Twin Cities Boys Hoops

Border battle, blowout and a youngster

Prologue
A fun Saturday running between a pair of games in St. Paul and then off to St. Anthony for the night session. Biggest crowd I've ever seen at CDH as well. A pair of close games at Highland Park and St. Anthony add on to the day. Great work by the CDH band with plenty of pop hits on the set list including Lady Gaga, Taio Cruz and ...

Song of the Day
Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 1172 ounces (101 games, 80 days)

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

Game 1: River Falls (WI) at Highland Park
With the big game at CDH following, this was an easy choice to sneak in an early game. The 1st 21 points between the teams come on 6 3s and 3 free throws. Then a 3 point play. 1st 2 point "play" comes 5:45 into the game. The Highland Park pressure defense allows them to open a double figure lead thanks to forced turnovers. River Falls cuts that to 36-30 at half with the last 5. River Falls tries to pull out a 1-3-1 midway through the half down 7, Highland holds and River Falls goes trap out of it. That gets the ball moving and speeds things up. Luke Murphy keeps River Falls close and a pair of late 3s (we'll draw one up later) cut the lead to 3 with 16 seconds left. But Highland Park finishes it off to win 66-61. Isaiah Brower 27 points with 6 3s and a pair of late free throws to seal it. MN Heat alum and UW-Whitewater recruit Luke Murphy 25 points to lead River Falls. Highland's athleticism bothered him inside but his physical play was effective.

Game 2: #2AAA De La Salle at #7AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall
This one got out of hand immediately. Reid Travis jumper, lob for a dunk vs the CDH 1-3-1 and a power finish on a turnover. 9-0 DLS just over 3 minutes in. Donnell Gresham finally gets CDH on the board with a lane jumper. James Lawson for 3, Travis for a 3 point play and he runs for 2 more on a turnover, then he scores inside. Geno Crandall with a triple, Travis inside again. Crandall another 3 on a poorly defended and well-known BLOB. Then Crandall hangs and takes the hit for a 3 point play. 36-3 De La Salle leads at the 6:06 mark. Last 9 minutes are running time. De La Salle goes on to an emphatic 70-48 win. Reid Travis dominant with 25 points and 14 boards on my sheet. Geno Crandall adds 15. Joe Rosga leads CDH with 16, Donnell Gresham with 12. Sam Neumann held to 1 FG and 6 points. DLS able to switch screens and they were real physical getting after sets which totally took him out of the game.

Game 3: Cristo Rey at St. Anthony
My 1st chance to watch Cristo Rey star frosh Jericho Sims (he missed the Legacy game that I saw earlier in the season). He goes to the spin move and finishes with his off hand to tie the game at 17 at the 8:22 mark. St. Anthony uses an 11-0 run to break open a tie game in the 1st half. Ben Peterson with a pair of buckets during that run. 35-28 St. Anthony at the half. Jeffrey Hudson with a bucket, a 3 and another hoop in a 12-2 Cristo Rey run. 42-40 St. Anthony at the 12:56 mark. The Huskies respond with a 12-4 spurt of their own. Noah Bluth concludes that run with a dagger 3. 54-44 St. Anthony with 10:28 left. The Pumas not going away. Sims with a floater, Hudson scores and then Sims with a crazy tough baseline jumper and Hudson again. 56-52 St. Anthony with 8 minutes left. Hudson with a bucket with 4:38 left to cut the lead to 60-57. St. Anthony gets 4 from Talbot Kraus in an 8-0 run (including a 3 point play). Noah Bluth with other 4 including a nice curl for a layup to end the run. That puts the game into double digits and out of reach. St. Anthony wins 73-66. Noah Bluth leads St. Anthony with 23 points. Ben Peterson with a nice outing of 15 points. Jeffrey Hudson with 27 to lead Cristo Rey. Jericho Sims with 12 points but showed plenty of flashes of significant upside. His brother Isaiah is a talented junior who is now at Prior Lake after playing at De La Salle.

Royals stay hot

Prologue
Off to Hopkins for a Lake Conference showdown between the #2 ranked Royals and #5 ranked Eden Prairie. The pricey but quality walking taco on the menu as usual. Add 20 oz of battery acid (Coke) to the beverage tally. Solid Friday night crowd with the entire Hopkins travel program recognized before the game. Coaches for Cancer night raises $537. Always a quality use of the Czar's vast wealth. One of the great moments in student section history from the EP students serenading Amir Coffey's free throws early in the 2nd half with today's modern tune.

Song of the Day
Timber - Pitbull featuring Ke$ha

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 1128 ounces (98 games, 79 days)

12 oz 7 Up
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer
68 oz Sprite
60 oz Dr Pepper
140 oz Red Powerade
160 oz Red Gatorade
184 oz Coke
464 oz Pepsi

Game Time
Alex Ihrke with an early bomb for a 9-3 EP lead. Hopkins right back with a 14-0 run thanks to 7 from Jake Wright. Treyvon Edwards for 3, Kamali Chambers with both ends of the bonus and the run is 21-5. 24-14 Hopkins midway through the half. Aaron Workin with a pair of inside hoops to keep Eden Prairie within stricking distance. Stephon Sharp a steal for a dunk, John Warren cuts for a dunk and the lead is up to 15. Wright with a pair of late 3s to expand the lead to 18. 48-34 Hopkins at the half as Mark Gasner beats the buzzer off a Hopkins turnover.

Grantham Gillard ice cold in the 1st half but buries a pair of early 3s and a Workin tip cuts the lead to 11 early in the half. Wright a pair of layups and a Warren putbacks push the lead right back to 19. The fastest trigger in the state racks up a couple of delay of game calls and its a technical on Hopkins with 11:53 left. Gillard can't convert the free throws and its 63-48 Hopkins. Warren buries a 3 and the lead is back to 18. But here comes Eden Prairie. Ihrke with a 3 point play, Andre Wallace a jumper and both ends of the bonus. Blake Cashman adds a layup to cut the lead to 11 and Hopkins wants a timeout with 9:20 left.

Hopkins comes out of that timeout with the 2-3 zone that was effective in the 1st half (very Syracuse like with their length in the back and they trap short corner like Syracuse). But Wallace gets in the middle of it and nails the pull up jumper and then a deep 3. Gillard and Cashman add buckets and the Hopkins lead is down to 73-68 with 6:30 to play as another Hopkins timeout didn't help. The run ends up at 13-3. Chambers steps up with a drive for 2, both ends of the bonus and then drives for 2 more free throws as Hopkins stretches the lead back to double figures. No more danger. Hopkins wins 85-73.

Post Game
Andre Wallace leads Eden Prairie with 23 points and 8 rebounds on my sheet. A solid but not spectacular outing. Grantham Gillard with another game where I see a quiet 1st half and then a burst in the 2nd. He finishes with 10 but was ice cold with his shooting. Blake Cashman adds 10 off the bench. The Eagles were aggressive early going at the rim but the Hopkins length swatted those attacks away for the most part. Eden Prairie with 2 losses to Hopkins and a 1 point loss to Waconia for a 13-3 run since a 2-2 start. Eden Prairie now 3-2 in the conference and 15-5 overall. They are in a tight battle with Armstrong and Minnetonka for that 2nd seed in ultra tough section 6AAAA. Armstrong's huge loss to Minnetonka could knock them to the 4 seed though. Eden Prairie in a stretch where they'll play 6 of their last 7 on the road. They are at Edina, Andover and Eagan next week. Then a home makeup game with Anoka before finishing at Wayzata and Minnetonka.

Hopkins has now won 15 in a row to go to 20-1 overall. They keep the outright lead in the Lake Conference at 5-0. They have a trap game tomorrow night at Benilde-St. Margaret's before visiting Osseo in a huge game on Tuesday. Great balance from the offense with 5 players in double figures. Jake Wright 15 of his 19 in the 1st half with 3 triples. Kamali Chambers 15, Stephon Sharp and Noble Fahnbulleh with 14 and John Warren adds 11. Best offense I've seen this season from Hopkins. They moved much better and got great looks with their cuts. Amir Coffey may have been the only starter not in double figures (6 points), but his passing is a pleasure to watch. Very interesting to see the 2-3 zone come out of the wood work. Wasn't as effective in the 2nd half but worked out well in the 1st half. Helps when Eden Prairie couldn't buy a shot.

Some love for the little guy

A rare metro occurrence takes me off the beaten path to a new gym tonight. Its FAIR at Hope Academy in a matchup of small city schools. FAIR's only win of the season from what we see online is against Hope a month ago. A nice tiny little gym tucked in on the north side of the building makes it a bear to find but I had sources who made it far easier. A table for simple concessions and no programs but I came prepared with the MSHSL printout which still had some omissions. Varsity only so I'm limited to 12 oz of Sprite.

Game Time
FAIR gets after it with pressure man to man and quickly opens up a 10-0 lead. Frosh Nate Elifson hammers one home to stop that run. FAIR backs off and goes 2-3 zone. Then Keith Washington on the break with the nasty dunk for a 20-7 FAIR lead at the 11:24 mark. Washington 4 in a row then after a Hope bucket, 8th grader Sy Chatman goes for 8 points in a row including the always difficult 0123 on The Czar's stat sheet (that's miss 1st FT, make 2nd, score a bucket and then knock down a 3). Fellow 8th grader Markel Aline with good production at the point (had me thinking Jordan Taylor). Washington takes another turnover for a dunk late in the half. 42-20 FAIR at half.

The lead expands to 47-22 early in the half and this game should have running time written all over it. But FAIR gets sloppy and Darrius Ross carries the Hope Academy offense in the half. He makes a pair of 3s around a horrible intentional foul call against Hope Academy that doesn't really hurt them. 52-43 FAIR with 8:43 left. Then Ross to the reverse and another bomb and the lead is down to 6. 57-51 FAIR with 6:20 left and all of a sudden we have a game. A steal for a possible 3 point play gives Hope a chance to cut the lead to 5 with 1:43 but the free throw is no good. Hope won't get any closer. A banked in 3 by Hope cuts the final margin to 70-62 FAIR.

No full stat line tonight as I didn't entirely keep up. But Darrius Ross with a big second half leads Hope Academy with around 20 points. Keith Washington with 18 on my sheet for FAIR and that should be pretty close.

Sloppy Orioles take over 2nd in NW Suburban

Prologue
Czar walks in the gym, he says, "Why I am large in the middle now, why am I large in the middle now?", oh my life is so hard. I need Dominos pizza, I needs some Red Gatorade. Gotta meet that calorie count before I end in the graveyard. Osseo, Armstrong, powers playing at night. The trip is far away but thru a well-lit door. Mr Pepsi Belly, Pepsi belly get this stuff away from me, I don't find this parody amusing anymore.

Song of the Day
You can call me Al - Paul Simon

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 1096 ounces (96 games, 77 days)

12 oz 7 Up
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer
56 oz Sprite
60 oz Dr Pepper
140 oz Red Powerade
160 oz Red Gatorade
164 oz Coke
464 oz Pepsi

Game Time
The (much slimmer) Nutty Professor working tonight. Armstrong without forward Sean Burns and guard Jerome Dixon who sat out with injuries. Osseo still without Ian Theisen. Armstrong very sloppy to start and they give up the 1st 6 in 1:07. Greg Miller chews his guys and they put on the 2-2-1. As I wrote previously, Osseo had issues with it and this time it generates an 11-0 Armstrong run. Baker 1 bounce and knock down the jumper to break the run. Ryan Casperson with a 3 point play and Armstrong leads 25-20 at 4:54. Osseo counters with a 13-4 run. Giovanni Pastrano with more great bench minutes starts the run with a layup. Soph Allen Anderson for 3, Pastrano putback, Baker and Jordan Dembley with buckets. 35-31 Osseo at half.

