 and then a pair of late free throws.  27-25 Apple Valley at the half.  JP Macura with 19 of those 25 for Lakeville North.  Tyus with 12 points and 3 assists for 7 more to carry the Apple Valley offense.

Bertram quickly picks up his 4th foul on another charge and has to sit.  But Apple Valley expands the lead to 7 thanks to a Gary Trent 3 point play.  Lakeville North regroups after a timeout.  Macura coast to coast for 2 free throws, an assist for a layup and coast to coast again for 2 more.  Now Apple Valley needs a timeout.  34-33 Eagles with 10:25 left.  A foul called on Macura has the Apple Valley crowd howling about star treatment which is ironic considering all of the calls Tyus has gotten over the years.  Connor Flack was the only other offense for Lakeville North in this one.  His bucket in the post and then 3 tie the game at 38 with 8:06 left.  That was after a sweet pass from Trey Pipkins to Dennis Austin for a layup out of the side screen/roll action.

Coach Goring rolls the dice and brings Bertram back into the game with 7:58 left and a 2 point lead.  A sweet Macura assist keeps the lead at 2 before a Dennis Austin post up, Macura missed front end and a 3 point play from Tyus.  47-40 Apple Valley at that point and it appears they may pull away.  Carl Engwall stops that with a 3 point play that gets the crowd roaring as its the 5th foul on Bertram.  JP with 2 free throws and a Bronson Bruneau jumper after he comes back in with 4 fouls.  47 all with 3:25 to play.  Macura misses a good look at a 3.  Apple Valley takes timeout and the PA plays Sweet Caroline.  Turn the music off and play and we'll sing anyway!  OOOH OOOH OOOOOH!.  Tyus to Pipkins who can't finish the layup with 2:15 left.  Lakeville North runs their deliberate offense and takes it down to 13.7 left when they take timeout.  Out of the timeout, Flack catches in the backcourt and just goes.  He gets all the way to the rim and can't finish.  Out of bounds to Apple Valley with 6.6 to play.  Tyus gets and flies down the right wing, his pullup from 17 feet is in and out at the buzzer and we'll play OT.

Tyus starts the overtime with a 3 point play and 1 of 2 from the charity stripe.  North can't convert a turnover and Trent makes 2 free throws on the other end.  Then after another Lakeville North miss, Austin is fouled on purpose in the post but steps up and makes both.  Tyus fouled on a rebound and surprisingly misses both freebies.  North for 3.  Then Tyus drives and in another surprise tries to dunk and misses that.  Macura lays that in and the lead is down to 3.  Then another Apple Valley turnover converted by Drew Stewart and the lead is down to 55-54 with 40 seconds left.  Tyus makes 1 of 2 with 21.7 left.  Macura drives baseline but his pass back out is picked off by Austin and on the breakaway its an intentional foul.  Austin makes both and that's all she wrote.  Apple Valley wins 59-56 in overtime.

Post Game
Another instance of JP Macura not getting much help.  He finishes with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.  So he was part of at least 40 of the 56 points.  Connor Flack finishes with 15 points.  Lakeville North ran a ton of X delay game (2 guards pass/cut, backcut if overplayed, very common delay set) to keep the pace of this one down.  Macura struggled to get looks cutting or off the bounce against Robert Tobroxon but had success in the post that the Panthers surprisingly never came back to in the second half.  The Panthers shoot 17 of 27 from 2 but only 3 for 20 from 3 (vs 15-30 in the first meeting).  Lakeville North falls to 20-5 overall, 15-2 in the South Suburban.  They end the regular season on Friday at Prior Lake.

Apple Valley wins the conference title outright and maintains their winning streak against Minnesota opponents.  Tyus Jones with not one of the better performances.  25 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 turnovers with some decisions that were not Tyus like.  Dennis Austin 12 points, Brock Bertram 9 points and 10 boards but most of that damage was done early.  Lakeville North still got beat on the glass but it was only 37-26 in this one and only 11 2nd chance points.  Apple Valley now 24-1, 17-0 in the South Suburban.  They finish up at home against Rosemount on Friday.

Both teams will head into the playoffs as the favorites in their respective sections but the roads won't be easy.  Farmington gave Lakeville North all they wanted earlier in the year and the Panthers needed a blowout performance from Macura to hang on in OT.  Rochester John Marshall is no slouch in that section either.  Apple Valley gets East Ridge and Cretin-Derham Hall.  Cretin-Derham Hall's high powered offense is always dangerous.  East Ridge was a mash unit for most of the conference season and won the Suburban East anyway

Tyus dominates South Suburban Showdown

Prologue
Off to the 1st big showdown of the season in the South Suburban.  Its #3AAAA Lakeville North visiting #1AAAA Apple Valley.  A late arriving crowd almost fills the building.  All the usual notables on hand like Mr. Basketball chairman Ken Lien and John Millea of the MSHSL.  Not to mention our good friends at the Red Star.  St. Olaf and Augsburg just a couple of the schools looking on. 

Song of the Day
Symphony of Destruction - Megadeth

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 736 ounces  (70 games, 55 days)

• 36 oz Dr Pepper
• 36 oz Sprite
• 100 oz Red Powerade
• 60 oz Red Gatorade
• 324 oz Pepsi
• 140 oz Coke
• 20 oz Barq's Root Beer
• 20 oz Mug Root Beer 

Game Time
Apple Valley gives Robert Tobroxen the task of guarding JP Macura.  Alex Reiland with a pair of quick Panthers 3s and 1 from Connor Flack for an 11-4 Lakeville North lead.  Tobroxen for 2 on a turnover, Tyus to Brock Bertram for a layup and Tyus with a steal for 2 free throws to cut the Lakeville North lead to 17-16 at the 11:59.  A fast pace in this one especially in the 1st 4 minutes.  Jordan Bolton for 3, Tyus dunks a turnover and buries a 3, Tobroxon with a putback, Dennis Austin 2 free throws out of the post for a 12-3 Apple Valley run to take the lead.  After a Drew Stewart 3, Tyus with the putback, Austin slips to the rim for 2 free throws, Bertram tips in a miss and Tyus goes glass.  The 20-6 Apple Valley run over 4:15 puts them up 36-25.  Macura makes a pair of 3s to keep Lakeville North within striking distance while Bertram and Austin work inside.  46-37 Apple Valley at the break.

Apple Valley just pounded Lakeville North on the boards.  Austin with a putback and then a sequence that saw about 5 Eagles offensive boards before Bertram stuck it back.  That counters 3s from Flack and Stewart.  Macura with another bomb as Lakeville North is within 54-46 inside of 15 to play.  Then its the Tyus Jones show.  He scores 2 buckets and then buries a 3 off the screen and roll.  4 more Apple Valley points makes the run 11-3 and the lead is 16.  Macura with a drive and then he posts Tyus for 2.  Stewart with a layup and Lakeville North is back within 10 with 9:22 left.

Tyus with the 3 point play.  Flack for 3 to counter.  Tyus for 3 and then he takes a steal for 2 free throws.  Then a pretty underhand assist to Tobroxen for a layup.  Tyus with a steal and dunk with 6 to play and another bucket to push the lead to 20.  That's all coach Oxton needs to see as he sits Macura with 5:02 to play.  Tyus just adds to the effortless show with a floater, a pullup for 3 and he converts a turnover into a bucket.  He sits with 2:58 left.  Apple Valley rolls to a 102-74 win.

Post Game
Lakeville North falls to 11-3 overall, 6-1 in the South Suburban.  They've now lost 2 straight after an 8 game winning streak.  Connor Flack leads the Panthers with 17 points including 4 3s.  JP Macura 16 points, 5 boards, 4 assists, 7 turnovers.  3 others in double figures for the Panthers.  They make 15-30 from behind the 3 point line.  But a lack of size was an absolute killer.  They get outrebounded 42-22 and give up 14 2nd chance points along with 24 points off of 16 turnovers.  Next up is a trip to Rosemount on Friday.

Apple Valley takes sole possession of 1st in the South Suburban at 7-0.  They are 14-1 overall.  Tyus Jones absolutely electric.  41 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 16-21 FGs (4-5 from 3) and 3 turnovers.  He made it look ridiculously easy.  Smooth drives, knocking down open 3s etc etc.  Brock Bertram pounds away inside for a double double of 14 points and 15 boards, 7 of those on the offensive end.  Dennis Austin 14 points working inside as well.  Man to man or against the 2-3 zone, the Eagles were not going to be slowed.  These teams will meet again in Lakeville the last Tuesday of the regular season (2/18) with the league crown likely on the line.

Apple Valley continues to roll

Prologue
Due to all of the school closings again its an abbreviated Tuesday night schedule in the metro.  But the South Suburban Conference plays on with all of their games still on the docket.  With that as the option, it makes sense to take a look at Eagan as they host #1AAAA Apple Valley.  A late arrival just before tip means no concessions and no real good music choice.  Pretty nice crowd for a cold Tuesday night game.  It was one of those days today (you'll see that on Twitter, and if you don't follow me, why not?  Start Now!).  That gives us today's ...

Song of the Day
Prelude/Angry Young Man - Billy Joel

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 652 ounces  (62 games, 48 days)

• 36 oz Dr Pepper
• 24 oz Sprite
• 80 oz Red Powerade
• 40 oz Red Gatorade
• 292 oz Pepsi
• 140 oz Coke
• 20 oz Barq's Root Beer
• 20 oz Mug Root Beer

Game Time
Its a quick start for Apple Valley.  Gary Trent for 2, Tyus pulls up with a jumper and pulls up for another 3.  Dennis Austin puts back a miss and its 9-2 Eagles not even 2 minutes in.  Eagan gets a 9-0 run of their own thanks to 3s from Chase Seiberlich and Cole Hibbard.  That gives Eagan a 15-13 at the 11:06 mark and Apple Valley needs a timeout.  Tyus to Trey Pipkins for a 3 point play and Apple Valley is back on top.  Michael Gorder working the post and his bucket at the 8 minute mark pulls Eagan within 25-22.  The big fellas Brock Bertam and Pipkins with buckets to push the lead to 6.  Then Tyus to soph Jordan Bolton for a pair of bombs and the lead quickly is 11.  Gorder a couple of more inside hoops to keep Eagan within 43-34 at the break.

Bertram screen and roll from Tyus, Trent outside for 3.  Seiberlich counters with a pair of 3s to sandwich a Bertram putback.  50-40 Eagan hanging around with 14:45 left.  Then the Eagles put the game out of reach.  Tyus to Robert Tobroxen for a layup, Austin and Bertram stick backs, Tyus 2 freebies, Pipkins a layup, Cam Kirksey with the reverse and a Tyus 3 point play to end the run.  Its a 15-0 run for Apple Valley over 5:36. 65-40 Apple Valley with the lead just inside of 9 minutes left.  The rest is cruise control.  Apple Valley wins 87-51.

Post Game
For Eagan, Michael Gorder leads the Wildcats with all 12 of his points in the 1st half.  The nice junior guard duo of Chase Seiberlich and Bryndan Matthews with 9 each.  Junior forward GT Johnson left the game with a right knee injury with 15:24 left.  That's a big loss for the Wildcats if he misses extended time.  Eagan is now 7-5 overall, 3-2 in the South Suburban (back to back losses to powers Apple Valley and Lakeville North).  They have a tough turnaround at home against Rosemount on Thursday before road games next week against a pair of tough guards, Jon Sobaski and Jack Sorenson.  Transition defense was an issue tonight for Eagan and against those 2 guards it can be exposed too.

Apple Valley improves to 12-1 overall, 5-0 in the South Suburban.  They have a trap game at Burnsville on Friday before a big home showdown with Lakeville North.  Burnsville has already beaten Farmington and gave Lakeville North all they wanted in Lakeville tonight.  Tyus Jones leads the way with 22 points and 8 assists on the Apple Valley stat sheet.  Gary Trent 14 points, Brock Bertram 10, Dennis Austin 11.  Nice move by the Eagles to go with their 1-2-2 3/4 court trap to speed Eagan up and force some turnovers for easy buckets.  Dennis Austin doing a nice job holding down Michael Gorder in the 2nd half. 

