2021 July Open Period 2 Preview

We have the first open period of 2021 in the books.  Now we have 2 special open periods thanks to the pandemic.  Here are this week's locations.

Sioux Falls
A large chunk of the notable Minnesota teams will be in Sioux Falls for the Sanford Pentagon league finals.  South Dakota Attack jumps into the league to fill some Omaha Crusaders spots.  They'll provide a stiff test for Fury Wilde on Friday and Select Ohnstad on Saturday.  Select Ohnstad beat South Dakota Attack by 20 in a showcase game in St. Cloud last month.  Fury Wilde (undefeated) and Select Ohnstad (tied for 2nd in the league with 2 losses) meet up Friday night in what could be a preview of Sunday's championship game.  Pharrel Payne had another productive weekend last weekend in Birmingham for Select.  Quarterfinals begin Saturday night with the semis and finals on Sunday.

Council Bluffs
The D1 Minnesota squads will be just down I-29 in Council Bluffs, IA for the Adidas Championships.  The 17s open bracket play (32 team bracket) on Friday with a stiff test against Wildcat Select with Virginia commit Isaac McKneely.  The 2nd round could be against the host Omaha Crusaders and local star Josh Dix.  Dix has a Minnesota offer and is a top priority for Iowa.  He was outstanding at the MBCA showcase last month.  Otherwise they'll play a loaded Compton Magic crew with a top 20 star nationally and 2 other high major commits. 

Kansas City
Staying on I-29, we'll find the Grassroots Sizzle 2nd 17s and Real Phenom-Nick squads at the Sunflower Showcase.  Solid weekend for that Real Phenom squad in Atlanta last week.  MN Chill along with a Grassroots Sizzle squad will be representing the 16s as well.

Dallas
Veering south on I-35 all the way to the metroplex there are a couple of DFW events of note.  Grassroots Sizzle will be in week 2 of Under Armour play.  The D1 MN Prospects squad will be in the Prep Hoops event there.  Mpls Flight Squad will be also there in the 16s.

Augusta
Now head east on I-20 and drive forever.  The Howard Pulley 17s will be in the Peach State Select event.  Next door their 15s and 16s are playing 1 game each day thru Monday in EYBL regular season play.  Nike then goes right into the Peach Jam for all levels on Tuesday.

Louisville
Heading back towards home, Team GetShook and Gain Elite continue NY2LA play.  Gain Elite took their lumps at 0-6 against a very tough schedule last weekend but was very competitive.  A rematch with 3D Empire and star Anthony Black (70-60 loss last Sunday) could await them in the 2nd round of their 16 team bracket.

Appleton
A brief detour before making it home sees some Minnesota teams making the shorter Prep Hoops trip to Appleton, WI.  That includes Starks Elite and MN Crossfire Pederson in the 17s. They meet at 3:35 on Sunday.  Crossfire Barger and MN Bounce along with 2 Magic squads and 2 Crossfire squads play in the 16s.

Local
Ah home.  D1 Minnesota has their annual local summer tournament this weekend.  Despite it being an open weekend, still a respectable field with WOTN-Johnson, Heat Grow, MN Lightning Ellerbusch, MSP Elite and 2 MN Magic squads in the 17s.

2021 Great Plains Alliance Review

Back to AAU normalcy with no COVID restrictions in place at the 2021 Great Plains Alliance in St. Cloud.  A large contingent of NSIC and MIAC coaches in attendance for what is one of the vastly underappreciated recruiting events of the summer.  Reason being that this is the event, not those long road trips in July, that will get the vast majority of Minnesota recruits their looks.

16U Division
South Dakota Attack 16s took home the championship with a 79-59 win over WOTN Bertsch.  That was a 1 point game at halftime but Attack came out of halftime on a 19-5 run.  Issac Bruns with 16 of his 24 points in the 2nd half to lead Attack to the win.  The big wing is definitely in the discussion for the top 2023 player in South Dakota.  3 others in double figures in the victory.  JT Thornton (Lakeville North) and Anish Ramlall (Rosemount) combined for 29 first half points but were held scoreless in the 2nd half.  Both players have had nice seasons for WOTN.

Really enjoyed watching the WI Crusaders 16s with their screening and cutting offense.  Especially in today's pace and space nature of the game that leads to nothing more than drive and kick action. 

A nice 3-1 weekend for the MN Rise 16s.  They had a double digit comeback to beat MN Bounce 62-60 in the quarters before bowing out to the champs in the semis.