Start of the 2nd half is ugly too with no field goals for the first 3:35. Armstrong's first FG of the half is another Casperson 3 point play with 13:41 left to tie the game at 37. 41-39 Osseo when Armstrong goes 1-3-1 (JVs were really long with it in their game). Dembley cuts inside against it for a 3 point play, Pastrano with a backside layup when the wing doesn't drop and a BLOB lob to Baker. After a pair of Evan Nolan free throws, Pastrano with another putback and a tough 2 from Dembley. 13-4 run for Osseo and Armstrong needs a timeout. 7:57 left 55-43 Osseo leading. Evan Nolan for 3 and a pair of Tre Tate free throws after grabbing a miss. 58-52 Osseo before Dembley counters with a floater. 3 straight Armstrong turnovers hinder their chances. But Osseo gives one up for a Melvin Newbern layup. Baker cuts for a layup. Nolan drives for 2 and Dembley immediately counters in the lane for 2 more. Then Dembley quickly counters another Armstrong bucket. So much for holding the ball. Nolan misses a 3 and Dembley makes both ends of the bonus. Osseo wins 68-61.

Post Game
#10AAAA Armstrong falls to 14-5 overall, 10-3 in the NW Suburban. That still keeps them in 3rd, 2 games ahead of Elk River. Evan Nolan with 18 points and did more work inside than you would normally see. Soph Melvin Newbern with the start and was productive with 14 points including 8-10 FTs. Nice work from Armstrong using a 2-2-1 press and some 1-2-2 to try and hassle the Osseo guards. Early on it was effective.

#3AAAA Osseo wins their 11th straight game since the loss at Armstrong. They improve to 17-3 and take over 2nd place in the NW Suburban at 13-2. They stay 1 game behind Champlin Park. Jordan Dembley with 17 of his 21 points in the 2nd half and all of them in the lane. Wheeler Baker held to 18 after having 41 in the 1st meeting. Giovanni Pastrano 8 points off the Osseo bench. It wasn't pretty but it was a win.

Breck wins conference rivalry showdown

Prologue
Its a very light night on the metro schedule due to caucuses. But we do get a handful of private school matchups on the docket. For me, its the west metro rivalry between Blake and Breck. These teams tied for 2nd in the Tri-Metro at 5-2. No John Veil for Blake as he injured an elbow in their win over SPA last Friday. Quality Papa John's sausage pizza with 20 oz of Sprite for tonight's concessions. A table gives way (not with me on it) so Blake head coach Sean Kruger chips into rearrange things. Nice music on the public address but an old school reference from earlier in my day provides our tune.

Song of the Day
Maniac - Michael Sembello (from the movie Flashdance)

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 1076 ounces (95 games, 76 days)

12 oz 7 Up
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer
56 oz Sprite
60 oz Dr Pepper
140 oz Red Powerade
140 oz Red Gatorade
164 oz Coke
464 oz Pepsi

Game Time
Johnny Curran with a bucket and a pair of free throws. 8th grader Jack Moe off the bench with instant offense for 3. Those buckets give Blake a 16-10 lead at 10:45. Breck would counter with Will Culliton knocking down a pair of 3s around a Mo Lawal bomb for a 9-0 run and 22-19 Breck lead. Curran stops that run with another 3. Graydon Kulick drives for 2, then a chance a 3 point play and he puts back a miss for Breck to push their lead to 6. Curran to the bucket for 2 more. Lawal with back to back buckets and a late 4 point play by Culliton stretch the Breck lead to 38-31 at half.

Charlie Levitt for 3 to cut the Breck lead to 4 just over 2 minutes into the second half. Culliton with a jumper and he adds a 3 and then 1 of 2 free throws to stretch the Mustangs lead to 50-40. Moe off the bench with another quick 3 and Curran with 2 free throws to cut the lead to 5. Breck would extend the lead back to double figures. Henry Cousineau for 3, Mo Lawal scores and Culliton fouled by Moe out of the Blake matchup zone for 2 of 3 free throws. 57-45 Breck with 6:27 to play. Blake almost makes it interesting late. Bascom with 2 free throws to cut the lead to 6 and then a dicey travel call on a reverse layup with 1:27 keeps the lead from going to 4. Curran misses an open look at a 3 but Bascom gets away with a pushoff on an offensive board. He puts that back with 1:08 left to cut the lead to 4. But 3 turnovers in the last minute keep Blake from making it closer. Breck wins 67-60.

Post Game
Blake falls to 10-10 on the season and 5-3 in the Tri-Metro. They hold the tiebreaker on Minnehaha (who took it to Concordia tonight) for 3rd. Johnny Curran with 13 of his 15 in the 1st half. JR Bascom finishes with 14. Definitely not the same firepower when Veil isn't in the lineup. The schedule doesn't get easier as they host 15-3 Cloquet on Thursday. Despite a 22 point thumping of Grand Rapids, thanks to the idiocy of choosing to have the computer do the seeding, Grand Rapids will likely get the 1 seed rather than Cloquet. This scenario is exactly why we need human intervention in all seeding. Its also why a 64 team AAAA tourney would be the best of both worlds. Unbiased human intervention with the computer as a valuable tool. There's my soapbox for the day.

Breck improves to 9-9 and takes sole possession of 2nd in the Tri-Metro at 6-2. Will Culliton leads the way with 20 points. Mo Lawal chips in with 15. 17 to 9 edge in made free throws for Breck (4 makes in the last minute when Blake had to foul). Its a very thin Breck lineup with 5 junior starters and only 1 bench player, frosh Garrett Opperman. Breck's 2 scorers make more plays than the 2 scorers for Blake and that's your ballgame. Breck is at Watertown-Mayer in a section 5AA South game on Saturday. A win there should lock up at least the 2 seed for the Mustangs since they already have wins over Brooklyn Center and Providence.

Kennedy another quality section win

Prologue
Off to Bloomington Kennedy for their important section 2AAAA showdown with Prior Lake. Kennedy also trying to hold on to 3rd place in the rugged South Suburban with Prior Lake and Eagan just 1 game behind. Sparse concession stand tonight means a rare bag of popcorn on my menu. I'm a fan of the limited salt, but I require my fat content so more butter would have been welcome. We get a late appearance but a full game worth of the Kennedy pep band. That means today's music is a pep band tune.

Song of the Day
Seven Nation Army - White Stripes

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 1056 ounces (94 games, 75 days)

60 oz Dr Pepper
36 oz Sprite
12 oz 7 Up
140 oz Red Powerade
140 oz Red Gatorade
464 oz Pepsi
164 oz Coke
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer

Game Time
Prior Lake's offense nothing but layups and 3s for most of the 1st half. Jon Sobaski breaks the press for a layup and Jason Faul puts back a miss for a 16-10 Prior Lake lead at the 14:20. Very quick early pace. Kennedy's 2-3 zone does manage to slow the pace. It also contributes to a 15-2 Kennedy run. DJ Davis with a drive for a lefty deuce and a 3 ball for the lead Then he drives and dunks before Darius Bell has a chance at a 4 point play. The lead expands to 9 before a late 3s from Sobaski and George Nusbaum. 38-33 Kennedy at the half. DJ Davis almost with a double double in the half.

Connor Bair with a pair of inside buckets as the Lakers close the lead to 40-37 early in the second half. Kennedy opens it up with a 10-2 run. CJ Lewis with 12 1st half points keeps it going in the 2nd half. He drives for 2 and makes a pair of freebies, Davis with a pair of buckets in the run as well. 50-39 Kennedy with 11:20 to play. Sobaski with a steal for a 3 point play to end a 7-0 run that cuts the lead to 4. Nusbaum with another bomb off the bench to keep Prior Lake within 55-51 with 8 minutes left. But the Lakers would get no closer. Davis with a layup, Lewis puts back a miss and then gets a friendly bounce off a leg right to him for 3. Davis picks up his 4th with 6:08 left but Lewis is flammable. He knocks down another 3 and Kennedy adds a putback to end a 12-4 run. 67-55 with 5:27 left. Prior Lake sees a 3 go in and out that would have cut the lead to 6 with about 2:45 left. Kennedy makes 2 free throws on the other end. Kennedy goes on to win 80-71.

Post Game
After a stretch where they were 9-3, Prior Lake has now lost 4 out of 5. They fall to 6-7 in the South Suburban, 12-9 overall and 3-3 in the section. The Lakers did have 4 players in double figures. Forward Connor Bair leads with 13 points. Austin Heidecker and George Nusbaum with 11 and Jon Sobaski adds 10 with a handful of assists and rebounds. Prior Lake with no good answer for Kennedy's 2-3 zone as they couldn't make shots and couldn't get the ball inside or get offensive rebounds. A pair of home games coming up for the Lakers as they host Lakeville South on Friday and Eastview next Tuesday.

This was an important victory for Kennedy. After 6 straight wins, they are currently in a stretch where this will be the only home game in an absolutely brutal 9 game stretch. They had lost the 1st 5 in that stretch coming into tonight (Apple Valley, Lakeville North, Waconia, Milwaukee Riverside top 5 in WI). They are at Rosemount on Friday and Lakeville South and Eastview next week. Guard CJ Lewis absolutely outstanding with 21 of his 33 in the second half. DJ Davis chips in with a double double of 18 points and 12 rebounds on my sheet. Travon Hearns a very productive night inside with 13 points off the Eagles bench. Kennedy is now 11-9 overall, 8-5 in the South Suburban and most notably 6-0 against section 2AAAA opponents. It puts them 2-0 against Prior Lake and 2 games clear of the Lakers in the conference standings. Now the battle is on with Chanhassen for the 2nd seed in the section behind Shakopee. Expect that race to come right down to the wire.

February 2, 2014 CzarPI

Labels: 13-14 CzarPI

This is the 4th CzarPI of the 2013-14 season (see CzarPI Explained here). It includes games through Saturday, February 1st, 2014. The value in () after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking within their class

Class AAAA

Hopkins - 63.52 (4)
Apple Valley - 63.12 (8)
Champlin Park - 60.07 (16)
Shakopee - 59.91 (2)
Eden Prairie - 59.02 (5)
Lakeville North - 58.33 (10)
Cretin-Derham Hall - 58.28 (44)
Osseo - 58.24 (28)
St. Cloud Tech - 57.34 (47)
Robbinsdale Armstrong - 56.57 (22)
Chanhassen - 55.45 (29)
Rosemount - 55.05 (11)
St. Francis - 54.59 (57)
Tartan - 54.31 (61)
Minnetonka - 54.23 (9)
Buffalo - 54.09 (45)
Chaska - 53.84 (36)
Prior Lake - 53.71 (7)
Elk River - 53.34 (54)
Mounds View - 53.31 (46)
Woodbury - 53.16 (32)
Bloomington Jefferson - 52.84 (18)
East Ridge - 52.72 (58)
Bloomington Kennedy - 52.05 (3)
Maple Grove - 51.95 (17)
Rochester John Marshall - 51.46 (62)
Edina - 51.26 (15)
Farmington - 51.04 (52)
Park Center - 49.48 (24)
St. Michael-Albertville - 49.03 (21)
Eagan - 48.21 (37)
Lakeville South - 48.12 (1)
Roseville - 48.12 (30)
Brainerd - 47.88 (60)
Burnsville - 47.54 (14)
Centennial - 47.52 (35)
Minneapolis South - 47.42 (56)
Moorhead - 47.4 (27)
Andover - 47.38 (6)
Henry Sibley - 46.1 (41)
Rochester Century - 45.76 (42)
Cambridge-Isanti - 45.73 (64)
Stillwater Area - 45.5 (12)
Mahtomedi - 45.33 (55)
Northfield - 45.25 (38)
White Bear Lake - 44.31 (25)
Wayzata - 44.03 (39)
Blaine - 42.35 (49)
Minneapolis Southwest - 42.07 (53)
Robbinsdale Cooper - 40.49 (13)
Eastview - 40.22 (20)
Rochester Mayo - 38.31 (26)
Owatonna - 37.86 (33)
North St. Paul - 37.15 (63)
Rogers - 36.05 (59)
Forest Lake - 35.93 (40)
Bemidji - 33.23 (19)
Hastings - 33.16 (34)
Duluth East - 30.7 (43)
Anoka - 29.67 (23)
Park of Cottage Grove - 26.85 (50)
St. Louis Park - 19.92 (31)
Coon Rapids - 19.24 (48)
Irondale - 19.16 (51)