2014 Timberwolves Shootout Review

A great day of basketball at the 2014 Timberwolves Shootout.  Here's are some of my observations.

Game 1: #3AAAA Lakeville North vs Grand Rapids
JP Macura would get off to a quick start with 8 of the first 11 Lakeville North points.  Grand Rapids would pull within 11-10 on an Alex Illikainen jumper.  Macura would counter with 6 points in a 9-0 run.  That would propel the Panthers to a 24-15 halftime lead, Macura with 16 of those 24.  Macura would pick up a 3rd foul early in the 2nd half and get a long rest.  But the rest of the Panthers would extend the lead thanks to a zone defense.  39-21 Lakeville North with 10 minutes left.  Illikainen gets 1 burst in by dunking his own free throw miss and making a 3 for 8 straight Thunderhawks points.  I thought Lakeville North would really swarm him but they let him get plenty of good looks and touches.  Illikainen picks up his last 2 fouls in a 1:18 stretch and he fouls out with 6:41 left.  Lakeville North would take the 14 point lead at that point to a 59-36 victory.  JP Macura 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals.  Alex Illikainen 17 points and 13 boards.  Those 2 combine for 15-25 shooting.  The remaining players shoot 17-73 (23.3%).  Teams combine for 8-41 from the 3 point line including 0-4 from Macura.

Game 2: Cretin-Derham Hall vs Bettendorf (IA)
Bettendorf goes on an early 10-0 run.  Kyle Buhman runs the floor for a pair of layups including a nice Cole Clearman behind the back assist.  CDH comes right back with 9 in a row of their own with 5 from Sam Neumann.  16-15 Bettendorf at 11:30.  Neumann 2 more bombs in the half for a total of 15 points but Bettendorf would lead 28-25 at half.   Kendall Jacks with 5 in a row countered by a pair of Joe Rosga 3s.  35-33 Bettendorf with 15:35 left.  Then Sam Neumann goes absolutely nuts.  2 more bombs for him to tie the game at 41.  Neumann with back to back NBA 3s to sandwich a Dylan Sortillo 3.  One of those was his 2nd chance at a 4 point play in the game.  Jacks for 3 to push the Bettendorf to 63-56 with 3:55 left.   Neumann isn't done.  Bombs away not once but twice, the second with 1:40 left and then a post up for 2 more and CDH is back ahead 66-65 with 1:03 left.  Nicholas Baer for 2 and then makes both ends of the bonus after a CDH miss.  Last timeout for CDH in the front court with 20.2 left down 3.  Bettendorf brilliantly changes from the man defense they've shown all day to a 3-2 zone.  CDH totally discombobulated.  Neumann gets it and has no choice but to hoist from at least 30 feet.  It goes off the back iron no good.  Jacks seals it with both ends of the bonus with 2.5 left.  Bettendorf wins 71-66.  Sam Neumann buries 9 treys and goes off for 39 points, 24 of those points and 6 3s in the 2nd half.  He shoots 15-24, 9-15 from 3.  Dylan Sortillo 12 of his 19 in the 2nd half for Bettendorf.  Nicholas Baer with a double double of 16 and 13.  11-32 FGs from the rest of the CDH roster  Throw out Neumann's 9-15 from 3s and through 2 games the 4 teams combined for 17-75 from behind the 3 point line.


Game 3: #2AAA De La Salle vs Chicago St. Rita (IL)
Chicago St. Rita's was hounded by the De La Salle defense to the tune of 6-25 FGs and 17 turnovers.  That included a desperation 3 at the halftime buzzer.  The Mustangs get 1 field goal in a 13 minute stretch.  De La Salle would go on a 13-2 run to take control.  Sacar Anim carries the offense for De La Salle with Jarvis Johnson on the bench with 2 fouls.  25-15 De La Salle leading at the break.  St. Rita would up the ante with a productive halfcourt trap in the 2nd half.  Northwestern commit Victor Law with a 3 to tie and a 3 point play for a 41-38 St. Rita lead with 8:32 left.  Dominique Matthews would score the next 9 for St. Rita as he had a big 2nd half.  Critical moment with 3 minutes left.  Loose ball ends up being poked ahead for a James Lawson layup.  That's gives De La Salle a  49-45 lead with 3 minutes left.  The Islanders would get enough stops and make enough free throws to hang on 59-53.  Sacar Anim outstanding again for the Islanders with 29 points slashing his way inside.  Geno Crandall adds 13.  Dominique Matthews all 17 of his points in the 2nd half.  Charles Matthews very quiet with 11 points.  Only 1 bucket in the 2nd half until a meaningless 3 at the end of the game.  Very little run for him which was also surprising.  Add in 5-20 from these teams from 3 and we're at 22-95 on the day (excluding Neumann's 9-15).  St. Rita does grab 18 offensive rebounds but the De La Salle survives that.  Reid Travis participated in warmups but did not play.  Look for his return soon.

Game 4: #1AAAA Apple Valley vs Blue Valley Northwest (KS)
An entertaining first half between these 2 outstanding squads.  Gary Trent with a floater off the ball screen, Tyus coast to coast for 2 and a inbounds bomb for an 18-11 Eagles lead.  But Iowa St commit Clayton Custer scores 4 points in a 10-2 run to put Blue Valley NW on top.  Ben Richardson for 3 and its Blue Valley 30-24  at the 5:30 mark after a 19-6 spurt.  The lead is 4 at half.  Custer with a nice cut for 2 and a Richardson 3 to push the lead to 39-30 with 16:30 left.  Trent with a putback, Custer with a drive for 2.  Tyus with a steal for 2, Custer with a 3 point play.  Trent 2 free throws and a 3.  Dennis Austin adds 2 free throws to tie the game at 46.  Vince Fritz with 2 3s to put Blue Valley up 52-48 with 10:45 left.  Then the bottom falls out.

Trent for 3, Tyus 2 free throws and then the poster.  A left wing steal, Apple Valley pushes and the feed is to Tyus running right down the middle.  He goes up, over and through a defender with the 1 handed hammer dunk and the building explodes.  Trent scores and the lead is 5 and Blue Valley needs a timeout.  That doesn't help.  Tyus with bonus free throws a nice spin for 2 more, then 2 more bonus free throws and a jumper.  The Apple Valley run is 19-0 over 7:15.  Blue Valley gets a putback with 2:45 left to break an 8 minute scoreless drought but this one is over.  Apple Valley wins 72-59.  Tyus Jones finishes with 26 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.  If you haven't seen the dunk, its worth it.  Gary Trent with 17 points.  Clayton Custer 18 points, Ben Richardson 11 points and 6 rebounds.   Adding in the 12-36 3 point shooting in this game and we end up with 34-131 (not including Neumann's 9-15) which is just under 26%.

Czar's All- Timberwolves Shootout Team
JP Macura - Lakeville North
Tyus Jones - Apple Valley
Sam Neumann - Cretin-Derham Hall
Sacar Anim- De La Salle
Clayton Custer - Blue Valley Northwest

The Nightcap
Who needs to see Kevin Durant score 48 when you can see 2 of the top senior guards in the state.  The night session sends me to Prior Lake for their non-conference game against Eden Prairie.  Sausage Pizza and 20 oz of Coke on the evening menu after having just 1 expensive Pepsi at the Target Center.  Andre Wallace scores 12 of the 1st 14 EP points.  Jon Sobaski sits with a 2nd foul on a charge but Prior Lake hangs close.  Zach Hovey very active inside with 5 in a row as EP builds a 24-16 lead.  Prior Lake closes the half on an 8-0 run for a 24 all tie at halftime.

In a bit of a replay from the De La Salle vs EP game, the EP offense is all Wallace and Gillard in the 2nd half.  Wallace 8 points in the 1st 5 minutes and EP leads 40-38.  Sobaski 6 in a row for Prior Lake.  Grantham Gillard for 3, a jumper and another NBA 3 .  50-45 EP looking to pull away with 8 minutes left.  Wallace with a pull up and then 2 nice assists for layups 58-49 EP with 3:20 left.  Wallace with his final points on 2 free throws with 1:05 left.  EP 62-55 leading at that point but they would miss 2 front ends.  Sobaski scores and a clutch 3 from Kevin McKiernan after a jump ball to Prior Lake and Sobaski down the lane to tie it with 12 seconds left.  EP takes the ball right out of the net and goes it.  Its Gillard flying up the right wing and he goes straight to the rim.  Tons of contact as Prior Lake attempts to take the charge.  Shot no good and we get the late whistle with 0.9 left.  The call is a blocking foul.  The home crowd not at all happy with that.  Gillard leaves the 1st free throw short but makes the 2nd.  Eden Prairie wins 63-62.  Andre Wallace outstanding again with 28 points and 3 late assists for layups.  Grantham Gillard 17 of his 20 points in the 2nd half.  Jon Sobaski 20 points, Connor Bair 18 points.  Nice movement by Sobaski vs Wallace in the head to head matchup.  Sobaski would be in the weak side block area, Wallace would turn his head and Sobaski flashed right in front of him to the ball side post on 3 occasions for 2 easy buckets and another missed bunny.

2014 Timberwolves Shootout Preview

Saturday is the 18th annual Timberwolves Shootout.  It features 4 early games with the Timberwolves taking on Oklahoma City that evening.  $20 ticket gets you into all 4 high school games and the TWolves game.  Here's what I'm watching.

Game 1: 9:15 AM #3AAAA Lakeville North (7-1) vs Grand Rapids (8-2)
This game features one of the state's top guards taking on one of the state's top big men.  Lakeville North features Xavier signee J.P. Macura.  Macura is currently ranked #104 nationally per Rivals.com.  He's averaging 37.4 PPG this season including a 55 point outburst vs section rival Farmington.  The rest of the Panthers can fill it up too.  Wing Connor Flack and guard Alex Reiland also average double figures.  Soph lefty Drew Stewart is a dangerous shooter.  Center Bronson Bruneau will walk-on with the Duke football program as a long snapper.  One worthy note is that Lakeville North has a critical conference matchup at Eagan on Friday night.  That short turnaround could be a factor.

Grand Rapids features the top junior big man in the state, Alex Illikainen.  He's averaging 27.2 points per game this season.  That's picking up where he left off from last season when he averaged 27 points and 15 rebounds per game.  He's currently ranked #83 nationally per Rivals.com.  He holds offers from Minnesota and Indiana amongst others and just visited Creighton.  The Thunderhawks will be without last year's other double figure scorer AJ Watland due to a torn ACL suffered in the offseason.

Czar's Pick: Lakeville North.  This will be the ugliest game of the day.  Lakeville North has too much firepower and is too well coached.  North in a blowout.

Game 2:11:00 AM Cretin-Derham Hall (8-1) vs #2 4A Bettendorf (IA) (5-0)
This will be the only game of the day without a nationally ranked player.  But expect another size vs speed struggle that should be closer than game 1.  Cretin-Derham Hall comes in at 8-1 but just lost their 1st game to Rosemount in the Catholic Spirit tourney championship game. Their junior class is loaded with the perimeter trio of Sam Neumann, Joe Rosga and Donnell Gresham.  All 3 average double-figures.   Rosga is the glue guy and leads the team at 21.2 PPG.  Gresham is the pure point guard of the 3.  He averages 12 points a night.  Sam Neumann is one of the state's top juniors and is a scorer.  He averages 18.6 points per game.   The Raiders make up for a lack of size by moving the ball well and running.  They've scored 91 points or more 4 different times this season.  That includes 112 in a 30 point thrashing of Minnetonka.

Bettendorf comes in as the second ranked team in Iowa's big school class.  They have a pair of players signed with D2 schools, guard Cole Clearman (Missouri Western State) and wing Kendall Jacks (Wayne St).  Jacks averages 10 points a game.  Guard Dylan Sortillo averages 11.8 PPG.  6'7" forward Nick Baer leads the team at 16 points a night and can step out and shoot it.  Cretin won't have a good matchup for him.