17U Division
WI Crusaders 17s took home the title with a 65-49 win over upstart Comets Belka.  Tyler Borowski and Carter Thomas leading the Crusaders on championship day.  5 out offense with a bunch of interchangeable parts makes this a dangerous squad.

Comets Belka was the big team story of the weekend at 4-1.  They took out Sacred Hoops in their showcase game and then no problems with WI Crusaders Select in the round of 16.  Then a late Friday night win over Comets DLR before bouncing Select Ohnstad 66-60 in the semis.  Mitchell Degen (Brainerd) and Zach Zrust (Buffalo) bright spots for the Comets.  Zrust is a versatile big man who can step out and shoot it.  Will be interesting to track him in July.

MN Rise was the 4th semifinalist and finished their weekend 3-1.  That included a nice 55-42 win over South Dakota Attack.  That 20 point loss to WI Crusaders in the semis was an 8 point game later in the 2nd half before 1 last run put the game away.  Brayden Williams (Owatonna) leading the way for Rise once again.

We've talked a lot about Pharrell Payne (Park of Cottage Grove) and rightfully so.  He didn't disappoint this weekend.  Benard Omooria (Osseo) really helped himself with solid shooting all weekend.  Kenji Scales is another PG that continues to be solid as well.  Williams, Omooria and Scales part of a group of similar guards that are trying to break out of the pack.

Solid 3-1 weekend for WOTN Johnson.  They beat a couple of depleted squads in Northstar Titans Terhaar (buzzer beater) and Heat MacDonald.  A close loss to Select Ohnstad in the quarters where they held Pharrell Payne to 6-15 shooting and then beat Comets DLR in a consolation game.  Connor Beauchamp (Lakeville South) with a solid weekend on the wing with 22 points in that Select game.  Nick Burke (SW Christian) also with a productive weekend.  They did that without one of their top weapons, Kyle Hrncir (Farmington), as well.

2021 MBCA Camp Thoughts

After a year off, the MBCA camp returned in bigger fashion.  Good to be back in the gym and see the D1 coaches in attendance for the 1st time in almost 2 years.  The 2nd edition of the camp expanded to over 140 players and 16 teams.  That's up from the 100 kids and 12 teams used 2 years ago.  As the saying goes, it takes a village and that we had.  32 coaches jumping in to coach the teams and many others behind the scenes in the operations side to make everything run smoothly.  Like 2 years ago, we had top kids from the Dakotas represented and this year a handful of Iowa stars attended as well.

With 4 games going on at once, it was difficult to catch everyone and with trying to see a bit of everyone, you end up really following no one.  Always difficult to strike that balance.  So with that in mind, I tried to stay on the main court and catch a full game rather than running around.  Most of the teams did have a game there.  Here's what caught my eye.

Player Notes

• Sam Rensch - Hutchinson.  He started out the event with a 26 point outing.  Impressive shooting and a great stroke.  Great size.  Augustana already with an offer and he'd be a great get for them.
• Nolan Winter - Lakeville North.  He had a hot start with 3 triples before quieting down.  But the upside is definitely visible.
• Brandon Melchior - CDH (transferring from Elk River).  The big man showed well in a couple of games.  That included the final game vs Prior Lake's Malcolm Jones.  The size is there and he has some skill.  Playing with Tre Holloman during the high school season now won't hurt him either.
• Logan Kinsey - Spring Lake Park.  The bouncy forward didn't disappoint.  Very active weekend for him.  Already holds an offer from Moorhead.
• JT Rock - Sioux Falls, SD.  One of the 2024 notables at the event.  The 7 footer is thin but he can shoot it, pass it and moves well.  Great that he got a chance to play in an event like this.
• Josh Dix - Council Bluffs, IA.  A late high major addition to the event and he did not disappoint.  He visited Iowa early this month and the Hawks had 3 staff members watch him over the weekend.  A bigger guard than I remember watching on video during the season.  Will be a great asset at either guard spot.
• Caden Hinker - Mitchell, SD.  A versatile forward who Augustana would love to keep at their level.  Didn't get many inside touches but showed plenty of range with his jumper.
• Tre Holloman - CDH.  Passing definitely there and he made shots which is going to be the biggest question with his game.
• Kendall Blue - East Ridge.  Can't hurt playing on home turf.   Very effective scoring.
• Prince Aligbe - Minnehaha.  Took advantage of some favorable matchups and was effective off the bounce.
• Pharrell Payne - Park of Cottage Grove.  Played well enough in front of the Gophers staff to bring home a Minnesota offer during the event.  Young for his grade and a great frame, the upside is big.
• Josh Ola-Joseph - Osseo.  Had arguably the biggest highlight dunk of the camp.  Picked up a Loyola-Chicago offer for his play.  The term freak athlete is overused but definitely applies in his case.  I love the thought of him as a small ball 4 man mismatch at the next level.