Class AAA

Holy Family Catholic - 58.61 (22)
Austin - 58.4 (13)
Marshall - 57.48 (18)
St. Paul Johnson - 56.59 (42)
Thief River Falls - 55.68 (56)
DeLaSalle - 54.96 (10)
Orono - 54.48 (17)
Waconia - 54.23 (11)
Albany - 54.21 (55)
Totino-Grace - 54.19 (41)
Big Lake - 53.56 (19)
Cloquet - 52.79 (60)
Willmar - 52.35 (33)
Hermantown - 51.47 (15)
Detroit Lakes - 51.42 (32)
St. Cloud Apollo - 51.41 (24)
Grand Rapids - 51.4 (21)
Red Wing - 51.3 (9)
St. Thomas Academy - 50.73 (51)
Sartell-St. Stephen - 50.53 (5)
Minneapolis Washburn - 50.5 (23)
Columbia Heights - 50.46 (62)
Delano - 50.4 (48)
Mankato West - 50.23 (39)
St. Paul Central - 50.22 (52)
Kasson-Mantorville - 50.21 (37)
Stewartville - 49.86 (45)
Winona - 49.51 (46)
Benilde-St. Margaret's - 49.12 (47)
New Prague - 48.54 (2)
Hibbing - 48.19 (26)
Alexandria - 47.86 (35)
Fridley - 47.77 (64)
Simley - 47.56 (61)
Hill-Murray - 47.08 (53)
Mankato East - 46.98 (16)
Holy Angels - 46.56 (4)
Fergus Falls - 46.31 (36)
Zimmerman - 45.68 (29)
Monticello - 45.65 (40)
St. Paul Como Park - 45.42 (25)
Spring Lake Park - 44.78 (27)
Blake - 44.47 (44)
Hutchinson - 43.73 (6)
Becker - 43.17 (57)
Worthington - 42.64 (7)
Chisago Lakes Area - 42.38 (31)
Little Falls - 41.96 (58)
North Branch - 40.5 (30)
Minneapolis Henry - 40.05 (14)
Princeton - 39.5 (34)
St. Paul Highland Park - 39.18 (50)
Albert Lea - 38.81 (28)
New Ulm - 34.04 (20)
Mound-Westonka - 33.98 (3)
St. Paul Harding - 32.88 (59)
St. Anthony Village - 32.19 (43)
Dassel-Cokato - 31.81 (54)
Duluth Denfeld - 29.94 (38)
South St. Paul - 26.56 (63)
Faribault - 25.94 (49)
Richfield - 20.79 (12)
Rocori - 0 (1)
Sauk Rapids-Rice - 0 (8)

Class AA

Waseca - 58.36 (24)
Caledonia - 58.22 (42)
St. Cloud Cathedral - 56.57 (54)
Crosby-Ironton - 56.53 (27)
Fairmont - 55.51 (55)
Perham - 55.29 (16)
Barnesville - 54.91 (32)
Barnum - 54.88 (115)
Mayer Lutheran - 54.84 (46)
Hayfield - 54.76 (78)
Pelican Rapids - 54.06 (44)
St. James Area - 53.9 (97)
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - 53.78 (41)
Esko - 53.55 (93)
East Grand Forks - 53.41 (53)
Annandale - 53.39 (6)
Braham - 53.26 (95)
Redwood Valley - 53.14 (40)
Belle Plaine - 52.79 (17)
Virginia - 52.67 (101)
New Richland-H-E-G - 52.66 (57)
Plainview-Elgin-Millville - 52.33 (69)
Sauk Centre - 52.26 (71)
Byron - 52.23 (77)
Crookston - 51.78 (82)
St. Paul Academy - 51.41 (102)
Rochester Lourdes - 51.08 (49)
Cannon Falls - 50.94 (35)
New Life Academy - 50.94 (121)
Chatfield - 50.91 (52)
Jordan - 50.91 (8)
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - 50.75 (58)
Moose Lake-Willow River - 50.54 (37)
Eden Valley-Watkins - 50.52 (73)
Montevideo - 50.07 (67)
New London-Spicer - 50.01 (33)
Concordia Academy-Roseville - 49.82 (75)
St. Charles - 49.66 (91)
LeSueur-Henderson - 49.17 (103)
Minneota/Lincoln HI - 48.88 (117)
Jackson County Central - 48.84 (28)
Minnehaha Academy - 48.72 (43)
Glencoe-Silver Lake - 48.71 (61)
Park Rapids Area - 48.67 (84)
Tri-City United - 48.62 (31)
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - 48.47 (109)
Providence Academy - 48.08 (70)
St. Peter - 48.04 (1)
BOLD - 47.98 (114)
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 47.75 (56)
Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop - 47.72 (119)
La Crescent - 47.71 (15)
Melrose - 47.19 (80)
Norwood-Young America - 47.18 (72)
St. Croix Lutheran - 47.06 (38)
Martin County West - 47.02 (111)
Rockford - 46.98 (36)
Watertown-Mayer - 46.58 (39)
Brooklyn Center - 46.44 (116)
Pipestone Area - 46.06 (19)
Lake City - 46.03 (79)
Hawley - 45.98 (5)
Minnewaska Area - 45.87 (21)
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - 45.85 (4)
International Falls - 45.77 (64)
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton - 45.67 (81)
Paynesville Area - 45.6 (74)
St. John's Prep - 45.54 (113)
Breck - 45.13 (48)
Staples-Motley - 45.12 (18)
Hinckley-Finlayson - 45.06 (87)
Maple River - 44.81 (20)
Mora - 44.15 (76)
Pine City - 44.01 (110)
Dover-Eyota - 43.78 (45)
Proctor - 43.59 (62)
Maple Lake - 43.36 (66)
Winona Cotter - 43.36 (90)
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta - 43 (22)
Eveleth-Gilbert - 42.98 (98)
Minneapolis Edison - 42.85 (85)
Litchfield - 42.63 (23)
Milaca - 42.5 (100)
Blue Earth Area - 42.38 (2)
Sibley East - 42.11 (30)
Pine Island - 42.06 (65)
St. Croix Prep - 41.74 (123)
Aitkin - 41.6 (112)
Prairie Seeds Academy - 41.55 (120)
Two Harbors - 41.21 (122)
International School of MN - 41 (127)
Minneapolis Roosevelt - 40.97 (26)
Benson - 40.26 (105)
Frazee - 40.08 (10)
Windom Area - 40.04 (11)
Roseau - 39.96 (92)
Trinity School - 39.4 (83)
Breckenridge - 39.24 (3)
Duluth Marshall - 39.15 (86)
Spectrum - 39.09 (124)
Foley - 38.64 (14)
Pequot Lakes - 38 (89)
Mesabi East - 37.7 (9)
Pillager - 37.59 (96)
St. Paul Washington - 37.44 (126)
Zumbrota-Mazeppa - 36.44 (60)
Osakis - 34.98 (47)
Great River - 34.2 (130)
Rush City - 34.09 (107)
Lewiston-Altura - 34.02 (29)
Mounds Park Academy - 33.9 (125)
Pierz - 33 (34)
Holdingford - 32.41 (12)
St. Agnes - 31.13 (108)
St. Paul Humboldt - 31.04 (99)
Luverne - 30.79 (13)
Wadena-Deer Creek - 30.76 (59)
Triton - 30.04 (88)
Lac qui Parle Valley - 29.64 (50)
Deer River - 29.54 (63)
Badger/Greenbush-Middle River - 26.68 (106)
Medford - 25.55 (51)
Bagley - 24.67 (25)
FAIR School - 23.07 (104)
Yellow Medicine East - 20.75 (94)
Greenway - 20.44 (118)
Warroad - 0 (7)
Kenyon-Wanamingo - 0 (68)
St. Paul Prep - 0 (128)
Hmong Academy - 0 (129)

Class A

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 57.87 (20)
Rushford-Peterson - 56.99 (36)
Wheaton/Herman-Norcross - 56.82 (21)
Upsala - 56.46 (25)
Battle Lake - 56.18 (107)
Dawson-Boyd - 56.15 (108)
Maranatha Christian - 55.95 (76)
Ely - 54.49 (121)
Northern Freeze - 53.97 (49)
Mountain Lake Area - 53.75 (122)
Red Lake - 53.57 (1)
Southwest MN Christian - 53.45 (106)
United South Central - 53.4 (34)
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City - 53.1 (53)
Fond du Lac Ojibwe - 52.54 (91)
Fertile-Beltrami - 52.44 (78)
Bigfork - 52.43 (64)
Heritage Christian - 51.73 (23)
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley - 51.6 (97)
Park Christian - 51.54 (80)
Browerville - 51.45 (14)
Canby - 51.42 (86)
Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity - 51.13 (19)
Chisholm - 51.12 (29)
Fosston - 51.09 (124)
South Ridge - 50.94 (99)
St. Clair - 50.93 (90)
Ada-Borup - 50.24 (28)
Floodwood - 50.01 (38)
Spring Grove - 49.71 (133)
West Central Area - 49.56 (59)
Cass Lake-Bena - 49.51 (87)
Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's - 48.74 (111)
Bethlehem Academy - 48.62 (69)
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton - 48.21 (43)
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - 48.19 (103)
Ellsworth - 48.13 (105)
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo - 47.77 (50)
Central MN Christian - 47.74 (46)
Northome/Kelliher - 47.5 (104)
Verndale - 47.39 (146)
Menahga - 47.2 (125)
Blackduck - 47.13 (102)
Henning - 47.03 (109)
Kimball Area - 46.92 (81)
Goodhue - 46.63 (70)
Mountain Iron-Buhl - 46.44 (57)
North Woods - 46.43 (4)
Minneapolis North - 46.04 (12)
Southwest Christian - 46.01 (18)
Ortonville - 45.92 (114)
West Lutheran - 45.53 (41)
Stephen-Argyle - 45.5 (141)
Blooming Prairie - 45.31 (88)
Cedar Mountain/Comfrey - 45.22 (82)
Mankato Loyola - 44.67 (84)
Swanville - 44.53 (72)
Springfield - 44.33 (52)
Waubun - 44.32 (113)
Ashby - 43.73 (10)
Kittson County Central - 43.69 (63)
Win-E-Mac - 43.49 (17)
Christian Life School - 43.42 (155)
Legacy Christian - 43.3 (77)
Mabel-Canton - 43.08 (128)
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart - 42.83 (117)
Nevis - 42.82 (132)
Wabasso - 42.77 (137)
Lanesboro - 42.62 (147)
Bethany Academy - 42.1 (75)
Southwest United - 41.99 (126)
Minnesota Transitions Charter - 41.9 (139)
Minnesota Valley Lutheran - 41.83 (48)
Mahnomen - 41.39 (89)
Lake Park-Audubon - 41.28 (58)
Cristo Rey Jesuit - 41.05 (127)
Cherry - 40.95 (35)
Fillmore Central - 40.72 (13)
Sleepy Eye - 40.43 (98)
MACCRAY - 40.36 (22)
Hope Lutheran - 40.28 (145)
Goodridge/Grygla - 40.2 (100)
Truman/Martin Luther - 39.77 (60)
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley - 39.73 (16)
Wrenshall - 39.61 (93)
Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - 39.4 (37)
Schaeffer Academy - 39.22 (129)
New York Mills - 38.46 (83)
Nicollet - 38.42 (116)
Onamia - 38.21 (112)
Hills-Beaver Creek - 38.01 (74)
Isle - 37.42 (142)
NCE/U-H - 37.23 (44)
Kingsland - 37.2 (5)
New Ulm Cathedral - 36.93 (94)
Randolph - 36.29 (65)
CHOF - 35.98 (143)
Houston - 35.94 (120)
Glenville-Emmons - 35.65 (152)
Madelia - 35.57 (67)
Lakeview Christian - 35.48 (6)
Wabasha-Kellogg - 35.33 (9)
Murray County Central - 35.16 (56)
Westbrook-Walnut Grove - 35.02 (130)
Granada-Huntley-East Chain - 34.89 (27)
Parkers Prairie - 34.78 (15)
Grand Meadow - 34.76 (131)
Littlefork-Big Falls - 34.71 (61)
East Central - 34.69 (118)
Liberty Classical Academy - 33.93 (157)
Underwood - 33.8 (7)
Hill City - 33.29 (110)
Lyle/Austin Pacelli - 33.22 (140)
North Lakes Academy - 32.92 (153)
Northland - 32.82 (138)
PACT Charter - 32.51 (115)
Nova Classical Academy - 32.08 (149)
Southland - 32.07 (8)
MN Academy for the Deaf - 31.82 (156)
Nashwauk-Keewatin - 31.12 (148)
Rothsay - 29.64 (11)
Red Lake County - 29.56 (85)
Cromwell - 29.51 (62)
Laporte - 29.12 (30)
Bertha-Hewitt - 28.72 (68)
Clearbrook-Gonvick - 28.64 (31)
Cook County - 28.62 (39)
Community of Peace Academy - 28.54 (151)
Sebeka - 27.97 (54)
Cleveland - 27.74 (134)
Lakeview - 27.66 (47)
Sacred Heart - 27.51 (32)
Calvin Christian - 27.2 (154)
Learning for Leadership - 26.88 (24)
McGregor - 26.73 (144)
Pine River-Backus - 25.88 (2)
Carlton - 25.77 (45)
St. Cloud Christian - 25.69 (159)
Adrian - 25.48 (92)
Norman County West - 25.46 (96)
Alden-Conger - 24.81 (135)
Brandon/Evansville - 24.15 (40)
Edgerton - 20.5 (79)
Hope Academy - 20.43 (158)
Royalton - 19.75 (55)
Renville County West - 19.47 (71)
Climax/Fisher - 17.33 (51)
Fulda - 16.57 (119)
Northeast Range - 0 (95)
Hancock - 0 (3)
Silver Bay - 0 (42)
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig - 0 (160)
Red Rock Central - 0 (26)
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 0 (33)
Mesabi Academy - 0 (66)
Lake of the Woods - 0 (73)
Ogilvie - 0 (101)
LeRoy-Ostrander - 0 (123)
New Century Academy - 0 (136)
Academy for Sciences & Ag - 0 (150)