Czar's Pick: Bettendorf.  High school teams struggle shooting in Target Center.  Cretin-Derham Hall is a jump shooting team. Bettendorf is good enough to make the Raiders pay for not making jump shots.

Game 3: 12:45 PM #2AAA De La Salle (4-3) vs St. Rita (Chicago, IL) (5-3)
De La Salle comes in off back to back losses to national powerhouse Findlay Prep and #8AAAA Eden Prairie.  Stanford signee Reid Travis is ranked #40 in the nation by Rivals.com but hasn't played all season due to a foot injury.  But the Islanders are still loaded.  Junior point guard Jarvis Johnson is ranked #68 nationally by Rivals.com.  He leads the Islanders with 16 points a game.  He's an amazing athlete and a very good passer.  He's high on Minnesota's radar.  Sacar Anim is another one of the state's top juniors.  The defensive minded wing averages 14.7 points per game.  Senior guard Geno Crandall can score in bunches.  He'll attend North Dakota next season. 

Chicago St. Rita is one of the top teams in the tough Chicago Catholic League and a defending division champion.  6'7" forward Vic Law is ranked #86 nationally by Rivals.com and will attend Northwestern next season.  He has a game of 22 points and 20 boards to his credit this season.  6'6" junior guard Charles Matthews is ranked #11 nationally and has Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan St, Ohio St and Marquette on his list of 10 schools.  He's been nursing a left ankle injury.  During that time, his senior brother Dominique has been outstanding.  He has offers from SMU, Toledo, UW-Milwaukee and Chicago State.  6'8" junior power forward Myles Carter is ranked #119 nationally by Rivals.com.  He has offers from Providence, Memphis, VCU and Xavier on his list.  St. Rita was 2-2 in the prestigious Iolani Classic in Hawaii over the holidays.  Carter registered a triple double of 13 points, 10 rebounds and 11 blocks in one of the games there.  He also had 11 blocks in another game there and 16 blocks in another game this season.

Czar's Pick: Chicago St. Rita.  Without Reid Travis and with Carter protecting the rim, De La Salle will have to make jump shots.  They aren't a jump shooting team and in the big venue I can't see them making tons of them.

Game 4: 2:30 PM #1AAAA Apple Valley vs #1 6A Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, KS)
Both of these teams return to the shootout from last year.  Apple Valley features point guard Tyus Jones.  He's ranked #5 nationally by Rivals.com and will attend Duke.  I expect a monster game from him on the big stage.  The Eagles are so much more than him though.  The state's top sophomore big man Brock Bertram anchors the front line.  The state's best freshman Gary Trent, Jr starts on the wing.  Tre Jones, Tyus' younger brother, comes off the bench as the best 8th grader in the state.  Forward Dennis Austin has the bulk of a power forward combined with the height and quickness of a guard.  Robert Tobroxen is a lanky sharpshooter on the wing.

Blue Valley Northwest returns their entire roster from last year's Kansas state championship team in class 6A.  Remember they handed De La Salle their only loss of the season at the shootout.  Coach Ed Fritz won his 500th game that day.  Expect some fun strategy from him and his staff for contending with Tyus Jones.  His son Vince is part of a loaded backcourt that features 3 D1 players.  Vince will attend Sacred Heart next season.  Ben Richardson will attended Loyola of Chicago.  Star Clayton Custer is ranked #90 nationally by Rivals.com and will attend Iowa State.  All 3 can handle it and knock down shots.  Forward David Salach will attend D2 Washburn and will likely be the one to contend with Bertram inside. 

Czar's Pick: Blue Valley Northwest.  Apple Valley loses to DLS if Reid Travis plays and Blue Valley Northwest beat a better De La Salle squad last year.  So as much as I like going with Apple Valley, I just can't do it.  I do expect it to be a very good game.  Keep an eye on Brock Bertram in this one.  Will coach Zach Goring be able to stay with him in this one or will he have to sit to give Apple Valley better matchups?

Eagles soar to another impressive win

Prologue
Out into the frigid air to Hopkins to see #1AAAA Apple Valley take on #3AAAA Hopkins in the middle game of a brutal gauntlet for Apple Valley.  A good crowd for a week night game but over all a disappointing crowd for a game of this magnitude.  AV student section usually very good but not out tonight.  Walking Taco was quality as usual with 20 oz of Barq's Root Beer to go with it.  Apple Valley so loaded that they can start 4 varsity level kids in the JV game.

Song of the Day
Paradise City - Guns N Roses

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 256 ounces  (23 games, 20 days)

• 12 oz Dr Pepper
• 12 oz Sprite
• 40 oz Red Powerade
• 20 oz Red Gatorade
• 92 oz Pepsi
• 60 oz Coke
• 20 oz Barq's Root Beer

Game Time
Stephon Sharpe working on Apple Valley's Brock Bertram off the bounce early for 4 quick points and a 7-2 Hopkins lead.  Bertram counters with a putback and a layup from Tyus before sitting with 2 quick fouls.  8-7 Apple Valley at 14:43 when that 2nd foul occurs.  Sharpe off the bounce again for a 21-17 Hopkins lead at the 11 minute mark.  Apple Valley counters with a quick 10-0 run.  A putback for 2 free throws sends Sharpe to the bench with 2 fouls. Tyus takes a turnover for 2 out of a 1-2-2 halfcourt trap.  Then Tyus to Dennis Austin on the pick and roll.  Gary Trent Jr with a strip that becomes 2 more for Tyus and Tyus to Cam Kirksey to end the run.  Timeout Hopkins at the 8:45 mark down 27-21.

Tyus coast to coast for 2 and then he finds Trent for 3.  Sharpe back in the game as the Royals fall behind by 9.  Jake Wright starts to heat up with back to back triples to keep Hopkins close.  Bertram surprisingly comes back in at the 5:21 mark and he's back to the bench with #3 at the 4:45 mark.  Wright again from the deep beyond to cut the lead to 4.  Tyus counters with a 3 point play and Jordan Bolton with a bomb to push the lead back to 10.  53-45 Apple Valley leading at the break.  Tyus 16, 5 and 5.  Wright with 4 3s for 12.

Trent with a nice floater to push the lead to 58-47 with 15:45 left.  Timeout Hopkins to regroup and they do just that.  Kamali Chambers for 3 after 2 driving Hopkins buckets and the lead is down to 6.  Eagles miss a layup and John Warren turns that into a dunk on the other end for Hopkins.  Wright runs and gets a pretty feed for a nice layup.  Timeout Apple Valley with 13:15 left as they cling to a 4 point lead.  Then Apple Valley goes to 2 guards up top with Tyus running off baseline screens on the blocks.  Very strange, you want the ball in his hands at this point, not out.  Didn't like that move at all.  Warren knocks down a 3, then a turnover and Amir Coffey with a great catch and finish at the rim on a difficult pass from Chambers.  Hopkins 65-64 with 11:20 left but Wright and Coffey sit.  Not a fan of that either.  Maybe 1 or the other but both at the same time was a move that seemed strange.  Tyus called for the charge.  Chambers adds a drive for a 67-64 Royals lead with 10:45 left.  That concludes a 20-6 Hopkins run over 5 minutes.

Bertram with a putback, Tyus 2 freebies and an assist for an easy Austin bucket.  That puts Apple Valley back on top.  Warren makes 2 free throws to cut the lead to 1 with 8:40 left and a MoKiller timeout from Apple Valley up 72-71.  Wright finally comes back in the game.  Tyus to Austin again and Tyus coast to coast twice.  All of a sudden the Eagles lead is back to 7, 78-71, after a 14-4 run.  But Jake Wright again keeps Hopkins going with 3 straight bombs.  The last off a Coffey steal and great team find of the hot hand.  Tied at 80 with 5:15 left.

Inside 3 minutes left and no fear from the frosh as Trent converts a clutch drive with 2:15 left.  Apple Valley hanging on 88-84.  Then who else, its Wright with another pure stroke for 3.  A dicey foul call after a Trent shot allows Apple Valley to keep possession with 1:39 left.  Eagles keep it and Tyus drives but blows the layup.  Hopkins can't grab it and Tyus puts it back with 1:20 left.  Hopkins misses a 3 on their possession.  Now Hopkins has to chase.

They get the ball out of Tyus' hands and Trent turns it over for a Coffey bucket with 40 seconds left.  Hopkins down 1.  Chambers takes the hit after the inbounds but Tyus will step up and bury 2 free throws with 36.6 left.  Sharpe gets a good look at a 3 with 25 seconds left but that's no good.  Apple Valley goes on to win 96-90.

Post Game
For Hopkins, they fall to 5-1 with the loss.  They have another big game against Lakeville North at the tipoff classic on Saturday.  Jake Wright with 8 3s and 26 points to lead Hopkins.  Stephon Sharpe and Kamali Chambers each with 18.  Amir Coffey with a quiet night of 9 points.  He was matched up with Gary Trent for a good portion of the night.  Fun to see the top 2016 and 2017 kids go at it. Hopkins lacked a physical presence last year and that hurt them, same was true tonight.

For Apple Valley, Tyus Jones with 34 points, 10 boards and 7 assists on my sheet.  Overall his shooting was pretty cold after knocking down an early 3.  Most of his makes at the rim.   Dennis Austin with 14 points and 17 boards.  Gary Trent Jr with 12 including a pair of 1st half 3s.  After some early success forcing back to back turnovers with the 1-2-2 trap, they never came back to it.  I'm sure coach Goring can't be happy with giving up 8 3s to a known sniper, especially when playing man defense.

Notes from the Big Weekend

Prologue
We'll include a Fri/Sat pair here thanks to a special Kingdom cameo by The Emperor.  A late arrival at Mahtomedi means I miss out on Dominos.  I do make up for missed pizza with the Papa Johns in the hospitality room on Saturday.  Plenty of Pepsi to go around as well along with lots of good music.  Hopkins went back to regular lettuce but has stayed with the sun chips for the walking taco but it was still outstanding despite the steep $4 price tag.  Throw in a quality twitter spat about conduct of AAU coaches at games and it was an eventful weekend.

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 224 ounces  (21 games, 17 days)

• 12 oz Dr Pepper
• 40 oz Red Powerade
• 20 oz Red Gatorade
• 92 oz Pepsi
• 60 oz Coke

Game 1: Stillwater at Mahtomedi (Friday)
Ah the pagentry.  My 1st trip to the home of the Zephyrs.  Big lunch room for concessions with a tiny gym for AAAA school.  But no expense spared on corner camera wells and the big scoreboard with point totals and an added video board that was in play all game.  That included "Hug Cam" which is a funny PG play on pro sporting events and their Kiss Cam.   Add in dueling student sections and away you go.

As to the game, the intended matchup of bigs never really materialized.  Kyle McKinley came off the bench for Stillwater at the 12:47 mark and Mahtomedi's Sean Hjelle sat the last 9:20 of the 1st half with 2 fouls.  Stillwater employed an interesting strategy of faceguarding Hjelle full court with a guard most of the night.  Mahtomedi did a poor job of trying to pound the ball inside to take advantage of the size mismatch.

Stillwater's Nick Ogren with 3 critical 3s in both halves when Stillwater needed possessions with points.  He kept the Ponies close despite a lackluster first half and they were fortunate to be tied at 35 going to the half.  Ogren's 3 after coming back with 2 fouls at the 4 minute mark of the 1st half sparked an 11-3 run to end the half.

Then 49 all when Ogren knocks down 2 more bombs around a banked Michael Claude 3.  The 2nd one starts a run and the 3rd one of the half ends the difference making 10-0 run.  62-52 Ponies 5:32 left.  But Mahtomedi would get 1 last chance.  After a questionable push off on Matt Anderson, Hjelle gets a great post look but can't convert with the Zephyrs done 1 and 20 seconds left.  After 2 Ponies free throws, Mahtomedi doesn't get a great look.  Stillwater hangs on 65-62.  After a quiet start Kyle McKinley almost grabbed double digit boards in the 2nd half.  Hjelle with 11 for Mahtomedi.  Very impressed with his upside and very deserving of a rankings bump.  Lucas Buller with 20 to lead the Zephyrs and Nick Ogren leads everybody with 22

Now to the Saturday boys games at the girls tipoff classic.  I stayed there all day as I thought the crowd would fill in quicker and braving the cold between game didn't see all that appealing.

