The end of an era

Prologue
A sad night in Minneapolis hoops as its the final home game at Minneapolis North.  Declining enrollment and increasing costs will shut the school down for good or at least in its current form.  With 4 Mr Basketball winners, they lead the list all time from 1 school.  That includes the likes of Khalid El-Amin (1997) and Brett McNeal (1985).  The Polars won their last state title with McNeal as head coach in 2003.  The rematch of that 2003 title game vs Osseo to open the 2003-2004 season was the 1st game I attended after moving here (Emperor included).   Plenty at stake in this 1 as a North win would force a 3 way tie for the league title, a Washburn win would give them the title outright and push North to 3rd.  Armstrong and Richfield scouting along with South Dakota State.  1 of the better hot dogs I've had there in a while.  Sad to see a table setup outside and an announcement made at halftime for parents to sign their kids up for another school. A fairly good crowd for recent North games as well.

Song of the Day
School's Out - Alice Cooper

Game Time
Nick Anderson leading the way early for Washburn as he finds Cedric Chappell for a pair of layups on nice passes.  Dwight Anderson nails his 2nd 3 and a jumper, Clarence Thomas adds a 3.  14-5 Washburn 4 minutes in.  North keeps the lead around 10 before Nick Anderson for 3 and a Jerry Pratt basket.  30-15 Washburn at the 8 minute mark.  N Anderson finds Myles Shepard-Anderson for a layup off a high screen/roll and Anderson then makes a jumper out it.  40-22 at the 2:50 mark.  That concludes a 10-2 Washburn run.  44-29 Millers at the break.

North won't go away.  Charles Smith with 7 in an 11-2 run to cut the lead to 46-40 with 14:56 left.  Washburn needs  time to talk it over.  Its fitting that Malik El-Amin would go out with a big 2nd half.  He scored to finish the run and then adds 2 more buckets in a row.  46-44 Washburn with 13:07 left and the North crowd brings the noise after the 15-2 run with 11 in a row.  Thomas with a putback for a 3 point play and a tough double clutch in the lane to keep North at bay.  54-48 at the 9:08 mark after a pair of El-Amin turnovers that may have been fouls.  North coach Keenan Shelton thought so and after a touchy call against the Polars he gets a T.  Big moment as Thomas steps up and makes the bonus freebies, both technicals and a 3 for a 7 point possession.  Nick Anderson adds 2 free throws to conclude an 11-0 run.  63-48 Washburn with 7:44 to play.  El-Amin part of the last 13 North points (11 + an assist).  But North never gets closer than 10 the rest of the way.  Washburn wins 84-73 to clinch the Minneapolis City title.

Post Game
For North, Malik El-Amin leads the with 24 of his 27 in the 2nd half.  Charles Smith 24 from the other guard slot.  North falls to 14-11, 9-3 in the Mpls City.  Looks like they'll fall to the #6 seed in 6AAAA and play probably at Armstrong on Tuesday.

For Washburn, they avenge their only league loss to win the league at 11-1, 19-5 overall.  Clarence Thomas 30 points to lead the Millers.  Dwight Anderson 17, Cedric Chappell 13.  Nick Anderson 7 points and 6 assists.  He could have had double that assists total with the passes he made tonight, especially in the first half.  Outside of Tyus Jones, there is no other point guard that I see that sees the floor and distributes like he does.  He's one of those few guards who can not score a single point and you think "Who is THAT?!"  Deadly off of high screen and roll action. They'll host St. Paul Johnson in the Twin Cities Game on Saturday afternoon.

2010-11 CzarPI, March 2, 2011

Here is the 12th edition of the CzarPI for the 2010-2011 season (see CzarPI Explained here).  It includes games through March 2nd, 2011.  The value in () after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking within their class.

Class AAAA

1. Eden Prairie - 61.53 (2)
2. Hopkins - 61.39 (14)
3. Osseo - 60.05 (22)
4. Chaska - 58.44 (31)
5. Eastview - 57.48 (43)
6. Wayzata - 56.58 (5)
7. Duluth East - 56.07 (11)
8. Eagan - 55.47 (48)
9. Champlin Park - 55.32 (50)
10. Tartan - 55.03 (59)
11. Moorhead - 54.98 (49)
12. Owatonna - 54.53 (60)
13. Apple Valley - 54.16 (10)
14. Robbinsdale Cooper - 54.08 (8)
15. Buffalo - 53.98 (54)
16. Roseville - 53.84 (62)
17. Irondale - 53.84 (28)
18. St. Michael-Albertville - 53.39 (53)
19. Shakopee - 53.03 (25)
20. St. Louis Park - 52.83 (9)
21. Lakeville South - 52.81 (21)
22. Cretin-Derham Hall - 52.6 (40)
23. Robbinsdale Armstrong - 52.29 (33)
24. White Bear Lake - 52.19 (34)
25. Maple Grove - 52.04 (23)
26. Blaine - 51.73 (41)
27. Edina - 51.37 (27)
28. Duluth Central - 50.7 (65)
29. Burnsville - 49.84 (18)
30. Chanhassen - 49.57 (37)
31. Forest Lake - 49.01 (55)
32. Minneapolis North - 48.79 (26)
33. Rochester Century - 48.76 (64)
34. Spring Lake Park - 48.43 (15)
35. Stillwater Area - 47.73 (63)
36. Lakeville North - 47.67 (3)
37. Andover - 47.42 (16)
38. Bloomington Kennedy - 47.33 (46)
39. St. Cloud Tech - 47.16 (47)
40. Minneapolis South - 46.91 (42)
41. Alexandria - 46.2 (45)
42. North St. Paul - 45.68 (38)
43. Mounds View - 45.49 (36)
44. East Ridge - 44.83 (58)
45. Park Center - 44.45 (19)
46. Anoka - 43.75 (32)
47. Cambridge-Isanti - 43.09 (29)
48. Rochester Mayo - 42.44 (52)
49. Centennial - 41.49 (12)
50. Prior Lake - 40.39 (4)
51. Woodbury - 40.13 (44)
52. Elk River - 37.32 (30)
53. Henry Sibley - 36.76 (20)
54. Minneapolis Southwest - 36.64 (61)
55. Bloomington Jefferson - 36.42 (6)
56. Rosemount - 36 (24)
57. Northfield - 34.93 (13)
58. Brainerd - 34.58 (17)
59. Farmington - 34.12 (56)
60. Minnetonka - 33.32 (1)
61. Coon Rapids - 32.11 (7)
62. St. Francis - 30.99 (35)
63. Rochester John Marshall - 23.18 (39)
64. Park of Cottage Grove - 22.78 (57)
65. Hastings - 17.05 (51)

Class AAA

1. St. Paul Johnson - 58.95 (47)
2. Orono - 57.66 (7)
3. Benilde-St. Margaret's - 57.58 (9)
4. Bemidji - 56.72 (10)
5. Waconia - 56.15 (1)
6. St. Cloud Apollo - 56.03 (44)
7. Hill-Murray - 55.96 (23)
8. Worthington - 55.49 (32)
9. Minneapolis Washburn - 55.37 (19)
10. Columbia Heights - 55.01 (14)
11. Marshall - 54.67 (15)
12. DeLaSalle - 54.62 (46)
13. Winona - 54.36 (54)
14. Grand Rapids - 54.07 (11)
15. Holy Family Catholic - 53.36 (29)
16. New Prague - 52.72 (39)
17. Detroit Lakes - 52.71 (18)
18. Delano - 52.44 (37)
19. Rogers - 51.82 (31)
20. Little Falls - 51.63 (28)
21. St. Thomas Academy - 51.15 (38)
22. St. Anthony Village - 51.08 (58)
23. Rocori - 50.03 (57)
24. Richfield - 49.94 (48)
25. Totino-Grace - 49.94 (22)
26. Hutchinson - 49.85 (4)
27. Big Lake - 48.72 (43)
28. St. Paul Como Park - 48.34 (6)
29. St. Paul Central - 48.02 (12)
30. Willmar - 47.5 (16)
31. Mahtomedi - 47.21 (27)
32. St. Paul Highland Park - 47.06 (49)
33. Mankato East - 46.97 (21)
34. Hibbing - 46.63 (35)
35. Austin - 46.6 (50)
36. Hermantown - 46.05 (55)
37. Red Wing - 45.28 (53)
38. Annandale - 45.15 (13)
39. Monticello - 42.28 (5)
40. Minneapolis Henry - 42.2 (30)
41. Fergus Falls - 40.91 (8)
42. New Ulm - 39.41 (36)
43. Chisago Lakes Area - 39.33 (34)
44. Mound-Westonka - 39.25 (26)
45. Becker - 38.32 (25)
46. Cloquet - 37.76 (33)
47. Holy Angels - 37.73 (2)
48. Sartell-St. Stephen - 37.59 (40)
49. Mankato West - 36.51 (20)
50. Faribault - 36.39 (42)
51. Albert Lea - 34.79 (52)
52. North Branch - 34.35 (41)
53. Fridley - 34.31 (24)
54. St. Paul Harding - 33.91 (60)
55. Simley - 33.64 (56)
56. Princeton - 32.5 (51)
57. Waseca - 30.9 (45)
58. Dassel-Cokato - 26.54 (3)
59. Sauk Rapids-Rice - 20.3 (17)
60. South St. Paul - 19.06 (59)

Class AA

1. Perham - 59.32 (30)
2. Plainview-Elgin-Millville - 58.03 (65)
3. Stewartville - 57 (20)
4. Moose Lake-Willow River - 56.84 (75)
5. Montevideo - 56.48 (25)
6. Minnewaska Area - 56.47 (97)
7. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - 56.08 (96)
8. Pelican Rapids - 55.24 (82)
9. Windom Area - 54.81 (40)
10. Esko - 54.69 (38)
11. Braham - 54.54 (121)
12. Bagley - 54.51 (124)
13. Maple River - 54.48 (86)
14. Rochester Lourdes - 54.36 (15)
15. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 54.29 (95)
16. Caledonia - 54.09 (83)
17. Pequot Lakes - 54.03 (94)
18. Virginia - 53.89 (111)
19. Thief River Falls - 53.7 (19)
20. Deer River - 53.54 (69)
21. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton - 53.53 (78)
22. Redwood Valley - 53.35 (13)
23. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - 53.29 (107)
24. Mayer Lutheran - 53.16 (90)
25. St. Peter - 53.01 (105)
26. Kenyon-Wanamingo - 52.72 (56)
27. New London-Spicer - 52.47 (23)
28. Zumbrota-Mazeppa - 52.35 (84)
29. International Falls - 52.25 (122)
30. Kasson-Mantorville - 52.21 (73)
31. Glencoe-Silver Lake - 51.37 (7)
32. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - 51.26 (72)
33. Concordia Academy-Roseville - 51.25 (102)
34. Hawley - 50.77 (32)
35. Zimmerman - 50.54 (89)
36. Byron - 50.53 (61)
37. Jackson County Central - 50.21 (26)
38. Watertown-Mayer - 50.2 (34)
39. St. Cloud Cathedral - 50.2 (62)
40. Litchfield - 49.69 (6)
41. United South Central - 49.58 (79)
42. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta - 49.41 (80)
43. Maple Lake - 49.02 (108)
44. Belle Plaine - 48.83 (42)
45. Hayfield - 48.6 (47)
46. Blake - 48.42 (115)
47. Trinity School - 47.51 (109)
48. Fairmont - 47.49 (58)
49. St. Charles - 47.48 (71)
50. Sauk Centre - 47.42 (91)
51. La Crescent - 47.37 (57)
52. Kingsland - 46.79 (64)
53. Kimball Area - 46.73 (67)
54. St. Croix Lutheran - 46.45 (101)
55. Sibley East - 46.31 (22)
56. Norwood-Young America - 46.27 (21)
57. Crookston - 46.26 (17)
58. Jordan - 46.19 (123)
59. Melrose - 46.08 (74)
60. Lake City - 46 (52)
61. Pierz - 45.87 (35)
62. Warroad - 45.86 (46)
63. Benson - 45.29 (50)
64. New Richland-H-E-G - 44.85 (87)
65. Albany - 44.58 (103)
66. East Grand Forks - 44.55 (104)
67. St. John's Prep - 44.54 (88)
68. Breckenridge - 44.33 (33)
69. Southland - 44.3 (93)
70. Murray County Central - 44.28 (43)
71. Martin County West - 44 (114)
72. Minnehaha Academy - 44 (76)
73. Crosby-Ironton - 43.68 (44)
74. Legacy Christian - 43.12 (81)
75. Minneapolis Roosevelt - 42.85 (118)
76. Rush City - 42.7 (112)
77. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - 42.56 (8)
78. West Central Area - 42.18 (3)
79. LeSueur-Henderson - 41.89 (48)
80. Lewiston-Altura - 41.84 (51)
81. Providence Academy - 41.16 (125)
82. Lac qui Parle Valley - 41.04 (29)
83. Blue Earth Area - 40.52 (49)
84. Pine City - 40.44 (110)
85. Wadena-Deer Creek - 40.23 (18)
86. Mora - 40.22 (9)
87. Breck - 40.13 (113)
88. Montgomery-Lonsdale - 39.86 (70)
89. Chatfield - 39.25 (36)
90. BOLD - 39.01 (106)
91. Aitkin - 38.76 (14)
92. Hinckley-Finlayson - 38.56 (116)
93. Red Lake - 37.79 (24)
94. Milaca - 37.59 (28)
95. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop - 37.15 (37)
96. Duluth Marshall - 35.86 (119)
97. Dover-Eyota - 35.8 (16)
98. International School of MN - 35.51 (127)
99. Winona Cotter - 35.41 (85)
100. Minnesota Valley Lutheran - 35.02 (39)
101. Roseau - 34.81 (53)
102. Rockford - 34.51 (54)
103. Cannon Falls - 33.87 (77)
104. Great River - 33.34 (126)
105. Holdingford - 33.26 (68)
106. Eden Valley-Watkins - 33.11 (99)
107. Greenway - 32.94 (66)
108. Foley - 32.79 (31)
109. St. Paul Academy - 32.32 (92)
110. Luverne - 31.84 (12)
111. Eveleth-Gilbert - 31.28 (55)
112. Pipestone Area - 31.04 (10)
113. Triton - 30.53 (45)
114. Proctor - 30.35 (98)
115. Frazee - 29.86 (2)
116. St. James - 29.46 (60)
117. Pine Island - 29.2 (27)
118. Yellow Medicine East - 29.11 (63)
119. Staples-Motley - 28.23 (4)
120. Mounds Park Academy - 27.89 (100)
121. Osakis - 26.96 (1)
122. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley - 26.27 (117)
123. Brooklyn Center - 26.08 (41)
124. Minneapolis Edison - 25.39 (120)
125. Two Harbors - 22.83 (59)
126. Park Rapids Area - 16.83 (5)
127. Paynesville Area - 0 (11)