City talent showcased

A big Friday and Saturday night of games. Fun matchups of city teams from St. Paul and Minneapolis, an outstate game and an old school coaching matchup. Here's some of what I saw.

Friday: #1AAA Johnson at Central
A thoroughly ugly game for the top spot in the St. Paul City (except for the always outstanding and huge Central pepband). 56 fouls, 35-77 combined free throw shooting unofficially on my stat sheet. Chop, hack, clank, putback, jack, rinse, repeat, do it again. Absolutely no flow on either end due to all of the fouls and enough sloppy play to make a 6th grade game proud. Central would control the 1st half for a 35-30 lead. Johnson would go on a 9-0 run early in the 2nd half (turnovers a big key) to take the lead. Big moment when Johnson star Jalen Mobley picks up his 4th foul with 8:35 left and Vern Simmons leaves him in. That huge gamble ends up paying off despite it failing with Peirre Conwell just a minute later. Soph Sam Gubbrud takes an extra pass and buries a 3 to tie the game at 55 with 7 minutes left. Meanwhile Scott Howell has his own issues as Kalu Abosi sat over 9 minutes in the 2nd half due to 4 fouls. He comes back with 5 minutes left. Mobley with his 3rd weakside duck in on a BLOB for a big hoop and an assist for a layup to push the lead to 6. He adds 2 free throws on Abosi's 5th foul with 2:23 left and another bucket to push the lead to 10 inside of 2 minutes. Johnson wins 75-67. Jalen Mobley with 25 points to lead Johnson. Rayeon Williams leads Central with 20.

Saturday: North at Minneahaha
A great showcase of a ton of young talent on the Minneapolis side. Sophs Tyler Johnson and Jamil Jackson for North. North's freshmen group and Simeon Davis with Joevon Walker for Minnehaha and then the 8th grade battle of JoVonni Bickham and Odell Wilson Jr (North). A Bickham putback puts Minnehaha up 9-6 before the roof caves in. Turnovers take North on a 24-6 run to take complete control. 30-15 North at the 9:30 mark. Frosh DJ Hunter for 3 and its 40-20. 53-30 at half. Game gets a bit chippy. North knocks down a couple late 3s for a 101-60 win though we didn't hit running time until very late when it could have come right at 9 minutes. Tyler Johnson 23 points to lead 5 Polars in double figures. Joevon Walker with 18 to lead the Redhawks.

Very strange situation during the game. Minnehaha guard Trenton McCarthy goes to inbound the ball at the North bench. Something somewhere got said and we get McCarthy and coach Larry McKenzie jawing to the point where the site supervisor came speeding down to the bench to get involved. Then McKenzie goes after McCarthy with a boatload of iso calls for Tyler Johnson in a game that was already out of hand. Pretty clear it was a decision to humiliate the kid after the earlier bench incident. That gets the last 3 fouls on McCarthy which generates cheers from the North bench (McKenzie did tell them to sit down for that). Plus there's the incitement of the crowd at the Henry vs North game this year, the "This is the house I built" comments afterwards and the post game comments to the crowd a couple of years ago at Holy Angels after Farmington had just clinched the league title at AHA in the last game of the year. Those were all games that were wins. Coach McKenzie does a heck of a job, is a quality person and a coach that I greatly respect. This continued pattern of poor sportsmanship in the heat of battle bothers me. The comments are one issue (talk is cheap) but today's instance of going after a player takes it to another level for me. I find that especially disturbing and unbecoming of the coaching profession. A coach is expected to set an example and be the voice of reason in times of chaos. In this instance I don't feel coach McKenzie met that expectation.

Saturday: St. Cloud Tech at Stillwater
We'll skip ahead to the night session for a battle between Stillwater coach Randy Jordan and his former school St. Cloud Tech (he was there in the Nate Wolters era for those who forgot). Tech plays 2-3 zone all game. Stillwater comes out in a diamond and 1 against Tech's star guard Andy Foley. That holds Foley down to 5 points in the half. Stillwater has no answer for the 2-3 and they trail 25-17 at the half. The Ponies stay diamond and 1 to start the 2nd half and 3 other Tech players knock down 3s in the 1st 2 minutes of the half to push the lead to 34-19. That gets Stillwater back to their standard man to man. Not long after Foley proceeds to score 10 straight Tech points in a variety of ways (BLOB, post, jumper, steal etc). Stillwater tries to make a late run as they knock down some 3s that almost make it interesting. Tech wins 70-62. Andy Foley leads Tech with 21 and 8 boards on my sheet. 16 of those vs the man defense in the 2nd half. Connor Gamble 5 bombs on his way to 23 points. Matt Anderson with 13 of his 17 in the 2nd half as Stillwater did a better job of getting inside the zone.

I also did a quiet outstate game mid-afternoon at Target Center between St. Peter and Hayfield. Hayfield was up 10 with 7 minutes left when I had to leave for the late game. Another solid game from Hayfield guard Cole Kruger. St. Peter post Kolin Bartlett had such upside as a freshman but has endured 2 major knee injuries since. Now as a senior, he's got the knee brace on and just isn't the same player that had such promise.

Osseo wins big Northwest Suburban battle

Prologue
My week of critical conference matchups continues with a trip to Osseo to see the #4AAAA Orioles host #3AAAA Champlin Park. Champlin Park won the 1st meeting by 3 and brought a 16 game winning streak. Osseo trying to get within a game in the conference standings. Fun student section on hand. Doug Erlien from Fox Preps working the public address. Tim Leighton, Josh Thurow (Minnehaha girls coach) and angry Sparty Leno are your officials. Osseo without Ian Theisen again and according to Ken Lien (Mr Basketball chairman) its possible he's done for the year.

Song of the Day
Back in Black - AC/DC

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 980 ounces (90 games, 71 days)

36 oz Dr Pepper
36 oz Sprite
12 oz 7 Up
140 oz Red Powerade
120 oz Red Gatorade
444 oz Pepsi
152 oz Coke
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer

Game Time
Northern St recruit Ian Smith with 7 straight points for Champlin Park and an assist for a 3. Wheeler Baker countering with a layup and then takes a lob on the break and stuffs that home. 14-10 Champlin Park at 13:35. Jordan Dembley for 3 and then a post bucket. Baker 2 buckets in an 8-0 Osseo run for a 21-17 lead at 10:30. Frosh McKinleyWright with a nice scoop for Champlin Park along with a pair of Brennan Witt post ups. 27 all at the 5:40 mark. Osseo would spurt away for the rest of the half. Dembley a crazy tough bucket, Baker runs for a layup and scores inside. A pair of 3 point plays from the bigs Pastrano and Roberson and Allen Anderson from deep at the halftime buzzer. Its a 19-6 run over the last 5:30 of the half. 46-33 Osseo at halftime. JT Gibson 11 points for Champlin. Baker with 14, Dembley 13 for Osseo.

Osseo continues to expand the lead. Dembley coast to coast, Baker for 3, Dembley with a sweet slip of a flare screen for a layup. That pushes the lead to 56-38 with 14:18 left. Dembley posts for 2 and Baker with a steal for 2 free throws. Dembley on the offensive glass for 2 free throws and a nice Baker fadeaway in the lane for 2 more. 66-41 Osseo in control with 11:10 to play. Its a 15-3 run to blow the game open.

Champlin Park too good to not have a run in them and they do have one. Witt with a reverse layup, Alex Hilley for 2 and a 3. Wright spins for 2, Alec Leabo with a right wing 3, Jeremy Johnson runs for a layup and Witt another reverse to conclude an 18-1 Rebels run. Hold the phone as the Osseo lead is down to 67-59 with 5 minutes left. Osseo hanging on as they go 8 minutes without a field goal. Elliot Kane with a layup to break that streak and then a strong hang and bang 3 point play from Baker after Champlin Park misses a front end. The lead is back to 14 and Osseo is out of danger. Osseo wins 83-74.

Post Game
Champlin Park falls to 17-2, 12-1 in the NW Suburban. They still lead the league by 1 game in the loss column. Brennan Witt with 18 of his 24 in the 2nd half. JT Gibson all 11 of his points in the 1st half. He had a couple of good looks at 3s when the lead was 8 that didn't fall. Ian Smith 12 points. Next big game for the Rebels will likely be the section final as they are done with Osseo and Armstrong. They visit Elk River next Wednesday.

Osseo improves to 16-3 and after losing 3 of 4 before the holidays, they've now won 10 straight, almost all of that without Ian Theisen. Who would have thunk that? Wheeler Baker with another big game performance of 31 points and 9 boards on my sheet. Jordan Dembley stepped up large with 23 points. Giovanni Pastrano with 7 points but gave Osseo great interior minutes off the bench. Osseo made the game a physical battle. They were the 1st team to the floor and outbattled Champlin Park for everything. Nice move to have a ton of post up opportunities for Dembley and Baker. Osseo now tied with Armstrong for 2nd in the league in the loss column and they'll host the Falcons next Wednesday.

Hypothetical Question
Assume for the sake of discussion that Osseo and Champlin Park win out. That would mean Osseo beats Hopkins in 2 weeks (play along people). That would give Osseo a home win over Hopkins while Champlin Park lost at Hopkins by 3. The teams split the season series but Champlin Park won the league by a game. Same record against 21 like opponents. CzarPI and QRF basically identical.

You're in the section 5AAAA seediing meeting. Who do you give the #1 seed to?

Titans topple Hill-Murray

Prologue
Another trip to the east side for another big showdown. Tonight its Tartan and Hill-Murray in a battle of 2 of the top teams in the Classic Suburban. Tartan 1 win behind St. Thomas (who beat Hill-Murray last night) for 1st. Hill-Murray 1 loss back and tied with Henry Sibley. Its also the varsity return of Marshawn Wilson after playing at Tartan as a freshman. No food again due to the lengthy trip but 20 more ounces of red Gatorade. Plenty of quality music on the public address. Here's one of the hits of the night.