Game 2: Hopkins vs St. Michael-Albertville
STMA would hang around for about 6 minutes.  Sammy Guillou with a 3 point play at the 11:52 mark to bring the Knights within 13-9.  But its all Hopkins after that.  Jake Wright 2 3s and 8 points in a row.  Kamali Chambers for 3 and then fouled for 3 free throws and he'll add another bomb. You get the idea.  Its a 35-8 run to end the half.  Hopkins rolls from there 77-36.  Jake Wright 4 3s for 18 points.  Kamali Chambers 3 bombs and 14 points.  Nice performance from Jackson Greenwaldt for STMA with 13 points.  Trevor Rothstein DNP for the Knights.

Game 3: Minnetonka vs Breck
Delshon Strickland played his 1st game of the year.  He came off the bench and immediately had a dunk and converted a lob.  Amar Miller was handing out assists and hit a couple of midrange pullups.  Henry Cousineau with 10 quick points before getting into foul trouble for Breck. Will Culliton with a couple of 3s and Mo Lawal scoring for the Mustangs.  A 9-0 Skippers run would allow them to open a 43-35 halftime lead.  Over the 1st 6:40 of the 2nd half, they would go on a 12-3 spurt to open up a 55-38 lead.  Then the Apple Valley game took center stage.  Minnetonka go on to win 78-65.  Lawal would finish with 27 to lead all scorers.  Strickland with 15 in his return, 13 of those before the game got out of hand.

Game 4: Apple Valley vs De La Salle
What an atmosphere with chairs all around the court (end of court bleachers not available due to the other court running late) and the balcony packed.  Not to mention a full media row opposite the benches.  Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino on hand watching.  Only thing missing was Reid Travis who sat out with a foot injury that seems to be dragging out.  Gary Trent Jr on fire early for Apple Valley with a jumper and a pair of bombs.  12-8 Apple Valley just over 4 minutes in.  De La Salle would come back to take a 17-16 lead thanks to drives from Jarvis Johnson and Geno Grandall's sweet drive and assist to Josh Collins for a layup.  Then its time for Tyus.  Drive for a free throw, a steal for 2 more freebies.  An assist for another Trent bomb and he takes a turnover for a layup.  After a nasty Jarvis Johnson standing dunk off an offensive board, Tyus back to the charity stripe for 2 more and he converts another turnover into a 3 point play.  14-4 Eagles run after the Islanders took the lead.  30-21 Apple Valley at the 5:37 mark.  That translates to 36-28 at the half.  Tyus 16, 4 and 5 so he was part of at least 28 of the Eagles points.

More Tyus, he goes for a dunk and then finds Brock Bertram for an easy 2.  Robert Tobroxen gets lost for an easy layup on the BLOB.  The lead balloons to 45-29 with 14:25 left.  Jarvis Johnson back to back bombs and a 3 point play from Geno Crandall cut the lead to 47-38 with 13:08 left.  Tyus right back with a drive and then he dunks a turnover.  Crandall buries a 3 and you see momentum to De La Salle.  Tyus sits for a rest at that point.  Then a turnover for 2 more points is Bertram's 4th foul and Tyus is right back in there after 45 seconds of rest.  53-45 Apple Valley with 10:01 left.

Tobroxen nails a 3 but Crandall counters with 4 in a row.  Apple Valley lead down to 56-51 with 7:17 left.  But De La Salle would get no closer.  Tyus scores (go figure), Anim misses a chance inside and Trent goes glass for 2 more.  Crandall hits a 3 but misses a heat check 3 after an Eagles turnover.  Dennis Austin scores and Tyus feeds him for 2 more after a turnover.  That pushes the lead back to 10 with 5:20 left.  No danger the rest of the way.  Apple Valley wins 73-63.  Tyus Jones 29 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists and 5 turnovers. Geno Crandall with 19 of his 23 points in the 2nd half.  Gary Trent 18 points with 4 bombs.  De La Salle shot only 17-30 from the line.  21-56 FGs for the Islanders, mostly against a 2-3 zone.  Despite Gary Trent's hot shooting, Apple Valley was only 5-19 from 3 (Trent 4-11).  48-30 edge on the glass for Apple Valley including 17 offensive boards but that only translated to a 12-8 edge in 2nd chance points. 

2013-14 Section 3AAAA Preview

This is the 20th preview in my 2013-2014 season preview series.  The previews of class AAAA continue with a look at Section 3.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Defending Champion: Apple Valley (2013 State Champion)

Predicted Seeding

1. Apple Valley
2. East Ridge
3. Cretin-Derham Hall
4. Eagan
5. Rosemount
6. Eastview
7. Henry Sibley
8. Park

Discussion in this section begins and ends with Tyus Jones and Apple Valley.  Dustin Fronk needs to be replaced but Apple Valley is still loaded with talent throughout their program.  The rest of the section won't get the respect it deserves but it is very solid.  East Ridge has everyone back and could be a top 5 team in the state.  They are one of the few teams in the state who can say they can somewhat matchup with Apple Valley.  Cretin-Derham Hall is very talented but young with their junior class.  They need to establish that they can win big games after a disappointing year last season.  Eagan could easily take that 3 seed and Rosemount has a ton coming back.  New coach Paul Goetz at Eastview doesn't have the parts to work with that the others do but you can bet his team will be a tough out in March.  Henry Sibley and Park bring up the rear.

Sleeper: Rosemount.   Experienced with shooters and a quality leader in point guard Garrett Goetz.

Section Winner: Apple Valley.  Still way too talented and with the best player in the section playing his final year, no way I'm picking against the Eagles

2013-14 South Suburban Preview

This is the 8th preview in my 2013-14 Season Preview Series.  In this preview, a look at the South Suburban Conference.  For a list of all the season previews and how they are generated, click here.

Apple Valley Eagles (2012-13 season 31-1, 18-0 Conference, 1st, State Champions)
The nation's top point guard Tyus Jones returns for his 5th season.  He led the Eagles to a state championship last year avenging their only loss to Park Center in the state title game.  Dennis Austin is a matchup nightmare who can play the 1, 3 or 4.  Soph Brock Bertram returns to anchor the middle.  Shooter Dustin Fronk and 16 a night will be missed but Robert Tobroxen should step right into that role.  The program will be a favorite to win state again and is ridiculously loaded with youngsters for the future too.

Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars (2012-13 season 10-17, 5-13 Conference, Tied 7th)
Coach Jeff Evens is more exciting to watch with his 8th grade team.  That said he has forward Tommy Gathje returning.  Gathje is a highly underrated passer at 6'6-6'7 and can step outside and play.  Matt Rosen also returns to the starting lineup at 8+ per game.  Reserves Kyle Lynch and Brian Mariska also return to the rotation.

Bloomington Kennedy Eagles (2012-13 season 9-18, 6-12 Conference, 6th)
First task for Kennedy is finding a new coach.  Reggie Perkins stayed 1 year and just left to return to Washburn as the AD.  Leading scorer Jumah'ri Turner is gone but 3 good pieces are back.  DJ Davis averaged 14 a night and is a lockdown caliber defender on the wing.  Connell Lewis Jr is a guard who saw time.  Travon Hearns will manage the interior.   Robert Parker provides more guard depth.

Burnsville Blaze (2012-13 season 3-23, 2-16 Conference, 10th)
After a very rough couple of season, the Blaze have their top 5 scorers back.  That includes 15+ a night from Zach Smith.  Juniors Jake Ruffing, Joe Morris and Brett Shepley all return to the lineup.

Eagan Wildcats (2012-13 season 16-9, 12-6 Conference, 4th)
Eagan featured a big lineup last year and will have to replace double digit scoring from Ryan Johnson and the strength of forward Mark Woodcock.  Forward Michael Gorder comes back after averaging 21+ per night last year.  He's unorthodox but very effective.  Forward GT Johnson plays multiple roles handling the ball or scoring.  Guard Jack Kelm returns to the rotation.  Guards Bryndan Matthews and Chase Sieberlich both had nice summers and should move up and contribute.

Eastview Lightning (2012-13 season 15-12, 10-8 Conference, 5th)
Former girls coach Paul Goetz takes over the Lightning program.  He took the girls to 4 state tournaments and won 5 league titles in 14 years.  Like predecessor Mark Gerber, expect him to run some of the best sets around.  His son Garrett plays at Rosemount.  Post Ben Oberfeld is off to Bucknell.  There are a pair of shooters to work with in Mark Dwyer and Drew Guebert.  Obi Ibeneme is an athletic wing.  Jordan Machacek is a long lean 6'11 body who could minutes in the middle.

Lakeville North Panthers (2012-13 season 23-7, 14-4 Conference, 2nd)
A great year for the Panthers last year after losing most of the roster.  Now they're poised for another state run behind Xavier signee JP Macura.  Macura is one of the elite shooters and scorers in the state.  His play this summer vaulted him into the top 100 in many national rankings.  After his 25 a night, a pair of guards who averaged double figures depart.  But junior Connor Flack and center Bronson Bruneau are 2 more options returning to the lineup.

Lakeville South Cougars (2012-13 season 10-18, 5-13 Conference, Tied 7th)
The Cougars lose leading scorer Corey Larson who was an athletic front court piece.  They lose 2 more top scorers with size as well.  But there is still very good talent left over.  Frosh Jack Sorenson will run the point once he returns from a shoulder injury.  Junior forward Brenon Larson-Gulsvig made a big jump onto the scene last year and can give them plenty of scoring punch.  Luke Iverson and Cody Kairis provide more guard depth.

Prior Lake Lakers (2012-13 season 19-8, 13-5 Conference, 3rd)
Former St. Thomas Academy head man Dan Rubischko takes over as Alex Focke has moved on to Hamline.  Their 2 huge centers Carson Shanks and Jeff Probert are off to Utah State and Northern State.  Point guard Jon Sobaski returns for a 4th year running the point and is their engine.   Junior Connor Bair will step in on the front line.  Kevin McKiernan will fill a guard spot.

Rosemount Irish (2012-12 season 9-20, 5-13 Conference, Tied 7th)
Rosemount returns a solid guard duo of Garrett Goetz at the point and shooter Cole Northwick.  They combined for 28 points a night last year.  Juniors Logan Halvorsen, Jack Kessler and Kyle Kaupa all saw major rotation minutes last year.  They aren't the most physical team but they can put a hurting on your from the 3 point line.
 
Predicted Order of Finish

1. Apple Valley
2. Lakeville North   
3. Eagan
4. Rosemount   
5. Prior Lake   
6. Lakeville South
7. Eastview
8. Bloomington Kennedy  
9. Bloomington Jefferson 
10. Burnsville

Conference Overview:
The top 3 are pretty straight forward here I think.  The top 2 should be heavy favorites to return to state.  Eagan has talent left over and a very talented crop to add to it.  Rosemount has their rotation coming back.  There's not a clear bottom feeder here but Kennedy's coaching situation, Jefferson's scoring struggles and recent Burnsville history compel me to put them at the end of the list.