Class A

1. Sebeka - 59.23 (5)
2. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 56.24 (119)
3. Southwest MN Christian - 55.45 (85)
4. MACCRAY - 55.11 (58)
5. Springfield - 54.68 (56)
6. Ellsworth - 54.58 (10)
7. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo - 54.35 (67)
8. Maranatha Christian - 54.17 (111)
9. Ada-Borup - 54.1 (75)
10. Cass Lake-Bena - 53.96 (71)
11. Upsala - 53.86 (82)
12. Browerville - 53.8 (73)
13. Chisholm - 53.48 (118)
14. McGregor - 53 (115)
15. Cedar Mountain/Comfrey - 52.72 (117)
16. Lakeview Christian - 52.7 (146)
17. Mankato Loyola - 52.34 (87)
18. Minnesota Transitions Charter - 52.33 (9)
19. Bertha-Hewitt - 52.33 (13)
20. Battle Lake - 51.7 (139)
21. Ely - 51.47 (107)
22. Orr - 51.45 (112)
23. Goodhue - 51.01 (105)
24. Sleepy Eye - 50.61 (89)
25. Stephen-Argyle - 50.38 (120)
26. East Central - 50.3 (57)
27. Fosston - 50.17 (113)
28. Hills-Beaver Creek - 50.16 (95)
29. Heritage Christian - 50.13 (74)
30. Northern Freeze - 50.07 (66)
31. Nevis - 50.06 (127)
32. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton - 50.06 (49)
33. Dawson-Boyd - 49.8 (88)
34. Rushford-Peterson - 49.77 (45)
35. Norman County East - 49.77 (96)
36. Barnesville - 49.49 (22)
37. Glenville-Emmons - 49.25 (151)
38. Barnum - 49.16 (116)
39. New York Mills - 48.67 (103)
40. Granada-Huntley-East Chain - 48.45 (77)
41. Ulen-Hitterdal - 48.27 (76)
42. Mt. Lake/Butterfield-Odin - 47.93 (104)
43. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River - 47.67 (93)
44. Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity - 47.57 (36)
45. West Lutheran - 47.38 (134)
46. Spring Grove - 47.21 (141)
47. Kittson County Central - 46.66 (20)
48. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - 46.53 (142)
49. Nashwauk-Keewatin - 46.46 (84)
50. Brandon-Evansville - 46.32 (94)
51. Minneota - 46.29 (128)
52. Hill City - 46.16 (100)
53. Mahnomen - 46.12 (106)
54. Bigfork - 45.91 (79)
55. Truman - 45.87 (131)
56. Ashby - 45.84 (110)
57. Lanesboro - 45.8 (147)
58. Houston - 45.77 (149)
59. Cook County - 45.27 (59)
60. New Ulm Cathedral - 44.69 (50)
61. Red Lake County - 44.47 (97)
62. Eagle Valley - 44.26 (8)
63. Ortonville - 44.24 (126)
64. Fulda - 44.02 (29)
65. Blackduck - 43.75 (101)
66. Cherry - 43.6 (81)
67. Goodridge-Grygla - 43.38 (64)
68. AlBrook/Cotton - 43.33 (80)
69. Isle - 43.26 (68)
70. Round Lake-Brewster - 43.09 (48)
71. Littlefork-Big Falls - 43.07 (91)
72. Menahga - 42.51 (39)
73. Bethlehem Academy - 42.39 (31)
74. FAIR Downtown - 42.33 (153)
75. Pine River-Backus - 42.15 (53)
76. Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's - 41.81 (32)
77. New Life Academy - 41.72 (34)
78. Fond du Lac Ojibwe - 41.6 (12)
79. Silver Bay - 41.48 (55)
80. St. Agnes - 40.85 (25)
81. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - 40.69 (98)
82. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City - 40.67 (15)
83. Red Rock Central - 40.09 (69)
84. Kelliher/Northome - 39.67 (125)
85. Mountain Iron-Buhl - 39.64 (54)
86. St. Clair - 39.38 (62)
87. Nicollet - 39.02 (121)
88. Bethany Academy - 38.63 (122)
89. Floodwood - 38.47 (11)
90. Tower-Soudan - 38.39 (83)
91. Four Directions Charter - 38.33 (158)
92. Blooming Prairie - 38 (18)
93. Onamia - 37.79 (51)
94. Fillmore Central - 37.79 (37)
95. Swanville - 37.74 (26)
96. Central MN Christian - 37.7 (124)
97. Hope Lutheran - 37.67 (150)
98. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross - 37.67 (154)
99. Cromwell - 37.53 (52)
100. Henning - 37.45 (21)
101. Cook - 37.4 (61)
102. Mesabi East - 37.3 (7)
103. Canby - 37.1 (123)
104. Southwest Christian - 36.95 (41)
105. Win-E-Mac - 36.85 (47)
106. Southwest Star Concept - 36.6 (109)
107. Clearbrook-Gonvick - 36.3 (33)
108. Royalton - 35.83 (60)
109. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart - 35.39 (38)
110. Fertile-Beltrami - 35.29 (6)
111. Lincoln HI - 34.86 (16)
112. Underwood - 34.69 (108)
113. Lyle/Austin Pacelli - 34.63 (143)
114. Medford - 34.32 (114)
115. Babbitt-Embarrass - 34.19 (78)
116. Madelia - 33.9 (130)
117. Martin Luther - 33.34 (136)
118. St. Paul Humboldt - 33.27 (43)
119. Carlton - 33.06 (46)
120. Verndale - 33.02 (3)
121. Mabel-Canton - 32.92 (138)
122. Wabasso - 32.61 (44)
123. Le Center - 32.25 (133)
124. Randolph - 32.14 (27)
125. CHOF - 31.27 (40)
126. Lakeview - 31.15 (102)
127. Alden-Conger - 30.74 (140)
128. Grand Meadow - 30.43 (144)
129. Park Christian - 30.07 (90)
130. Edgerton - 29.97 (30)
131. Ogilvie - 29.77 (23)
132. Northland - 29.1 (99)
133. Renville County West - 29.06 (92)
134. Parkers Prairie - 29.06 (14)
135. Wabasha-Kellogg - 28.89 (65)
136. Lake Park-Audubon - 28.54 (70)
137. LeRoy-Ostrander - 28.48 (137)
138. Sacred Heart - 28.32 (42)
139. Cleveland - 28.28 (148)
140. Academy for Sciences & Ag - 28.24 (164)
141. Calvin Christian - 27.78 (161)
142. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley - 27.26 (152)
143. PACT Charter - 27.11 (135)
144. Norman County West - 26.99 (72)
145. Community of Peace Academy - 26.79 (163)
146. Westbrook-Walnut Grove - 26.65 (28)
147. Pillager - 26.08 (2)
148. Lake of the Woods - 26.02 (129)
149. Climax/Fisher - 25.49 (4)
150. Adrian - 24.94 (1)
151. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 22.12 (24)
152. Cannon Valley Lutheran - 21.66 (159)
153. Hancock - 19.3 (86)
154. MN Academy for the Deaf - 0 (162)
155. Laporte - 0 (157)
156. Waubun - 0 (17)
157. Math & Science Academy - 0 (165)
158. Wrenshall - 0 (19)
159. Mesabi Academy - 0 (35)
160. Rothsay - 0 (63)
161. Schaeffer Academy - 0 (132)
162. Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig - 0 (145)
163. E.C.H.O. Charter - 0 (155)
164. North Lakes Academy - 0 (156)
165. Metro Deaf School - 0 (160)

Hawks soar to triple digits

Prologue
To Cooper for a North Suburban showdown against Irondale. Its a chance to see 3rd place Irondale's sharpshooter Bryan Sprang.  A much better than usual hot dog on the Cooper menu and 32 oz of Fruit Punch Powerade to keep players and fans alike running all game.  Irondale holding a 1/2 game lead for 3rd in the league standings coming in while Cooper was tied for 5th.  A great night of offense leads us to this music selection.

Song of the Day
Burning down the House - Talking Heads

Game Time
Star frosh Rashad Vaughn not in the starting lineup for Cooper but he enters at the 14:37 mark.  Sprang comes out hot as Cooper surprisingly goes zone against the small Irondale lineup.  Sprang nails a pair of 3s and has a 3 point play for the first 9 Knights points of the night.  His last 3 and a pair of Vince Calistro buckets are a 7-0 run.  13-11 Irondale at the 12:15 mark.  Cooper right back with 8 in a row with Raheem Tyner for 3 and a layup and Handful Pour's 2nd 3 of the night.  Terrance Averyheart for 3 and a quality no look passing to a running Tyner for a layup.  Tyner adds a post jumper as Cooper pushes the lead to 28-16 via a 17-3 run over 3 minutes.  Sprang with back to back 3s to conclude a 9-2 run that cuts the lead to 5.  Vaughn with a steal of a standard WORLD'S WORST OFFENSE pass and he takes it the other way for a dunk and the lead is back to 10.  Right before the end of the half its Tyner again inside with a pair of buckets including 1 via a nice spin.  Charles Williams takes a steal for a dunk and Vaughn ends the half with a lob for a layup.  48-40 Cooper in a fast faced first half.

Averyheart with a 3 to start the half and the lead is 11.  Irondale cuts the lead to 5 before Handful Pour nails his 3rd 3 of the night.  Calistro with a great hustle play on the floor leads to him making a jumper as the lead stays at 6.  Sprang with a putback at the 12:05 mark to cut the Cooper lead to 62-56.  Then the roof falls in.  Pour for 3, Averyheart for 3, a turnover for a Williams layup, Pour off the high screen and roll and its his 5th 3, Averyheart with a pullup and a 3 as Cooper reverses the ball for a wide open look and a Vaughn layup.  Irondale can't buy a bucket for 5 minutes, its an 18-0 run before Irondale scores.  Pour with a jumper and his 6th 3 of the night followed by Vaughn with a steal and the reverse dunk.  89-58 Cooper with 5:50 left.  Cooper goes to the deeper part of the bench and they give up a 13-0 run over 2 minutes to force the starters back into the game.  Cooper wins 100-82.

Post Game
For Irondale, Bryan Sprang with 21 of his 27 in the first half to lead the Knights.  17 of those in the first 12 minutes, mainly vs zone.  Mark Stasson with 13 points, 12 of those in the late spurt to make it respectable.  But Irondale had the cold stretch in the 2nd half and for the entire game just couldn't get a stop.  Irondale falls into a 3rd place tie in the North Suburban with Columbia Heights at 10-5.  After winning 10 in a row, they've now lost 2 straight.  They host St. Francis to end the regular season on Friday.  As to section 5AAAA play, they appear to be locked into hosting the 4 v 5 game against Spring Lake Park who they've defeated twice this season.

For Cooper, they finish North Suburban play at 10-6, a half game in front of Totino-Grace for 5th (TG has 1 league game left).  They're looking at the 3 seed and a home game vs Mounds View or Park Center in the opening round.  Great balance for the Hawks tonight as they get 5 players with at least 14 points.  Handful Pour with 6 3s, Terrance Averyheart with 4 3s as both finish with 24 points.  Rashad Vaughn 15 points, Charles Williams 14 from the wing spots.  Raheem Tyner 19 points and 8 rebounds on the inside and he also hit a 3.  That's a total of 11 3s for the Hawks and 96 of the 100 points from the base lineup (I'm including Vaughn there since he normally starts).  Cooper finishes the regular season with a tough home game against Buffalo.  Buffalo had a chance to clinch the Mississippi 8 but was upset by Big Lake tonight.  St. Michael-Albertville can tie for the M8 crown with a win Friday at Rogers.  STMA has won 8 in a row since losing 68-65 in OT to Rogers at the end of January.

2010-11 CzarPI, February 27, 2011

Here is the 11th edition of the CzarPI for the 2010-2011 season (see CzarPI Explained here).  It includes games through February 26th, 2011.  The value in () after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking within their class.

