Houston Hello

Each year I try to join a team on the road.  This year's road trip takes me deep in the heart of Texas as I joined the Magic Elite 17s in Houston for the H-Town Classic.  This marks the 3rd road trip of the season already for the Magic when many teams were getting out of state for the first time this past weekend.  Full game by game details are in my Northstar Hoops Report article.

Friday
An early afternoon departure gets us into George Bush Intercontinental Airport just in time for the middle of rush hour.  Despite being setup north of the airport, the trip still takes forever in the hellish traffic that Houston is known for.  Its claimed that everything is bigger in Texas and the roads didn't disappoint.  1 way frontage roads doubled as extra lanes and every major exit seemed to have a flyover ramp.  A quick drop and run at the hotel and we go next door for dinner.  Hoping for some BBQ later in the weekend, I go with a chicken sandwich for dinner.

Then a quick chance to setup the laptop in the hotel and its off to the Legends Sports Complex for the 8:30 game vs Mississippi D1 Ambassadors.  Its a 2x2 setup for the 4 courts with plenty of room to move around but a very strange setup for the college coaches.  You also had to worry about running into the numerous garbage cans they had around to catch water from the leaky roof.  Magic would use a big 1st half run to open the margin.  Final score shows the Magic picking up the win 65-53.  Reggie Lynch comes up 1 block short of a triple double on my sheet.  Minor scoring issue late as a Tom Aase layup gets credited to the wrong side of the scoreboard.  So the final score should have been 16.  Where the point differental max is +15 that could come into play.  The evening's campfire session is in the continental breakfast room for a review of the night's game.  Back to the room to type up the evening's notes before turning in late.

Saturday
Only known game of the day isn't until 2:30 PM and nothing in the championship bracket after the 3:35 game.  But no rest as the other pool game between FOH Seattle and the Mississippi D1 Ambassadors is at 10:10 so up early for a quick banana and hard boiled egg for breakfast (Czar's not a big breakfast guy).  No OJ but the apple juice was worth it.  Coaches and I mosey over to watch that pool game and then while the coaches round up the players for lunch I stick around for the rest of play in the other pools.  FOH Seattle the most impressive team that I saw with 2 high major prospects and a kid off of the bench getting a mid-major head coach in the building to watch him.  I did the BBQ Pork Sandwich for lunch from the concession stand.  Oversized bun and overflowing to the point where half the sandwich ended up in the tub it came in.  2 words: Finger Food.  No way The Czar is letting that go to waste!  Good stuff with the big sandwich and enough kick to be an attention getter but not too much.  With FOH Seattle winning easily, that meant that only seeding was at stake in the Magic game.  Both teams were guaranteed to make the quarters of the top bracket at 8 AM on Sunday.  An off day for everyone on the Magic squad as FOH takes them out 64-47.  Magic did hang around but too much from a very good Seattle club. 

After a break in the hotel, the team runs around trying to find a Golden Corral only to find its out of business.  After about 3 different changes of mind, its Chipotle for half the group.  The coaches go with the Garfield rules of eating plan by having yogurt while waiting.  I hold out for Rudy's BBQ and I get my wish after dropping the kids off.  MN Triple Threat director Brett Rhodes (a Houston native who recommended the place) and Jerry Robertson forever make The Czar's Christmas Card list for making that happen.  Its a gas station look and when coming inside there's a great sight.  A line of about 50 people.  Add in a 30 foot ice filled bin of every bottle of soda you could imagine and a menu that begins with half pound portions  Get up to get the food and none of this sissy plate stuff.  Here's a crate lined with wax paper, we'll just throw your meat in there.  YA!  I went with a half pound of lean brisket, a small portion of potato salad and a 12 oz bottle of Pepsi.  That's living.  Back to the hotel to catch the end of day 1 of the NBA playoffs and an early turn in for a long Sunday.

Sunday
Thanks to the loss on Saturday, the Magic draw Gold Coast (a pre-tourney favorite) in the bracket opener.  Magic would take a lead late in the first half only to see Gold Coast take control from there.  Magic would fight back in the 2nd half but Gold Coast would never give up the lead.  Magic's hot shooting can't get them over the top.  Gold Coast moves on with a 74-68 win.  They would end up winning the tournament.  Major shock that they didn't play FOH Seattle in the championship game.  With an evening flight, its back to the hotel for some R & R.  Off to TGI Friday's for a late lunch and then back to the airport and home in plenty of time to rest up for the week ahead.  Magic finish 1-2 with losses to arguably the 2 best teams in the tournament.  Gold Coast was on the ropes and they hung around with FOH Seattle despite dismal shooting.  Magic take the week off before making the trip to Iowa next week.

Results from The Big Weekend

So what a weekend it was.  Games and food galore.   I spend Friday night, the last session on Saturday and the semis/finals Sunday at the Pump N Run tourney.  Saturday's first half was at NY2LA and then the night session of the EYBL.  Tough call between the Fritos Walking Taco at Hopkins or the Famous Dave's BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich at the EYBL.  Add in a cinnamon roll and that's not a bad Saturday of food.  People galore at Pulley.  Full from the divider to the sideline and then on the 1 open baseline, 5 deep from the wall right to the edge of the court.  Parking was even worse as cars were being towed left and right.  Double parked, parking on the grass, you name it.  Anything to find a spot.  In fairness, all the of events did a nice job with their setups to manage the crowds and the coaches.    Amazing to see all the head coaches from Jim Boeheim to Coach K to Bill Self and the list goes on and on and on.

Pump N Run lost a heartbreaker on Friday night to the KC 76ers.  A great play call gave Cullen Russo a wide open layup that wouldn't go down and KC held on 56-54.  Liked point guard Martez Harrison and forward Joey Lillis for the 76ers.  Anybody named Cornsharks (Iowa) is worth seeing but no sight of their outstanding logo.  Illinois Warriors hung on in an entertaining game vs Team Breakdown.  Pump N Run 16s couldn't make a shot as Illinois Basketball Academy (with their Muscle Milk Jerseys) knocked them out in the semis.  Fury Dixon got a buzzer beater runner John Veil to beat IBA in that title game.  PNR 15s knocked off Wisconsin Blizzard-Pronschinske (last year's loaded Fox Valley Swing team) in a very good title game.  Cody Schwartz will be a player from that squad.  They took out a very good tNBA team in the semis.  Fun to see Schwartz go up against Henry Ellenson in the final.  Ellenson and Marshawn Wilson continue to impress.

15U Bracket Results
PNR def Heat Lesewski, NE Select Fisher def Triple Threat, WI Blizzard def KC 76ers, tNBA def Fury Shelman

PNR def Nebraska Select-Fisher
WI Blizzard def tNBA

PNR def WI Blizzard - Pronschinske 61-54

16U Bracket Results
PNR def MN Warriors, IBA def Chicago Magic, WI Blizzard def EOTO Black, Fury Dixon def WI Blaze

IBA def PNR, Fury Dixon def Blizzard

Fury Dixon def IBA 51-49  (Fury Dixon's only loss was to Heat Vang, they actually beat 2015 stud Diamond Stone and the Milwaukee Young Legends, corrected from original post)

17U Results
PNR def KC 76ers 67-50 for title

PNR def Team Breakdown, KC 76ers def Team Breakdown

KC 76ers def Team NE, Fundamental U def Grassroots, PNR def Fury Davis, Team Breakdown def AK Hawks.

KC 76ers def KC Premiere, Team NE def Fury Ouse, Fundamental U def MI Hurricanes, Grassroots def Ill Warriors, PNR def WI Blizzard, Fury Davis def Omaha Crusaders, AK Hawks def WI Jets, Team Breakdown def TX D1 Ambassadors

NY2LA Spring Extravaganza
Net Gain goes 2-2 as they lose to Texas Select in pool play and then bow out in the quarters to WI Swing on a buzzer.  Comets Hanson had a crazy overtime game to finish pool play and then lost to TP Elite in the round of 16.  43 Hoops lost their pool to ECI after beating them in St. Cloud.  43 then knocked out both Select before losing to the Green Bay Gunners in the semifinals of the gold bracket.  Comets Stock knocked out Getshook in the Silver bracket and then lost in the Silver title game by 4.

In the 16s Comets Lewis fell in the round of 16s to a very good KC Run GMC club.  MN Select lost in the round of 16s to eventual champ RAS (Ray Allen Select)  Net Gain 15s won their quarterfinal before losing to KC Run GMC in the semifinals.