Impressions
As expected everything with the camp was well organized.  The opening speeches, hour of 4 on 2 with 2 chasers and hour plus of skills could be cut back.  Granted I did love Mitch Ohnstad's full court drive and kick continuous drill and its variations.  I think giving the coaches more time to work with their team before the games to put some semblance of a system in would be advisable too.  That was really reflected in the poor quality of play.  Unlike 2 years ago, despite what the coaches I'm sure emphasized, the players didn't seem to buy into the idea that this was an event for coaches to evaluate.  Ragged play, bad shot selection, lack of hustle and not feeding the bigs was endemic.  Out of the teams I saw, I think I saw 1 team try to use a 4 out 1 in.  Otherwise it was tons of high ball screen and Do Him offense.  2 years ago, it was understandable to see the 3rd game of the day have lower quality with tired kids.  But this year it was 2 games Friday night and only 2 on Saturday.  No real excuses.  It will be interesting to see what this looks like in St. Cloud this week with the D2s out for a major viewing at the Great Plains Alliance and especially in the 3 open periods in July.

2021 Battle at the Lakes Viewing Summary

Its another weekend of online viewing on Fishbowl TV.  That's Baller TV when its unusable which is far too often.  I took in a list of games from the weekend at Battle at the Lakes.  My focus was largely on local teams that I hadn't seen or noteworthy local vs local matchups.  Here are bullet points of what I saw, in order of viewing.  Then we'll add some quick bonus thoughts on a couple teams that were in the loaded Kansas City Classic this weekend.

Friday

• Gain Elite 16s 75-70 win over Heat Pratt.  Big game of 26 points from DLS guard Nasir Whitlock to lead Gain Elite to the win.  He was also good in the bookend game of my weekend for their 17s vs Fury Narum.  Miles Barnette 4 triples and 16 points in his home gym to keep Heat in it. Icy cold first half did them in.  Both teams finished 3-1 on the weekend.
  
• Northstar Titans Terhaar 17s took out Quad City 53-50 in their opener.  Nice passing from Chaska post Brady Nicholson in this one.  He had a huge size advantage but was more of a distributor in this one.  Nick Bartlett (Forest Lake) 14 points with 3 triples to lead the Titans to the win.  They ran the table 4-0 this weekend.
  
• Playmakers Showcase North 16s def Fury Hayes 50-37.  Impressive outing for South Ridge post Austin Josephson who put up numbers somewhere in the 20/10 range.  No answer for his size inside.  But he also showed some range on a jumper.  Both teams finished the weekend 2-2.
  

Saturday 

• I started my viewing with a shooting gallery display from the Fury Antl 16s.  They knock down 11 triples from 5 different guys in the 1st half alone.  53-19 at the break on Playmakers Showcase Wausau as they roll to an 84-48 win.  Fury also beat them handily in the Comets Shootout championship but I didn't expect this kind of result.  They aren't big, but if they get it moving and clicking, this is what happens.  Fury runs the table 4-0 for the weekend with all double digit wins.
  
• That allowed me to flip over to the MN Chill 16s.  Don't freeze this group out of your thoughts.  They beat the Madison Spartans 63-43.  That's a Spartans squad that features 2 top 20 kids in Wisconsin.  They get after you all game and have athletes.  Only chink in the armor is they are short on shooting.  But this is a team that deserves mention with that 2nd tier group of teams.   They finished the weekend 3-2.
  