Class AAAA

1. Eden Prairie - 61.26 (2)
2. Hopkins - 61.25 (16)
3. Osseo - 59.84 (23)
4. Chaska - 58.09 (35)
5. Wayzata - 57.37 (5)
6. Eastview - 57.23 (46)
7. Duluth East - 55.86 (17)
8. Champlin Park - 55.56 (44)
9. Tartan - 55.04 (59)
10. Moorhead - 54.78 (51)
11. Eagan - 54.72 (53)
12. Owatonna - 54.68 (58)
13. Apple Valley - 54.43 (6)
14. Buffalo - 54.4 (55)
15. Irondale - 54.27 (29)
16. Roseville - 53.81 (60)
17. Shakopee - 53.69 (27)
18. Robbinsdale Cooper - 53.45 (11)
19. St. Michael-Albertville - 53.43 (47)
20. Lakeville South - 53.38 (25)
21. Cretin-Derham Hall - 53.1 (42)
22. St. Louis Park - 52.89 (7)
23. Robbinsdale Armstrong - 52.87 (41)
24. Maple Grove - 52.47 (13)
25. Edina - 52.08 (33)
26. White Bear Lake - 51.8 (32)
27. Blaine - 51.48 (39)
28. Duluth Central - 50.37 (65)
29. Burnsville - 49.99 (12)
30. Forest Lake - 49.47 (50)
31. Chanhassen - 49.45 (34)
32. Rochester Century - 49.29 (64)
33. Spring Lake Park - 48.52 (10)
34. Bloomington Kennedy - 47.98 (54)
35. Andover - 47.8 (21)
36. Lakeville North - 47.54 (3)
37. Minneapolis South - 47.14 (43)
38. St. Cloud Tech - 47.03 (48)
39. Minneapolis North - 47.01 (24)
40. Stillwater Area - 46.73 (63)
41. Mounds View - 46.34 (31)
42. North St. Paul - 45.89 (30)
43. East Ridge - 45.12 (61)
44. Park Center - 45.03 (18)
45. Alexandria - 44.14 (45)
46. Cambridge-Isanti - 43.48 (26)
47. Anoka - 43.18 (28)
48. Rochester Mayo - 42.94 (38)
49. Centennial - 41.58 (14)
50. Prior Lake - 40.68 (4)
51. Woodbury - 40.64 (49)
52. Elk River - 38.06 (36)
53. Minneapolis Southwest - 37.35 (62)
54. Henry Sibley - 37.35 (20)
55. Bloomington Jefferson - 36.76 (9)
56. Rosemount - 36.46 (19)
57. Northfield - 35.47 (15)
58. Brainerd - 34.72 (22)
59. Farmington - 34.59 (57)
60. Minnetonka - 33.61 (1)
61. Coon Rapids - 32.78 (8)
62. St. Francis - 31.47 (40)
63. Park of Cottage Grove - 22.93 (56)
64. Rochester John Marshall - 22.7 (37)
65. Hastings - 17.4 (52)

Class AAA

1. St. Paul Johnson - 59.26 (41)
2. Benilde-St. Margaret's - 57.26 (13)
3. Orono - 57.15 (10)
4. St. Cloud Apollo - 56.36 (36)
5. Waconia - 56.35 (1)
6. Bemidji - 56.01 (16)
7. Minneapolis Washburn - 55.53 (15)
8. Hill-Murray - 55.41 (25)
9. Worthington - 55.28 (29)
10. Columbia Heights - 55.24 (9)
11. Winona - 54.47 (52)
12. DeLaSalle - 54.31 (46)
13. Grand Rapids - 54.02 (8)
14. Marshall - 53.89 (19)
15. Holy Family Catholic - 53.62 (37)
16. New Prague - 53 (30)
17. Delano - 52.91 (47)
18. Detroit Lakes - 52.18 (17)
19. Rogers - 51.82 (27)
20. Little Falls - 51.34 (34)
21. St. Anthony Village - 50.63 (56)
22. Totino-Grace - 50.44 (31)
23. Hutchinson - 50.21 (3)
24. St. Thomas Academy - 50.17 (43)
25. Richfield - 50.15 (53)
26. Rocori - 49.27 (55)
27. St. Paul Como Park - 48.34 (6)
28. Willmar - 47.89 (22)
29. St. Paul Central - 47.78 (7)
30. Mankato East - 47.37 (28)
31. Big Lake - 47.3 (48)
32. Hibbing - 47.05 (21)
33. Mahtomedi - 47 (20)
34. St. Paul Highland Park - 46.63 (49)
35. Austin - 46.57 (50)
36. Hermantown - 46.37 (57)
37. Red Wing - 45.33 (51)
38. Annandale - 45.03 (14)
39. Minneapolis Henry - 43.05 (40)
40. Monticello - 42.72 (5)
41. Fergus Falls - 40.88 (12)
42. Mound-Westonka - 39.95 (33)
43. Chisago Lakes Area - 39.73 (38)
44. New Ulm - 39.4 (23)
45. Cloquet - 38.41 (35)
46. Holy Angels - 37.79 (2)
47. Sartell-St. Stephen - 37.77 (45)
48. Becker - 37.38 (18)
49. Mankato West - 36.15 (11)
50. Faribault - 35.16 (32)
51. Fridley - 34.73 (24)
52. St. Paul Harding - 34.68 (60)
53. North Branch - 34.61 (42)
54. Albert Lea - 33.68 (44)
55. Simley - 33.41 (59)
56. Princeton - 32.82 (54)
57. Waseca - 31.29 (39)
58. Dassel-Cokato - 26.38 (4)
59. Sauk Rapids-Rice - 20.4 (26)
60. South St. Paul - 19.49 (58)

Class AA

1. Perham - 58.57 (45)
2. Plainview-Elgin-Millville - 57.97 (66)
3. Moose Lake-Willow River - 57.39 (54)
4. Stewartville - 57.03 (21)
5. Montevideo - 56.62 (16)
6. Minnewaska Area - 56.57 (94)
7. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - 56.31 (87)
8. Esko - 55.16 (57)
9. Pelican Rapids - 55.03 (88)
10. Bagley - 54.79 (120)
11. Windom Area - 54.72 (38)
12. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton - 54.67 (100)
13. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 54.45 (81)
14. Braham - 54.4 (122)
15. Rochester Lourdes - 54.39 (15)
16. Maple River - 54.29 (83)
17. Thief River Falls - 54.11 (34)
18. Caledonia - 54.09 (77)
19. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - 53.78 (109)
20. Deer River - 53.36 (64)
21. Pequot Lakes - 53.19 (105)
22. Mayer Lutheran - 52.98 (93)
23. Virginia - 52.88 (115)
24. New London-Spicer - 52.79 (13)
25. Kenyon-Wanamingo - 52.78 (51)
26. Redwood Valley - 52.55 (20)
27. Zumbrota-Mazeppa - 52.36 (79)
28. Kasson-Mantorville - 52.26 (72)
29. International Falls - 52.18 (123)
30. St. Peter - 52.14 (112)
31. Glencoe-Silver Lake - 51.24 (10)
32. Hawley - 51 (30)
33. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - 50.79 (71)
34. Concordia Academy-Roseville - 50.64 (107)
35. Byron - 50.57 (58)
36. Litchfield - 50.26 (9)
37. Zimmerman - 50.22 (78)
38. St. Cloud Cathedral - 50.16 (61)
39. Jackson County Central - 50.09 (18)
40. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta - 49.93 (85)
41. Watertown-Mayer - 49.73 (32)
42. United South Central - 49.63 (67)
43. Maple Lake - 49.52 (92)
44. Hayfield - 48.62 (41)
45. Blake - 48.29 (116)
46. Fairmont - 48.04 (68)
47. Kimball Area - 47.54 (76)
48. Sauk Centre - 47.44 (91)
49. St. Charles - 47.4 (70)
50. Trinity School - 47.4 (103)
51. La Crescent - 47.39 (53)
52. Belle Plaine - 47.31 (55)
53. Kingsland - 46.74 (63)
54. Crookston - 46.55 (7)
55. St. Croix Lutheran - 46.53 (90)
56. Melrose - 46.52 (65)
57. Jordan - 46.45 (119)
58. Sibley East - 46.03 (26)
59. Lake City - 46.01 (48)
60. St. John's Prep - 45.89 (98)
61. Pierz - 45.67 (27)
62. Norwood-Young America - 45.59 (22)
63. Warroad - 45.54 (50)
64. Benson - 45.47 (46)
65. New Richland-H-E-G - 44.91 (86)
66. East Grand Forks - 44.84 (102)
67. Albany - 44.5 (101)
68. Murray County Central - 44.27 (24)
69. Southland - 44.03 (95)
70. Martin County West - 43.99 (114)
71. Legacy Christian - 43.6 (97)
72. Crosby-Ironton - 43.42 (42)
73. Minnehaha Academy - 42.96 (80)
74. Rush City - 42.91 (108)
75. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - 42.47 (5)
76. Breckenridge - 42.1 (39)
77. West Central Area - 42.06 (2)
78. Lewiston-Altura - 41.75 (47)
79. LeSueur-Henderson - 41.71 (49)
80. Lac qui Parle Valley - 41.6 (33)
81. Blue Earth Area - 41.28 (59)
82. Minneapolis Roosevelt - 41.13 (121)
83. Pine City - 40.64 (106)
84. Wadena-Deer Creek - 40.34 (28)
85. Breck - 40.06 (113)
86. Montgomery-Lonsdale - 39.58 (73)
87. Chatfield - 39.22 (35)
88. Aitkin - 39.13 (23)
89. Providence Academy - 38.94 (125)
90. BOLD - 38.89 (104)
91. Hinckley-Finlayson - 38.74 (82)
92. Mora - 38.5 (8)
93. Milaca - 38.09 (36)
94. Red Lake - 38 (29)
95. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop - 36.8 (17)
96. Dover-Eyota - 35.88 (19)
97. Minnesota Valley Lutheran - 35.59 (31)
98. Roseau - 35.54 (75)
99. International School of MN - 35.34 (127)
100. Winona Cotter - 35.29 (84)
101. Rockford - 34.93 (60)
102. Duluth Marshall - 34.58 (117)
103. Cannon Falls - 34.05 (74)
104. Holdingford - 33.99 (89)
105. Eden Valley-Watkins - 33.71 (96)
106. Great River - 33.19 (126)
107. Greenway - 33.18 (69)
108. Foley - 32.86 (37)
109. St. Paul Academy - 32.5 (99)
110. Luverne - 32.06 (12)
111. Eveleth-Gilbert - 31.42 (52)
112. Proctor - 31.07 (110)
113. Triton - 30.87 (62)
114. Pipestone Area - 30.83 (14)
115. Frazee - 30.21 (4)
116. St. James - 29.97 (40)
117. Yellow Medicine East - 29.45 (56)
118. Pine Island - 29.04 (25)
119. Mounds Park Academy - 27.93 (111)
120. Staples-Motley - 27.29 (3)
121. Osakis - 27.02 (1)
122. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley - 26.79 (118)
123. Brooklyn Center - 26.61 (43)
124. Minneapolis Edison - 25.66 (124)
125. Two Harbors - 23.35 (44)
126. Park Rapids Area - 17.19 (6)
127. Paynesville Area - 0 (11)