Song of the Day
Tequila - The Champs (Czar PSA, drink responsibly and don't drink if you're under 21 years old)

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 960 ounces (89 games, 70 days)

36 oz Dr Pepper
36 oz Sprite
12 oz 7 Up
140 oz Red Powerade
100 oz Red Gatorade
444 oz Pepsi
152 oz Coke
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer

Game Time
Tartan's game plan against Wilson becomes immediately obvious. They take Eric Winter and have him faceguard. Then on a Wilson touch here comes the double team. Tartan finds Brody Jackson at the high post for immediate kickouts to Keenan Bellaphant and Winter for 3s. 19-10 Tartan at the 13:22 mark and the Pioneers need a timeout to talk it over. Wilson gets his 1st bucket of the night on an inbounds lob to cut the lead to 4. Then Tartan runs away with the rest of the half. Frosh Emanuel Humphrey 2 inside buckets, Bellaphant a BLOB 3 and coast to coast for 2 more. A turnover for 2 pushes the lead to 12 at the 8:31 mark. Tartan not done as Winter drives for a lefty layup and scores another bucket. Marlon McCoy for 3, Jordan Horn drives for 2 free throws and the lead is 19. Then the last 9 of the half to Tartan with Humphrey again inside and the foul (no good FT), Jordan Horn fades for 2 and Jake Lyle at the buzzer for 3. 52-26 Tartan at the half.

Tartan largely got away from the strategy on Wilson in the second half. But their offense went cold and Hill-Murray was able to apply some pressure. After making 3 of 4 free throws to push the lead to 29 (55-26), it takes Tartan almost 6 minutes to get their first field goal of the second half. Wilson for 2 and an Eric Weimar 3, then Wilson for 3 and Sam Westby converts a turnover for 2 more. Now the lead is down to 61-47 with 10:17 left. That Hill-Murray run amounts to 21-6 over 5 and a half minutes. The lead is still 14 after the always ridiculous double foul call complicated by a soft T on Tartan. Hill-Murray makes 1 of the 2 and can't convert the possession. Winter backcuts for an easy 2 and a Bellaphant jumper help push the lead back to 19 with 6 minutes left. Tartan never in any serious danger as the lead never gets under 14. Tartan wins 85-70.

Post Game
Hill-Murray falls to 11-8 overall and 6-4 in the Classic Suburban. That's tied for 4th in the league with Simley who just beat them last Friday. Marshawn Wilson a fairly quiet 25 points on 7-18 shooting on my unofficial sheet. Sam Westby with 10 of his 15 in the second half. Alex Ogren with 3 3s that threatened to open up the Tartan defense. But Hill-Murray could never really generate much good offense. They are at South St. Paul on Friday before the rematch next Wednesday.

Tartan stays a half game back in the league at 7-2, 14-4 overall. They will host Mahtomedi on Friday. Eric Winter leads the way with 18 points. Keenan Bellaphant adds 17. Frosh Emanuel Humphrey a very nice outing of 12 points inside. Played with a physical style like a poor man's Reid Travis. Fellow frosh Jordan Horn with 13 points before fouling out. Nice game plan from Tartan to keep Wilson somewhat in check. They were able to get away from it with the big lead. I was a bit surprised with their experience and a couple of solid guards in Bellaphant and Horn that Hill-Murray had the amount of success they did with pressure.

Woodbury runs away from Mustangs

Prologue
Off to Woodbury for a 3rd place showdown in the Suburban East between Mounds View and the host Royals. Winner of this game stays 2 games behind Cretin-Derham Hall for 1st and gets a leg up in section 4AAAA seeding. Concordia St. Paul and St. Mary's looking on for talent. No food due to a late arrival but we always keep the beverage counter moving. This weather is absolutely disgusting so we need something warm to help us out.

Song of the Day
Soak up the sun - Sheryl Crow

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 940 ounces (88 games, 69 days)

36 oz Dr Pepper
36 oz Sprite
12 oz 7 Up
140 oz Red Powerade
80 oz Red Gatorade
444 oz Pepsi
152 oz Coke
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer

Game Time
Mounds View keeping the game tight from deep early. James Van Eps with a pair of 3s, Tim Hanson adds another and Nick Justin bombs away. Woodbury's offense coming from Reid Peters off the bench with a bomb, a drive and a nice assist to Ben Rizzardi. 18-15 Mounds View lead at the 9:45 mark. Then Woodbury's sniper Matt Ambriz picks up his 2nd foul at the 9:17 mark and has to sit. Hanson with a layup to keep the Mounds View lead at 25-23 at the 5:30 mark. Isaiah Coddon bombs away from the left corner off the extra pass, Peters with a runner and a 3 and Coddon to the rim for 2 more. 10-2 Woodbury run forces a Mounds View timeout and propels the Royals to a 40-34 halftime lead. Coddon with a pair of nasty lefty dunks on the break in the half on his way to 13 points.

Mounds View comes out of the halftime break with a box and 1 on Ambriz. I loved the idea, but seriously lacking in execution. Ambriz gets a 3 when his defender mysteriously leaves him. The box didn't fare much better as it left gaping holes all over the place. Ryan Kaczynski with a nice cut for 2 and a putback to get Mounds View within 3 with 14:05 to play. Hanson has to sit with his 4th foul at the 13:16 mark. Ambriz makes 1 of the 2 free throws and spins by his defender with ease for 2 more points. Rizzardi with another layup getting feeds off the drive and kick. Mounds View back to straight man but no answer for dribble penetration in this one.    Kaczynski dunks a turnover and grabs a miss for 2 free throws as part of a 6-0 run and Mounds View is back within 4. 52-48 Woodbury with 9:14 to play.

Ben Meyer with an easy BLOB 3 from the ballside corner thanks to some Coddon for Ambriz screening action on the lane. Ambriz with 2 of 4 free throws to push the lead back to 9. Hanson back in at the 7:17 mark but he's gone less than a minute later on a bad charge call. Meanwhile Peters from deep again, Coddon for 2 more after the Hanson charge and another Rizzardi layup to extend the lead to 14 inside of 6 to play.   4 in a row countered by 2 more Coddon buckets, 2 Rizzardi free throws and an Ambriz bomb. 77-58 inside of 4 minutes to play after the 21-6 Woodbury run. Mounds View tries to make a furious comeback. Kaczynski starts it with the rare 4 point play. Ben Spencer nails 3 late 3s but the lead never gets under 6. Woodbury goes on to win 90-81.

Post Game
Mounds View falls to 15-4 with the loss and it breaks their 11 game winning streak. They hold the 4th spot in the league, 1 win ahead of Roseville (who lost to Stillwater tonight). Another big game for Ryan Kaczynski. He finishes with 30 points, 22 of those in the 2nd half. Ben Spencer nails 4 triples, 3 late, for 12 points. Nick Justin 10 points, Tim Hanson all 9 of his in the 1st half before fouling out. Mounds View makes 10 3s but its not enough.   Its not any easier for the Mustangs as they go on the road to Cretin-Derham Hall on Friday. CDH won the first meeting 106-72.

Woodbury improves to 13-7 overall, 9-3 in the conference. They are 1 game behind rival East Ridge for second place in the Suburban East. Great balance from the Royals. Matt Ambriz with 19 of his 21 in the second half. Isaiah Coddon matches that total and was a nuisance in the passing lanes. Ben Rizzardi with 20 inside. Reid Peters with 15 points off the bench, 12 of those in the 1st half. Nice compensation for not having guard Nick Yan in the lineup. The Royals host Hastings on Friday before a week off to prepare for the short trip to East Ridge.

January 27, 2014 CzarPI

Labels: 13-14 CzarPI

This is the 3rd CzarPI of the 2013-14 season (see CzarPI Explained here). It includes games through Saturday January 25th, 2014. The value in () after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking within their class

Class AAAA

Apple Valley - 63.51 (6)
Hopkins - 62.98 (5)
Champlin Park - 61.2 (22)
Shakopee - 59.15 (3)
Eden Prairie - 58.7 (2)
Lakeville North - 58.67 (7)
Cretin-Derham Hall - 57.86 (41)
Osseo - 57.29 (35)
Robbinsdale Armstrong - 57.22 (27)
St. Cloud Tech - 56.34 (50)
Chanhassen - 55.29 (25)
Rosemount - 54.94 (11)
Mounds View - 54.61 (55)
Bloomington Kennedy - 54.39 (12)
St. Francis - 54.27 (53)
Minnetonka - 53.99 (23)
Elk River - 53.67 (52)
Prior Lake - 53.42 (8)
East Ridge - 53.35 (49)
Buffalo - 53.01 (43)
Bloomington Jefferson - 52.94 (21)
Tartan - 52.82 (63)
Chaska - 52.82 (39)
Farmington - 52.46 (58)
Rochester John Marshall - 52.25 (54)
Woodbury - 52.15 (31)
Maple Grove - 52.13 (24)
Edina - 50.63 (14)
Park Center - 50.59 (9)
Brainerd - 49.2 (60)
Burnsville - 48.75 (10)
Centennial - 48.38 (33)
Eagan - 48.15 (37)
St. Michael-Albertville - 48.04 (18)
Roseville - 47.61 (16)
Lakeville South - 47.17 (1)
Minneapolis South - 47.02 (61)
Rochester Century - 46.77 (47)
Moorhead - 46.37 (19)
Cambridge-Isanti - 46.21 (64)
Henry Sibley - 46.14 (42)
White Bear Lake - 45.53 (32)
Andover - 45.27 (4)
Wayzata - 44.96 (40)
Northfield - 44.43 (38)
Mahtomedi - 43.99 (59)
Minneapolis Southwest - 43.15 (51)
Blaine - 42.91 (46)
Stillwater Area - 42.23 (15)
Robbinsdale Cooper - 41.13 (13)
Rochester Mayo - 39.6 (30)
Eastview - 38.57 (26)
Owatonna - 38.57 (34)
Forest Lake - 37.5 (36)
North St. Paul - 37.33 (62)
Rogers - 36.89 (57)
Bemidji - 33.35 (20)
Duluth East - 31.42 (44)
Hastings - 31.22 (28)
Park of Cottage Grove - 28.66 (56)
Coon Rapids - 20.57 (45)
Anoka - 19.53 (17)
Irondale - 16.65 (48)
St. Louis Park - 0 (29)

Class AAA

Holy Family Catholic - 59.25 (26)
Austin - 57.83 (9)
Marshall - 57.21 (18)
St. Paul Johnson - 55.75 (47)
DeLaSalle - 54.67 (4)
Totino-Grace - 54.59 (48)
Albany - 53.95 (44)
Thief River Falls - 53.94 (60)
Cloquet - 53.49 (54)
Big Lake - 53.15 (33)
Orono - 52.8 (21)
Waconia - 52.49 (17)
Grand Rapids - 52.3 (25)
Willmar - 51.9 (28)
Kasson-Mantorville - 51.89 (31)
Delano - 51.77 (46)
Detroit Lakes - 51.66 (32)
St. Cloud Apollo - 51.46 (22)
Minneapolis Washburn - 51.44 (19)
Red Wing - 51.33 (11)
Mankato West - 50.83 (41)
St. Paul Central - 50.57 (59)
Sartell-St. Stephen - 50.2 (5)
Hermantown - 50.1 (14)
Columbia Heights - 49.94 (62)
St. Thomas Academy - 49.54 (40)
Benilde-St. Margaret's - 49.03 (42)
Simley - 48.95 (61)
Hill-Murray - 48.66 (50)
New Prague - 48.62 (1)
Winona - 48.52 (37)
Stewartville - 48.43 (51)
Hibbing - 47.56 (30)
Holy Angels - 47.45 (6)
Mankato East - 47.02 (13)
Fridley - 46.22 (63)
Alexandria - 46.13 (35)
Monticello - 45.81 (34)
Zimmerman - 45.19 (27)
Spring Lake Park - 45.04 (24)
St. Paul Como Park - 44.53 (12)
Hutchinson - 43.8 (3)
Fergus Falls - 43.68 (58)
Little Falls - 42.56 (57)
Becker - 42.55 (56)
Chisago Lakes Area - 42.54 (38)
Worthington - 41.52 (8)
Minneapolis Henry - 39.9 (16)
North Branch - 39.64 (36)
Blake - 39.18 (49)
Albert Lea - 37.92 (20)
Princeton - 37.47 (29)
St. Paul Highland Park - 35.25 (43)
Mound-Westonka - 34.91 (7)
St. Paul Harding - 33.52 (52)
New Ulm - 33.52 (23)
St. Anthony Village - 32.61 (55)
Dassel-Cokato - 32.3 (45)
Duluth Denfeld - 29.87 (39)
South St. Paul - 27.15 (64)
Faribault - 26.48 (53)
Richfield - 21.84 (15)
Rocori - 0 (2)
Sauk Rapids-Rice - 0 (10)