The Rest
The Minnesota Cyclones lost to the St Louis Eagles at the IM Bball tourney before rolling through the Red bracket to win that title.  My old Magic crew was 1-3 in that same division.  Howard Pulley's top 17s went 3-1 and could have been 4-0 if not for a close loss to Albany City Rocks.

The Big Weekend Brackets

Here are championship brackets for Sunday of The Big Weekend 2012.

Best Buy Spring Classic
17U Semifinals - 12:30 PM Courts 1 and 2 Jefferson
KC 76ers vs Fundamental U
Minnesota Pump N Run vs Team Breakdown (FL)
Team Breakdown came from double digits down in 2nd half to beat Arkansas Hawks.

16U Semifinals - 11:25 AM Courts 1 and 2 Jefferson
Minnesota Pump N Run vs Illinois Basketball Academy
Wisconsin Blizzard vs Minnesota Fury-Dixon

15U Semifinals - 11:25 AM Courts 3 and 4 Jefferson
Minnesota Pump N Run vs Nebraska Select - Fisher
tNBA-Brown vs Wisconsin Blizzard Pronschinske

15U Championship - 1:40 PM Court 3 Jefferson
16U Championship - 1:40 PM Court 1 Jefferson
17U Championship - 2:45 PM Court 3 Jefferson

NY2LA Sports Spring Extravaganza
17U Quarterfinals - 9:10 AM Courts 1,3,4 and 5 Hopkins
Texas Select vs KC Run GMC
Kingdom Hoops Elite vs TP Elite
WI Playmakers White vs I-Can All-Stars
Net Gain Sports vs Wisconsin Swing

17U Semifinals - 11:30 AM Courts 3 and 4 Hopkins
17U Championship - 1:50 PM Court 4 Hopkins

16U Quarterfinals - 8:00 AM Courts 1,3,4 and 5 Hopkins
Wisconsin Swing-Litscher vs Milwaukee Rebels
Inland Empire vs Wisconsin Playmakers
RAS vs SYF Hoopmatics
Iowa Barnstormers vs KC Run GMC

16U Semifinals - 10:20 AM Courts 3 and 4 Hopkins
16U Championship - 12:40 PM Court 4 Hopkins

15U Semifinals - 10:20 AM Courts 1 and 5 Hopkins
Kingdom Hoops Elite vs DTA Spartans
Net Gain vs KC Run GMC

15U Championship - 12:40 PM Court 3 Hopkins

IM Bball Spring Showcase
17U Bracket Semifinal 1 10:10 AM at Metcalf
17U Bracket Semifinal 2 11:15 AM at Nicollet
17U Bracket Championship 2:30 PM Eagan Court 1

15U Red Bracket Semifinals - 9:05 and 10:10 AM Eastview Court 2
Minnesota Cyclones vs Wisconsin Playground Elite
MOKAN vs All Iowa Attack Moore

15U Red Bracket Championship - 1:25 PM Eagan Court 3

15U Black Bracket Semifinals - 10:10 AM Courts 1 and 2 Burnsville
Illinois Elite vs Pumas 15U
MN Magic Blue vs DSM Knicks 15U

15U Black Bracket Championship- 1:25 PM Eastview Court 1

EYBL
Howard Pulley vs NJ Playaz - 9:30 AM Court 1 Hight Performance Academy

The Big Weekend Preview

The biggest weekend in Minnesota basketball history comes to town this weekend.  Nike brings their EYBL to town at High Performance Academy in Eagan.  It'll be very interesting to see how the setup there works with all of the fans, coaches and media.  IM BBall has the lesser 17s and the 15s/16s from that division.  That's at Bursnville and Eastview.  NY2LA looks to cash in as they add to their list of tournaments by adding an event here this weekend.  They'll take over Hopkins and Minnetonka.  Then there's the annual Best Buy Spring Classic in Bloomington.  Here's what catches my eye.


Best Buy Spring Classic
Most Interesting Pool Matchup: SW MN Stars 16s vs MN Pump N Run 16s- 1:10 PM Saturday Court 5 Jefferson.

I'm hoping Ishmael Wainright rejoins the 76ers for the tournament.  He was the leader for a club that swept the late period last July by winning the Fab 48 in Las Vegas and The Best of Summer in Los Angeles.  The Michigan Hurricanes return to the cities with star forward Byron Ziegler.  Team Nebraska Express also returns after losing last year's Best Buy Summer Classic title game in double overtime.  Traditionally strong Team Breakdown from Florida makes the trip in.  The Wisconsin Jets make the trip in as a next kid on the block but they've picked up some nice talent in kids like Tim Wagner who played here with Gale-Ettrick-Trempeleau last fall and winter.

I'm hoping for a tNBA vs Pump N Run final in the 15U bracket on Sunday at 1:40.  tNBA might have to go through the top Fury team in the quarters though to do it.    In the 16s could get a Fury Grosz vs PNR semifinal.  EOTO with a tough pool on the other side of the bracket.  In the 17s I absolutely love the bracket format with the big games on Friday night.  Pump N Run vs KC 76ers (Travis vs Wainright?, that would be cool), Fury Davis vs Team Nebraska Express, Omaha Crusaders vs Iowa PNR-Henderson, Illinois Warriors vs Team Breakdown highlight that schedule.

EYBL/IM BBall
No less than 30 of the top players in 2013 are expected at the 1st session of the EYBL.   No surprise then that it also means you have some of the most talented teams in the country.  That list begins with the Oakland Soldiers and star Aaron Gordon.  The 2014 talent is loaded with Andrew Wiggins, Jahil Okafor, Trey Lyles and D'Angelo Russell.  Oh yeah and some kid named Tyus Jones too.

Howard Pulley has 4 games all outside their pool, highest profile should be vs Jackson Tigers on Saturday night at 6:30 on court 2.  Kyle Washington not eligible for the EYBL but he will play in the 17U division of the IM BBall event with the 2nd team.  Might be the only chance to see him with Pulley in true AAU ball.  This group is loaded at 15s/16s with the Nike teams.  Minnesota Cyclones, Mokan Elite, Playground Elite, CIA Bounce and top Pulley team (along with the remains of my old 14U team) all in the top 15U division.  Similar criminal level of talent in the 16U field.

NY2LA Spring Extravaganza
Best Pool Matchup: KC Run GMC vs Wisconsin Swing - 1:50 PM Saturday Court 3 Hopkins.
Must See Game: Wisconsin Playmakers White vs Net Gain  - Friday 7:10 Hopkins Court 4
Crazy Schedule Game: ECI vs 43 Hoops in a pool rematch of last week's quarterfinal in St. Cloud


Top Minnesota Players: 
Riley Dearring and Rashad Vaughn - Net Gain
Carson Shanks and Jon Sobaski - Minnesota Select White

2013 Top Players: 
Connor Frankamp - KC Run GMC
Luke Fischer, Nick Fuller and Bronson Koenig - Wisconsin Swing
Turner Botz, Toby Hegner and Matt Thomas - Wisconsin Playmakers White
Deonte Burton - TP Elite

2014 Top Players: 
Emanuel Mudiay - Texas Select
Kevon Looney - Milwaukee Rebels
Dominique Collier - KC Run GMC

2012 Comets Shootout Review

Results and my random thoughts from the 2012 Comets Shootout.

The food was outstanding with the pulled pork at the concession stand.  I had to hit that twice on Saturday.  I conned my way into mini-donuts on Sunday otherwise I would have done it again.  Good crew of college coaches from the NSIC, MIAC, WIAC etc on hand.  The play was generally ragged and I'm shocked that the officials basically worked the entire day.  The official formerly known as Al Sharpton worked enough games for a lifetime.  Not sure we have enough refs for a solution but getting these guys in and out quicker would make things much better all the way around.  I've seen in Denver where the refs are on for 2 and then they're gone. 

A great way to end the weekend as a Fury team was playing and upon closer look, there was the one and only HAT LADY!!!  All purple and the hat was outstanding as usual.

17U
Pool Winners: ECI Prospects, 43 Hoops, Select White, PNR, Heat Ogorek, NGS, Playmakers, Heat Reese

My predictions had 15 of the 16 teams in the Championship Bracket (Fury-Ouse miss).  Comets/ECI and Heat Reese/Fury Davis flip spots so I get 11 of the 16 spots exactly right.  6 of the 8 quarterfinal winners right with the correct team losing in the other 2 games.  I got half of the games in the quarters right.  Then my bracket fell apart and got nothing else right.