Class A

1. Sebeka - 59.87 (8)
2. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 56.42 (121)
3. Springfield - 55.57 (65)
4. MACCRAY - 55.39 (58)
5. Ellsworth - 55.21 (26)
6. Southwest MN Christian - 54.7 (112)
7. Maranatha Christian - 54.32 (107)
8. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo - 54.11 (67)
9. Upsala - 54.09 (66)
10. Chisholm - 53.99 (128)
11. Ada-Borup - 53.89 (78)
12. Cass Lake-Bena - 53.68 (74)
13. Browerville - 53.64 (70)
14. Cedar Mountain/Comfrey - 53.21 (96)
15. McGregor - 52.93 (114)
16. Battle Lake - 52.36 (144)
17. Mankato Loyola - 52.19 (86)
18. Lakeview Christian - 51.96 (146)
19. Ely - 51.9 (125)
20. Bertha-Hewitt - 51.46 (15)
21. Orr - 51.45 (109)
22. Sleepy Eye - 51.22 (102)
23. Goodhue - 50.97 (108)
24. Minnesota Transitions Charter - 50.77 (32)
25. Stephen-Argyle - 50.63 (116)
26. Fosston - 50.62 (118)
27. Hills-Beaver Creek - 50.55 (72)
28. Heritage Christian - 50.35 (85)
29. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton - 50.31 (30)
30. Northern Freeze - 50.25 (59)
31. Nevis - 49.88 (124)
32. Rushford-Peterson - 49.79 (52)
33. Norman County East - 49.7 (90)
34. Barnum - 49.39 (126)
35. East Central - 49.33 (68)
36. Glenville-Emmons - 49.25 (151)
37. Barnesville - 49.22 (19)
38. New York Mills - 48.9 (80)
39. Dawson-Boyd - 48.84 (97)
40. Granada-Huntley-East Chain - 48.65 (61)
41. Mt. Lake/Butterfield-Odin - 48.41 (101)
42. Ulen-Hitterdal - 48.17 (64)
43. Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity - 47.7 (43)
44. Spring Grove - 47.15 (142)
45. Kittson County Central - 46.82 (47)
46. Nashwauk-Keewatin - 46.8 (94)
47. Minneota - 46.76 (129)
48. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - 46.76 (143)
49. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River - 46.63 (110)
50. West Lutheran - 46.25 (138)
51. Brandon-Evansville - 45.9 (87)
52. Ashby - 45.83 (99)
53. Hill City - 45.8 (93)
54. Lanesboro - 45.77 (145)
55. Mahnomen - 45.75 (100)
56. Houston - 45.73 (150)
57. Truman - 45.72 (131)
58. Cook County - 45.41 (38)
59. New Ulm Cathedral - 44.66 (48)
60. Bigfork - 44.64 (88)
61. Ortonville - 44.43 (122)
62. Red Lake County - 44.11 (95)
63. Eagle Valley - 44.09 (3)
64. Fulda - 43.91 (14)
65. Blackduck - 43.9 (92)
66. AlBrook/Cotton - 43.86 (98)
67. Isle - 43.37 (63)
68. Cherry - 43.31 (76)
69. Menahga - 42.83 (37)
70. Bethlehem Academy - 42.63 (35)
71. Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's - 42.39 (41)
72. FAIR Downtown - 42.39 (154)
73. Round Lake-Brewster - 42.33 (40)
74. Silver Bay - 42.3 (28)
75. Pine River-Backus - 42.08 (51)
76. Littlefork-Big Falls - 41.9 (91)
77. Fond du Lac Ojibwe - 41.61 (13)
78. St. Agnes - 41.28 (50)
79. Goodridge-Grygla - 41.18 (82)
80. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City - 40.92 (12)
81. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - 40.6 (77)
82. New Life Academy - 40.22 (16)
83. Kelliher/Northome - 39.65 (134)
84. St. Clair - 39.56 (60)
85. Floodwood - 39.38 (7)
86. Bethany Academy - 38.96 (119)
87. Nicollet - 38.57 (111)
88. Tower-Soudan - 38.52 (83)
89. Swanville - 38.35 (44)
90. Mountain Iron-Buhl - 38.24 (33)
91. Henning - 38.21 (24)
92. Central MN Christian - 38.14 (105)
93. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross - 38.13 (156)
94. Onamia - 38.1 (53)
95. Blooming Prairie - 37.99 (25)
96. Hope Lutheran - 37.81 (148)
97. Mesabi East - 37.52 (11)
98. Fillmore Central - 37.48 (45)
99. Red Rock Central - 37.47 (69)
100. Cook - 37.32 (62)
101. Southwest Star Concept - 37.14 (106)
102. Royalton - 36.88 (57)
103. Southwest Christian - 36.87 (54)
104. Canby - 36.8 (120)
105. Cromwell - 36.55 (46)
106. Four Directions Charter - 36.51 (159)
107. Clearbrook-Gonvick - 36.25 (56)
108. Win-E-Mac - 36.23 (42)
109. Fertile-Beltrami - 35.68 (23)
110. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart - 35.56 (31)
111. Underwood - 35.51 (117)
112. Lincoln HI - 35.29 (9)
113. Martin Luther - 34.09 (130)
114. Babbitt-Embarrass - 33.94 (81)
115. Medford - 33.85 (104)
116. Lyle/Austin Pacelli - 33.8 (139)
117. St. Paul Humboldt - 33.7 (79)
118. Carlton - 33.55 (36)
119. Verndale - 33.47 (4)
120. Madelia - 33.19 (123)
121. Wabasso - 32.88 (22)
122. Mabel-Canton - 32.85 (136)
123. Le Center - 32.64 (132)
124. Randolph - 31.94 (34)
125. CHOF - 31.82 (75)
126. Lakeview - 31.45 (115)
127. Alden-Conger - 30.66 (141)
128. Edgerton - 30.47 (29)
129. Ogilvie - 30.31 (17)
130. Park Christian - 29.89 (103)
131. Parkers Prairie - 29.72 (27)
132. Renville County West - 29.6 (113)
133. Cleveland - 29.21 (149)
134. Wabasha-Kellogg - 29.18 (49)
135. Sacred Heart - 28.99 (55)
136. Grand Meadow - 28.37 (140)
137. Academy for Sciences & Ag - 28.11 (163)
138. Lake Park-Audubon - 27.93 (71)
139. Calvin Christian - 27.71 (161)
140. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley - 27.56 (153)
141. PACT Charter - 27.32 (137)
142. Westbrook-Walnut Grove - 27.27 (18)
143. Community of Peace Academy - 26.86 (162)
144. Pillager - 25.99 (2)
145. Lake of the Woods - 25.89 (135)
146. Northland - 25.74 (89)
147. Norman County West - 25.72 (73)
148. Adrian - 25.42 (1)
149. Climax/Fisher - 25.17 (5)
150. LeRoy-Ostrander - 24.75 (133)
151. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 22.64 (21)
152. Cannon Valley Lutheran - 21.88 (158)
153. Hancock - 19.28 (84)
154. MN Academy for the Deaf - 0 (164)
155. Laporte - 0 (152)
156. Math & Science Academy - 0 (165)
157. Waubun - 0 (6)
158. Wrenshall - 0 (10)
159. Mesabi Academy - 0 (20)
160. Rothsay - 0 (39)
161. Schaeffer Academy - 0 (127)
162. Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig - 0 (147)
163. E.C.H.O. Charter - 0 (155)
164. North Lakes Academy - 0 (157)
165. Metro Deaf School - 0 (160)

Final roaming Saturday of 10-11 Season

Prologue
Its the final run around and find games Saturday of the season.  I start with a 7AAAA battle in Andover, then a frigid look at the Polar League as Esko played Cromwell at the Target Center.  Finally, a private school showdown with Cretin-Derham Hall visiting De La Salle.  Quality Pepsi all day and Taco in a Bag at De La Salle.  As to music, roaming is appropriate, so this old tune makes sense.


Song of the Day
Wherever I may roam - Metallica

Game 1: Duluth Central at Andover
Our 1st bit of the day comes from the MSHSL site indicating Trojans as the nickname for the Denfeld/Central alliance.  It was also used by the public address all day.  Fine and dandy until you read the front of the Central jerseys.  Hunters.  Hmmm, call me confused.  Andover one of the many local converts to the Dribble Drive Motion.  Davis Johnson with a pair of 3s for Andover countered by a pair of Derek Meger free throws and hoop for Central.  16 all at the 9:47 mark.  But Central doesn't score a field goal for the next 5:30.  Davis Johnson with a pair of free throws and his 3rd triple of the day in a 13-1 run.  29-17 Andover leads.  Central cuts that to 31-23 at the break.  Jake Wagner with a putback and 3 in a 7-0 run to start the 2nd half.  42-23 with 15:58 left.  Central closes to 13 but Davis Johnson nails his 4th 3 of the night and that's the end of any hope.  72-54 Andover wins.  Davis Johnson 4 3s help him score 17 points to lead the Huskies.  Tyler Hartmann undersized, but outstanding in the post for all 12 of his points in the 2nd half.  Jake Wagner 13.  Soph Cameron Wold is one to keep an eye on down the road for the Huskies.  Junior forward Derek Meger leads Duluth Central with 16 points. He's a nice piece to build around for next year.  Duluth Central is now 16-8, but with Anoka now 2 games in front of Andover in the NW Suburban and Central's schedule strength 62 out of 65 AAAA teams in this week's CzarPI, do you seed them 6th behind 10-14 Andover and Anoka?

Game 2: Esko vs Cromwell (Target Center)
To the Target Center for a Polar League matchup between 2nd place Esko (#9AA in the CzarPI this week) and Cromwell.  Esko featuring the top and 3rd leading scorer in the league.  They didn't disappoint.  3rd is guard Jackson Lindquist.  He nails 4 3s in the 1st half to lead the offense.  The leader is bouncy forward Jake Stainbrook.  He had 14 in the 1st half and his jumper to start the 2nd half put him over 1000 points for his career.  Cromwell's top player Pat Dahl keeps the game close with a steal for 2.  27-20 Esko at the 5:50 mark.  But Cromwell goes the next 11:30 across halftime without a field goal.  Esko goes on a 31-1 during that time.  The starters sit with 11:15 remaining and we don't get mercy rule.  Esko rolls 73-38.  Lindquist finishes with 22 points.  Stainbrook 21 points.  .  Pat Dahl 19 points for Cromwell.

Game 3: #4AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall at #2AAA DeLaSalle
The day is highlighted by a close to full house on alumni night at DeLaSalle.  Benilde-St. Margaret's, Stillwater, Columbia Heights and Roseville amongst those scouting.  St. Mary's,.coolest guy in the NSIC and Augsburg amongst the colleges looking on.  Jonah Travis on fire all night.  He starts the night on the post for 2, he adds a free throws and a post dunk and 2 free throws off a putback.  10-5 DLS at 12:47.  Raijon Kelly counters for CDH with a pullup 3 and a jumper in a 7-0 run to put CDH on top.  Travis with a a pair of putbacks, including 1 for a 3 point play.  CJ Neumann goes glass and nails a 3 to tie the game at 17. Travis drives from the short corner vs the CDH 2-3.  Travis finishes the half with an emphatic 2 handed putback dunk and a pair of free throws.  29-23 DLS at the break.  Travis with a full game stat sheet in the first half with 18 points and 11 rebounds and an assist for 2 more.  He's in on the 20 of the 29 points.

DLS opens the half with 3 layups and a pair of free throws in an 11-4 spurt to start the half.  Only after Cortez Tillman nails a 3 to cut the lead to 40-30 at the 12:59 mark does CDH take a timeout.  I've never liked the "I refuse to call a timeout during a run until we break it with a score" philosophy.  LaMonte Hall for 3 and Travis is left all alone under the basket for an easy 2 handed dunk.  He grabs a miss and earns a FT.  46-30 Islanders with 9:20 left.  A kickout finds Neumann for 3 as CDH looks to start a comeback but its a set lob for Travis for a big 2 handed dunk to electrify the crowd.  Tillman and Kelly nail back to back 3s to cut the lead to 50-41 with 6:17.  Timeout DLS.  CDH proceeds to turn the ball over on their next 3 possessions.  DLS converts those into 2 drives for easy layups and a Travis putback.  The lead is never single digits again.  DLS wins 61-50. 

CJ Neumann hits 3 3s and leads CDH with 16 points.  Raijon Kelly with 3 3s of his own to finish with 13 points.  I had him 5-15 shooting as Melvin Collins and Tyler Moore had the defensive assignment most of the night.  Cortez Tillman with 10 points and the other 2 CDH 3s.  No Taylor Montero for the Raiders as he was at the Wisconsin football junior day.  CDH falls to 18-6 with a trip to Stillwater and the monster home game against Roseville to end the regular season.

For DeLaSalle, Jonah Travis was a man amongst boys inside.  He finishes with 32 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks on my sheet.  I also had him 12-14 from the floor and 8-10 from the foul line.  Marcas Dorsey with 8 points as he also played well inside.  Bretson McNeal with 1 3 at the start of each half for 6 points.  Only 3 3s when playing against 2-3 zone most of the night, but that zone didn't prevent the inside play.  DeLaSalle is now 22-3 and they wrap up their regular season against section and city rival Henry on Tuesday night.  Henry coming off a bad loss to Southwest Friday night.  Anybody know the last time Southwest in that series? 

Veldman beats the buzzer

Prologue
A last minute trip out to Apple Valley to Lakeville South take on Eastview in a matchup of 2 of the 3 teams leading the South Suburban.  The pregame story is fellow hoops scribe Chris Monter challenging me in ping pong.  I ran my mouth on twitter before hand (if you don't follow me on twitter, shame on you, start now) and needless to say I got smacked in the teeth hard.  I lose 8 games to him with him using his off hand, 1 where he tuned up the band with the good hand and another where the good hand just showed up.  A perfect 0-10 mark.  Well done Czar.  So tonight's menu is a Smörgåsbord of crow and humble pie.  In reality the hot dog wasn't bad and 24 oz Pepsi after a thrashing does replenish the fluids.  Nice work by the elementary kids with the national anthem and the dance crew at halftime.

Game Time
Joey King is all of the Eastview offense early.  He nails 3 straight 3s and then finds Ben Oberfeld inside for a 3 point play.  12-4 Eastview at the 10:32 mark.  Meanwhile Jon Christensen is all of the Lakeville South offense as he scores their 1st 6 points.  Frank Veldman with a jumper and a 3 followed by King high/low for a 3 point play.  20-8 Eastview at the 7:37 mark and he'll get a rest.  That gets Lakeville South going.  Riley West with a 3 point play and Alex Richter to the rim for 2 more.  Eastview takes a timeout at the 6:19 mark and that's the end of King's rest.  Lakeville South gets out of their 1-2-2 with Christensen on top and sagging and goes man.  That means Richter and King go at each other the rest of the night.  Richter with a putback and Christensen with another layup to cut the lead to 3.  King off a baseline out of bounds nails his 4th 3 of the half but that's only Eastview bucket in the last 7:30.  Christensen nails another jumper from the key. in the last 30 seconds.  Its an 11-3 Lakeville South run over the last 7:32 giving up only 1 bucket.  23-19 Eastview at the half.

After another Christensen jumper, Chris Narum for 3 and a drive.  28-21 Eastview with 15:10 left.  South has another run in them.  Spencer Pankonin with a jumper out of the post, Matt Heller puts back a miss off a turnover, Richter with 2 free throws, West for 3 to tie it at 30 with 13 minutes left.  An Eastview turnover results in Richter going the other way for a dunk and that's the 1st lead for the Cougars.  He adds a layup to end a 13-2 Lakeville South run.  34-30 South with 11:25 remaining.  King with a putback at the 8:40 to stop the run and end a scoring drought of 4:45.  Richter draws a touch foul on King with 5:17 left.  That's King's 4th and he has to head to the bench.  Out of a timeout with 4:52 left, South sets up a nice lob for Richter and Veldman makes a spectacular block of it at the rim.  Veldman then drives and makes 1 of 2 free throws with 4:11 left to tie the game at 37.  Pankonin with a putback and Christensen with a steal and tough lefty finish with 3:17 left. 41-37 South and a good timeout from Eastview to not only cut the momentum but also to get King back in the game. 