Conference MVP: Tyus Jones - Apple Valley

Underclassmen to watch: 

• Brock Bertram, Gary Trent Jr, Cameron Kirksey, Jordan Bolton,  Tre Jones - Apple Valley
• Jack Sorenson - Lakeville South
• Drew Stewart - Lakeville North

Conference Games to Watch

• Lakeville North at Eagan - Jan 3rd
• Apple Valley at Eagan- Jan 7th
• Lakeville North at Apple Valley - Jan 14th
• Eagan at Apple Valley - Feb 3rd
• Eagan at Lakeville North - Feb 7th
• Apple Valley at Lakeville North - Feb 18th

Non-Conference Games to Watch

• Minnetonka at Apple Valley - Nov 30th
• Lakeville North at Eden Prairie - Dec 5th
• Apple Valley vs De La Salle - Dec 7th (Girls Tipoff Classic at Hopkins)
• Apple Valley at Hopkins - Dec 10th 
• Lakeville North at Farmington - Dec 10th
• Chicago Whitney Young at Apple Valley - Dec 12th (ESPN)
• Lakeville North vs Hopkins - Dec 14th (Tipoff Classic at Minnetonka)
• Apple Valley vs Roseville - Dec 27th (Granite City Classic at St. Cloud Apollo)
• Eagan at Bethel Tournament - Dec 27th and 28th
• Lakeville North at Lakeville Rotary Tournament - Dec 27th and 28th
• Lakeville North vs Stevens Point (WI) - Jan 25th (Border Battle at Kaukauna, WI)

2013 Border Battle Review

A great day of pizza , Pepsi and blowouts if you're a Minnesota supporter at the 2013 Border Battle.  Prior Lake (the finest resort town in the Kingdom) was a quality host for the event.   The 2 slices of pizza always quality and an event like this runs up the beverage tally with 48 more ounces.  Good early crowds on hand and a smaller than expected crowd for the big finale.  Tubby Smith making an appearance for most of the day.  My thoughts on the 7-0 sweep.

Gane 1: Mahtomedi vs Eau Claire Regis
Good to finally see Mahtomedi this season after I underestimated them in my season preview.  After a losing by 13 at Tartan on Friday night in a big Classic Suburban game, you know the Zephyrs had to be anxious to get that taste out of their mouth.  Turnovers would ultimately be the downfall of a young Ramblers team.  They would hang within 6 at half and about 10 until 10 minutes left.  7 in a row from Nuni Omot and Mahtomedi blows open a 14 point game from there.  77-49 Mahtomedi wins.  Omot with 26 on my sheet in a very productive performance for the lanky forward.  Zach Lindquist another double double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Game 2: Eden Prairie vs Manitowoc Roncalli
Without Jack Cottrell, Grant Shaeffer and Zach Hovey, the Eagles were shorthanded enough to give a sophomore and freshman time.  The story here was Eden Prairie's physical play and switching all of the screens in the great Roncalli offense.  That bothered the Jets and when they did have looks, they didn't make shots.  An 11-2 run in the 2nd half with 3 triples (2 triples and a bucket from Nate Lassila) would get the Jets as close as 44-39 with 8 minutes left but they would only score 5 more points.  Eden Prairie wins 59-44.  Lassila finishes with 23 and 4 triples.  Roncalli with 9 3s and 8 2s.  Andre Wallace with a quick spurt to start the 2nd half and a pair of 3 point plays late to extend the margin.  He leads Eden Prairie with 18.

Game 3: Hopkins vs DePere
Hopkins would open a 14 point lead in the 1st half against the Redbirds before a 48-39 lead at half.  Kamali Chambers with 8 early 2nd half points to push that lead out to 20, 69-49 with 11 minutes left.  A 10-0 from DePere would cut that lead in half as soph scorer Brevin Pritzl had 6 of those.  The lead would stay at 10 when Pritzl saw a 3 go in an out.  He would score again to cut the lead to 8 with 3 minutes left but Hopkins would hang on from there for a 85-70 win.  Pritzl leads all scorers with 27, 4 triples but I'd like to see him focus on better shot selection.  Hopkins gets 6 in double figures led by Jamal Davis and his 18 points.  The Hopkins pressure defense just too much for DePere as it really kept the Redbirds out of getting good looks in the halfcourt.

Game 4: DeLaSalle vs Appleton West
This one was all DeLaSalle from the start.  Reid Travis with a bucket in a 2 on 1 and then a post spin for a bucket and foul.  Jarvis Johnson with a 2 handed throw down and Travis facing up inside and knocking it down.  26-9 Islanders late in the 1st half.  West does get 7 in a row before DeLaSalle opens the lead back up to 34-20 at half.  Troy Mielke with with 4 points and a lob layup for E Illinois signee Jake Verhagen.  West within 46-37 with 8 minutes left.  Then Travis 2 chances at a putback and scores.  Another bucket on the break.  James Lawson for 2 on a turnover.  Jarvis Johnson takes another turnover for 2 more and the lead is back to 17.  Mielke with 2 buckets to keep it at 54-41 at 5:15.  Islanders outscore the Terrors 11-2 the rest of the way as Luke Scott hits a 3, Travis with bonus free throws and an emphatic dunk on a 3 on 0 break.  DeLaSalle wins 65-43.  Reid Travis 26 points for DeLaSalle.

Game 5: Osseo vs Hudson
Osseo just too talented here.  15 all game inside of 8 minutes left in the 1st half after an Alex Herink 3 for Hudson.  Then Osseo closes the half on a 19-5 run for a 34-20 halftime lead.  A Herink bucket and a Hudson 3 would cut the lead to 46-33 with 11 minute left but the Raiders would get no closer.  Osseo rolls from there to a 76-45 win.  Bridge Tusler 22 points 5 assists and 6 steals on my sheet as he was all over the place making plays.  Ian Theisen 12 of his 14 in the 2nd half as he got some great post looks.  Alex Herink 16 points to lead Hudson.

Game 6: Prior Lake vs Rice Lake
No Carson Shanks for Prior Lake in this one due to an injury.  Prior Lake up 18-17 at the 7 minute mark before Henry Ellenson gets it going.  He scores 8 points in a 14-4 run.  That leads Rice Lake to a 31-24 halftime lead.  Jon Sobaski with a nice sequence to start the 2nd half for Prior Lake.  He swats away a layup after a Lakers turnover, finds Nick Hart for a layup, screen and roll for 3, pass to Jeff Probert for a big throwdown and an inbounds triple at the 13:45 mark.  Prior Lake right back in it as that ties the game at 34.  Ellenson keeping his offensive up in the 2nd half as well. A 3, post for 2, a lob inbounds for a free throw and a putback.  49-45 Rice Lake with 7:43 left.  But the Warriors wouldn't score again for almost 6 minutes.  Jason Faul with a 3 point play for the lead and Taylor Heidecker with a back breaking 3 in a 17-0 run for Prior Lake.  Prior Lake goes on to win 66-53.  Henry Ellenson 27 points and 18 boards on my sheet.  Jon Sobaski 21 points and he came up big in the 2nd half after struggling to end the 1st half.

Game 7: Apple Valley vs Madison Memorial
Madison Memorial came in after a tough Big 8 loss to Sun Prairie the night before so you had to wonder where they'd be mentally.  Somehow I don't think it would have mattered.  Tyus Jones absolutely ridiculous in this one.  Tied at 9 just over 4 minutes in.  Tyus with a long 2 and a steal for 2.  Then an assist to Robert Tobroxen for 3.  Harry Sonie for 3 and a 2nd pass for a Brock Bertram layup.  21-12 Eagles at the 10:50 mark.  Memorial is within 27-21 before a 17-2 Eagles run.  Tyus with a steal for a 3 point play and a coast to coast bucket in that run.  That gives Apple Valley a 47-28 halftime lead. 7 assists in the half for Tyus along with a team leading 11 points.

Reggie Roemer would lead Memorial back as he had his way getting to the rim on 4 straight possessions.  That would allow Memorial to cut a 22 point lead down to 58-48 just inside 8 minutes to play.  But Tyus would have none of that.  He knocks down a 3 then pulls up in transition for 3 more.  He then takes a turnover for a bucket and drives for a 3 point play.  Its an 11-1 Tyus run over 2:26 for a 69-49 lead.  Apple Valley goes on to win 81-60.  Tyus Jones 26 points and 9 assists to go with at least 4 steals.  Brock Bertram 16 points inside for the Eagles.  Reggie Roemer 17 for Memorial.  Interesting strategy from Memorial as they started the game man to man on Sonie, Fronk, and Jones with a top/bottom zone from the other 2 defenders.  A couple easy layups out of that and with Memorial quickly falling behind, there wasn't much of a chance for coach Steve Collins to go into the bag of tricks.

All Border Battle Team
Tyus Jones - Apple Valley (MVP)
Jon Sobaski - Prior Lake
Bridge Tusler - Osseo
Henry Ellenson - Rice Lake
Reid Travis - De La Salle

2013 Timberwolves Shootout Review

Its the 2013 Timberwolves Shootout.  I've been very critical of the scheduling but let's give some credit where credit is due.  A quality job done by Jeff Munneke and his staff putting together the best set of games we've had to look forward to in many years.  No food but 64 oz of Pepsi to keep me awake and refreshed for the early games.  Here's are some of the sights and sounds.

Game 1: #5A Lakeview Christian vs Onalaska (WI)
Iowa State in the building early to take in their recruit Matt Thomas from Onalaska.  Onalaska goes with the expected diamond and 1 on Anders Broman.  Bjorn Broman knocks down a pair of NBA 3s for an 8-4 Lakeview Christian lead. Matt Thomas gets it going with a stretch where he scores 10 of 12 Hilltoppers points.  23-13 lead for Onalaska at the 7:50 mark.  LCA  goes on a 9-2 run to cut the lead to 25-22 at the 5:50 mark.  Thomas with 9 more (11 per the book on a tip that he probably didn't get) as Onalaska goes up 43-32 at the half.

Thomas 3 of 4 free throws as the lead stays 51-39 with 12:16 left.  Anders Broman to Bjorn Broman for 3 and a Bjorn runner.  Thomas right back with 4 in a row.  Anders with 2 more buckets.  Thomas scores and the lead is 64-48 with 6:55 left.  Anders with a 3 point play as LCA hangs within 11.  Thomas slams the door with a pair of free throws and then gets undercut in a dangerous looking play but its a 3 point play.  That helps push the lead to 18 and Lakeview Christian never threatens again.  Onalaska wins 77-62.  Matt Thomas officially listed with 43 and 14 coming up 1 point short of Rick Rickert's Shootout record.  Anders Broman 10-19 for 26 points.  Bjorn Broman 21 points and 9 rebounds.  LCA goes 5-21 from behind the arc while Onalaska only shot 4-22 from there.  Give an undermanned LCA squad credit for hanging in on the glass and keeping the game from becoming from a blowout early.

Game 2: #1 3A De La Salle vs Blue Valley Northwest (KS)
Hoiberg hanging around to see another Cyclones recruit Clayton Custer.  Reid Travis starts out 1-4 but he does get it going for the 1st Islanders points of the game.  7-2 Islanders at the 13:55 mark.  Travis adds 2 free throws at the 8:36 mark for a 13-6 lead.  A critical adjustment by the Huskies in a timeout sees them go to a 5 out look.  Interestingly they call it False Motion.  Clayton Custer with a 3 point play and a Kyle Harrison 3 cut the lead to 1. Then Custer on the drive for 2 and a pair of bonus free throws for a 12-2 run.  Only Islander offense is 2 more Travis buckets inside.  The Huskies run down the clock for a Custer pullup at the buzzer.  24-19 Huskies at the half.

Back and forth we go to start the half.  Travis on a high/low feed, Custer 4 in a row and Travis 2 more.  32-29 Blue Valley at the 13:10 mark.  Then a David Salach tip dunk for his only 2 of the day and Custer with a steal for 2 more.  38-31 Blue Valley with all the momentum and Dave Thorson needs a timeout.  The Huskies get a T in the celebration (questionable but head of refs loves the call).  Jarvis Johnson with a pair of free throws and a drive for 2 more.  42-39 Blue Valley with 8:15 left.  Custer on the drive countered by Travis with 2 free throws and another inside bucket.  Then a great set call for a Scott 3 and De La Salle is back on top 46-44 with 5 minutes left.  Back and forth until a Travis free throw off a Luke Scott missed free throw ties the game at 50 with 1:43 left.  Blue Valley gets a bucket, followed by an impatient miss looking for Travis inside.  De La Salle has to foul and the bonus free throws from Vince Fritz are good.  De La Salle misses a 3 and Clayton Custer makes 3 of 4 free throws to put the game away.  Blue Valley Northwest defeats De La Salle 57-52 to give head coach Ed Fritz his 500th career win.  Clayton Custer 26 points and 8 rebounds.  Reid Travis 29 and 15.  3 point shooting crazy cold in this one too.  Blue Valley 1-15 and De La Salle 2-11 from deep.  15 offensive rebounds for De La Salle for a 37-20 overall advantage on the glass.  That helped keep DLS in it but 18 turnovers to 8 hurt their cause.