Round of 16 results:  ECI def Glory 64-48, 43 Hoops def GetShook 63-61, Select over Comets Hanson, PNR over Playmakers Blue, Triple Threat 59-52 over Heat Ogorek, NGS 82-78 over Fury Davis, Playmakers White 70-54 over Comets Stock and Heat Reese over SD Heat.

Quarters: ECI def 43 Hoops 77-68, PNR def Select 78-51, NGS def Triple Threat 76-53, Heat Reese def Playmakers White (no Matt Thomas) 79-71.

Semis: PNR def ECI 71-60, NGS def Heat Reese 70-65.

Championship NGS def PNR 70-66.  25 and 10 from Reid Travis of PNR.  18 points from Riley Dearring to lead Net Gain.

Phil Nolan showing up with Net Gain was a major surprise.  A big center might show up, but this wasn't the name on everybody's mind, see Akolda Manyang.  NGS built with a crew of Sean Scott, Ater Manyang and Nolan with their regulars.  Heck, maybe we'll see Tommy McDermott with them again at some point this season.  With NGS, you never know.  They showed some early struggles like last year.

Heat Reese not only beat Fury Davis in pool play to win their pool but also beat the Wisconsin Playmakers top club that still had 2 D1 kids.  They held a double digit lead for a large chunk of the 2nd half so no fluke.  They were down double digits to NGS in the 2nd half before storming back and taking the lead.  They had a good look late to tie as well before NGS held on.

43 Hoops has some pieces for Chris Carr to work with.  Nick Anderson to run the show, Markus Taylor Knighten to score.  It'll be interesting to see how that team evolves.  Select White didn't play well but a 27 thrashing from Pump N Run was a surprise.  Comets Hanson was throttled by ECI Prospects in the pool deciding game late Saturday night and then immediately went out to Select White in the round of 16.  Much higher hopes here for the top Comets club.  Worth noting that 7 footer Connor Voss is probably out another month at minimum.  That certainly impacts what you want to do on the defensive end.

16U
In the 16s results, I don't know the Pool H finishes but other than those I know I went a perfect 14 for 14 in the title bracket.  8 for 8 in the round of 16.  Both quarters in the top half right along with the semifinalist and champion from that half.

Pool Winners: Comets Lewis, Heat Vang, Select, Fury Dixon, Comets Stanfield, Fury Grosz and PNR 15s (Pool H???).

Round of 16: PNR def MN Rush, EOTO def Heat Schumann, Fury Dixon def NGS 15s, Dakota Pride win, Fury Grosz over Comets Stanfield, PNR 15s win, Select def Heat Frank, Comets Lewis def Heat Vang

Quarters: PNR def EOTO 62-59, Fury Dixon def Dakota Pride 80-65, PNR 15s def Fury Grosz 59-51, Select def Comets Elite 77-71 in 3OT.

Semis: PNR 16s def Fury Dixon 65-54, PNR 15s def Select 65-59

Championship: PNR 16s retain in house bragging rights with 69-66 win over PNR 15s.

Furious comebacks in this division.  EOTO was down 16 vs PNR and made big run late.  PNR 15s need a run vs Fury Grosz and then ended their game with Select on a 17-4 run to come from 9 down in the last 5 minutes.  The 15s also made a run from double digits down to the 16s in the title game but just didn't have enough left to pull it off.

Fury Dixon blasted a quality Heat Frank team 71-27 in their pool opener.  That Fury club has size and outstanding guard play.  Very very dangerous.  Liked how the South Dakota Heat 16s played in terms of moving the ball and not beating it to death with the dribble.  Henry Ellenson of the PNR 15s looks so much wider and stronger than a year ago.  Was more than physically capable enough in the 16U bracket let alone vs 15s.  PNR 16s struggled vs TVA in the pool opener (a team they should pound) and were down 3 with 12 to play before pulling that out.  EOTO (last year's Heat Select) still has a dangerous squad of athletes even without Andre Wallace.  Kyle Kalivoda is a nice pickup for that group.

15U
I only saw semis and finals of the 15U bracket because almost all of pool play was up in Foley.  But no surprise that the Cyclones ran through it with no problem.  They won their semifinal over Magic 73-34 and throttled Heat Bui/Lesewski in the championship 81-49 (though that was an 11 point game late in the 1st half).  Fury Johnson gave them their best game with a loss by just over 10.

Here were the matchups in the 15u championship bracket

MN Comets Elite v TC Running Rebels
MN Heat Calistro v Triple Threat Westberg
43 Hoops I v MN Fury Shelman
WI Playmakers v MN Heat Lesewski
South Dakota Heat v MN Magic Blue
Triple Threat High v Grassroots
MN Fury Johnson v WOTN Gold
MN Select v MN Cyclones

??, Heat Calistro, Fury Shelman, Heat Bui/Lesewski, Magic Blue, TT High, Fury Johnson and Cyclones won in the round of 16.

Heat Calistro won, Heat Bui/Lesewski beat Fury Shelman by 20+, Magic Blue def Triple Threat, Cyclones def Fury Johnson

Heat Bui/Lesewski def Heat Calistro, Cyclones def Magic Blue

Cyclones win 15U title over Heat Bui/Lesewski

2012 Heat Jamboree

The Minnesota Heat held their inaugural jamboree at Fridley High School.  (Czar's Note 4/13/12, its actually the 3rd year according to Heat Director Willie Vang)  That takes us back to the days of the old Magic Jamboree where they'd get their top teams together, add a team of seniors and have the college coaches come in for the evening.  You need a bunch of teams to do it but the Heat have just that (is there any other program in the nation with that many teams?).  The difference for the Heat is that we got a start with the lower levels tonight too going all the way down the ranks.  Great experience for the kids and it gives them a chance to get in a quick run against somebody else before really ramping up their spring season.  A great concept that I'm sure the Heat will utilize in the future.

As to the teams and kids, I bounced back and forth between 3 courts to take a look at that.  Games were 20 minutes running time so get em in and get em out.  Some tidbits of what I saw.

Play of the Night: Quashingm Smith-Pugh putting a poster on somebody in the back gym.  He's a nice pick up for the Heat Reese 17s

Team that caught my eye: Heat Reese 17s.  This may be listed as the 3rd team with the Ogorek and Altena groups returning from last year.  That said its an entirely different team than those 2.  Coach Reese has athletes and the willingness to turn the game into an up and down frenzy to match that crew.  With Smith-Pugh, Deshawn Jones, lanky Christian Esko and Isaiah Hanson they have the ability to get after people.  Tommy Scarver runs the point after not seeing much time during the high school season.  Bremiah Snyder is a glue guy banger who sets mean screens.  Mike Wales provides them with some shooting.  Its a crew that has a chance to be a real pain in the neck to anybody they play.

Evening News:
I had to watch the 15s since my old team took on the Heat 14s last year . They've added some quality pieces with Edina's Ben Boone and Alec Synstelien of Minnetonka.  Kai Endahl gives toughness on the wing.

The Heat Altena squad has 5 Centennial guys and they have prom this weekend so that explains why they aren't at the Comets tourney..   That crew along with the Heat Ogorek crew will rely on their chemistry and on execution to win games.  Heat Ogorek is a bit of a cross between the Altena and Reese groups in that they try to do some of the same type trapping as the Reese squad but with personnel like the Altena squad.  At the 16s, Willie Vang's crew is missing Careino Gurley to a concussion.

Interesting to see some of the teams go with the simple 5 out look on the offensive end.  Its fine until you go 30 seconds without shooting and then one of the players feels like the world will end if they don't shoot and you get a 1 on 5 forced look.  But I loved what New Prague did with it against zone via a 4 out look, but conceptually the same.  Makes great sense for AAU with the limited practice time a team has.

Czar's Assessment:
I've made my comments on the event, now on to the teams themselves.  The 14s level is loaded and despite the usual raiding that happens you'd like to believe they can get at least 1 team out of it that brings them back into the top level 2 discussion.   As 2013 is a down year for Minnesota talent, its a down year for the Heat too at the 15-17 levels.  The teams will have chemistry and be competitive and as well run as any organization out there.  This year they just don't have the same horses that their peers have.

2012 Comets Shootout Preview

Back after a state tournament breather its time for the annual big time kickoff of the Minnesota season.  That means its time for 2012 Comets Shootout.  Here's what I'm watching.