Oberfeld singled up in the post and he channels his inner Kevin McHale with the up and under for 2 with 2:50 left.  Richter kicks out of the post and South misses the open jumper with 2:05 left.  King held on a baseline out of bounds before the ball was released.  He steps up and makes the clutch 1 and 1 with 1:41 left.  Tie game at 41.  Timeout Eastview and they show their own 1-2-2 zone.  South almost turns it over once and they get a post touch afterwards but its a walk with 1:03 left.  Eastview goes 5 out and holds until a timeout with 35.6 remaining.  They run more 5 out to run the clock down and they never do get into a set.  King doesn't it touch it late.  Veldman ends up with the ball high right side and has to make a play.  He drives left into the lane and the short 8 ft floater is good with 1.5 seconds left.  The clock runs out and the Eastview fans storm the floor.  But wait, South somehow got a timeout with 1.1 left.  Richter gets a look from halfcourt and that's no good.  43-41 Eastview wins by scoring the last 6 points of the game.

Post Game
For Lakeville South, Jon Christensen leads the way with 16 points.  He showed good range with the 17 foot jumper in the top of the key area.  He also had a couple of steals on passes back to the top that he took the other way.  Alex Richter with 11 points on a rough shooting night of 4-17.  Good aggression and he had a fair number of those misses where he may have been fouled, but I felt he also pressed too hard on some of those.  South falls to 12-4 and 1 game behind Eagan and Eastview in the South Suburban.  They're now 17-7 and probably lost a shot at the 1 seed.  Based on the remaining schedule, they could be anywhere from 2-4.  I'll have more detail on that in my weekly MN Preps column on Monday.

For Eastview, Joey King with 15 of his 19 in the first half.  12 of those in the 1st 12 minutes vs zone.  I had him shooting 6-12 from the field after a 5-8 start.  Frank Veldman with 7 of his 12 in the second half including the game winner.  He's a name you'll see later when I hand out end of season awards.  Ben Oberfeld 5 points and 11 rebounds on my sheet.  Eastview is now 19-4, 13-3 in the South Suburban  The Lightning have 2 winnable games next week at Kennedy and at home vs Jefferson to go for a share of the league crown (or win it outright with help from South at Eagan) and the top seed in section 3AAAA.  But note that Kennedy just beat South on Tuesday and only lost by 2 at Eastview a month ago.   Point guard Darin Haugh played through pneumonia tonight (and a surprising number of quality minutes considering how bad he felt).  If he's out, that puts a strain on the lineup.

Polars let one slip vs Hudson

Prologue
To North St. Paul for the 1st of back to back Polar Thursdays (Washburn at North, the other North next is next Thursday).  The Polars host Hudson as Wisconsin wraps up regular season play this week.  Classy move at the end of the sophomore game where NSP was up big and Hudson took an extra timeout with the refs and NSP intentionally letting it go.  Last game of Hudson's soph's season, 1 minute left in a blowout, let the coach get some final teaching in, I respect that.  Pizza always a quality menu option and its back to standard 20 oz size of Fruit Punch Gatorade. 

Song of the Day
The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens

Game Time
Matt Krier on the post for Hudson for an early bucket.   Rex Johnson straight away for 3.  8-4 North St. Paul.  Hudson patient on offense with LONG possessions as the pace grinds to a screeching halt.  Johnson with a short jumper off an offensive rebound.  Krier counters in the post.  11-8 NSP at the 7:45 mark.  Hudson's Tyler Smrcina picks up his 2nd charge of the night and has to sit with 2 fouls at the 7:18 mark.  Krier on the post for 2 more.  Hunter Books with a layup at the 2:05 mark to break a NSP scoring drought of almost 6 minutes.  Its also the 1st NSP bucket by someone other than Johnson since a triple 1 minute in.  That Johnson rebound jumper at the 8 minute mark is the only NSP field goal in a stretch of 12:40.  Krier on the offensive glass for 2 more but Johnson finishes the half with a 3 point play.  16-12 North in a scintillating, I mean skull crushing migrane headache inducing, first half. 

As if the pace wasn't slow enough, Hudson comes out 2-3 zone to start the 2nd half.  The teams trade buckets before Hudson's Alex Herink uses the left hand to score a layup and a jump hook.  Kellen Pearson drives for and Smrcina makes 1 of 2 free throws.  That offensive explosion is a 7-0 run that gives Hudson their 1st lead of the game, 21-20 with 14:22 remaining.  NSP patient on their end and a double clutch jumper by Korey Dean puts them 26-23 with 10 minutes left.  After a Herink putback, JJ Abrego for 3 and then a steal for a free throw to push the lead to 30-25 with 7:43 left.  Herink posts for 2 free throws after Hudson makes a jumper and the is cut to 1.  Johnson counters with a nice pullup against the split top of the zone and then goes glass.  34-29 NSP with 4 minutes to go and they look to be in control.

But 4 minutes is lots of time.  Pearson nails a pair of 3 around a Polars turnover and all of a sudden Hudson leads 35-34 inside of 3 minutes left.  Abrego with a jumper.  Krier was the offense in the 1st half (8 of the 12) but no points in the second half until he counters that jumper with 2 in the post with 2:40 left.  North turns it over but Johnny Economy gets the steal and goes the distance.  38-37 North with 2:10 left.  Krier fouled in the post, he makes the first and the 2nd is tipped to Hudson but Smrcina gets called for his 3rd charge of the night.  38 all and 1:31 remaining.  Hudson back to the man defense they used in the first half.  NSP misses a 3 just outside of 1 minute left.  Pearson with a great backcut and gets hacked to prevent an easy layup. He makes both freebies with 47.5 left.  Books catches at the foul line and goes the rack but can't get the shot to fall with 34 seconds left.  Hudson rebounds and is fouled with 31.5 left.  The front end is no good but Herink tips the rebound out  NSP gets a good trap but Hudson saves possession with a timeout with 23.7 left.  NSP slow to foul and they catch Krier at the basket for 2 and the foul with 16.8 left.  4 seconds left when NSP takes the ball out underneath after NSP uses 1 of 4 fouls to give.  On the inbounds, Books was grabbed but no call.  NSP gets 2 that go in at the buzzer but that doesn't matter as Hudson comes from behind to win 42-40.

Post Game
For North, a very tough loss.  They fall to 9-14, but they're 4th in the Classic Suburban at 7-6.  They're at Mahtomedi Friday, then they finish the regular season with home dates against South St. Paul and Sibley.  Senior guard Rex Johnson 10 of his 14 in the first half to lead the Polars.  JJ Abrego 8 of his 11 in the second half. 

Hudson gets 13 points from center Matt Krier.  Frosh star Alex Herink held scoreless in the first half, but he finishes with 8 points on 3-8 shooting and 8 rebounds on my sheet.  Junior Kellen Pearson comes up big off the bench with 10 of his 12 points in the 2nd half (book had 10).  The Raiders finish their regular season 8-14, 5-7 and 5th place in the Big Rivers.  They host Eau Claire North in a 8-9 pigtail game on Tuesday night.

South keeps pace in the City

Prologue
Off to South for a city conference showdown between South and Patrick Henry.  Light crowd on hand for Teacher's Appreciation Night.  Minnehaha Academy in the house looking at South for their matchup next week.  Taco in a bag on the menu, but too early for the sour cream.  Might have been a mistake as there just wasn't the proper texture and I think the sour cream would have done it.  No Deonte Blakemore on the Henry roster which is disappointing.  I think I can officially put the dagger in that league MVP selection.  Since we're at South, let's go with this hit for today's music.

Song of the Day
Southside - Moby featuring Gwen Stefani

Game Time
Its a quick start for Henry.  Soph Darius Hill with a free throw for a 7-0 Patriots lead and a South timeout.  Then he finishes a regular layup followed by a reverse layup.  13-4 Henry at the 12:37 mark and they inexplicably take a timeout.  South makes them pay as Carnell Sheppard kicks out not once, not twice but 3 times is nice for 3s.  Then off a baseline out of bounds, Juwan Ashman hits his 3rd of South 4 bombs in a 12-0 run.  16-13 South at the 7:55 mark.  That's right after Henry post Latrell Love goes to the bench for the last 8:33 with 2 fouls.  20 all at the 5:35 mark before South ends the half on a 14-5 run.  Sheppard with 2 free throws, an assist for a layup and 2 3s in the run.  34-25 South at the half.  Sheppard with 12 points and 4 assists for 11 more points (23 of the 34 points).  Darius Hill 9 to lead Henry.

Sheppard with 2 free throws and then a post bucket as South quickly pushes the lead to 43-29 with 14:50 left.  Then Henry starts to scramble defensively and turn the game into more chaos.  1 turnover leads to a Wunell Beard layup and Hill with his 2nd steal and bucket of the half as Henry scores 6 in a row.  43-35 South with 13:23 left. The lead stays in that range for the next 6 minutes with Hill keeping the Henry offense going.  Then Hill with a baseline jumper as Henry cuts the lead to 6.  Sheppard counters with an assist to Ashman for a layup.  Then Love on the offensive glass, South misses a front end and Hill drives for a layup. Sheppard counters that with a spin and lefty finish in the lane.  62-56 South with 5:22 left as Henry takes a timeout.  Hill still doing work as he makes 2 free throws and Tim Gill adds a free throw to cut the lead to 62-59.  Then a Hill touch foul at halfcourt and Gill picks up a technical for yapping on the foul line.  Andrew Burton steps up and makes all 4 free throws (2 shot bonus was in effect + the 2 Ts).  On the possession, Love wraps up Sheppard for 1 free throw and its a 5 point possession.  That pushes the lead back to 8.  Hill with another layup.  Mohamed Mohamed with 2 free throws on the other end on what appeared to be a clean Jeff Bright block.  He goes glass next time down and Sheppard counters with an assist to Mohammed for a layup.  Henry won't get closer than 5.  South wins 74-69.

Post Game
For Henry, seeing the 2 fouls and the T with 3:48 left, arguing about shooting the game ball at halftime and the JV head coach texting during his game just demonstrates a serious lack of discipline in the program.  Soph Darius Hill has quickly evolved into Henry's top player.  He finishes with 23 of his 32 in the 2nd half putting the Henry offense on his back.  Latrell Love held to 12 points and 9 rebounds thanks to the South 2-3 zone.   Henry falls to an underachieving 10-12 and they've now lost 5 out of 6.  They play at Southwest Friday before showdowns at North on Monday and at DeLaSalle on Tuesday.  But as demonstrated by their win over Columbia Heights earlier in the year, the can be dangerous come section time.

For South, Carnell Sheppard 24 points.  I also had him with 6 assists that became 15 more points.  Good shooting night for South as center Mohamed Mohamed hits 2 3s and finishes with 12 points.  Andre Burton 1 triple and 11 points.  Juwan Ashman 3 triples and 13 points.  Don't know if it was because Mahari Wilson was out, but Carnell Sheppard was playing PG most of the night and you could really really see the difference.  Especially when Henry was all over the place trying to trap and scramble, when he had the ball, it settled down, otherwise it was nuts.  South stays 1 game back in the loss column in the league and they host North on Friday night.  South now 11-11 but they gave Johnson and Benilde-St. Margaret's very good games and had a great chance to beat Wisconsin's top D3 team La Crosse Aquinas in La Crosse.  They've now won 8 out of 10 since that La Crosse trip so don't expect them to be an easy out in the 3/6 or 4/5 game in section 6AAAA.

Johnson runs away from MTS

Prologue
To #1AAA Johnson for a showdown with #3A Minnesota Transitions.  This is a rematch of the Best Buy Holiday Classic 3rd place game that Johnson won 93-77.  How similar would this one be?  One of the lower ranked hot dogs of the season and the always entertaing 16.9 oz bottle of Gatorade (that's 500 ml for those who are wondering about the goofy measurement).  Surprisingly poor crowd too.  Williston State and Itasca in the building looking on.  And how could I miss the Mr Basketball guys sitting right where you'd expect them with their popcorn.  With a fast paced game and teams with title aspirations, this song seemed to make sense.

Song of the Day
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Running Down a Dream

Game Time
Early on its all MTS.  Rodney Owens nails a 3 to start the game and then 3 straight layups as MTS leads 16-7 at the 13:45 mark.  Roosevelt Scott and Anthony Lee don't start for Johnson but within the 1st minute they're up off the bench and waiting at the scorer's table.  Estan Tyler with a layup and a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 5.  Kyle Noreen counters as he banks in a 3, puts back a miss and seals his man for weakside inbounds layup.  Add in a Matt Lanier 3 and layup and its all part of a 12-4 MTS run.  32-19 Wolves with 7 minutes left in the half.  Owens makes 2 free throws to keep the lead at 12 with 5 minutes left in the half.  Most of the rest of the night is the Roosevelt Scott Show.  A putback, a 3, 2 steals for Lee layups, another 3 as Johnson cuts the lead down to 3 before the half.  46-42 MTS at the break.  MTS looked like they had momentum with the 13 point lead and similar to what Hyde Park did to Johnson, MTS spread the floor and went high dribble weave.  Johnson's defensive intensity picked up and kept them close.