Class AA

Caledonia - 59.13 (17)
Waseca - 57.66 (39)
St. Cloud Cathedral - 56.69 (50)
Crosby-Ironton - 56.4 (24)
Fairmont - 55.68 (46)
Perham - 55.55 (12)
Barnum - 55.33 (107)
Belle Plaine - 54.84 (37)
Barnesville - 54.55 (33)
Mayer Lutheran - 54.54 (47)
East Grand Forks - 54.47 (55)
Hayfield - 54.38 (66)
Pelican Rapids - 54.07 (14)
St. James Area - 53.76 (87)
Esko - 53.6 (90)
Redwood Valley - 53.39 (67)
Annandale - 53.03 (19)
New Richland-H-E-G - 52.99 (57)
Braham - 52.91 (100)
Virginia - 52.68 (97)
Jordan - 52.56 (7)
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - 52.41 (54)
Crookston - 52.3 (81)
Byron - 52.23 (86)
St. Paul Academy - 51.91 (103)
Sauk Centre - 51.82 (69)
Plainview-Elgin-Millville - 51.7 (74)
Eden Valley-Watkins - 51.16 (53)
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - 50.91 (65)
Chatfield - 50.63 (26)
Rochester Lourdes - 50.43 (62)
Cannon Falls - 50.33 (36)
Moose Lake-Willow River - 50.09 (41)
New London-Spicer - 50 (18)
St. Charles - 49.9 (98)
New Life Academy - 49.81 (122)
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - 49.77 (113)
Glencoe-Silver Lake - 49.77 (79)
Minnehaha Academy - 49.74 (34)
Concordia Academy-Roseville - 49.48 (83)
Montevideo - 49.4 (92)
St. Peter - 49.02 (5)
Providence Academy - 48.83 (76)
Park Rapids Area - 48.76 (89)
Jackson County Central - 48.48 (32)
BOLD - 48.37 (110)
Minneota/Lincoln HI - 48.34 (123)
St. Croix Lutheran - 47.96 (43)
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - 47.86 (13)
Pipestone Area - 47.67 (6)
La Crescent - 47.52 (20)
Brooklyn Center - 47.36 (117)
LeSueur-Henderson - 47.29 (99)
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 47.15 (59)
Watertown-Mayer - 47.06 (48)
Tri-City United - 46.99 (29)
Rockford - 46.68 (52)
Staples-Motley - 46.62 (15)
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton - 46.62 (42)
Paynesville Area - 46.59 (77)
Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop - 46.53 (118)
Martin County West - 46.41 (73)
International Falls - 46.39 (56)
Norwood-Young America - 46.36 (51)
Minnewaska Area - 46.21 (30)
Hinckley-Finlayson - 45.91 (104)
Pine City - 45.85 (106)
Maple River - 45.81 (10)
Melrose - 45.59 (85)
Lake City - 45.47 (70)
Dover-Eyota - 45.12 (64)
Mora - 45.05 (91)
Sibley East - 44.2 (11)
Breck - 44.11 (38)
Hawley - 44.06 (21)
Maple Lake - 43.87 (75)
Winona Cotter - 43.7 (84)
St. John's Prep - 43.63 (115)
St. Croix Prep - 43.6 (125)
Minneapolis Edison - 43.11 (88)
Two Harbors - 42.16 (120)
Frazee - 41.97 (8)
Benson - 41.88 (114)
Proctor - 41.75 (68)
Prairie Seeds Academy - 41.74 (119)
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta - 41.28 (9)
Pine Island - 41.18 (80)
Windom Area - 40.47 (23)
Roseau - 40.45 (108)
Aitkin - 40.31 (105)
Milaca - 40.21 (112)
Eveleth-Gilbert - 40.08 (102)
Minneapolis Roosevelt - 39.78 (16)
Litchfield - 39.78 (25)
Spectrum - 39.62 (121)
Trinity School - 39.51 (82)
Foley - 39.48 (28)
Breckenridge - 39.35 (2)
International School of MN - 39.14 (126)
St. Paul Washington - 38.71 (127)
Pequot Lakes - 38.33 (101)
Mesabi East - 38.14 (27)
Duluth Marshall - 37.9 (71)
Zumbrota-Mazeppa - 37.54 (22)
Blue Earth Area - 35.16 (4)
Pillager - 34.51 (96)
Mounds Park Academy - 34.33 (124)
Osakis - 34.22 (40)
Pierz - 33.72 (49)
Rush City - 32.72 (72)
Holdingford - 32.26 (35)
Lewiston-Altura - 32.14 (31)
Triton - 31.63 (78)
Luverne - 31.54 (63)
Wadena-Deer Creek - 31.29 (61)
St. Agnes - 30.62 (94)
St. Paul Humboldt - 29.91 (109)
Deer River - 29.67 (58)
Lac qui Parle Valley - 29 (45)
Badger/Greenbush-Middle River - 28.05 (111)
Great River - 27.33 (130)
Medford - 26.63 (60)
Bagley - 23.14 (1)
Greenway - 21.09 (116)
FAIR School - 18.86 (95)
Yellow Medicine East - 18.01 (93)
Warroad - 0 (3)
Kenyon-Wanamingo - 0 (44)
St. Paul Prep - 0 (128)
Hmong Academy - 0 (129)

Class A

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 58.02 (17)
Rushford-Peterson - 57.27 (28)
Wheaton/Herman-Norcross - 56.78 (18)
Battle Lake - 56.77 (87)
Upsala - 55.55 (40)
Ely - 54.97 (113)
Dawson-Boyd - 54.94 (129)
Maranatha Christian - 54.86 (105)
Mountain Lake Area - 53.74 (119)
Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City - 53.72 (53)
Red Lake - 53.46 (2)
Fond du Lac Ojibwe - 53.35 (68)
Northern Freeze - 53.27 (34)
Bigfork - 53.2 (64)
Southwest MN Christian - 52.89 (102)
United South Central - 52.34 (31)
Fertile-Beltrami - 52.32 (70)
Canby - 51.91 (49)
Heritage Christian - 51.86 (44)
Fosston - 51.57 (124)
Floodwood - 51.34 (47)
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley - 50.76 (92)
Browerville - 50.7 (29)
Park Christian - 50.47 (85)
Ada-Borup - 50.4 (13)
South Ridge - 50.35 (100)
Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity - 50.35 (14)
St. Clair - 50.13 (96)
Northome/Kelliher - 49.73 (121)
Spring Grove - 49.72 (125)
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton - 49.71 (71)
Central MN Christian - 49.61 (43)
Chisholm - 49.34 (46)
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo - 49.09 (38)
West Central Area - 48.8 (74)
Bethlehem Academy - 48.64 (63)
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - 48.54 (80)
Blackduck - 48.47 (91)
Ellsworth - 48.38 (77)
Cass Lake-Bena - 48.28 (82)
Verndale - 48.22 (148)
Menahga - 47.68 (94)
Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's - 47.64 (109)
North Woods - 47.5 (6)
Goodhue - 47.26 (69)
Blooming Prairie - 46.29 (79)
Mountain Iron-Buhl - 46.28 (26)
Ortonville - 46.13 (106)
Kimball Area - 46.1 (112)
Cedar Mountain/Comfrey - 45.6 (66)
Legacy Christian - 45.32 (81)
West Lutheran - 44.95 (24)
Swanville - 44.79 (101)
Stephen-Argyle - 44.75 (143)
Henning - 44.7 (117)
Kittson County Central - 44.49 (52)
Ashby - 44.13 (10)
Southwest Christian - 44.09 (9)
Minneapolis North - 43.93 (5)
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart - 43.62 (120)
Waubun - 43.49 (123)
Mankato Loyola - 43.47 (84)
Wabasso - 43.31 (139)
Springfield - 42.62 (33)
Mabel-Canton - 42.62 (122)
Nevis - 42.52 (108)
Lake Park-Audubon - 42.48 (42)
Minnesota Valley Lutheran - 42.38 (56)
Christian Life School - 42.3 (156)
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley - 42.3 (89)
Lanesboro - 42.27 (149)
Win-E-Mac - 42.21 (15)
Cristo Rey Jesuit - 41.84 (110)
Cherry - 41.55 (25)
Goodridge/Grygla - 41.24 (104)
Bethany Academy - 41.22 (114)
Southwest United - 41.18 (99)
Minnesota Transitions Charter - 41.01 (144)
Sleepy Eye - 40.56 (83)
Hope Lutheran - 40.46 (135)
New York Mills - 39.98 (72)
Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - 39.93 (32)
Schaeffer Academy - 39.77 (131)
Truman/Martin Luther - 39.75 (30)
Fillmore Central - 39.44 (27)
MACCRAY - 39.1 (12)
Wrenshall - 38.49 (116)
Kingsland - 38.39 (11)
NCE/U-H - 38.2 (75)
Hills-Beaver Creek - 38.16 (67)
Isle - 37.92 (141)
New Ulm Cathedral - 37.69 (93)
Randolph - 37.36 (90)
Granada-Huntley-East Chain - 37.15 (48)
Nicollet - 36.87 (140)
Wabasha-Kellogg - 36.83 (36)
Houston - 36.72 (111)
Madelia - 36.6 (88)
Parkers Prairie - 36.43 (19)
Westbrook-Walnut Grove - 36.2 (138)
CHOF - 35.79 (147)
Murray County Central - 35.67 (55)
East Central - 35.57 (107)
Onamia - 35.5 (115)
Glenville-Emmons - 35.49 (150)
Lakeview Christian - 35.41 (8)
Underwood - 35.21 (7)
Mahnomen - 35.2 (136)
Liberty Classical Academy - 33.43 (157)
Hill City - 33.26 (97)
Southland - 32.94 (16)
Northland - 32.8 (133)
PACT Charter - 32.56 (118)
Grand Meadow - 32.3 (134)
Nova Classical Academy - 31.42 (146)
Red Lake County - 31.4 (86)
MN Academy for the Deaf - 31.28 (158)
Lyle/Austin Pacelli - 30.85 (145)
Nashwauk-Keewatin - 30.82 (137)
North Lakes Academy - 30.22 (152)
Laporte - 30.04 (39)
Littlefork-Big Falls - 29.97 (78)
Cromwell - 29.85 (65)
Clearbrook-Gonvick - 29.84 (37)
Cook County - 29.7 (51)
Sacred Heart - 28.75 (57)
Sebeka - 28.67 (54)
Lakeview - 28.12 (61)
Learning for Leadership - 28.06 (23)
St. Cloud Christian - 28.06 (159)
Calvin Christian - 28.03 (154)
McGregor - 27.62 (142)
Pine River-Backus - 27.62 (1)
Norman County West - 27.24 (98)
Cleveland - 26.99 (132)
Community of Peace Academy - 26.68 (151)
Carlton - 26.46 (58)
Adrian - 24.92 (60)
Bertha-Hewitt - 24.56 (76)
Rothsay - 24.24 (4)
Brandon/Evansville - 23.87 (73)
Edgerton - 22.17 (103)
Royalton - 21.54 (22)
Climax/Fisher - 18.65 (50)
Fulda - 17.84 (127)
Northeast Range - 0 (95)
Hancock - 0 (3)
Silver Bay - 0 (35)
Renville County West - 0 (41)
Alden-Conger - 0 (130)
Hope Academy - 0 (155)
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig - 0 (160)
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 0 (20)
Red Rock Central - 0 (21)
Ogilvie - 0 (45)
Lake of the Woods - 0 (59)
Mesabi Academy - 0 (62)
LeRoy-Ostrander - 0 (126)
New Century Academy - 0 (128)
Academy for Sciences & Ag - 0 (153)

2014 Border Battle Thoughts

I made the cold journey to the 2014 Border Battle in Kaukauna, WI. For the 3rd straight year, the home state destroys the visitors.   Home state teams have won 21 of the last 22 in the series dating back to the 2011 Border Battle at St. Cloud Tech. Here are some of my thoughts from the day in the home of the Galloping Ghosts.