15U
In 15U there are 30 pools divided into 10 pools of  3.  28 of the 30 pool games are in Foley with the round of 16 and quarterfinals at Sauk Rapids High School before moving to the home base at Whitney.  But this division is more about who's not playing than who is.  tNBA is at the Howard Pulley Jamboree.  Net Gain, Pump N Run and MN Phenom are all playing up in the 16U division.  That leaves the MN Cyclones as the overwhelming favorite to win their division again (14U champs last year).  I'll be shocked if Alex Illikainen and company don't steamroll through to another title.  Best competition comes from the top Comets squad out of pool A and the top Fury team out of pool D.

15U Picks: Comets Stumpf, Fury Johnson, Grassroots, Fury Shelman, Cyclones, 43 Hoops Vaughn, Heat Lesewski/Bui, MN Select SD Heat, WI Playmakers are my picks to win the pools.  Cyclones have their half of the bracket to themselves while Comets Stumpf and Fury Shelman are on the other side.  Since Fury has one of my former players, we'll take them to make the final before losing to the Cyclones.

16U
This bracket provides the most exciting pool game of the entire tournament.  That's Comets Elite vs Pump N Run at 11:30 AM Saturday on the main court at Whitney.  Big props to the coaches for putting that one together.   The 15U teams playing up will have good chance to move on.  Net Gain gets a favorable draw in pool C.  MN Phenom has 2 tough ones against Fury Dixon and Heat Gardner but I wouldn't be shocked to see them move on.  12:40 PM on Whitney court 1 with Phenom vs Gardner will likely decide the other gold bracket qualifier.  Pump N Run 15s got a very good draw in pool G.

The young talent is noteworthy with Evan Shephard (Phenom), Sacar Anim (NGS) and whatever PNR has.  8th grader Dalante Peyton playing up on the MN Premiere 16s.  EOTO is likely the squad that was Heat Select last year (though missing Andre Wallace) hence they get my nod.  Heat Frank with Geno Crandall and Lance Gardner has some talent to play with.  Fury Dixon may be the 2nd team but in name only.  They have size with Ngor Barnaba of Rochester John Marshall and a talented guard group of John Veil, Zach Wessels, swiss army knife Noble Fahnbulleh and TC Robinson.  Fury Grosz with a balanced group and talent to boot with guys like Clay Elrod, Andrew Grosz and Charlie Koontz.  Add in guys like Wheeler Baker, Derek Magnuson, Kolby Seiffert and Eric West and you have depth too.  Hoping to see Jim Warmack with the Dakota Pride again.  The East Grand Forks post played at both 16s and 15s last year for the Pride.

16U Pool Picks: PNR and Comets, Heat Vang and MN Rush, Select and Net Gain 15s, Fury Dixon and Heat Frank.  EOTO and Comets Stanfield, Fury Grosz and Heat Schumann, PNR 15s and Dakota Pride, Playmakers and Triple Threat.

16U Bracket Picks:
Top half: PNR 16s over MN Rush, EOTO over Heat Schumann, Fury Dixon over NGS 15s, Pride over Playmakers

Bottom half: Fury Grosz over Comets Stanfield, PNR 15s over Triple Threat, Select over Heat Frank, Comets Elite over Heat Vang.

Quarters: PNR 16s over EOTO, Fury Dixon over Dakota Pride, Fury Grosz over PNR 15s (great game at 10:20 ct 3 Whitney on Sunday),  Comets Elite over Select

PNR def Fury Dixon and Fury Grosz over Comets Elite in the semis.  PNR 16s def Fury Grosz for 16U title.

17U
Now to Minnesota's Toughest Basketball.  As always the championship game will be 7th game for the teams in just over 24 hours.  All after taking the ACT and making the trip north.  Like the 16U division the games are mostly split between the Whitney and Sauk Rapids Middle School. 

Pool A goes to the host Comets Hanson.  A very good group with Nate Huot running the show and 7 feet of Connor Voss inside.  The other player to keep an eye in this pool is AJ Jacobsen of ECI.

Pool B has the mystery known as Chris Carr's 43 Hoops group.  Markus Taylor-Knighten is expected to be with that group, what else he has remains to be seen.  The surprise in this group should be the MN Wolves.  Its a new crew that has added seniors Latrell Love and Darian Pittman.  Fury Ouse (2nd team) has Sam Burt in the middle along with shooters Adam Huessner and Collin Host.  Peter Kruize and Nick Goldberg are 2 more front court pieces with Nick O'Hara to run the show and Kharie Kirkland to lock people down.

Select's top team and 7-footer Carson Shanks headline pool C.  Devon Pekas and Dan Wills highlight the Glory squad and where else would you find a star out of the Christian Athletic League (Peter Maring of Cambridge Christian).  PEM's state tourney star Beau Nelson also on the Glory roster.  Comets Seevers will have St. Cloud Cathedral's Joe Burt joining the party.

Pump N Run's top club picks up a good draw in pool D.  With the quick turnaround and high number of games we'll see if not having a full slate of 10 guys hurts them later on Sunday.  Looking forward to seeing Cullen Russo again after a year of prep school.  I'll also bet on Darius Hill here rather than MN Chosen.

Pool E is full of teams that don't have the superstar type player but try to embody the concept of team.  Heat Ogorek has a kid I'm a fan of in Brad Freeborn (face up 4).  They have workable guards in Jack Martinek, Beau Smit and Robert Claypool, a defender in Drake Mjaanes and a role player in Brad Carlson.  Comets Stock has some kids who had really nice seasons in Cody Sprenger, Mike Millard and Dylan Erickson.  Magic Maroon is largely north metro kids.  Porter Morrell was a solid guard for Elk River during the season.

Pool F has Net Gain which means you never who or what will show up.  Last year they looked positively awful on Saturday night and barely made the championship bracket.  Then on Sunday they ran through 4 games to win the title.  Bryce Wojta runs the point.  Riley Dearring and Rashad Vaughn are back on the wings.  Andre Wallace was added as well.  The South Dakota Heat feature guard Wyatt Krogman.  He was the top player on a state title team and is the younger brother of Louie Krogman, the all time scoring leader in South Dakota.

Pool G features the top Playmakers squad that won the 16s last year.  The group has the core back with skilled 4 men Toby Hegner and Turner Botz.  Both are D1 talents.  That also includes Gopher target and the best closer I saw all year in Matt Thomas.  He didn't play in the event last year and the Playmakers still won it.  Triple Threat with additions from the old Ultimate Hoops squad (merged with Fury) looks to be a sleeper.  Matt Rachey, Jack Kozlowski and Wiley Ferron will all be big contributors.  Ethan Freer, Alex Chandler and Brett Ahsenmacher will also contribute.  Select Blue will feature Jack Harrison of Prior Lake.  Austin Huss and Tyler Bates are 2 others to watch there.

Last but not least is the top Fury squad of Ben Davis.  This is the rest of the old Ultimate Hoops group with some new names thrown in.  Grant Shaeffer runs the point, Dustin Fronk shoots it.  Bridge Tusler and Zach Lindquist are tough wing matchups.  Ben Oberfield, Jordan Burich and Carter Evans give them size  Danny Sullivan is a skilled 4 and DJ Pollard gives them another athlete.  Plenty of pieces for a quality 17U team.  Heat Reese featuring Isaiah Hanson and the Mike duo of Wales and Hudspeth from Tartan.  They also have the athletic animal Deshawn Jones up front.  Post Jeff Probert and guard Kyle Filzen highlight the WOTN squad in this pool.

The Picks:
Comets Elite and ECI, 43 Hoops and Fury Ouse, Select and Glory,  PNR and GetShook (very wide open for 2nd spot), Heat Ogorek and Comets Stock, NGS and SD Heat, Playmakers and Triple Threat, Fury Davis and Heat Reese

Top Half: Comets Elite over Glory, 43 Hoops over Get Shook, Select over ECI, PNR over Fury Ouse
Bottom Half: Triple Threat over Heat Ogorek, Net Gain over Heat Reese, Playmakers over Comets Stock, Fury Davis over SD Heat.

Comets Elite over 43 Hoops, PNR over Select, Net Gain over Triple Threat, Playmakers over Fury Davis (best quarterfinal by a mile, 12:40 PM Whitney Court 3)

Comets Elite over PNR thanks to depth, Playmakers over Net Gain, Playmakers def Comets to win the title.