Tyler with a drive and 2 free throws along with a Marcus Marshall 3 and Johnson has evened the score at 49 not even 2 minutes into the half.  Game on.  Marshall on the side out with a jumper with 15:15 left and the Govs have their 1st lead of the night 53-51.  Back to back layups put MTS back on top 60-59 with 12:40 left.  Then Tyler for 3, Scott with a dunk and a Lee layup in 50 seconds.  But Noreen nails an NBA 3 to cut the lead in half.  Scott gets his jersey grabs but gets the continuation + 1, a turnover leads to a Tyler layup and then Owens charges for his 4th foul with 10 minutes left.  Timeout MTS after a 12-3 Johnson run and the Govs have all the momentum with the 71-63 lead.  I thought MTS would get the timeout quicker, especially on the road.  The timeout works as Johnson holds and turns it over to ignite an 11-2 Wolves run that ends with a Lanier 3.  74-73 MTS with 6:53 left.  Scott won't be denied.  He goes to the reverse layup for 2 and adds on 2 free throws.  That's followed by a 3 point play and on the break, Owens fouls him to prevent dunk.  But that's the 5th foul on Owens and 5:57 remains as Scott makes both freebies.  That's 9 in a row for Scott in about 45 seconds.  82-76 Govs lead.  Noreen dives inside for 2 to cut the lead to 4 with 5:15 left but MTS will get no closer.  Scott adds on some late free throws and an exclamation point dunk.  Johnson wins 104-90.

Post Game
For MTS, the loss drops them to 16-5 and breaks a 9 game winning streak.  They give up 62 points in the 2nd half which just won't get it done.  Though 16 of those were in the last 3 minutes when playing catch up.  Kyle Noreen leads MTS with 30 points.  Rodney Owens 22.  Devonte Harvey in the MTS lineup for the 1st time in my viewing of MTS this season.  He finishes with 14.  Its not any easier for the Wolves the rest of the way.  They play at #5AAAA Eden Prairie on Friday and then visit #9A Springfield next Monday.

For Johnson, Roosevelt Scott has 27 of his 40 points in the 2nd half.  13-24 shooting with most of those misses in the 1st half.  He missed some bunnies in the first half otherwise he might have been close to 50.  I also had him for 8 rebounds and 5 steals.  Estan Tyler 17 points and he had the task of guarding Noreen.  That continues the Johnson strategy of having Tyler play the defensive stopper role even when Scott seems like the logical small forward vs small forward matchup.   Anthony Lee also finishes with 17 points.  Johnson improves wot 20-2 and remains undefeated against Minnesota opponents.  They play at Richfield on Thursday in what should be another fast paced game.  That's before finishing conference play next week.

2010-11 CzarPI, February 20, 2011

Here is the 10th edition of the CzarPI for the 2010-2011 season (see CzarPI Explained here).  It includes games through February 19th, 2011.  The value in () after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking within their class.  The list of teams in section 4A has been trimmed to 19 so Hmong Academy, St. Paul Prep, Spectrum, Prairie Seeds Academy and Learning for Leadership have all been moved to the Non-MSHSL category.

Class AAAA

1. Hopkins - 61.75 (13)
2. Eden Prairie - 61.38 (1)
3. Osseo - 59.46 (24)
4. Chaska - 58.64 (28)
5. Wayzata - 57.62 (12)
6. Eastview - 57.06 (43)
7. Duluth East - 56.07 (16)
8. Champlin Park - 56.03 (53)
9. Eagan - 54.77 (45)
10. Robbinsdale Cooper - 54.6 (19)
11. Buffalo - 54.56 (57)
12. Lakeville South - 54.46 (33)
13. Owatonna - 54.44 (56)
14. Irondale - 54.29 (35)
15. Roseville - 54.18 (59)
16. Tartan - 53.95 (61)
17. Apple Valley - 53.93 (5)
18. Shakopee - 53.85 (18)
19. Cretin-Derham Hall - 53.71 (41)
20. Moorhead - 53.22 (54)
21. Robbinsdale Armstrong - 53.2 (32)
22. St. Louis Park - 53.13 (4)
23. Edina - 52.76 (36)
24. Maple Grove - 52.42 (6)
25. St. Michael-Albertville - 52.17 (52)
26. Blaine - 51.32 (39)
27. White Bear Lake - 51.08 (23)
28. Duluth Central - 50.93 (62)
29. Rochester Century - 50.64 (65)
30. Burnsville - 50.03 (14)
31. Forest Lake - 49.69 (46)
32. Spring Lake Park - 49.32 (9)
33. Lakeville North - 47.98 (3)
34. Mounds View - 47.46 (30)
35. Chanhassen - 47.21 (38)
36. Minneapolis North - 47.17 (21)
37. Andover - 47.1 (17)
38. Bloomington Kennedy - 46.81 (50)
39. Stillwater Area - 46.42 (63)
40. North St. Paul - 46.06 (29)
41. Minneapolis South - 45.11 (42)
42. Alexandria - 44.37 (48)
43. St. Cloud Tech - 44.35 (51)
44. Cambridge-Isanti - 44.24 (31)
45. Anoka - 44 (37)
46. East Ridge - 43.81 (60)
47. Park Center - 43.32 (15)
48. Rochester Mayo - 42.78 (25)
49. Centennial - 42.36 (20)
50. Prior Lake - 41.66 (8)
51. Woodbury - 39.27 (49)
52. Henry Sibley - 38.56 (26)
53. Rosemount - 38.05 (27)
54. Bloomington Jefferson - 37.55 (10)
55. Minneapolis Southwest - 36.38 (58)
56. Northfield - 36.19 (11)
57. Elk River - 36.14 (34)
58. Farmington - 34.52 (64)
59. Minnetonka - 34.36 (2)
60. Brainerd - 33.88 (22)
61. St. Francis - 31.28 (47)
62. Coon Rapids - 29.66 (7)
63. Rochester John Marshall - 23.62 (44)
64. Park of Cottage Grove - 22.88 (55)
65. Hastings - 15.52 (40)

Class AAA

1. St. Paul Johnson - 58.55 (47)
2. Benilde-St. Margaret's - 57.19 (7)
3. Orono - 56.47 (9)
4. Waconia - 56.36 (1)
5. Bemidji - 56.35 (29)
6. St. Cloud Apollo - 55.91 (42)
7. Minneapolis Washburn - 55.63 (11)
8. Hill-Murray - 55.5 (16)
9. Worthington - 55.46 (17)
10. Winona - 54.32 (48)
11. Columbia Heights - 53.99 (15)
12. DeLaSalle - 53.71 (46)
13. Marshall - 53.69 (25)
14. New Prague - 53.5 (32)
15. Delano - 53.24 (41)
16. Grand Rapids - 53.18 (12)
17. Holy Family Catholic - 53.08 (36)
18. Detroit Lakes - 52.07 (28)
19. Rogers - 51.55 (18)
20. Little Falls - 51.55 (19)
21. Richfield - 50.94 (53)
22. St. Thomas Academy - 50.7 (23)
23. St. Anthony Village - 50.64 (57)
24. Rocori - 49.67 (55)
25. Totino-Grace - 49.62 (34)
26. Hutchinson - 49.59 (3)
27. Willmar - 48.98 (37)
28. St. Paul Como Park - 48.34 (8)
29. St. Paul Central - 48.12 (10)
30. Austin - 47.26 (50)
31. Mahtomedi - 47.08 (20)
32. Big Lake - 46.97 (52)
33. Hibbing - 46.42 (35)
34. Red Wing - 46.34 (54)
35. Hermantown - 46.3 (56)
36. Annandale - 46.28 (13)
37. Mankato East - 46.01 (24)
38. St. Paul Highland Park - 44.77 (49)
39. Minneapolis Henry - 43.82 (44)
40. Monticello - 42.68 (4)
41. Fergus Falls - 41.44 (5)
42. Chisago Lakes Area - 40.49 (38)
43. New Ulm - 39.68 (40)
44. Mound-Westonka - 38.67 (43)
45. Sartell-St. Stephen - 38.22 (45)
46. Holy Angels - 37.34 (2)
47. Cloquet - 37.21 (14)
48. Mankato West - 36.85 (21)
49. Becker - 36.48 (27)
50. St. Paul Harding - 35.58 (59)
51. Albert Lea - 35.33 (39)
52. Faribault - 35.19 (31)
53. Fridley - 33.96 (22)
54. Simley - 33.82 (60)
55. North Branch - 33.27 (26)
56. Princeton - 31.93 (51)
57. Waseca - 30.94 (30)
58. Dassel-Cokato - 27.35 (6)
59. Sauk Rapids-Rice - 20.01 (33)
60. South St. Paul - 19.65 (58)

Class AA

1. Perham - 58.59 (43)
2. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - 57.96 (99)
3. Plainview-Elgin-Millville - 57.76 (68)
4. Stewartville - 57.26 (14)
5. Moose Lake-Willow River - 57.25 (56)
6. Montevideo - 57.07 (22)
7. Minnewaska Area - 56.2 (89)
8. Bagley - 55.52 (119)
9. Esko - 55.33 (35)
10. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton - 55.18 (106)
11. Rochester Lourdes - 55.05 (7)
12. Maple River - 55.01 (86)
13. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 54.95 (53)
14. Pelican Rapids - 54.91 (71)
15. Windom Area - 54.61 (54)
16. Caledonia - 53.86 (105)
17. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - 53.69 (96)
18. Thief River Falls - 53.65 (31)
19. Braham - 53.49 (122)
20. Mayer Lutheran - 53.22 (69)
21. Pequot Lakes - 53.09 (92)
22. Deer River - 52.88 (62)
23. Virginia - 52.63 (107)
24. Kenyon-Wanamingo - 52.6 (57)
25. New London-Spicer - 52.16 (10)
26. Glencoe-Silver Lake - 52.09 (21)
27. Kasson-Mantorville - 51.95 (88)
28. Redwood Valley - 51.83 (15)
29. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - 51.21 (81)
30. International Falls - 51.11 (121)
31. Zumbrota-Mazeppa - 50.83 (82)
32. Jackson County Central - 50.76 (28)
33. Hawley - 50.73 (36)
34. Watertown-Mayer - 50.64 (26)
35. St. Peter - 50.51 (116)
36. United South Central - 49.92 (45)
37. Concordia Academy-Roseville - 49.84 (102)
38. Hayfield - 49.59 (59)
39. Byron - 49.56 (80)
40. Zimmerman - 49.38 (76)
41. St. Cloud Cathedral - 49.11 (64)
42. Fairmont - 49.08 (40)
43. Litchfield - 48.7 (13)
44. Sauk Centre - 48.31 (104)
45. Blake - 48.16 (110)
46. St. Charles - 48.06 (60)
47. Maple Lake - 48.06 (94)
48. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta - 47.88 (93)
49. Kimball Area - 47.72 (63)
50. Jordan - 47.51 (120)
51. Belle Plaine - 47.04 (61)
52. St. Croix Lutheran - 46.85 (103)
53. Pierz - 46.74 (23)
54. Trinity School - 46.62 (115)
55. Warroad - 46.45 (70)
56. St. John's Prep - 46.03 (79)
57. East Grand Forks - 45.42 (83)
58. Melrose - 45.38 (85)
59. New Richland-H-E-G - 45.36 (50)
60. Sibley East - 45.35 (38)
61. Albany - 45.02 (100)
62. La Crescent - 44.99 (49)
63. Murray County Central - 44.91 (27)
64. Kingsland - 44.88 (46)
65. Lake City - 44.81 (33)
66. Legacy Christian - 44.52 (113)
67. Benson - 44.49 (73)
68. Martin County West - 44.49 (117)
69. Southland - 44.44 (78)
70. Crookston - 44.42 (6)
71. Norwood-Young America - 43.91 (16)
72. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - 43.26 (20)
73. Crosby-Ironton - 42.63 (32)
74. LeSueur-Henderson - 42.53 (52)
75. Minnehaha Academy - 42.47 (84)
76. West Central Area - 42.42 (8)
77. Breckenridge - 42.01 (48)
78. Wadena-Deer Creek - 41.84 (41)
79. Pine City - 41.51 (91)
80. Lac qui Parle Valley - 41.46 (12)
81. Breck - 40.78 (114)
82. Rush City - 40.63 (95)
83. Lewiston-Altura - 40.44 (34)
84. Minneapolis Roosevelt - 40.14 (112)
85. BOLD - 39.65 (111)
86. Aitkin - 39.43 (29)
87. Hinckley-Finlayson - 39.37 (90)
88. Mora - 39.29 (19)
89. Providence Academy - 39.12 (123)
90. Milaca - 39.11 (47)
91. Blue Earth Area - 39.09 (72)
92. Montgomery-Lonsdale - 38.99 (74)
93. Red Lake - 38.49 (42)
94. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop - 37.45 (37)
95. Roseau - 36.4 (97)
96. Dover-Eyota - 36.31 (17)
97. International School of MN - 35.77 (127)
98. Chatfield - 35.67 (25)
99. Cannon Falls - 35.46 (66)
100. Rockford - 35.46 (58)
101. Duluth Marshall - 35.26 (109)
102. Holdingford - 34.8 (67)
103. Minnesota Valley Lutheran - 34.25 (24)
104. Winona Cotter - 34.01 (75)
105. Eden Valley-Watkins - 33.92 (98)
106. Great River - 33.76 (126)
107. St. Paul Academy - 33.02 (101)
108. Luverne - 32.98 (11)
109. Eveleth-Gilbert - 32.43 (51)
110. Pipestone Area - 32.35 (4)
111. St. James - 30.9 (30)
112. Triton - 30.88 (87)
113. Pine Island - 30.43 (39)
114. Greenway - 30.17 (65)
115. Proctor - 29.9 (118)
116. Yellow Medicine East - 29.76 (55)
117. Foley - 29.45 (44)
118. Staples-Motley - 28.89 (3)
119. Mounds Park Academy - 27.48 (108)
120. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley - 27.05 (125)
121. Osakis - 26.98 (1)
122. Minneapolis Edison - 26.38 (124)
123. Brooklyn Center - 26.28 (77)
124. Frazee - 21.74 (2)
125. Park Rapids Area - 14.95 (9)
126. Two Harbors - 0 (18)
127. Paynesville Area - 0 (5)