Game 3: #3AAAA Roseville vs West Des Moines Valley (IA)
Mack Johnson out of the Roseville lineup with a bum ankle.  That's a big loss.  Iowa commit Peter Jok off to a quick start for Valley with 14 points in the 1st 7:16.  Roseville has lots of pieces but they don't really have a good piece to defend an athletic high caliber wing like Jok.  Jok picks up his 2nd foul with 10:30 left and has to sit with Valley leading 22-11.  Jordan Burich very active and effective for Roseville in the half.  His putback starts a 7-0 run after Jok sits.  Burich inside for 2 free throws after Jok returns late in the half.  Jok with a putback before he sits for the last minute to avoid the 3rd foul.  30-26 Valley at the half.  Jok 16 points and only played 9 minutes.  Burich almost a double double in the half with 9 points, 9 boards and 3 blocks thanks to 7-10 FTs.

Logan Brown 4 quick points to tie the game in the 1st 40 seconds of the half.  Jok off an inbounds lob and a dunk for a 42-38 Valley lead with 11:32 left.  Roseville staying close with Burich in the post at the 9 minute mark to cut the Valley lead to 44-41.  Jok with a 3 point play off a turnover and the lead expands to 55-46 with 5:43 left.  Brown with back to back 3s and a Burich free throw with 3:53 left.  55-53 Valley holding on.  Then head coach and former Iowa star Jeff Horner decides to face guard Brown.  That strategy is huge as Valley finishes the game from there on a 14-0 run to win 69-53.  Peter Jok 34 and 8 on 13-20 shooting for Valley.  Logan Brown 20 and 5 for Roseville.  Jordan Burich ends up with Andrei Kirilenko type numbers of 15 points, 14 boards, 4 steals, 5 blocks. 9-16 at the line held his point total down but 8 offensive boards were big.  Valley 1-13 from 3 in a recurring theme of the day.  Roseville 6-16 from 3 but only 15-52 overall (28.8%) as the loss of Johnson really stunted their offense.

Game 4: #2AAAA Apple Valley vs Robbinsdale Cooper
Roy Williams and Hubert Davis from North Carolina along with Tubby Smith join Fred Hoiberg at courtside for this one.  Rashad Vaughn with a drive for 2 and then a dunk 3 minutes in for a 10-5 Cooper lead.  Dennis Austin 4 in a row to tie the game at 12. Then Tyus Jones for 2 and a 3 point play.  Vaughn picks up his 2nd foul but no way he sits.  Austin still effective as his layup at 8:15 extends the Apple Valley lead to 26-19.  Then Vaughn with 2 buckets in an 8-2 run to cut the Eagles lead to 28-27 at the 6:15 mark.  Vaughn with a fade away in the post and a Billy Kellogg 3 and the Cooper lead is 36-30.  Dustin Fronk for 3 and then Vaughn turns it over and Tyus Jones takes it the other way just in time to beat the buzzer.  36-35 Cooper at the half.  Vaughn 15 points, Jones 9 and 5 assists.

Vaughn fading in the post and going glass on a very slick move.  Cooper countering the option of Harry Sonie on defense by posting Vaughn.  That caused big James Horton to get some minutes guarding Vaughn.  Vaughn makes 2 free throws for a 5 point lead with 15:38 left.  Austin has his own matchup advantage and Apple Valley makes the adjustment by finding him inside.  Back to back hoops for him down low.  Vaughn with 2 huge 3s and another bucket for 8 straight Cooper points.  What do we have here, its Cooper leading 54-43 with 11:40 left.

But the rest of the game is all Apple Valley.  Fronk with a layup and a 3 in a 10-0 to cut the lead to 54-53 with 9:22 left.  After Vaughn swats Tyus in transition and a Cooper timeout.  Fronk with a bomb to tie the game at 56.  Vaughn right back with a nasty 3.  Austin killing inside as he's fouled and misses 2 free throws.  Back to him for the hoop and harm but another missed freebie and another post bucket.  A Cooper layup keeps them within 1, 61-60 with 5:05 left.  Sonie for 3, Tyus with a 3 point play.  Austin with 2 free throws, Tyus with a bucket and 2 free throws and Cooper is down 9.  Vaughn blocked on 1 end and Tyus converts it with an assist to Austin running for 2.  Timeout Cooper with 2:33 left but its out of reach down 74-63.  Apple Valley wins 80-70.  Rashad Vaughn leads all scorers with 35 points and 7 boards.  He shot 14-33, 4-11 from 3.  Tyus Jones 18 points, 4 boards, 8 assists, 2 steals on 7-10 shooting.  Dennis Austin came up large with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Dustin Fronk added another fine performance of 21 points and 5 rebounds.  The rest of the Cooper roster shoots a blistering 16-29.  But their lack of defense reared its ugly head again as Apple Valley shot 57.7% for the game and 62.5% for 2nd half.  They held Cooper to 38.9% in the 2nd half.

All Timberwolves Shootout Team
Matt Thomas - Onalaska
Peter Jok - West Des Moines Valley
Clayton Custer - Blue Valley Northwest
Reid Travis - De La Salle
Dennis Austin - Apple Valley

2nd Team
Tyus Jones - Apple Valley
Anders Broman - Lakeview Christian
Rashad Vaughn - Cooper
Dustin Fronk - Apple Valley
Jordan Burich - Roseville

A star-studded doubleheader

Prologue
A night of stars as its an early 5 PM tilt between Cooper and Hopkins followed by a city battle between Apple Valley and Eastview.  Only a beverage at Eastview (12 oz of Pepsi always good) but never bad to get the 20oz Coke and Walking Taco at Hopkins.  Though I am a bit disturbed they're staying with this unique version rather than the previous.  Full house at Apple Valley made for a very good atmosphere.  Western Michigan took in both games with the Howard Pulley guys.  Northland (coolest guy in the UMAC) and UW-River Falls (baddest man in the WIAC) take in the Apple Valley/Eastview game.

Game 1 - Robbinsdale Cooper at #4AAAA Hopkins
Rashad Vaughn a couple of quick assists to Darrious Denson for layups. Then a 15-0 Hopkins run with 3 triples puts Hopkins up 20-10 at the 10 minute mark.  Vaughn would start 0-4 then make 4 in a row ending with an NBA 3.  31-19 Hopkins at the 6:40 mark after that bomb.  Vaughn with a pullup for 2. a steal for 2 more and a straight away 30 footer as Cooper goes on a 14-3 run over the last 3:30 of the half.  That cuts the Hopkins lead to 40-35 at half.  Vaughn with 16 points.

Cooper off to a quality start in the half with Lavar McCollough and Billy Kellogg knocking down consecutive 3s to tie the game at 45 with 15:10 to play.  Hopkins would once again pull out their point zone with 11:30 to play and a 50-48 lead.  Philip Stribling with a pair of putback and Jake Wright with a pair of dagger 3s to top off a 22-6 Hopkins run.  70-54 Hopkins leading with 5:35 left and Cooper needs a timeout.  Can't leave Wright any space and the Hawks never really did that well in this one.  Vaughn tries to keep Cooper going as he spins for 2 and goes coast to coast for a 3 and then 3 more for a personal 8-0 run.  He adds a 3 point play with 2:07 left to keep Cooper within 8.  A late 3 finishes his stat line but its not enough.  Hopkins wins 85-70.  Hopkins has 4 in double figures led by Jake Wright's 20 and a great night off the bench from Stribling with 17.  Rashad Vaughn 13-30 from the floor on my sheet for 36 points to go with 8 rebounds.  Overall, not a great game though.  In this humble basketball guy's opinion, I see that he needs to improve his fundamentals (e.g closeouts) and effort on the defensive end, improve his shot selection (many misses were forced shots tonight) and better control and change his negative emotions during adverse circumstances, especially towards teammates.  Lavar McCollough with 12 points as the only other Hawks player in double figures.

Game 2 - Eastview at #2AAAA Apple Valley
Its the return of Tyus Jones after missing 3 full games and most of the Hopkins game 2 1/2 weeks ago.  He takes a turnover the other way and finishes through the contact for a 3 point play.  8-5 Eagles at the 14:22 mark.  Ben Oberfeld wheeling it down the floor and he takes the feed down the lane and hammers it home at the 11 minute mark to keep Eastview within 4.  He adds a lefty finish and 2 free throws.  17-15 Apple Valley at the 7:10 mark.  Dustin Fronk has been playing really well lately and he starts to heat up again.  A layup, a triple and then he finishes the 10-0 run with 2 more.  26-15 Apple Valley now up double digits at the 5 minute mark.  Oberfeld with a pair of buckets in a 9-2 Eastview run to close to 28-24 but Fronk buries another 3 and Brock Bertram with a block on 1 end and gets the reward on the other.  33-24 Apple Valley lead at the half.

Dennis Austin a pair of layups on sweet passes from Tyus, Fronk with a bucket and another Austin 2 as Apple Valley gains more distance.  Tyus with a bucket and fouled but can't convert the 3 point play.  Its a 12-2 Apple Valley run to start the half for a 45-26 lead at the 13:27 mark.  Fronk with a floater, a sweet backdoor play from Eastview (see below), an extra pass finds Harry Sonie for 3 and Fronk to the reverse layup. 56-36 Apple Valley with 5:33 left when Tyus sits.  He should be done for the night.  Fronk hits another 3 to push the lead to 21 but Eastview scores the next 7 thanks to a pair of their own bombs.  That cuts the lead to 14 with 2:59 left and Tyus is back in there.  Oberfeld inside cuts the lead to 12.  Tyus finishes the Apple Valley scoring at the 1:15 mark with a drive.  Oberfeld with a last second 3 point play but that doesn't affect the outcome.  Apple Valley wins 61-52.  Ben Oberfeld with 23 points,12 boards, 3 assists.  No other hope though, the rest of the team shoots 30% (12/40).  Tyus Jones still not 100% finished with 11 points, 8 assists and 5 steals.  Dustin Fronk leads with 24 points.  Dennis Austin 16 points and 7 rebounds.  Apple Valley shoots 49.1% for the game.  A bit of a surprise with Eastview's physical style and Tyus Jones that Apple Valley only shot 5 free throws for the game.  The game was at Eastview's pace but not enough firepower.

Play of the Day
Our play of the day is actually the same concept from both Hopkins and Eastview for a backdoor layup.  Hopkins really liked this for Blake Hoffarber but did run it tonight to start the 2nd half (a little detail that Hopkins usually does).    Saw this from both squads tonight.

Hopkins runs this out of a straight 2-3 high set.  The point guard will dribble under the 2 guard to exchange spots.  The post will fill the ball side elbow, the weakside wing with cut to the backside block and the flash hard to make a catch on the backside elbow.  He then hits the 2 guard going backdoor with his defender caught ball watching.

Eastview gets the same end result (cross guards high and then flash to weakside elbow and high 2 guard back door) but here's how they get there.  They start with 2 guards high, 2 on the blocks and corner on the same side original side as the point guard.  As the point guard dribble swaps with the 2 guard, the corner guy runs the baseline off the double screen.  Then each post diagonally flashes to the opposite elbow after their screen.  In this case it's Oberfeld who makes the 2nd diagonal cut to the elbow for the pretty assist.

2013 Timberwolves Shootout Preview

Its once again time for the annual Timberwolves Shootout.  This year is a different schedule with only 4 games but some of the better games we've seen in the event in a few years.  Those games are early thanks to the Timberwolves hosting Portland in the night cap.  Here's my look at what to expect from the 4 games.

9:00 AM Game 1 - #5A Lakeview Christian vs #2 D2 Onalaska (WI)
Onalaska makes a return trip to the shootout after losing at the end to Apple Valley last season.  They are 7-2 with their only losses to #5 D1 Milwaukee Hamilton with national star Kevon Looney and conference rival La Crosse Aquinas with Wisconsin signee Bronson Koenig (see more about that battle here).  Their star Matt Thomas is ranked #58 in the nation by Rivals.com in the class of 2013.  The sweet shooting guard is averaging 27.8 points per game for the Hilltoppers.  But they aren't a 1 man band.  With a supporting cast of players like Clint Rihn, the Hilltoppers are a serious threat to repeat as Division 2 state champions.  