2012 Class AAAA Championship

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


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

2012 Class AAA Championship

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

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

2012 Class AA Championship

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


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

2012 Class A Championship

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


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

2012 State Tourney Semis

Litchfield Dragon

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

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

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

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

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

2012 State Tourney Day 1

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

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

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

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

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

2012 Mr Basketball Finalists Announced

Here are the 5 finalists for the 2012 Mr Basketball Award

Siyani Chambers - Hopkins
Joey King - Eastview
Sanjay Lumpkin - BSM
Johnny Woodard - Duluth East
Isaiah Zierden - BSM

King and Chambers were absolute locks and you have to think that if one of their teams wins the state title that the Mr Basketball award will go that direction.  Lumpkin and Zierden might have been questionable after losing in the 6AAA final but they are 2 of the best prospects in the state and they were number one most of the season.  No problem with either one making it, both is a little more dicey but hard to argue against.  Most interesting case is Woodard.  He sat out until the Timberwolves Shooout and the Greyhounds needed a buzzer beater from halfcourt with him fouled out just to make state.  That said he's been dominant (see TWolves Shootout vs future Gopher Wally Ellenson) and had a huge impact on East when he returned.  Definitely was a name everybody thought would be in the discussions.  All of these are D1 level kids and that definitely appeared to be a major factor to the committee.

Kids going off to the NSIC and at small schools will feel snubbed by this list.  That includes Tyler Vaughan from Braham (MN-Moorhead) and Zach Huisken (Augustana) from SW MN Christian who have had their teams on top of the polls all year and have played very well.  Vaughan's 53 point game in the section final made him a lock on my list.  Mitch Weg (SMSU) had a great year for Worthington leading his team to a state over Michael Busack (Mankato) of Redwood Valley.   He never had the high recognition of the others.  I would have gone with 4 big school kids and 1 small school for balance.  That would have meant 1 of this group and then 2 from Woodard, Zierden and Lumpkin.

Lightning strikes 3 times

Prologue
Out to Burnsville for the 3AAAA final and the 3rd show by the Eastview Apple Valley circus.  I arrive at 5:30 and the line is already up the stairs, down the hall and 40 feet out the door.  It ends up twice as long later.  Thankfully I find the Presold line and jump right in before the concession stand gets out of hand.  Then its about 60% full when I enter 55 minutes before tip.  Sounds like 200+ (and probably much more than that) were turned away.  The building is cozy and with the amazing weather, the gym (especially up high in my seat) is an absolute sauna.  Might need another 24 oz Pepsi after using the 1st to wash down the cheese pizza.  Both bands in attendance and quality choices starting 45 minutes before intros.  Apple Valley pulls out a Queen classic Crazy Little Thing Called Love.  But the final Song of the Day for this season goes to the Eastview band.

Song of the Day
Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf

Game Time
The 1st half pace is very slow and you'd think that would favor Eastview.  But its Apple Valley that jumps out to an 8-2 lead behind a pair of Tyus Jones buckets and an assist for another.  8-2 Eagles at the 15:07 mark.  Joey King starts to get it going.  He finds Jordan Bulger for 2 on the high/low feed.  Then he counters a Tyus assist with a faceup jumper out of the post.  Apple Valley guards really annoyed the Eastview bigs early by digging inside and sagging but they got used to it.  13-8 Apple Valley at the 8:05 mark.  Bolger with 2 more and then King 6 straight Eastview points to put the Lightning ahead 16-15.  That's their 1st lead.  Dustin Fronk with a pullup jumper in the lane then he goes the other way on the break.  Ben Oberfeld sprints back and challenges that for a miss and then hustles the other way and King finds him running for a layup.  Impressive sequence there.  Its sends Eastview to the locker room ahead 21-18 at the half.  King with 13 of those points but didn't shoot it well.  Tyus with 7.

Quinn Trusty for 2, Oberfeld with the face up jumper in the post and Chris Narum for 3.  7-0 run for a 28-18 lead at the 16:31 mark.  Apple Valley takes a timeout to regroup.  They stay close and then Harry Sonie for 3, Tyus for 2 and then off a screen roll, Tyus to Dennis Austin who regroups and goes to the reverse at the 12:15 mark.  35-32 Eastview hanging on to the lead.  Tyus with a putback at the 10:30 mark to keep the lead at 38-34.  Then 8 in a row from the Lightning.  After a long possession, Oberfeld puts back a miss and then finds Bolger on the post give and go.  King drives for 2 and makes the tough shot.  Tyus with the rare turnovers and Oberfeld runs and Darin Haugh finds him for a layup with 5:48 left.  46-34 Eastview with the lead and it looks to be over.

Haugh with a drive and then find Bolger for another layup with 3:10 left.  51-39 Eastview leading.  Apple Valley won't go quietly.  Tyus with 2 free throws and Eastview misses a front end.  Harry Sonie with a 3 at the 2:20 mark to cut the lead to 9.  Then more missed Eastview free throws and Tyus gets fouled shooting a 3.  Might have kicked his legs out to draw it but he's crafty like that. He makes all 3 with 1:52 left to cut the lead to 6, 53-47.  Jump ball to Eastview, they drive and miss a layup with 1:30 left.  Tyus has a long 3 go all the way down and come out and Bolger converts it for a layup.  Surely it has to be over now. 

Not yet.  Dustin Fronk was cold all night but knocks down a 3 with 53 seconds left and the lead is 5.  Eastview turns it over and Fronk has a good look at 3 that's short.  Tyus misses a 3 with 28 seconds left.  Eastview misses another front end and Chris Laymon comes off the AV bench cold to knock down a 3 with 12.5 left. Holy cow we have a 2 point game.  Eastview has 2 timeouts but they get called for a quick 5 second call on the inbound.  Oh My!  Apple Valley has it back with a chance to tie or lead.  Tyus to the lane and into the trees.  There's some contact but no whistle and Joey King comes away with the miss with 5.5 seconds left.  He makes 2 free throws and that seals it.  Eastview wins 57-53.

Post Game
Apple Valley ends their season at 23-6. All 6 losses were to teams that will play at state next week (3 to Eastview, 2 to Lakeville North and 1 to Eden Prairie).  They lose only 1 senior and almost all of their firepower back with Tyus Jones, Dustin Fronk and Harry Sonie returning.  Expect them to be a top 5 team and favored to make state out of this section next year.  Tyus Jones leads the way with 20 points but thanks to cold shooting his assist number was kept down.  The pace of the game certainly helped slow him down too.  Harry Sonie with 3 3s for 9.  Dustin Fronk had a few good looks but only saw 1 3 go in.  He finished with 7 points.  One of those nights where the ball just doesn't want to go in.  Despite Eastview's struggles to close the game out, give the Eagles credit for making a comeback.  You can see the will to win in Tyus Jones.

Joey King leads Eastview with 20 points and I had him for 9 rebounds.  He struggled with his shot in the 1st half.  Ben Oberfeld 11 points and 18 rebounds.  Another case of Apple Valley's lack of size haunting them.  Jordan Bolger with the surprise of the night as he comes off the bench and scores 14 points.  Always that guy you don't expect in a big game that puts you over the top and Bolger was outstanding.  Eastview stayed mostly man but did show some triangle and 2 against Jones and Fronk.  Teams did that this year and watching Apple Valley next year should be interesting to see how much opponents go to it.  Eastview would be my 2 seed at the state tournament.  Lakeville North 1, Hopkins 3, Osseo 4 with Duluth East and Eden Prairie wanting that 4th spot but ending up as teams you don't want to draw.  I go with Lakeville North due to the win at Eastview in last meeting.  Hopkins without Stahl has to go behind Eastview due to Eastview's win over BSM and the Hopkins loss to BSM without Stahl.  Osseo definitely the best of the rest.

Rubber match for 4AAAA title

Prologue
Off to East Ridge for the section 4AAAA final between the top 2 teams in the Suburban East.  Roseville and Woodbury split their regular season meetings on each other's home court, 89-75 Royals at Roseville, and a 77-76 Roseville win at Woodbury.  A late change of plans sends me to this game and I just make it with 2 minutes to spare before tip.  Big line out the door but surprisingly empty in the upper decks while the lower decks were full.