Class A

1. Sebeka - 59.47 (24)
2. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 56.67 (112)
3. Springfield - 55.79 (55)
4. MACCRAY - 55.62 (66)
5. Southwest MN Christian - 55.56 (83)
6. Upsala - 55.32 (23)
7. Ellsworth - 54.56 (33)
8. Maranatha Christian - 53.84 (111)
9. Cass Lake-Bena - 53.59 (63)
10. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo - 53.53 (88)
11. Ada-Borup - 53.46 (78)
12. Chisholm - 53.36 (130)
13. Cedar Mountain/Comfrey - 53.31 (96)
14. McGregor - 53.14 (108)
15. Orr - 53.09 (119)
16. Browerville - 52.98 (82)
17. Goodhue - 52.47 (125)
18. Ely - 52.44 (131)
19. Mankato Loyola - 52.08 (51)
20. Lakeview Christian - 51.99 (149)
21. Minnesota Transitions Charter - 51.89 (94)
22. Battle Lake - 51.73 (148)
23. Stephen-Argyle - 51.27 (116)
24. Bertha-Hewitt - 51.04 (61)
25. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton - 51.02 (5)
26. Hills-Beaver Creek - 50.88 (100)
27. Sleepy Eye - 50.76 (105)
28. Glenville-Emmons - 50.62 (151)
29. Rushford-Peterson - 50.59 (70)
30. Heritage Christian - 50.32 (99)
31. Fosston - 50.28 (113)
32. Barnesville - 49.91 (41)
33. Northern Freeze - 49.86 (43)
34. East Central - 49.85 (87)
35. Nevis - 49.61 (117)
36. Norman County East - 49.41 (77)
37. Ulen-Hitterdal - 48.62 (52)
38. Dawson-Boyd - 48.46 (89)
39. Barnum - 48.38 (126)
40. New York Mills - 48.26 (62)
41. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - 48.16 (142)
42. Mt. Lake/Butterfield-Odin - 47.93 (91)
43. Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity - 47.64 (29)
44. Nashwauk-Keewatin - 47.52 (50)
45. Hill City - 47.18 (45)
46. Minneota - 47.13 (127)
47. Granada-Huntley-East Chain - 46.78 (58)
48. Kittson County Central - 46.61 (42)
49. Truman - 46.59 (124)
50. Houston - 46.54 (150)
51. Spring Grove - 46.39 (139)
52. West Lutheran - 46.33 (136)
53. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River - 46.26 (106)
54. Eagle Valley - 46.03 (37)
55. Ashby - 45.71 (79)
56. Red Lake County - 45.68 (123)
57. Cook County - 45.66 (54)
58. Bigfork - 45.51 (68)
59. Lanesboro - 45.43 (144)
60. Brandon-Evansville - 45.17 (114)
61. New Ulm Cathedral - 44.63 (49)
62. Isle - 44.09 (86)
63. Mahnomen - 43.57 (102)
64. Blackduck - 43.45 (85)
65. Fulda - 43.45 (6)
66. Bethlehem Academy - 43.08 (32)
67. Littlefork-Big Falls - 43.04 (84)
68. AlBrook/Cotton - 43.02 (98)
69. Goodridge-Grygla - 42.94 (101)
70. Menahga - 42.86 (25)
71. Pine River-Backus - 42.73 (90)
72. Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's - 42.66 (35)
73. Silver Bay - 42.3 (20)
74. FAIR Downtown - 42.17 (153)
75. Ortonville - 41.73 (120)
76. St. Agnes - 41.23 (38)
77. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - 41.2 (97)
78. Round Lake-Brewster - 41.03 (18)
79. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City - 40.8 (4)
80. St. Clair - 40.74 (56)
81. Fond du Lac Ojibwe - 40.36 (26)
82. Kelliher/Northome - 39.91 (140)
83. Bethany Academy - 39.81 (122)
84. Cherry - 39.51 (80)
85. Floodwood - 39.48 (10)
86. Nicollet - 39.18 (95)
87. Mountain Iron-Buhl - 38.83 (31)
88. Tower-Soudan - 38.69 (69)
89. Southwest Star Concept - 38.6 (115)
90. Fillmore Central - 38.57 (30)
91. Hope Lutheran - 38.54 (146)
92. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross - 38.52 (156)
93. Onamia - 38.27 (74)
94. Cook - 38.2 (46)
95. Henning - 37.82 (39)
96. Four Directions Charter - 37.63 (158)
97. Canby - 37.58 (103)
98. Central MN Christian - 37.51 (81)
99. Blooming Prairie - 37.33 (7)
100. Swanville - 37.24 (34)
101. Clearbrook-Gonvick - 36.7 (28)
102. Royalton - 36.56 (57)
103. Win-E-Mac - 36.54 (73)
104. New Life Academy - 36.5 (11)
105. Lincoln HI - 36.41 (9)
106. Underwood - 36.25 (128)
107. Red Rock Central - 36.17 (67)
108. Mesabi East - 36.09 (21)
109. St. Paul Humboldt - 35.87 (76)
110. Martin Luther - 35.47 (109)
111. Fertile-Beltrami - 35.33 (15)
112. Cromwell - 35.21 (65)
113. Southwest Christian - 35.17 (47)
114. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart - 35.05 (14)
115. Verndale - 34.46 (3)
116. Madelia - 34.11 (129)
117. Lyle/Austin Pacelli - 33.93 (121)
118. Wabasso - 33.86 (44)
119. Medford - 33.69 (92)
120. Carlton - 33.51 (22)
121. Mabel-Canton - 32.99 (141)
122. Le Center - 32.82 (138)
123. Lakeview - 32.17 (118)
124. CHOF - 32.06 (72)
125. Randolph - 32.02 (40)
126. Edgerton - 31.72 (71)
127. Renville County West - 31.34 (107)
128. Park Christian - 31.27 (134)
129. Parkers Prairie - 30.63 (48)
130. Alden-Conger - 29.94 (145)
131. Sacred Heart - 29.56 (64)
132. Wabasha-Kellogg - 29.39 (53)
133. Academy for Sciences & Ag - 29.3 (162)
134. Grand Meadow - 29.14 (133)
135. Lake Park-Audubon - 28.59 (93)
136. Westbrook-Walnut Grove - 28.3 (19)
137. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley - 27.88 (152)
138. Calvin Christian - 27.81 (161)
139. PACT Charter - 27.45 (132)
140. Cleveland - 27.39 (143)
141. Lake of the Woods - 26.93 (137)
142. Community of Peace Academy - 26.88 (163)
143. Northland - 26.83 (110)
144. Adrian - 26.51 (1)
145. Norman County West - 26.48 (75)
146. LeRoy-Ostrander - 26 (135)
147. Climax/Fisher - 25.74 (16)
148. Math & Science Academy - 25.52 (165)
149. Babbitt-Embarrass - 24.96 (59)
150. Ogilvie - 23.33 (36)
151. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 23.22 (17)
152. Pillager - 22.17 (2)
153. Cannon Valley Lutheran - 21.96 (159)
154. Hancock - 19.74 (60)
155. MN Academy for the Deaf - 0 (164)
156. Laporte - 0 (155)
157. Mesabi Academy - 0 (8)
158. Wrenshall - 0 (12)
159. Waubun - 0 (13)
160. Rothsay - 0 (27)
161. Schaeffer Academy - 0 (104)
162. Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig - 0 (147)
163. E.C.H.O. Charter - 0 (154)
164. North Lakes Academy - 0 (157)
165. Metro Deaf School - 0 (160)

Shako and Apollo pick up big wins

Prologue
The finest day of The Czar's week is always Saturday as it means running around for multiple games.  Today's adventure takes me to Shakopee for the first time and then to Rogers for a pair of quality games.  Coaches vs Cancer day at Shakopee raising over $2500.  Pizza on both menus.  The Davanni's was a little stale at Shakopee but a 1st class facility.  Love the theater seating at Rogers though the big blank spot behind the basket should be stopped with the curtain.  Today's music comes from halftime at Rogers.  (Sorta) Live from Rogers its Saturday Night, bob your heads with me.

Song of the Day
What is Love? - Haddaway

Game 1: Owatonna at Shakopee
Owatonna somehow got to #3 in the state poll but the Huskies have fallen on rough times with a loss at the Target Center last Saturday and then a conference loss at Winona on Tuesday night.  Shakopee continues playing without Jason Perkins due to a knee injury.  They come in winning 8 of 11.  Owatonna opens a 22-17 lead but goes scoreless for the last 5:15 of the half.  Shakopee goes on a 9-0 run during that time to lead 26-22 at the half.

Owatonna comes out with 2 straight 3s to start the 2nd half as they regain the lead.  But the pace is slow.  Drew Osmundson scoops to the hoop at the 7:35 mark.  38-33 Owatonna with the lead as Shakopee takes a timeout.  Shakopee twice cuts the lead to 1 but Vaughn Thada drains a 3 and assists on another to keep Owatonna on top.  44-40 Huskies with 4:40 remaining.  Then Owatonna turns it over on 3 straight possessions.  Ben Foss with 2 steals and Ryan Ragan with a steal.  That results in a Foss layup, an Ethan Petrill 3 point play on the post and a Chris Dehne free throw.  46-44 Sabers with 3:17 left.  Mitch Hawkins drives for 2 with 2:10 left to tie the game.  Shakopee takes time with 1:55 left and sets up a nice backdoor set but they fumble it away.  Owatonna comes back and calls a nice set for a post layup but the basket is waved off via a 3 seconds call with 1:30 left.  Shakopee holds for the last shot and Ethan Petrill spins in the lane and nails a short jumper with 2.5 left.  Owatonna has 1 last chance but their full court pass is intercepted.  Shakopee wins 48-46.  Ethan Petrill leads the Sabers with 12 of his 18 in the second half.  Vaughn Thada leads Owatonna leads Owatonna with 16 points and 4 3s.  His shot is much improved from when he was a freshman.  Drew Osmundson 10 of his 13 in the first half.  Frosh Ty Sullivan looks like his successor at the point next season.  Shakopee frosh posts Tyler Weiss and Jake Maiers are worth noting as well.  Shakopee now 13-9, Owatonna falls to 19-4

Game 2: St. Cloud Apollo at Rogers
So after seeing hard nosed man to man in game 1, this game is mostly zone.  DeLaSalle and Orono in the building scouting.  After the opening Rogers basket, Apollo goes on a 10-0 run behind a pair of Simon Krych baskets.  Shortly after he picks up his 2nd foul and sits for the last 11 minutes of the half.  Blake Maslonkowski with a putback and Ibrahim Abukar scores after a minute long Rogers possession results in a turnover.  24-15 Apollo at the 4:43 mark.  Rogers hangs around to cut the Apollo lead to 32-27 at half. 

Krych comes out strong in the 2nd half.  He tip dunks a miss and scores on the post to push the lead to 9.  Krych 2 free throws off high low action against the zone countered by Michael Schreiber in the post.  44-40 Apollo with 10:25 left.  Then Apollo opens it up with Abukar for 3, Derek Steve for 3, Krych high low layup from Maslonkowski and Ryan Tesch for 3.  54-42 Apollo with 6:37 left and Rogers needs time.  Tesch on the post and Abukar scores with 3:15 left to push the lead to 13.  But Apollo doesn't close it out well.  RJ Dean with a 3 point play, a missed Apollo front end, Trevor Morlock a steal for a free throw and a layup on another turnover.  Another missed Apollo front end and Schreiber with a layup on the other end.  Rory Donovan gets a quick layup on an underneath inbounds to the backside.  64-61 Apollo with 1:35 left, hold the phone.  Apollo misses their 3rd straight front end of the bonus, but Rogers misses inside and a jump ball goes back to Apollo with 1 minute left.  Apollo makes 4 of 6 free throws the rest of the way to hang om 68-63.  Rogers no good answers vs the Apollo 2-3 zone.  Good balance for both teams.  Ibrahim Abukar 17 points, Simon Krych 12 of 16 in the second half, Blake Maslonkowski 15 points and 11 rebounds.  Derek Steve 10 points.  Michael Schreiber and Rory Donovan 16 points each for Rogers.  Schreiber 6 rebounds, Donovan 5 boards on my sheet.  RJ Dean 13 points, Trevor Morlock 10 points.  Rogers falls to 14-8 (9-4 Mississippi 8), Apollo improves to 18-4 (14-0 Central Lakes).

Brama leads Huskies to big Tri-Metro win

Prologue
Hopkins vs Eden Prairie?  Been there done that so I got a chance to see Concordia for the 1st time this year.  They made the trip to St. Anthony with a 1 game lead on the Huskies.  Concordia could lock up the east division crown with a win.  St. Anthony could take the top spot away with a win as they would give them the 2-0 head-head tiebreaker thanks to their 55-46 win at Concordia in early December.  Pizza and Pepsi always a great menu.  Concordia coach Eric Schutte always the best dressed coach I see and his young son joins him on the bench also dressed in style, HA!  A young coach in the making, I'm liking that.  Very good sized crowd but no St. Anthony pep band for their most important home game of the year is a major disappointment.   Student section is in all black so that gives us today's theme.