Lakeview Christian features the Broman brothers, Anders and Bjorn.  Anders is 6'2 wing who just set the all time career scoring record in Minnesota.  Bjorn runs the show but can fill it up as well.  He had 10 3s against Blake in the tipoff classic.  The rest of the roster is thin but they will knock down 3s, specifically lefty Josh Plys.  They had 21 bombs in that Blake game.

Expect Onalaska to use the same tactics as they did last year against Tyus Jones, a 1-3 zone with 1 man face guarding Anders Broman.  Gaps in the middle of the zone could be exploited.  Onalaska doesn't have a serious inside threat so that helps Lakeview Christian out.  But Onalaska is too talented and Lakeview Christian is not a good defensive team.  I'll take the Hilltoppers to cruise in this one.

11:00 AM Game 2 - #1AAA De La Salle vs #1 6A Blue Valley Northwest (KS)
De La Salle returns from The Corn Palace after 2 impressive wins against ranked teams from New York and South Dakota.  Junior forward Reid Travis is ranked #41 nationally by Rivals.com (#29 by ESPN) and just picked up an offer from Michigan State to add to his many offers.  The forward is having a huge year putting up over 30 a night for the Islanders.  Point guard Jarvis Johnson also has high major interest.  Shooting guard Luke Scott is one of the top shooters in Minnesota.  Wing Sacar Amin is one of the top sophomores in Minnesota.  So in other words, the Islanders are loaded and a major favorite to repeat as state champs in class AAA.

The Huskies from Blue Valley NW (Overland Park, KS) are currently ranked #1 in Kansas class 6A, the largest schools.  They have a sweet shooting guard in junior Clayton Custer.  He's ranked #97 by Rivals.com and has committed to Iowa State.  Keep an eye on fellow 2014 guards Ben Richardson, Vince Fritz and Kyle Harrison as well.  All 4 played with Nike program Mokan Elite during the summer.  Blue Valley NW is ranked #4 in the current PrepNation.com Midlands region poll and they've already beaten #5 Nixa, MO.  De La Salle is #6 in that same poll.  These 2 teams saw each other play in Des Moines in December.  Blue Valley NW knocked off fellow TWolves Shootout team West Des Moines Valley 55-51 in that event.  I expect this to be the best game of the event.

1:00 PM Game 3 - #3AAAA Roseville vs #8AAAA West Des Moines Valley (IA)
Roseville enters the game 8-0 and just put up 113 points against formerly ranked Moorhead on their home court.  The Raiders are loaded at the guard spots with Mack Johnson, another sweet shooter, Logan Brown, Kobe Critchley and Ben Farmer.   Jordan Burich controls the inside as 1 of 4 players averaging double figures for the Raiders.  Johnson leading the way at 21 a game.  They are as deep as any team in the state with at least 10 guys who give them quality minutes.

Valley comes in to the game with a record of 6-2 with losses to Blue Valley Northwest in Des Moines and Ankeny.  De La Salle beat Ankeny at the event in Des Moines.  Their 6'6 star wing Peter Jok will play at Iowa next season.  He's averaging almost 25 a night as one of the top scorers in Iowa.  He adds almost 8 rebounds a night.  When he played here in the Best Buy Summer Classic after his freshman year he was one of the top 20 players in the country.  Then he injured a knee right after that.  That injury cost him the next 2 seasons.  He finally came back for last July's open period.  Its a fascinating story.  It will be very interesting to see him now after seeing him the 1st week of July right after he came back.  6'5 Senior Clint Boffeli gives them a 13.1 a night.  Both him and Jok are making over 2 3s per game with over 40% from deep.

3:00 PM Game 4 - #2AAAA Apple Valley vs Robbinsdale Cooper.
The local matchup of the 2 best players in the class of 2014 will be the biggest circus we've seen in a while at the shootout. Tyus Jones is #1 overall in the ESPN 2014 rankings while Rashad Vaughn is #10.  Of course the big question is will Tyus play or not.  He aggravated his back in the game against Hopkins on December 18th and hasn't played since.  My info is that its questionable but if I had to guess, I would guess he sits out.  But Apple Valley has proven they can win without him all fall and this season.  They just knocked off #5 Osseo in St. Cloud without Jones playing.  They also came from behind to knock off #4 Hopkins after Jones left that game with only 5 minutes of playing time.  Shooter Dustin Fronk has played very well in Jones absence with over 25 a night in those 4 games.  Freshman center Brock Bertram seeing more time for the Eagles as well as one of the state's top 2016 prospects.  Dennis Austin is a difficult matchup with strength and quickness.  They have shooters in players like Chris Laymon and Robert Tobroxen.

On the Cooper side, Vaughn is one of the most dynamic 1 on 1 players we've seen in the state in a long time.  Lavar McCollough is an athletic wing who may really surprise some people in this event.  He's averaging over 15 a night and was dynamite in the tipoff classic against Minnetonka.  With or without Tyus, this will be a classic example of team over individual.  Vaughn will likely put on a show to keep it close, but Apple Valley is that good.  If Tyus plays it could get ugly as Cooper is not good defensively giving up over 68 a night.

The Big High School Weekend

Prologue
A long weekend of back to back midnight arrivals at The Czar's Palace.  But 9 games in 28 and a half hours is well worth it.  Quality dominos pizza at North St. Paul for their tourney to go with the beefy size 24oz of pepsi.  Add in a very respectable hot dog and 1 pepsi and 1 coke at the Breakdown Tipoff Classic.  For those of you tracking it, and if you are, don't eat as much as me, here are the up to date counts.  I'm at 15 beverages for a total of 248 oz.  The hot dog was the 6th of the season to go with 2 slices of pizza.

Polar Classic (Friday)
Friday was the opening round of the Polar Classic at North St. Paul.  Fridley took on Eagan in the opener.  Fridley played without their top player, guard Michael Murray.  He's missed the season so far due to a football concussion but is expected to return next week.  Chaney Pal inside to keep Fridley within 11-9 at the 12:45 mark.  Eagan up 23-17 at the 8:31 mark as they take a timeout.  That sparks a 30-4 run across halftime to blow the game wide open.  Michael Gorder took over during the early part of the 2nd half to complete the run.  Fridley doesn't get their first field goal of the 2nd half until the 12:25 mark.  Its too late by that time.  Eagan wins 77-45. Gorder finishes with 21, 8 and 3 steals.  11 for Amane Akane to lead Fridley.  Eagan soph GT Johnson getting some time running the point.  The Wildcats have a bunch of 6'3-6'5 banger types so they can go big.

The late game was Harding taking on North St. Paul.  Harding would jump all over the Polars to the tune of 34-15 with 4:30 left in the half.  Bobby Anderson lighting it up off the Harding bench.  The Polars would score 9 of the final 10 points in the half.  That was partially thanks to Harding missing their last 7 free throws of the half during that stretch.  The game would hover around the 10-14 point margin for most of the 2nd half.  Anderson with a steal and spin and Harding held a 68-52 lead with 2:35 left.  That looked to seal it but Harding couldn't finish it as they were turning the ball over and missing free throws.  Joe Messerole would knock down a 3 and 2 more bombs from Jake McDonough would cut the lead to 70-67 with 20.3 ticks left.  Kenny Reed would make a free throw but Devin Bateman would putback a miss and get fouled.  Free throw no good with 9.7 left.  71-69 Harding.  Doc Wells with 1 free throw to give NSP life.  McDonough would be fouled with 3.9 left down 3 but only shooting 2.  He makes the 1st and intentionally misses the 2nd.  North can't come up with it.  Harding makes 1 more free throw for a 73-70 win.  Harding finishes 9-30 from the foul line but hangs on.  Bobby Anderson 24 points off the bench to lead the Knights and Kenny Reed with 21.  Jake McDonough and Devin Bateman 13 each.  Joe Messerole 12, Devonne Dickens 11.

Breakdown Tipoff Classic (Saturday)
A packed house for the late games (and we do mean late) means I took in only the 7 games in the west gym.  In fact I only left the gym once all day.  Here's what I saw

Game 1: Buffalo vs Woodbury
What an adventure this game was.  Renard Suggs and Ethan Freer go back and forth with 14 points each in the 1st half.  Freer buries a 3 at the buzzer for a 39-34 Buffalo lead at half.  65 all with 2:30 left when Woodbury got back to back 3s from Matt Ambriz and Diallo Powell.  The lead was still 6 inside a minute.  Freer with 5 straight Bison points but Woodbury breaks the press for an easy Mario Franco layup.  77-72 Royals with 30 seconds left.  Collin Olmscheid had a huge 2nd half.  He would bury a 3 and after Suggs missed a front end, Olmscheid made 2 free throws to tie the game with 10.1 left.  Suggs would have a chance but miss.  Buffalo had 1 last tip that was off.  Off to OT tied at 77.

Similar story in the 1st OT.  Suggs with 2 free throws to put Woodbury up 85-79 with 1:14 left.  Freer with a free throw then a quick Woodbury miss.  Jackson Schepp buries a 3.  Suggs makes 1 of 2 and then fouls Jonathon Singer on a 3.  Singer makes all 3 to tie the game at 86, 21.3 left in OT.  Suggs miss and Ambriz would have a final attempt blocked.  We'll play double OT.

Olmscheid with his 4th 3 to put the Bison up 5 and they wouldn't look back.  Buffalo would make 9 of 10 free throws in the 2nd OT.  Bison win a crazy game 100-95.  Ethan Freer leads all scorers with 31. Collin Olmscheid 18 of his 24 in the 2nd half.  Jackson Schepp 8-8 FTs in the second OT and finishes with 23.  Renard Suggs with 30 and 5 3s to lead Woodbury, many points leaking out too.  Diallo Powell with 20.  Mario Franco 14, Matt Ambriz 13 on 3 3s.

Game 2: #3AAA Blake vs #4A Lakeview Christian
Great strategy from Blake in this one as they face guarded Anders Broman and when he did get a catch they ran a 2nd guy at him.  I'm totally dumbfounded why everybody else doesn't do this, specifically in section 7A where you play him all the time.  This is a must see game tape for them.  That combined with the great balance and size allow Blake to pull out to a big lead.  But LCA would hang around thanks to another impressive game from Bjorn Broman.  I've said it before I'll say it again, everytime I've seen Lakeview play I've been more impressed with Bjorn than Anders.  Bjorn knocks down 6 of the 9 LCA 3s in the half.  Too much Blaine Crawford with 14 inside.  49-33 Blake at half.

Bjorn with a 4 point play after a couple of nice John Veil assists.  LCA not going away down 53-42, 16:04 left.  6 in a row from Blake push the lead back to 17.  Then Anders gets on the board with 14:40 left.  He adds a 3 and a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 12.  Crawford again inside and a turnover is a Kebu Johnson dunk.  Anders with another 3.  Pick and roll and its Bjorn for 3.  Josh Plys with another LCA 3.  69-58 Blake with 11:30 left.  Veil to Kebu for a layup, Veil jumper, Kebu steal for 2, Veil to JR Bascom for a short jumper.  The lead back to 18 and LCA needs a timeout but that run puts it away once and for all.  Blake wins 100-85.  Bjorn Broman leads all scorers with 10 3s and 33 points.  Anders Broman scores all 20 of his points in the 2nd half.  I had him shooting 7-14 (missed 1st 4) and 5 assists for 14 more points.  Josh Plys 6 standstill 3s for 18 points. The strategy held Anders in check but allowed many standstill 3s for LCA.  They knocked down a staggering 21 3s total and with 50 listed as a state record for attempts, that's something that the state records guy may want to investigate.   Blaine Crawford 26 points, too much size inside.  Kebu Johnson 24, John Veil 15 points and 8 assists.  (Czar's Note 12/9/12 upon further video Veil had at least 13 assists and possibly 2-3 more depending on how loose your interpretation of assist is)

Game 3: #2AAAA Hopkins vs Tartan
No Xavier Hall for Tartan due to injury.  Tartan center Brody Jackson playing well inside as the Titans opened a 36-25 lead.  Hopkins would counter with a 9-0 run thanks to a pair of Jake Wright 3s.  Tartan would finish the half on a 16-4 run.  Back to back 3s and then a Jackson bucket inside.  But Jackson would leave with an injured right ankle on the play and not return.  52-39 Tartan at half.  An 8-0 Tartan run midway through the 2nd half with the 1st 6 thanks to Kharie Kirkland would extend the Tartan lead to 77-58 with 7:45 left.  When was the last time you saw a Hopkins team down 19?