Game Time
Renard Suggs another quality outing in this one for Woodbury.  He starts the game with a long 3.  Then a spin for 2 for the Woodbury lead.  Rickey Suggs ends 5 in a row for the Royals.  Then Renard goes the other way off a blocked shot for the dunk.  7-0 run for a 17-11 Woodbury lead at the 9:45 mark.  Jordan Burich in the middle has been in foul trouble in the 1st 2 meetings but he stays out of it tonight and a big first half.  He knocks down a jumper and scores on the block.  After a Renard Suggs 3, Burich converts a feed for a layup.  Tied at 20 at the 7:20 mark. Rickey Suggs with the drive and then a blocked shot for a Renard Suggs layup.  Mack Johnson with the runner and a bomb then Burich follows a miss with a 2 handed tip dunk.  The 7-0 run forces a Woodbury timeout at the 4:27 mark.  Mack Johnson with another 3 to end a 10-0 Raiders run.  Roseville leading 32-24 inside of 4.  Burich 2 late blocks and he was on the glass too in a very productive first half.  36-28 Roseville at halftime.  Renard Suggs and Mack Johnson cancel each other out with 2 3s and 3 buckets.  Burich with 10 points and 3-4 blocks.

A 10-2 spurt opens the biggest Roseville lead of the night.  Emeche Wells flying in for a putback and he drives for 2 more . Burich with a block on one end and ends up with a layup on the other.  46-32 Roseville with 12:47 to play and Woodbury talks it over.  These 3 meetings have been all about runs and this game was no different.  Woodbury gets a putback from Rickey Suggs.  Renard Suggs with a steal for a dunk and a BLOB layup.  Tack on another steal for 2.  48-41 Roseville at the 10:33 mark after the 9-2 run.  Rickey Suggs with another putback, very active on the boards in this one.  Tyler Graves off the Woodbury bench with a pair of 3s and a nice give and go for 2 from Connor McKeen.  Roseville lead is cut to 52-51 with 8:25 left.  20-5 Royals run in 4:20.  Woodbury would then miss 2 chances to take the lead.  Burich swatting away one of those chances.  Wells to Burich for a layup with 5:05 left and Roseville clinging to a 56-53 lead.  After a Woodbury free throw, McKeen with a great backcut for a layup while his defender ends up somewhere near the volleyball line.  56 all with 3:45 to play.  Renard Suggs with the reverse layup off the inbounds to tie the game at 58 with 3:05 left.  Renard gets it back but Burich swats him with 2:19 left.  Ryan Fritze makes 1 of 2 free throws with 2:09 left and Woodbury finally has the lead 59-58.

Renard Suggs with a steal for 2 free throws with 1:56 left.  Mack Johnson comes back with the 1 bounce straight away 3 that's nothing but net with 1:40 to play.  That ties the game at 61.    Woodbury with a quick bad shot and Roseville has it back.  The teams trade turnovers and Roseville rushes their shot when they get it back.  Woodbury has it back with 45 seconds to play and they hold for 1.  Renard Suggs gets the ball and it looks like 1-4 low.  But the play gets started late and it becomes a fading 3.  A second putback attempt is good but well after the buzzer and correctly waved off.  Tied at 61 as we'll play overtime.

Renard Suggs with a putback and gets out after a Roseville miss for a dunk.  65-61 Woodbury with 2:55 left.  Then a defensive gamble ends up with a pass to a wide open Mack Johnson who drains the 3.  Woodbury has a 3 go in and out and Wells drives and converts 2 free throws on the other end.  66-65 Raiders with 1:48 left in OT.  After a Woodbury free throw, Roseville has it back.  On the drive, up in the air but no shot twist and nobody there to receive the pass except an opponent.  Woodbury has it back as we go inside a minute tied at 66. Renard Suggs on the pick and roll finds McKeen going toward the rim.  McKeen makes the extra pass to a wide open Diallo Powell for a layup with 25 seconds left.  Roseville brings the ball to the front court and nothing develops.  They take timeout with 10.2 seconds left down by 2.  The set looks to be drawn up for Johnson as a misdirection (look like flex cut but come back high).  Roseville doesn't wait for him and it becomes a 1 on 1 force.  The shot is long, Woodbury grabs that and a berth in the state tournament.  68-66 Woodbury wins in overtime

Post Game
For Roseville, a tough loss considering they had a 14 point lead with 12:47 to play.  Mack Johnson leads with 4 3s and 22 points. Jordan Burich with 14 points and likely had a double digit rebounds and around 5 blocks.  He stayed out of foul trouble and was very productive.  Emeche Wells 10 points.  Roseville ends an outstanding season at 24-5.  4 of the 5 losses by a total of 11 points and 2 of those in overtime.  Emeche Wells and Collin Johnson are important losses but they have their backcourt returning as well as Burich so expect the Raiders to contend again next year in the Suburban East.

For Woodbury, Renard Suggs has another huge game vs Roseville.  This time he only makes 2 3s but lots to the rim has he goes for 28 points.  Rickey Suggs active on the glass with 12 points.  Tyler Graves with the 6 points on 2 3s during the big 20-5 run that got Woodbury back in the game when they were down 14.  Not a great shooting night for either team and that wasn't just because of shot selection.  Woodbury will most likely draw against a top 4 team.  That's a team with size like Osseo, Lakeville North or Eastview, which Woodbury doesn't have, or Hopkins who matches up well defensively.  None of those are good draws.

3AAA Top Seeds Move On

Prologue
Off to Blaine for the section 3AAA semifinals.  They're the only game in town and the coaches were out.  Augsburg, UW-River Falls, St. John's, St. Thomas, Crookston, Bemidji St, Dakota County, Rochester Community and Tech College just some of the colleges in the building.  No food at the building as I had Burger King on the way and no I didn't wear the crown afterwards.  Don't laugh.  You all wanted the Burger King cardboard crown as kids too, you know you did.  Hot dogs looked pretty good though.   Respectable crowd on hand and great props to the Blaine crowd control for putting students in their own area and helping fans (e.g me) not get stuck behind them.  Rare to have crowd control at a game and have it do its job well.  Also the usual outstanding performance from the St. Anthony pep band.

Game 1: #1 Spring Lake Park vs #4 Totino-Grace
Game of contrasts here with the small and frenetic Panthers taking on the slow paced Eagles and their big man Nick Carr.  Jordan Thimmesch-Slepica with 3 bombs.  Sean Scott adds 2 more bombs and a takes a steal for a dunk.  23-13 Spring Lake Park at the 8:30 mark.  The full court man pressure from Spring Lake Park really bothering Totino-Grace and they're turning it over.  Scott knocks down 2 free throws and another 3 after a pair of turnovers.  That 3 pushes the lead to 40-20 at the 4:12 mark.  45-29 Spring Lake Park at half.  Nick Carr with 13 in the half for Totino-Grace. Scott 15 for Spring Lake Park.

The Panthers shot selection in the 2nd half allows the Eagles to get back in the game.  Carr 2 inside buckets, a kick to Sam Meyer for 3 and a post bucket on the side out of bounds.  Meyer adds another 3 and Spring Lake Park needs a timeout.  47-41 Spring Lake Park with 13:25 to play.  21-7 Eagles run in less than 8 minutes.  Thimmesch-Slepica a putback and his 4th 3 of the night and its back to double digits.  But he commits his 4th foul moments later and sits with 11:01 to play.  Carr with the lefty finish for 2 and an assist on an Andy Moritko layup.  57-50 Panthers with 9:35 left.  Robert Ben with back to back layups on the same inbounds play underneath as the lead grows back to 13.  Carr on the block and Meyer to the fadeaway and its back down to 9 with 5:38 to play, 63-54.  Scott with a tip for 2 and Thimmesch-Slepica back in with a steal for 2 as Spring Lake Park puts it away.  73-56 Spring Lake Park wins despite a very ugly second half.  Sean Scott 19 points to lead the Panthers.  Jordan Thimmesch-Slepica 14 points and was the glue guy.  Nick Carr was a handful inside with 25 points.  Sam Meyer got loose for 4 3s and 23 points.  The Eagles did try some triangle and 2 on Scott and Bryce Williams in a strategy that made sense but Slepica was big early.

Game 2: #2 De La Salle vs #3 St. Anthony
St. Anthony really focused on Reid Travis and Luke Scott in this one.  They used triangle and 2 with both in the game and diamond and 1 with only 1 of them in the game.  Throw in some 2-3 zone to boot.  Huskies star Anthony Brama starting strong with a drive for 2 and a layup.  Timeout DLS at the 11:31 mark with St. Anthony leading 11-8.  He scores 12 of the 1st 15 for St. Anthony before DLS slows him down.  After a couple of early buckets Jarvis Johnson adds 2 more buckets as DLS opens the lead to 27-21 at the 4 minute mark.  Then Johnson with back to back 3s from in front of the Huskies and Spike Lee must be on the Huskies bench as Johnson has some words.  33-23 Islanders at the 2 minute mark.  33-25 Islanders at the half.  Brama and Johnson with 14 each.