Song of the Day
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden

Game Time
Its a quick start for Concordia as 3 turnovers give Lorenzo Davis 2 layups and Christian Koehn another.  11-2 Concordia only 2:37 into the game and St. Anthony needs a quick timeout.  Davis is already on the bench with 2 fouls though.  21-11 Beacons at the 8:40 after another Huskies turnover.  Then Anthony Brama wakes the home crowd up with a steal and he goes the distance for the lefty jam and foul for the 3 point play.  That cuts the lead to 2.  After 2 straight Concordia buckets, Brama spins for a jumper, finds Stephen Couillard for a layup and makes 2 free throws.  That ties the game at 25 at the 4:24.  Cutler Finneman picks up his 3rd foul a minute later for Concordia as the fouls mount 10-4 against them.  Brama makes 1 of 2 free throws to conclude a 9-0 run for St. Anthony's biggest lead of the half 28-25 at the 2:58 mark.  Total Huskies run is 17-4 in just under 6 minutes.  But the rest of the half is all Concordia as St. Anthony rushes their possessions to quick shots.  Jeff Weber starts the run wtih a jumper, Davis back in the game for another drive and layup, then after a quick missed 3 Weber is fouled for 2 free throws with 0.3 seconds remaining. Couillard banks in a halfcourt 3 on the inbounds but after a conference its correctly waved off.  35-29 Concordia at half.

A quiet start to the 2nd half, but the fouls are 15-7 against Concordia at the 13:56 mark as 1 ref just won't give them a call and the other ref won't blow his whistle.  Darren Lawson with a putback, Couillard inside of the 2-3 zone, Brama from the short corner and a putback at 11:35 to finish a 9-0 run.  38-37 Huskies.  Lawson then picks up 2 quick fouls against Finneman and has to sit with 4 fouls at the 11:02 mark.  Lorenzo Davis finds Finneman for a layup and then drives for his own layup before a charge sends him to the bench with 4 fouls and 8:38 left.  42-40 Concordia ahead and Finneman picks up his 4th with 8:02 left but he'll stay in the game.  49 all with 5:14 left then business picks up.  Brama with the putback and the foul for a 3 point play.  There's also a Concordia technical on the play.  It appeared to be on Finneman which would have been his 5th foul but turned out he was still in there.  Brama makes both of the technicals.  Then another 3 point play to counter a Weber 3.  57-52 St. Anthony with 3:59 left and Lawson comes back in.  A tieup to the Huskies and Brama finds Lawson for a 3 point play.  Brama then with a putback.  Sam Wirth with a pair of putbacks to keep Concordia within 64-57 with 2:15 to play.  St. Anthony takes time with 2:06 left.  They bring the ball up and at 1:55 they get a timeout but they hadn't gotten the ball across halfcourt.  Should have been a 10 second call.  Weber gives the ball a spin in frustration and our non-friendly ref gives him a really cheap T.  An assistant complains and he'll get one too.  Just another example of an official with a serious attitude problem.  Brama makes 2 of the 4 technical free throws.  He tacks on 3 of 4 free throws to help ice the win.  He leaves to a big ovation with 14.7 left.  St. Anthony wins 75-64.

Post Game
Concordia ends up with 3 players in double figures.  14 for Jeff Weber, Lorenzo Davis 12 and Shane Taylor 11.  Cutler Finneman held to 9 points on 4-11 shooting.  While they start 4 senior guards around Finneman, there is Jared Schneidermann, a 6'6 soph to keep an eye on from the underclassmen. The Beacons fall into a tie in the loss column at 10-3 in the Tri-Metro East.  They finish league play at St. Croix Lutheran on Tuesday before finishing up with 3 non-conference games.  Even with the loss, hard to bump them out of the #1 seed in section 4AA since they do have the head-head win. Regardless of the officiating, when you go on the road and let the opponents top player have a big night, its tough to win.

No answers for Anthony Brama on this night, he goes off for 37 points and 17 rebounds on my sheet. 13-19 from the foul line (4-6 on technicals) and 12-26 from the field. He scores 17 points and assists on 3 more in the last 5:25. That was 20 of the final 28 points for St. Anthony. Darren Lawson 11 for 11 from the stripe to finish with 17 points. The Huskies were 31-42 from the line (9-10 after final 2 Ts when Concordia was fouling to stop the clock) compared to 9-15 for Concordia. The Huskies improve to 15-7. They're now 9-3 in the Tri-Metro East and with wins at Mounds Park Academy and at home against St. Agnes, they would claim the division via head-head tiebreaker. But they got a tough test at Irondale in a local rivalry game on Tuesday night. Bryan Sprang coming off a 38 point night in an upset win at #2AAA Benilde-St. Margaret's tonight. They're still in the race for a home game in tough section 3AAA as well.

Roseville blows out Hastings

Prologue
Its a trip to Roseville for my 1st viewing of Hastings this season.  Quality pizza to go with Pepsi on tonight's menu.  Parent's night with each player giving mom a rose.  Love that tradition.  Though I'd reserve parent's night for seniors only so we don't have a 4 hour introduction.  No real good music selections tonight.  So in the interest of cheap applause from the younger audience, let's go with something contemporary from the halftime music.

Song of the Day
Dynomite - Taio Cruz

Game Time
Not much to see in this one. Lucas Brown with a pair of steals for dunks.  He goes reverse on the 2nd one.  10-3 Roseville at the 14:01 mark and Hastings needs time.  Roseville's run and jump traps causing havoc as David Stanley with another steal for 2 to push the lead to 9.  Then Hastings jumps back into the game thanks to Darius Wilkerson with a pair of baskets and Ellis Williams with 2 via a turnover and a 3.  That's part of an 11-2 Hastings run and we're tied at 14 at the 10:50 mark.

Thank you for playing, please drive home safely as the rest is all Roseville.  David Stanley with 7 quick points as Roseville goes on a 11-2 run over the next 3:30.  The run finally ends at 20-2 with a Justin Adams layup just inside the 6 minute mark.  Lucas Brown with a layup and another rip for 2. Connor Harlander with 2 freebies and a nice spin for a layup.  Mackenzie Johnson for 3 and a Stanley with a steal for a dunk right before the halftime buzzer.  50-24 Roseville at the half as they blow the game open with a 36-10 run over the last 11:40.  Emeche Wells with a putback for a 3 point play, a layup on a turnover and then a nice reverse layup off the post as the lead balloons to 32.  61-29 Roseville with 14:35 left.  Roseville gets the bench plenty of time so we don't go to the dreaded running clock until we're inside 4 minutes.  Roseville rolls to a 75-39 win.

Post Game
For Hastings, they fall to 2-19 and 1-13 in the Suburban East.  They host Park in the battle for last place on Tuesday.  Ellis Williams 13 points and Darius Wilkerson 11 to lead Hastings.  I liked the idea to use a 3-2 zone with Wilkerson on top.  But the talent differential in this one was just too much.  Getting Quintan Weaver back would be helpful.  Good news is most of the roster returns next season.  Bad news is... most of the roster returns next season. The bottom of section 1AAAA is really really bad with Northfield and Rochester John Marshall not winning either. 

David Stanley leads Roseville with 14 of his 20 points in the first half.  Emeche Wells 13 points, Lucas Brown 12 points.  Roseville gets 11 guys into the scoring column.  Their run and jump was effective and they showed some 3-2 zone.  Roseville stays on top of the Suburban East with the win at 13-1, 19-3 overall.  They'll get a challenge at White Bear Lake next Tuesday.

Section races down to the wire

Its a late season breather with no boys games on the schedule tonight.  So with only 2 more full weeks of regular season play remaining on the schedule, I figured it'd be a good time to take a look at some of the section races.

Section 4A
There are 26 teams listed in the section, only 18 played last year.  Take out Lion's Gate (closed), Four Directions, St. Paul Prep and Prairie Seeds Academy for playing before opening night and Math & Science for a limited schedule and I wouldn't be shocked if there were only 13 teams playing.  MCA and MTS are neck and neck for the top seed.  MTS has 6 in a row on the road in the last 2 weeks.  Keep an eye on the Eden Prairie score next Friday night as they won at MCA by 17.  Heritage was 2nd in the MCAA but lost to St. Agnes by 23.  Interesting debate there for the 3 seed.  Part of me would like to see St. Agnes at 4 for a rematch with MCA.  FAIR and Humboldt both lost to Bethany who was last in the MCAA, expect that to hurt their seeding.

Section 4AA
Concordia and Blake are clearly 1 and 2.  Providence, SPA, BC, Edison, MPA, ISM and Great River seem set at the bottom.  The middle 5 are a mess of .500 teams.  St. Croix Lutheran won the head-head with Minnehaha and is ahead of them in the league, but lost to Roosevelt.  Breck at Trinity on the final night could determine the higher seed between those 2 teams.

Section 3AAA
De La Salle and Columbia Heights are the clear 1 and 2 seeds.  Fridley will be the 8 seed.  Central at Como Park on Friday night gives Central a chance to put Como Park behind them.  Totino-Grace still has a good shot at the 3 seed.  St. Anthony can help their cause for the 3 spot by beating Concordia and Irondale in their next 2 games. But St. Anthony lost a shootout to Como Park earlier in the year so 3-7 could still fall anywhere.  Patrick Henry is dangerous no matter where they end up, but likely they'll be #7.  If that's the case, they've already beaten Columbia Heights this season.  They still have games with North and DeLaSalle.  Central still has Orono and a trip to Johnson.

Section 4AAA
Johnson and Hill-Murray are the clear 1 and 2.  Harding and South St. Paul will fill the 6 and 7 seeds.  Mahtomedi fighting St. Thomas for a higher seed out of the Classic Suburban.  St. Thomas with a brutal remaining schedule (Tartan, Hill-Murray, Holy Family).  That might allow Highland Park to sneak up and steal the 3 seed thanks to their head-head win over Mahtomedi on the 1st Tuesday of the season. 

Section 6AAA
How in the world do you seed this section with 4 conference champs.  Mound-Westonka and Holy Angels will take the 6 and 7 seeds.  BSM has to take the top spot with no bad losses.  Washburn and Waconia is a coin flip for 2 and 3.  I take Waconia as they have a win over Hutchinson who beat Washburn over the holidays.  Holy Family gets the home game with Richfield this season in the 4 vs 5 game if its me, but the AA schedule vs the AAAA schedule always rears its ugly head come seeding time.

Section 2AAAA
Another section that's really tough to seed.  Eden Prairie gets the nod right now as they've split with Chaska and they have the road win at Hopkins which is hard to argue with.  Chaska comes in at 2.  Shakopee will get the 3 if they run the table since they've beaten Edina head to head and beaten Chaska (Edina lost to Chaska).  Kennedy, Chanhassen, Prior Lake and Jefferson fill out the bottom half.

Section 3AAAA
Still a scrum at the top with Eagan, Lakeville South and Eastview all fighting for the top spot.  Eastview has big wins over both as a resume builder.  Lakeville South has split with both and has both coming up.  Lakeville North at Apple Valley next Friday is a preview of the 4 vs 5 game with the winner hosting.  Burnsville is on a major skid right now (lost 8 in a row before winning at Jefferson last night).  A loss at Rosemount next Friday could push them all the way down to #7.  Park is the clear #8.

Section 4AAAA
Tartan holds on to the #1 seed now over Roseville thanks to the Raiders loss at Mounds View.  CDH can still steal the #2 seed but they'll need to beat Roseville on the final night to share or win the league to do it.  White Bear Lake looking at another home 4 vs 5 game.  Stillwater will need to beat East Ridge at home next Tuesday to hold that 5 spot.  North St. Paul in the running as they've won 6 in a row after losing 9 of 10.  Only impressive win for those 3 teams is Stillwater beating Hill-Murray early in the year. Woodbury is 0-7 in the section but they have wins over Shakopee and Forest Lake.  Any of those teams could finish 5-8.  The 8th seed means hosting the pigtail game against Sibley.

Section 5AAAA
Champlin Park at Osseo could be for the top seed next Tuesday.  But both have tough final tests on the last night of the season.  Irondale has won 8 in a row since losing to Cooper, including a good win last night over St. Louis Park.  The Irondale at Cooper rematch on March 1st looks like a possible matchup for the 3 seed.  Spring Lake Park and Mounds View come in at 5 and 6. Centennial has won 6 of 7 since starting 2-13.  I see them at 7 and Park Center at 8.

Section 6AAAA
Minnetonka is your top seed here. Wait a minute, wrong season.  Despite a rough year, the Skippers will avoid the 1-8 game with Hopkins as I see them at #7.  Minneapolis Southwest comes in at #8 to get that honor.  Robbinsdale Armstrong gets the 3 seed over St. Louis Park at 4 thanks to a head to head win.  But Armstrong is on a slide losing 5 of 6 after a 14-2 start.  Minneapolis North may win the Minneapolis City and get the 5 seed.  But a loss at South next Friday would push them to 6.

Section 7AAAA
Duluth East is on fire right now winning 9 in a row.  Their win over Forest Lake last week gives them the top seed.  Forest Lake takes #2 via a head-head win over Blaine who earns the 3.  Duluth Central at Andover next Saturday looks like another 4 vs 5 preview with home court on the line.  I'll Anoka and Cambridge-Isanti, for 6 and 7.  St. Francis at Coon Rapids in the 8 vs 9 pigtail game via Coon Rapids winning at St. Francis late last month.