Hopkins would fight back behind the play of Jamal Davis.  A pair of 3 point plays and a couple more buckets for him and the lead is down to 8 with 2 minutes left.  Kamali Chambers 2 free throws and a Nick Johnson bucket on a turnover.  83-79 Tartan with 56.9 left after 21-6 run.  2 Tartan free throws matches another Davis bucket.  Down 4 inside of 30 seconds Hopkins would miss and free throws would finally seal it.  Tartan wins 88-85. Kharie Kirkland was bothered by the Hopkins pressure D but still came up huge with 26 points to lead all scorers.  Jamal Davis 18 of his 24 in the 2nd half to bring Hopkins back.  Jake Wright 15 of his 18 in the 1st half with 4 3s.

Game 4: #3AAAA Eden Prairie vs Rice Lake, WI
Interesting that Rice Lake ran America's Play for Henry Ellenson right off the bat.  Grant Shaeffer back in the lineup for Eden Prairie.  He came off the bench at the 16:08 mark.  Brandyn Christman with 6 early points as Rice Lake jumps on EP 13-5 (9-0 in there).  Eden Prairie would respond with a 14-0 run of their own.  Andre Wallace with a 3 and a bucket in that run for a 19-13 EP lead at the 8:20 mark.  Henry Ellenson all over the glass but picks it up on offense with a layup and a post bucket.  Then he's fouled on a 3 and knocks down all 3 free throws.   His putback in the last minute is countered by Alex Ihrke for 3 at the halftime buzzer.  27 all at the break.

The 2nd half is all Rice Lake.  Adam West for 3 in a 12-0 Rice Lake run to start the half (na na na na na Batman!).  After a pair of Shaeffer free throws, Rice Lake on the run and its a lob to Ellwood Ellenson who rises high for the monster throw down.  Anthony Anderson finally gets the 1st EP field goal of the half at the 11:40 mark.  43-31 Rice Lake in command.  Ihrke with another 3 and Wallace for 3.  Time out EP down 46-40 with 8:34 to play.  The Ellensons would put the game away.  Henry with back to back buckets, then Ellwood for 2 of his own, Henry again for 2 and adds a free throw.  Ellwood with a bucket with 3 minutes left.  63-48 Warriors with 3 left.  Rice Lake wins 67-51.  Henry Ellenson finishes with 21 points and 20 rebounds on my sheet.  Alex Ihrke leads EP with 14 points.  EP backcourt struggles.  Shaeffer 1-9 FGs on my sheet for 8 points.  Andre Wallace 10 points on 4-18 shooting.

Game 5: #4AAAA Osseo vs Eastview
Interesting to see Eastview pull out the old Dana Altman/Johnny Orr 2-3 high offense.  With only Ben Oberfeld returning, scoring was a question mark and the 1st field goal doesn't come until the 10:50 mark.  Meanwhile Osseo is already up 10-2 when that happens.  Bridge Tusler with a pair of steals for buckets in that spurt. Eastview would grind their way back.  Oberfeld inside for 2 and the foul  10-9 Osseo at the 9:08 mark.  Theisen sits with foul #2 at the 7:12 mark.  Tusler picking up with an assist for a layup and another steal for 2.  19-11 Osseo at 6:32.  Mark Dwyer with all 5 of his points in a row to tie the game at 20 at 3:50 mark (9-1 Eastview run).   25-21 at the half but no one sees it as due to the games being way late, Kentucky coach John Calipari and an assistant make their way into the full bleachers.

Eastview would get as close as 38-33 with 7:43 left thanks to back to back buckets by Oberfeld.  But not enough offense in this one.  Osseo goes on to win 50-40.  Bridge Tusler 16 points and all over the place as usual impacting everything on both ends.  Wheeler Baker 11 points.  Ian Theisen held to 2 late free throws as the big man matchup never materialized.  He did add 9 rebounds.  Ben Oberfeld 16 points and 7 boards on my sheet.  Ryan Lockhard 8 of his 10 in the 2nd half for Eastview.

Game 6: #1AAAA Apple Valley vs #6AAAA Park Center
The main event of the evening and it was a raucous atmosphere, mainly thanks to the outstanding Park Center student section.  You won't see a better flag (pirate flag in this case) in a student section anywhere.  Tyus Jones jumping center as Brock Bertam doesn't start (yet) for Apple Valley.  Dennis Austin 6 quick points and Apple Valley jumps out to a 13-3 lead.  Tyus already distrubing during the 9-0 run.  Quinton Hooker won't let Park Center go away as he scores 9 of the next 11 for the Pirates.  Soph Arione Farrar Jr adds a layup to tie the game at 17.  9:07 left and Apple Valley needs a timeout.  Pirates get another bucket after the timeout to lead 19-17 after a 16-4 run.  Tyus coast to coast for 2, then to Robert Tobroxen for a 3.  Hooker scores and then scores again after Tyus is blocked.  Tyus to Austin for another layup.  Tyus grabs his own miss for 2 free throws.  Hooker by Tyus for 2 more.  28-27 Apple Valley with 4:30 left in the half.  Tyus to the basket for 2.  Hooker to Isaiah McKay for 3.  Tyus back to back buckets late and a long assist for a Harry Sonie bucket to beat the buzzer.  43-35 Apple Valley at half.  Hooker 13 points.  Tyus 12 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in the half.

Dennis Austin too much to handle inside with a bucket and 3 point play. Dustin Fronk with a steal for 2 and Tyus to Tobroxen for 2 more.  Apple Valley stretching the lead to 54-43 with 13:40 left.  Tyus for 2 and then pulling up on the break for 3.  63-49 Eagles with 11:12 left.  Park Center too high powered to be done yet.  McKay for 3, Treyton Daniels nice fade in the post.  Hooker an assist for a layup.  63-56 Apple Valley after a 7-0 Pirates run and still 8:18 to play.  Hooker with a jumper, Tyus misses a front end and Isaac Matthews with a putback to close an 11-0 Pirates run.  63-60 Eagles with 7:10 left and we've got a ball game again.

Austin to Tobroxen for a layup, Tyus with a free throw after a Pirates jumper.  66-62 Apple Valley.  Then Daniels with a post feed and goes to the rim and gets it back for a 2 handed smash and the Pirates student section blows up.  Devin Buckley scores with 3:40 left to tie the game at 66 and its all Park Center right now.  Hooker with an offensive board outworking people inside and makes a free throw.  A Park Center block on 1 end and its Buckley with a 3 point play on the other with 2:21 left.  That blows the roof off as the Park Center fans are going absolutely bananas.  Tyus flails for 2 free throws and Park Center turns it over after a timeout.  But Apple Valley misses.  Buckley scores again to push the lead to 72-68 with 1:30 left.  Tyus misses a 3 but Hooker turns it over.  Austin with a pretty spin to cut the lead to 72-70 with a minute left.  Isaac Matthews misses a front end with 30.2 left as Apple Valley had 1 foul to give and delayed giving it.  Now the Eagles have life.  Tyus faceguarded and can't get it.  Eagles miss but Tyus tracks down the rebound on the right wing with 15 seconds left and here we go.  Drive to the right baseline is a tough shot and no good.  Hooker fouled with 4.7 left and he misses the front end.  But Apple Valley travels on the rebound.  Park Center turns it over with 0.5 left but a final inbound full court is picked off.  Park Center knocks off the state's top team in an thriller 72-70.  Pirate fans swarm the floor afterwards.  Quinton Hooker comes up large for Park Center with 26 points and 8 rebounds.  Devin Buckley 12.  Hard to believe Apple Valley could only score 7 points in over 11 minutes.  Tyus Jones finishes with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists on my sheet.  Dennis Austin 17 points.

Game 7: Robbinsdale Cooper at #9AAAA Minnetonka
So this game doesn't start until 10 PM thanks to the long games in front of it.  In fact the other gym is almost done when this game gets underway. Riley Dearring would get off to a good start with 7 early points.  Lavar McCollough keeping Cooper close with a bucket and a pair of 3s.  He adds a putback for a 16-13 Coooper lead at the 11 minute mark.  Riley Dearring getting a breather with 2 fouls but would return in the half.  Tonka would open up a double figure lead on a 14-0 run.  Grant Kellogg starting it with a pair of buckets.  Soph Justin Moes back to back 3s.  Post Bremiah Snyder adds a pair of hoops during the run too. 27-16 Skippers at the 6:55 mark.  McCollough 2 free throws and a Billy Kellogg 3 cut the lead to 7.  Then Rashad Vaughn finally gets on the scoreboard.  He scores 9 points in the last 5:20 of the half.  A silly foul allows Andrew Grosz (back on the Skippers roster now) to knock down 2 free throws.  41-36 Minnetonka lead at halftime.

McCollough starts the 2nd half off with a flying 1 handed dunk and a behind the back assist to Darrious Denson for a layup.  Dearring stretches the lead to 9 with 6 points in a row.  McCollough then goes up high and rejects jumping jack Mike Fernando at the rim.  Big time play. Then a layup on the break.  49-43 Minnetonka lead with 13:05 left.  Dearring with a 3 ball countered by an extra pass for a Billy Kellogg 3. Snyder taking over inside with back to back hoops.  Vaughn with an inbounds jumper.  Snyder again and Vaughn 2 free throws.  58-53 Minnetonka with 8:58 left.  Dearring with a 3 and then back to back buckets.  That extends the Skippers lead to 69-57 with 5:45 left.  Vaughn with a steal for 2 but Snyder again inside and another Moes 3 slams the door.  74-59 at that point and Minnetonka goes on to win 79-71.  Riley Dearring 16 of his 23 in the 2nd half to go with 8 rebounds.  Bremiah Snyder 10 of his 16 in the 2nd half.  Lavar McCollough leads all scorers with 26 for Cooper. Rashad Vaughn 15 points and 9 rebounds on my sheet, only 6 points in the 2nd half.


Overall Thoughts
A great day of games and what a zoo it was.  Great teams and great results with plenty of drama.  I could do without the national anthem twice.  While the crowd went nuts for it, I was one of many who thought it was a case of trying to do way too much.  The other major negative for the day was the public address.  It wasn't good last week at the girls event and it was frankly unacceptable for an event of this stature.  Wrong names, mispronounced names, refusal to correct those names etc.  It was really ugly (like my webcast last year).  With all the money this event brings in, to not bring in a PA announcer was not a good choice.  So instead of complaining about it, I'll volunteer my time to do it next year if they can't or won't find anybody.  Give the Breakdown some credit as they have traditionally learned from their mistakes.  See this year where they put the premier game in the main gym prior to Minnetonka playing rather than jamming it in the smaller East gym.  The event gets better every year, but it will be hard to top the great day that we had this year.

Play of the Day
Its the sideline out of bounds from Eastview.  Its very similar to last season but still good stuff.

Setup is 3 across the foul line and 1 on the block as follows.

• Post on the ball side elbow.  
• Passing guard on the ball side block
• Sbooter at the nail.
• Screener on the backside elbow.

The passing guard curls around the post player and returns to the block.  Post pops for the catch.  The inbounder down screens the passing guard on the ball side block.  The post dribbles at that guard for a handoff (defacto double screen).  As the guard gets the handoff, he's coming toward the top of the key.  As he comes off the screen, the shooter flares off the backside elbow looking for a 3.