The second half has Reid Travis take control.  His back to back buckets push the lead to 41-28 at the 15:15 mark.  After a Huskies timeout, he catches on the right block and goes to the Hakeem Olajuwon baseline spin (always a travel) for the dunk.  He adds a layup and the lead is 17.  Travis on the offensive glass for 2 more and his backup James Lawson with a tip for 2.  49-31 with 12:15 left.  That ends a 16-4 run.  Then some deja vu as Brama would make 3 triples to keep it respectable (like the 1st meeting).  But the lead is never less than 14 again.  De La Salle wins 73-54.  Reid Travis 26 points and 9 rebounds.  18 of those points in the 2nd half.  Jarvis Johnson 14 of his 16 in the 1st half.  Luke Scott 3 more bombs and 15 points. Anthony Brama finishes his career with 29 points.

2012 Section 5AAAA Semifinals

Prologue
Its off to Rogers and the theater seating for the 5AAAA section finals.  Its a pair of defending section champs in game 1 and an upstart with a star looking for another upset in game 2.  Mediocre hot dog as the pizza wasn't ready yet.  I had to resist the temptation to have the mini donuts.   Quality music on the public address and from the Cooper pep band.  Nothing like 50 Cent for the introductions.  Find me in the gym.

Game 1: #1 Osseo vs #4 Maple Grove
The first half was all about Bridge Tusler of Osseo.  He drives for back to back buckets for a 9-6 Orioles lead.  Then Tusler for 3 after Maple Grove reclaimed the lead on a Bryce Wojta 3 at the 9:35 mark.  Tusler drives and finishes on the left side with left hand.  Lets add 2 more on the block..  23-19 Osseo at the 4:28 mark and Tusler has 15 of those 23.  Soph star post Ian Theisen with a pair of free throws on a post up and another post bucket to push the lead to 9 inside a minute to play in the half.  Jake Weineke drives for 2 and Grant Kaufman knocks down a 3 to cut the Osseo lead to 31-27 at the half.  Tusler with 17 points.

Maple Grove would cut the lead to 2 before a pair of Tusler buckets started an 8-0 run.  41-31 Osseo with 15:20 to play.  Pick and roll for Theisen to convert on the reverse layup and he blocks a shot that leads to a Tusler bucket.  DJ Hebert drains a 3 and the total run is 17-5.  50-36 Osseo with 12:35 to play.  Maple Grove would cut the lead to 8 with 5:40 remaining.  Wojta with a nice cut for a layup and reserve post Erik Olson with a putback to end that run.  But Maple Grove would not threaten from there.  Orioles move on to the section final with a 67-59 win.  Bridge Tusler leads all scorers with 29 points.  No answer for his strength and getting to the rim.  Ian Theisen 15 points and 8 boards going up against the big body of Bemidji State recruit Dan Lochner.  Jake Weineke leads Maple Grove with 14.

Game 2: #3 Champlin Park vs #7 Robbinsdale Cooper
Cooper looks in great shape early as Rashad Vaughn scores on a turnover and a jumper.  10-2 Hawks at the 14:14 mark (10-0 run after giving up opening bucket).  Vaughn to new starting center Curtis Shelby for 2 and then Vaughn scores after an Eric Brown steal and leaks out on a loose ball for a dunk.  16-9 Hawks at the 11:25 mark and Vaughn has 8.  Shelby and Vaughn with another basket each as the lead grows to 22-11 at the 8:25 mark.  Champlin Park makes a comeback behind back center Brennan Witt, a sophomore. He scores 8 points in the next 5 minutes as the Rebels cut the lead to 4.  Vaughn and Shelby with buckets again.  Cooper stretches the lead back to 7, 29-22 at halftime.

Trevor Garrison again had the task of trying to slow Vaughn down but he scores 6 quick points to start the half.  Cooper's lead cut to 31-30 with 15:18 to play.  Vaughn's pair of free throws with 12:18 left pushes the lead back to 5, 37-32.  Witt and Garrison add buckets and with Vaughn changing jerseys on the bench (blood), Anthony Hill goes to the headfake and nails the jumper in the lane for a 38-37 Champlin Park lead.  That's their 1st lead since the opening basket.  Vaughn returns at the 9:50 mark but Cooper has 6 guys on the floor.  That's a technical with the Hawks clinging to a 39-38 lead.  It would be their last lead.  The Rebels miss both free throws but Hill converts on the possession and then buries a 3.  Champlin Park misses back to back front ends but Cooper can't score.  Witt comes back and gets the switch on the cross screen.  The high-low feed nets him 2 free throws with 5:12 left.  45-39 Champlin Park with the lead after a 13-2 run in 7 minutes.  Witt with a nice block on Vaughn and the crowd thought he got Vaughn again but Vaughn makes 2 free throws on the foul.  2:50 left and the Rebels lead 45-41.  Rebels hold and make 1 free throw.  The Hawks miss a front end.  By the time Vaughn makes his first field goal of the half at the 1:07 mark its nothing more than a foul shooting contest.  Champlin Park wins 56-48 and will face Osseo for the section title on Friday.  The Rebels hold Cooper to 12 points in the first 16:53 of the half.  Anthony Hill leads Champlin Park with 18 points.  Soph Brennan Witt played very well inside and got the 2nd half start for his play.  He finishes with 14 points. Rashad Vaughn leads Cooper with 21 points and 8 rebounds but he was held down in the 2nd half.  5 of his points were in the last 1:07 after the outcome was fairly certain.  Nice to see Curtis Shelby rewarded with the start tonight after his solid performance off the bench in the win over Park Center.

2012 MBCA All-Star Series Rosters

Here are the rosters for the 2012 MBCA All-Star Series.  Games are March 30th and 31st at St. Cloud State and Macalester.

Gold
Head Coach - Dan Elhard (Grand Rapids)
Joe Burt - St. Cloud Cathedral
Latrell Love - Minnetonka
Sanjay Lumpkin - Benilde-St. Margaret's
Nate Meyer - ROCORI
Austin Pohlen - Grand Rapids
Michael Schreiber - Rogers
Carnell Sheppard - Minneapolis South
Brady Wohler - Orono
Johnny Woodard - Duluth East
Casey Bruggeman - Pelican Rapids

Maroon
Head Coach - Bob Schueller (Browerville)
Dwight Anderson - Minneapolis Washburn
Joey Bartlett - St. Peter
Kyle Baumann - United South Central
Mike Busack - Redwood Valley
Siyani Chambers - Hopkins
Joey King - Eastview
Drew Osmundson - Owatonna
Ryan Saarela - Lakeville North
Sean Scott - Spring Lake Park
Emeche Wells - Roseville

Green
Head Coach - Joe Hyser (Minneapolis South)
Anthony Brama - St. Anthony
Tyler Flack - Lakeville North
Isaiah Gray - Benilde-St. Margaret's
Zach Huisken - Southwest Minnesota Christian
Nate Kratch -Watertown-Mayer
Marcus Marshall - St. Paul Johnson
CJ Neumann - Cretin-Derham Hall
Justin Pahl - East Ridge
Taylor Stafford - Duluth East
Marcus Tyus - Anoka

Blue
Head Coach - Ron Vorwald (Worthington)
Shawn Bear - Richfield
Connor Goodwin - Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
Charles Smith - Minneapolis Washburn
Rickey Suggs - Woodbury
Cortez Tillman - Cretin-Derham Hall
Damien Reinke - Becker
Tyler Vaughan - Braham
Mitch Weg - Worthington
Brody Ziegler - Mankato East
Anthony Hill - Champlin Park

Just think about the possible dunk contest entrants.  Scott, Flack, Stahl, Suggs, Busack, Wells and Woodard all can fly.  Expect some fireworks there.

As to the 3 point contest, no shortage there either.  Zierden, Vaughan, Bear, Marshall, Tyus, Pahl, Pohlen, Anderson, Burt, Wohler etc is a big list to pick from

2012 Section Semi Saturday

Prologue
I continue my extremes of the metro tour with a pair of section semifinals.  Nothing like 4 games in 2 locations with big stakes.  Quality pizza at Burnsville and Chaska.  The 24 oz Pepsi at Burnsville always a must have too.  Nice work in the Prior Lake student section with the retro blue Denver Nuggets jersey.  That's a quality Alex English jersey.  Very good crowd at Burnsville and next Friday there should be an absolute zoo.