Game 1: Rockford vs Stevens Point Pacelli
The game was close the entire way. 13 after 1 quarter thanks to 6 points from Brock Deering. Rockford would lead 32-30 at half and open that lead to 37-30 early in the 3rd. But Stevens Point Pacelli would get a big quarter from forward Brett O'Sullivan and a Colin Jamison 3 at the 3rd quarter buzzer sent the game to the 4th tied at 42. James Gollon with a putback to put Pacelli up 49-48 with 1:45 left. Rockford turns it over on back to back possessions. Isaac Elliot with a charge between those turnovers but he knocks down 4-4 clutch free throws in the last 36.5 seconds. Rockford would get 2 looks at the end to tie but no good. Pacelli wins game 1 53-50. Brett O'Sullivan with 20 points inside for Pacelli. Isaac Elliot 2 big 3s and the big late free throws for 16. Brendon Schumacher with 15 to lead Rockford. Jeremiah Bingham with 14 and Brock Deering with 11.

Game 2: Byron vs Waupun
A really ugly 1st half with no shots going in and offense that was reminiscent of the movie Hoosiers. 15 all at the half. Waupun would break away in the 3rd quarter to open a 31-19 lead. That was thanks to a 22-6 run across halftime. Waupun's 6'8" center Jack VandeZande too much inside with 7 points in the quarter. 33-23 Waupun after 3. Byron would claw their way back. Tyler Coble starts the run with a 3 point play, guard Buster Meyer for 3, Coble a steal for 2 more and another Meyer bomb. That concludes a 13-3 Byron run to cut the Waupun lead to 41-38 with 2:10 left. But VandeZande scores inside, Byron misses a front end and VandeZande makes 1 of 2 free throws to keep the game out of reach. Waupun wins 47-42. Jack VandeZande 14 points to lead Waupun. Waupun star Mason Domask 10 points and came back from a nasty fall on a lob early in the 2nd quarter. Tyler Coble leads Byron with 13 points. Buster Meyer 3 3s 11 points.

Game 3: Simley vs Milwaukee Pius XI
1st quarter sees Pius guard Donovan Jackson nail 3 3s and go for 13 points. Mark Della Vedova a quick start with 7 points in the quarter. 19-18 Pius after the 1st quarter. Della Vedova picks up his 2nd foul 25 seconds into the 2nd quarter and sits most of the rest of the half. Sam Stensgard would pick up the offense with a pair of bombs. Then Pius would go on a 12-2 run late in the half to open the lead. Sam Stensgard with his 3rd bomb of the quarter to keep Simley within 38-30 at half. After a quiet 3rd quarter, Donovan Jackson makes a living at the line to put the game out of reach. After 3 of 4 free throws by Jackson, Simley is down 6. Then Jackson scores the next 8 for Pius (6 FTs) to open the lead to 61-47. Pius XI wins 65-48. Donovan Jackson leads Pius with 30 points. Levi Bradley with 21. Sam Stensgard leads Simley with 6 3s and 22 points.

Game 4: Lakeville North vs Stevens Point
The top 2 sophs in Wisconsin taking on JP Macura with UW-Green Bay head coach Brian Wardle in attendance. Macura goes absolutely nuts with the 1st 20 of the game for Lakeville North. SPASH decides to faceguard him the rest of the way. That holds him to 24 at halftime and a 31 all tie. Then SPASH rains in 5 bombs in the 3rd quarter, 3 of them from star soph Sam Hauser. The other star soph Trevor Anderson adds 8 in the quarter.   Meanwhile Macura continues to get no help so SPASH opens up a 58-45 lead after 3.   Only 3 FGs for Lakeville North from players other than Macura at that point. Macura cuts for 2 and then a steal for a dunk as he tries to bring Lakeville North back. But Anderson nails a 3 and drives. Hauser with another bomb on great ball movement and SPASH puts the game away. Stevens Point wins 76-58. Sophs Trevor Anderson and Sam Hauser each go for 23 points. JP Macura leads Lakeville North with 36 but only a total of 14 from the other 4 starters.

Game 5: Seymour vs Blake
Seymour's 1-3-1 zone just too much in this one. Blake within 9-7 with just over 2 minutes left in the 1st quarter. But the Bears would only score 2 buckets in the 2nd quarter. Seymour would open the lead to 14 at half and then the 1st 6 points of the 3rd push the lead to 20. John Veil would get his 16 points and 4 3s after that. JR Bascom 8 of his 14 after that. But a standard problem for Blake as the rest of the roster only scores 8. Seymour wins 61-38. Marquette signee Sandy Cohen 14 points, Dakota Oskey a very nice game with 21 points.

Game 6: Centennial at Kaukauna
Kaukauna rains in 4 3s in less than the 1st 2 minutes for a 12-6 lead and a Centennial timeout. They make 6 in the quarter for a 22-16 lead after 1. The Centennial defense tightens up and holds Kaukauna to 8 points in the 2nd to close within 30-27 at the half. 3rd quarter also quiet and even. A pair of free throws right at the end of the quarter give the hosts Ghosts a 40-38 lead going to the final stanza. Kevin Grow picks up his 4th foul with 7:44 left and has to sit. Then an 8-1 Kaukauna run allows the Ghosts to put the game out of reach. 6 of those are free throws and the last bucket is off a turnover.   Kaukauna wins 58-52. Tyler Peterson leads Centennial with 20 points, Kevin Grow with 11. Kyle Schalow with 17 points (8-8 FTs and 3 bombs) to lead Kaukauna.

After seeing 13 out of 14 games under quarter rules, I'll be happy to go back to 18 minute halves. The flow is just so much better.

All the Lions roar

Prologue
Its another trip to St. Paul to see a battle of Lions as St. Croix Prep makes the trip to The Sal to take on CHOF. As usual no real concessions but the usual Kit Kat and a 20 oz Red Gatorade keep the beverage counter moving. St. Croix Prep coach Matt McCollister pulling out the white suit coat for this one. Idea being if its cold outside trick yourself into thinking its warm. So let's see, white jacket, I grew up in the 80s, coach McCollister kind of has that Don Johnson look. So today's song is one of the easiest picks of the year.

Song of the Day
Jan Hammer - Miami Vice Theme

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 860 ounces (80 games, 62 days)

36 oz Dr Pepper
36 oz Sprite
12 oz 7 Up
120 oz Red Powerade
80 oz Red Gatorade
384 oz Pepsi
152 oz Coke
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer

Game Time
CHOF center Anders Strandlund inside for 2, then a steal and he takes it for a nice dunk and a shot block on the other end. 12-9 CHOF at the 12:19 mark. Then Strandlund picks up his 2nd foul and it triggers a big SCPA run. Weston Berg a 3 point play on that 2nd foul. Chance Fisher for 3, a 3 point play and he ends the run with a steal for 2. 26-14 SCPA at the 5:28 mark. The run was 17-2 over 6:11. They carry that to a 34-21 halftime lead.

Strandlund picks up his 4th 10 seconds into the second half. Kai Ylonen's bucket with 15:39 left puts SCPA up 41-23 and the rout appears to be on. CHOF comes out in a 3/4 court 1-2-2 trap and SCPA has no good answer for it. That trap holds SCPA without a field goal for 8 minutes and its with Strandland sitting. Meanwhile Nate Johnston makes a living at the foul line in the 2nd half. He makes 4 freebies in a row and scores a bucket. Tate Piepkorn adds a 3 and Grant Geerdes with a couple buckets in the run as the SCPA lead is down to 43-36.

SCPA rebounds behind their leader Michael Gutierrez. He drives for 2 with the right hand and 2 more with the left hand and then gets a steal and reverses that. Then a comical moment. Johnston at the top key vs Gutierrez. Johnston ducks the shoulder, Gutierrez goes down, Johnston rises up and kicks out the legs Reggie Miller style and gets the call. He makes 2 of those 3 freebies and then 2 more freebies to cut the lead to 5. 49-44 SCPA with 4:57. Chance Fisher helps SCPA salt it away with 4 points in an 8-2 spurt. SCPA wins 63-50.

Post Game
For CHOF, Nate Johnston leads the way with 15 of his 17 points in the 2nd half. He was 11-13 from the charity stripe in the 2nd half. Grant Geerdes 11 points for the Lions. CHOF still pretty young so they have a couple of years of improvement ahead. The Lions fall to 5-7 overall. They host Bjorn Broman and Lakeview Christian on Friday night with a quick turnaround vs Bethany on Saturday afternoon.

St. Croix Prep gets 21 points from Michael Gutierrez, 15 of those in the 2nd half. His 6 point spurt after the 8 minute drought got the Lions back on track. Lefty Chance Fisher with a very productive game of 16 points. Wes Berg with 12 points, 8 of those from foul line. St. Croix Prep improves to 9-6 overall. A rematch with FAIR (2 point win in 1st meeting) looms next week after a home game with Spectrum on Friday. Then tough games with New Life and St .Paul Academy after that.

2014 Midwest Players Classic Thoughts

Prologue
Off to The Old Kingdom for the 4th Annual Midwest Players Classic at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, WI. Not quite the Minnesota representation of past years but we still get 3 Minnesota teams and 2 from the metro. Quality games all day with some nice current and future talent on display. 3 20oz bottles of Pepsi get me through the day.

Game Time
I open the day by watching my alma mater (La Crosse Central) take on Wisconsin Rapids. Rapids down 7 at the half when I arrive thanks to the awful travel conditions. But freshman Philip Flory has a big 2nd half and Central can't score. Czar goes -18 on the scoreboard. Flory goes for 26 and Wisconsin Rapids wins 60-49. So much for my playing time. Nice to get a chance to see Wisconsin's top frosh play well. He's already verbally committed to Marquette.

Game 2 featured Rochester John Marshall taking on Wauwatosa West. Soph Michael Hurt with a big day for the Rockets. His 3 at the end of the 1st quarter puts JM up 18-15. 8 more points in the 2nd allows the Rockets to go up 10 at half. But Tosa West goes on a 16-2 to take the lead midway through the 3rd quarter. JM would pound the offensive boards and that would be a difference. Hurt misses a late front end but makes 1 of 2 and that's enough for JM to hold on for the 67-64 win. Hurt goes for 26 points in the win and had to have double digit boards.

We'll skip ahead to the showcase game De La Salle vs Iowa City West. West is the 2 time defending state champs in Iowa and just had a 60 game winning streak snapped. The Trojans knocked off Marquette commit Nick Noskowiak and Sun Prairie in Wisconsin Dells last weekend. De La Salle without Geno Crandall and James Lawson but Reid Travis back in the starting lineup.

David Dileo knocks down a pair of 3s from UNI commit Wyatt Lohaus to get Iowa City West rolling. Lohaus and his soph brother Tanner are the sons of former Iowa star big man Brad Lohaus. Goanar Mar with a 3 point play late in the 1st quarter to keep DLS within 16-11 at the 1st break. Jarvis Johnson a 3 off the high screen, Sacar Anim a baseline drive for a nasty dunk and a Malcolm Porter putback late in the 2nd give the Islanders a little moment as they stay within 25-20 at half.

Lohaus up and under and frosh Conner McCaffrey (Iowa coach Fran McCaffrey's son) for 3 and the lead is quickly up to 10. Travis responds with 3 post touches for 2 dunks and a free throw. Lohaus cuts for 2, then a pair of jumpers and he beats the buzzer with a tough 2 as he scores 10 in the quarter, including the last 8 for the Trojans. 40-31 West after 3.