Game 1: #1 Eden Prairie vs #4 Bloomington Kennedy #2AAAA Semifinal #1
Grant Schaeffer for 3, an assist to Andre Wallace for 3 and Schaeffer for 3 again.  16-4 EP at the 12:34 mark and Kennedy needs their 2nd timeout.  They settle down and cut the lead down to 5 thanks to a 6-0 run with 4 points from junior Jumah'ri Turner.  20-15 EP at the 6:06 mark.  Soph CJ Lewis with a 3 to cut the lead to 27-23.  Then center Jordan Peterson with the hustle save for a Wallace floater.  Peterson adds a 3 point play to end the half.  34-26 EP at the break.  Turner hits a 3 for the 1st Kennedy bucket of the 2nd half to cut the lead to 7 but Kennedy would get no closer. Center Jacob Kohner with a pair of buckets in a 6-0 run that cuts the EP lead to 61-53 with 7:10 left.  Kennedy would only get 1 more basket the rest of the way.  EP moves on 74-57.  Sander Mohn with 22 points, 12 in the 1st half.  Soph Andre Wallace with 18, junior PG Grant Schaeffer with 16.  Jumah'ri Turner 14 to lead Kennedy.

Game 2: #2 Chanhassen vs #3 Prior Lake
This one was tight the entire way.  Biggest 1st half lead was 4 points by Chanhassen.  Star soph PG Jon Sobaski would erase that quickly for Prior Lake with a burst to the rack for 2, a steal for 2 more and 2 free throws on another turnover.  Carson Shanks sits the last 9:01 with 2 fouls but Prior Lake has Jack Kaiser.  Kaiser goes back and forth with Storm star Kevin Jensen in the last 3 minutes.  Kaiser scores 6, Jensen 8 in that stretch with a pair of 3s.  32-31 Chanhassen at the half. 

Shanks picks up a quick 3rd foul on a double foul fighting inside (I always hate the double foul call as there's usually a personal long before that point, thank you John Lithgow for that call).  Shanks goes back to the bench for the next 6 minutes.  38-34 Chanhassen at the 14:51 mark before a Prior Lake run.  Noah Scanlon for 3, set play for a Evan Kotchevar 3, Sobaski for 3 and a steal for 2 more to end an 11-2 Lakers run.  45-40 Prior Lake with 11:45 to play.  Chanhassen counters with 8 straight as Cole Otto drains a 3 to end the run and break a 45 all tie.  Shanks back in the game and he immediately goes to work with 6 Lakers points in a row from the left block.  53-51 Chanhassen with 6:40 left.  Jensen on the post with a pair of Chanhassen buckets as the Storm go ahead 59-53 with 4:35 left.  The Storm have a couple of rough possessions and the Lakers come back.  Kotchevar with a pair of free throws and another rendition of the same set play finds Kotchevar for another bomb just inside 3 to play.  Tie game at 59.  He then goes back door and is fouled for 1 of 2 free throws.  That was after the teams traded turnovers.  60-59 Lakers with 1:29 left.  Storm point guard Brandon Arnold drives for 2 and then steals the inbounds.  After a timeout, Prior Lake goes to a trap and forces a turnover with 1:05 left.  Prior Lake misses a couple of chances and they have to foul freshman Joey Witthus with 24.6 left.  He drains both.  Kotchevar gets loose for another 3 (same set) and we're tied at 63 with 8.8 to go.  Arnold gets down the lane and can't get the layup to drop in the last 3 seconds and we'll go to overtime.

Jared Lea with a steal and basket with 1:20 left in the overtime for a 67-65 Chanhassen lead.  Shanks gets the ball on the left block but its low and under the basket and it ends up in a turnover with 46.1 to play.  Jensen makes 2 free throws with 26.9 left and then Witthus is pure with 2 at the 13.9 mark to seal it.  Chanhassen moves on to play Eden Prairie next Friday with the 71-67 win.  Kevin Jensen 18 and 9, Witthus with 12.  Evan Kotchevar 5 3s and 20 points to lead Prior Lake.  Jon Sobaski 19, Carson Shanks 10.

Game 3: #1 Eastview vs #4 Eagan
Joey King with the 1st 5 for Eastview.  Lightning point guard was outstanding in this one.  He knocks down 3 straight 3s.  Eagan guard Nick Sabatke counters that with 2 of his own.  That keeps Eagan within 17-15 at the 9:35 mark.  King with a pair of buckets to sandwich another Haugh triple (4th of half).  The Eastview lead opens up to 24-15 at the 5:45 mark.  That's a 13-3 Eastview run as Eagan once led 12-11 after the 1st Sabatke 3.  Haugh nails another 3 and beats the halftime buzzer.  31-24 Eastview at half.

The Eastview defense dominates the second half.  The Lightning go on a 15-2 run over the 1st 9 minutes of the half.  Joey King highlighting that with a lefty bullet touch pass to Jordan Bolger for a layup. Bolger would get another layup off a Haugh steal as he was all over the place pressuring the ball.  46-26 Lightning at the 9:15 mark.  Haugh splits a trap and finds Quinn Trusty for a layup.  Great look.  Eastview rolls from there to a 62-43 win.  Darin Haugh 6 3s and 21 points (17 1st half) in another marvelous performance.  Joey King with 20 but was fairly quiet.  Nick Sabatke led Eagan with 16 points.  Shea Mandli had foul trouble all game and was held to 6 points by the big Eastview front line.

Game 4: #2 Apple Valley vs #3 Cretin-Derham Hall
Cretin-Derham Hall would knock down 2 3s to start the game with a 6-2 lead.  Apple Valley would counter wtih a 14-1 run.  Tyus Jones giving the ball up early and Dustin Fronk was one of the beneficiaries.  He knocks down 2 3s and scores 10 points in that run.  16-7 Eagles at the 12:12 mark.  Fronk with another 3 to stretch the lead to 22-12 at the 10:53 mark.  CDH would cut the lead to 2 thanks to back to back triples from frosh Sam Neumann and point guard Cortez Tillman.  26-24 Apple Valley just inside the 6 minute mark.  Tyus with the pullup and then a crazy good bounce pass to Mitch Hechsel running down the middle for 2 more.  Tyus for 2 more and splits the defense (ooh) for another bucket.  Fronk ends the scoring in the half with another 3.  41-33 Apple Valley at half.

CDH comes out pounding the ball inside with their height advantage (something they could have done much more of).  CJ Neumann starts it on the 1st possession with a set postup, Luke Hamel adds a pair of buckets inside.  Tillman knocks down a pair of 3s.  That allows CDH to pull within 1, 46-45, with 15:42 to play after the 12-5 start.  CJ Neumann with a tip in and a nice cut that he converts for 2.  That ties the game at 51 with 14:20 to play.   Tyus with a steal for 2 and he leans in for another bucket and gets the foul call.  That easily could have been a charge or no call.  It a 9-0 run in under 2 minutes.  60-51 Apple Valley in the lead with 12:33 left.  The CDH bench pulls the Raiders back in it.  Frosh Jashon Cornell with a putback and Teddy Chapman for 3.  62-57 Apple Valley with 10:39 left and Apple Valley takes timeout.  Hechsel with a jumper after a CDH T and then a putback for 3.  Bang just like that the lead is back to 11, 68-57 with 8:29 left.  He adds another bucket before a Taylor Montero 3.  72-65 Eagles with 5:25 left.  Then Tyus draws a cheap foul and buries 2 free throws.  After a CDH miss, he throws a full court pass on the money which is kicked out for a Fronk 3.  77-65 Apple Valley with the lead and CDH needs a timeout with 4:12 left.  The senior Montero not going out without a fight.  He knocks down a 3, then a jumper and another pullup jumper after an Eagles turnover.  78-73 Eagles with 2:21 left.  CDH gets no closer as Tyus drives for 2 and drains 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch.  Apple Valley moves on to play Eastview on Friday with the 87-76 win.  Tyus Jones ends up with 33 points and 8-10 assists.  He was 13-15 from the foul line, all in the 2nd half.  Dustin Fronk a huge night with 29 points and 6 3s.  18 of those points in the 1st half.  Taylor Montero leads CDH with 21 points.  Cortez Tillman 5 3s and 17 points.  CJ Neumann 15 points but I was surprised he was utilized more inside against the undersized Apple Valley front line.

Stat of the Night:  Apple Valley shoots 23-26 from 2 point range.