De La Salle has the proverbial run in them and its right out of the gate. Jarvis Johnson jumper, Travis with another dunk, Anim for 3, Travis inside for 2 more after a West timeout. We're back to even at 40 with 4:50 to play. Dileo cold after the 1st 2 3s knocks down back to back bombs and McCaffrey from deep with 2:30 left. 49-44 West appears in control. Lohaus another bucket with 2 minutes left to push the lead to 6. Josh Collins with a layup with 1:20 left to cut the lead to 3. But De La Salle has only 1 team foul. In the process of trying to get it in, De La Salle pushes West backwards down the court. Jarvis Johnson gets the eventual turnover and scores with 29.7 left to cut the lead to 1. De La Salle still with 3 fouls to give. Finally with 16.6 seconds left they send Lohaus to the line and he misses the front end. De La Salle sets up 1 final play and West uses their foul to give with 7.7 left. Collins fouled with 2.2 left down 1. He makes the 1st, misses the 2nd but somehow gets it back and has a great look at a 14 footer at the horn to win it. But that's no good and we'll have overtime tied at 51.

Anim converts a turnover for 2 and makes 2 free throws for a 56-54 DLS lead with 2:19 left in the OT. Travis grabs a miss but misses 2 free throws with 1:42 left. Lohaus misses another front end with 45 seconds left. Jeffrey Daubanton scores with 20 seconds left to push the lead to 4 and Anim adds the final bucket for a 60-54 De La Salle win in overtime. Sacar Anim 13 of his 15 in the 4th quarter and OT. Reid Travis 11 of his 15 in the 2nd half. Jarvis Johnson 13. Wyatt Lohaus finishes with 23 and despite the 2 missed front ends was outstanding. David Dileo 4 3s for 12 points.

The nightcap was East Ridge taking Middleton, WI. East Ridge is a total MASH unit right now with their entire frontline sitting out. Ryan Keenan and Ryan Mathis out due to injury and Brian Ishola out for the year with an ACL injury. But the guards are still plenty talented. Jake Knupp with 10 points in the 1st quarter to lead the Raptors to a 3 point lead at the 1st break. Seth Green with a 3 point play to end a 10-0 play across the quarter. 21-13 Raptors at the 5:09 mark of the 2nd. UW-Milwaukee walkon Derek Rongstad knocks down a 3 to break that streak and then buries 2 late 3s to keep Middleton close at the half. 26-22 East Ridge at halftime.

Luke Schafer and Jake Knupp carry their team's offense in the 3rd quarter. Both score 7 points in the quarter. 37-35 East Ridge after 3. Sid Tomes for 3 and a Knupp drive to push the lead to 6. Schafer for 3 and he takes a turnover for 2 more to cut the East Ridge lead to 45-43 with 3 minutes left. Green with back to back buckets around a Middleton turnover to extend the lead to 6. Middleton on the offensive board for a 3 point play. East Ridge misses a front end but Middleton can't convert. Sid Tomes makes 4 straight freebies. Schafer with an offensive board for 2 free throws to cut the lead to 2. Knupp makes 1 last free throw and Rongstad's 3 at the horn is short. East Ridge wins 54-51. Jake Knupp with 10 of his 22 in the 1st quarter.

Only 1 game out of the 6 wasn't right down to the wire. While there wasn't the high profile local talent of years past (Matt Thomas, Bronson Koenig), still plenty of outstanding players and games to see. Once again, great to see the hometown put on a quality showcase.

Neumann torches the nets again

Prologue
I continue this week's tour of St. Paul with a visit to #8AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall for a big Suburban East showdown with Roseville. Roseville undefeated in league play, CDH 1 game back. The usual quality hot dog on the menu. Whoever invented the pull tab to squeeze or pull all the way off to dip packaging for the ketchup should be canonized immediately. That's a quality piece of work. Another short night of beverage with a 12 oz Coke. Great work by the CDH band with Lady Gaga's Poker Face to start the night and then Bad Romance later. But we have to acknowledge a big game with today's tune.

Song of the Day
When you're hot you're hot - Jerry Reed

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 780 ounces (73 games, 58 days)

36 oz Dr Pepper
36 oz Sprite
12 oz 7 Up
120 oz Red Powerade
60 oz Red Gatorade
324 oz Pepsi
152 oz Coke
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer

Game Time
Early on its a surprise to see a slow pace. Jesper Horsted with a tough 2 for a 6-5 Roseville lead at the 13:50 mark. Sam Neumann coast to coast for a 3 point play after burying a 3. 18-10 CDH immediately countered by 8 in a row from Roseville. Then 24-20 CDH before a 11-0 Roseville run triggered by Kyler Briggity with 8 in a row via drive, 3 and a reverse layup for a 3 point play. 31-24 Roseville takes over the lead at the 4:30 mark. Neumann keeping his offense going with a pair of free throws, a putback, a nice cut for 1 of 2 freebies and 2 more free throws in the last minute. 39-38 Roseville at the half. Sam Neumann with 22, Kyler Briggity with 16.

Roseville comes out with a 1-3-1 zone and immediately converts a pair of turnovers into Lance Gardner layups. Horsted with a layup and Jake Geyen driving for a free throw and then a power 2. Horsted adds a 3 point play for a 53-45 Roseville lead with 11:52 left. Donnell Gresham for 3 before Neumann goes off Bombs away, a steal for 2 free throws, another bomb, a post up for the reverse layup and foul, another post up for 2, an offensive board for 2 free throws, another bucket and foul and then he caps it off with a chance at a 4 point play. He scores 19 straight CDH points over 5 minutes. Not to mention he missed all 3 free throws on the And 1 chances thanks to a nasty hitch at the top of his free throw. That gets all 3 Roseville bigs with 4 fouls with 7:41 left. Neumann's personal run takes CDH from down 5 to up 4. 67-63 CDH with 5:50 left. Roseville misses 4 straight chances at the line to hang around near the end of that run. They can't hit anything from the field and do take some quick shots as they go 6 minutes without a field goal starting at the 8 minute mark. CDH spreads the floor with the lead and not much to do about it. CDH wins 86-73.

Post Game
Roseville falls into a 3 way tie in the loss column for 1st in the Suburban East at 7-1. They are now 9-6 overall. The 6 losses are all quality losses but they've given up an average of 88.5 points in those losses. There's much work to be done on the defensive end. They tried zone, they tried Gardner and Horsted on Neumann, no good answers. Kyler Briggity leads the way with 22 points. 16 of those in the 1st half. Jake Geyen with 11 off the bench. A pair of tough conference rematches next week against Mounds View (1 point buzzer beater win) and at White Bear Lake (4 point OT win after 2 late free throws to force OT).

Cretin-Derham Hall takes over the top spot in the league by an extra win. They've finished the 1st rotation of Suburban East play at 8-1 and are now 12-3 overall. Sam Neumann goes off again for 45 points. 5 3s in that and 12-15 from the foul line. He got great looks and wasn't looking at the really deep 3 like we saw at the TWolves Shootout. This was more attacking the basket, either off the bounce or from the post where he was willing to bang. That's great to see. Donnell Gresham adds late free throws to get to 11 points. They play Grand Rapids in the MLK Classic at UMD on Monday. Then its back to Suburban East play at Stillwater and home against Forest Lake.

Minutemen answer the call again

Prologue
Its a pair of new teams on the schedule tonight. Wayzata makes their usual non-conference game against the St. Paul City as they visit newly ranked Central. Central comes in at #7 in this week's AAA poll. Are they the next team in the bottom half of that poll to jump in and then get bounced out? Expensive but good hot dog to go with 12 ounces of 7 Up.

Song of the Day
You Belong to the City - Glenn Frey

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 768 ounces (72 games, 57 days)

36 oz Dr Pepper
36 oz Sprite
12 oz 7 Up
120 oz Red Powerade
60 oz Red Gatorade
324 oz Pepsi
140 oz Coke
20 oz Barq's Root Beer
20 oz Mug Root Beer

Game Time
Kalu Abosi off to a good start inside for Central with 6 points. Rayeon Williams with 7 in a row ending with an NBA 3. That counters 6 early points from Wayzata's Ty Gelinske. 15-9 Central at the 10:22 mark. Abosi with a putback and then ends an 8-0 Central run with a 3 out of THE WORLD'S WORST OFFENSE. That gives Central a 10 point lead but Will Beeninga counters with 2 quick bombs. Central ends the half with 8 of the last 10 as Wayzata only gets 1 more FG in the half. 35-25 Central at the break. As much as I talk about poor free throw shooting, nice to see these teams combine for a perfect 18 for 18 in the half.

Williams and Abosi continuing to carry the offense for Central. A Williams 3 and Abosi bucket push the lead to 15. Abosi with a pair of buckets to sandwich another Gelinske hoop. Then Jakobi Jackson with back to back hoops and the lead is 57-40 with 7:07 left. Central spreads in the last 5 minutes. That leads to a Sam Gubbrud layup and 2 free throws from Williams. 63-44 Central in control with 3:17 left. Wayzata would score the last 12 points to make this game look much closer than the final score indicates. Johnny Beeninga with 8 of those 12. Central wins 63-56.

Post Game
Wayzata falls to 7-9 on the season but they don't have a marquee win. Ty Gelinske leads the Trojans with 10 of his 16 in the 1st half. Johnny Beeninga finishes with 14 but he was largely a non-factor. Wayzata needs his offense. The Trojans are taking their lumps this year with 4 sophomore starters and the first 3 reserves are juniors. They host Elk River on Tuesday before jumping into the Lake Conference schedule against Minnetonka next Friday.

#7AAA Central improves to 9-3 with the win. Kalu Abosi with 20 points inside. Rayeon Williams 20 points outside, 15 of those in the 1st half. He was able to get to foul line for 8-8. The Minutemen return to St. Paul City play at Washington on Friday. They have good wins over Cloquet and Hermantown from section 7AAA. The real barometer will be the 2 games against Johnson in the last 3 weeks of the season.

Rebels continue to rumble

Prologue
Off to #3AAAA Champlin Park for a non-conference game with Spring Lake Park. Surprised I didn't see more notables in the building. But we did have former Minnesota assistant Ron Jirsa in the building. Nice hot dog and 20 oz of Red Powerade on the concessions menu.

Song of the Day
Somebody that I used to know - Gotye featuring Kimbra

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 756 ounces (71 games, 56 days)

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

Game Time
The threes are flying early. Collin Price countered by Ian Smith. TC Robinson off the screen and roll countered by Jeremy Johnson from the left corner. Its Johnson again to end an 8-0 Champlin Park run that gives them their first lead. Eric Curran on the high low feed for a 3 point play at 13:02. That brings Spring Lake Park back to a 13 all tie. Then the Rebels start to pull away. Brennan Witt with a layup, JT Gibson drives the zone for a 3 point play, Smith to the reverse and a floater and Johnson takes a turnover for 2. That's an 11-2 Champlin Park run. 24-15 Rebels inside of the 11 minute mark. Price fouled on a 3 and makes all 3 free throws at 8:20. 30-22 Champlin Park before they blow the game open. Marty Hill and Gibson for 3, Jack Darnell 2 inside buckets off the bench, Smith and Gibson with 2 more bombs. Its a 16-4 run in 3 and a half minutes and the lead is up to 20. Witt with a pair of late layups and the lead stays at 20, 56-36 at the half. More of the same in the 2nd half with lots of bench minutes. Champlin Park wins 95-72.

Post Game
Spring Lake Park falls to 7-7 overall with the loss. Collin Price with 20 to lead the Panthers. Devonte Skrebes and TC Robinson with 13 each. No success with the 1-3-1 zone as Champlin Park just sliced it up. But not enough firepower either to keep up on the scoreboard. They host Fridley on Friday as they attempt to stay tied in the loss column in the North Suburban race.

Champlin Park is now 15-1 overall and 10-0 in the Northwest Suburban. They've won 14 straight since the close loss at Hopkins over Thanksgiving. The Rebels are off until next Tuesday when they start the 2nd rotation of league play against Maple Grove before a dandy at Armstrong next Friday. Jeremy Johnson outstanding as he leads all scorers with 24 points. Ian Smith and Brennan Witt with 16 each and both not only scored but had plenty of assists as well. Great team ball movement and great offensive balance.

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