• Fury Wilde def Tulsa Hawks 76-56.  Fury blows open a 13 point halftime lead to win by mercy rule.  Jackson Loge (Morris) leading the way with 19 points.  He was terrific all weekend and picked up a Toledo offer in the process.  Great balance on offense with 5 in double figures.  They also did a nice job on Tulsa star shooter Parker Friedrichsen.  14 points and 4 3s for him but only 1 2nd half field goal.
• D1 Prospects 17s lost a heartbreaker to Breakaway.  D1 missed a late free throw to extend the lead to 3.  Breakaway pushed the ball back the other way and hit a 3 at the buzzer to win 69-68. 
• In the showcase game of the weekend, D1 Minnesota def Select Ohnstad 63-58 in 17s.  D1 played without Camden Heide.  D1 had a double digit 2nd half lead that Select was able to trim all the way down in the last minute.  Ultimately D1 got a good defensive stop up 3 at the end and sealed it at the charity stripe.  Good outings for Kenji Scales and Leo Torbor of Select.  D1s athletes making it tough for Select to generate any good offense.  Tamin Lipsey makes such a difference for D1.  0-4 without him in Chicago but D1 has been 7-2 with him back.  Kendall Blue, Josh Ola-Joseph and BJ Omot also with notable games for D1.  D1 Minnesota 3-1 on the weekend.  Select Ohnstad 2-3 on the weekend, 13-4 overall.
  
• WOTN Bertsch blew out Select Emge in the 2nd half on the way to a 63-36 win.  WOTN had a 25-4 run before 3 late Select FTs came before the mercy rule.  I continue to like JT Thornton of Lakeville North for WOTN.  WOTN Bertsch finishes 3-1.  Select Emge was 1-4
  
• I just caught the end of the Fury Zurn 15 game where they lost to WI Playground Club 72-67.  5'8 PG Jaquan Johnson (a top WI frosh) went absolutely nuts with 45 points for PGC.  Fury had no answer for him late or at any other point.  Fury finished 2-2 in the top pool but didn't get a game vs D1 Minnesota sadly.
  
• MN Bounce suffered their first loss of the season vs Team 1848 by a score of 44-39.  Offense hard to come by for both teams in this one.  Bounce held a 35-30 lead before Team 1848 finished the game on a 14-4 run.  Bounce's lack of size saw them get beat up inside and on the offensive glass.  MN Bounce finishes the weekend 2-2 to be 10-2 overall for the season.
  
• Speaking of size, WOTN Johnson used their size to knock off Northstar Titans Barker 62-41.  Titans had this game within 6 early in the 2nd half.  Nick Burke (SW Christian) 16 points to lead WOTN.  Also saw flashes from Miles Hettinger (Stewartville) and Dayne Wojcik (Goodhue).  WOTN finishes the weekend 3-1, now 5-3 overall.  Northstar Titans Barker finishes 2-2.
  

Sunday 

• Fury Wilde def D1 Prospects 58-51.  Prospects had a 45-39 lead but couldn't hold it.  Big plays late from Maddox Alipate (Benilde-St. Margaret's) to put Fury over the top.  Ahjany Lee in and out of the lineup due to injury but still ended up in double figures.  Fury 3-1 on the weekend.  D1 Prospects finish 0-4.
• Fury Narum ran the table 4-0 by finishing the weekend with a 63-55 win over Gain Elite.  Gain Elite's front line of Kabine Kaba and Jamal Ambrose very productive.  Ambrose has to project as next year's Henry Shannon for Eastview.  Kaba was a solid player for Park Center this year and is very active inside.  Cam Holter (AHA) and Quinten Snell (Shakopee) came up with critical bucket and plays for Fury Narum to put them over the top.  Gain Elite finishes the weekend 2-2.

Kansas City Bonus Thoughts
Since I didn't have anything on the Saturday night session, I went back and found the Pulley 16s vs CP3 game from Kansas City.  CP3 with 3 top 100 kids on the 16s, enough said.  But Pulley hung around for a long while before losing 73-66.  Pulley finished 1-3 on the weekend against a stacked pool with 4 other EYBL teams.  3 of those ranked in the top 10 nationally.  Will Underwood (Mahtomedi) and Nolan Winter (Lakeville North) lead that squad and I'm high on both.  Underwood controlled the offense with around 20 points but a quiet day for Winter in the game I saw. Pulley with no real size and CP3 took advantage.  Solid weekend for the 15s as they went 2-2 vs 4 shoe teams.  The 17s ran the table 4-0 but were not in one of the top pools.  Team GetShook actually played more EYBL teams (2) than Pulley did (1).  GetShook was 0-4 losing all 4 games by double figures.

I also managed on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon to take in a little bit of highly touted Mikey Williams.  He joined top 5 ranked Chris Livingston and the We All Can Go squad for the games in the loaded Kansas City event.  A total circus surrounding him.  WACG split the 2 games I watched but the viewing was AAUBingo galore.  In fairness, with all the attention on him and joining a brand new team for a week, very hard to manage all of that.

 

2021 Battle at the Lakes Games to See

A notable event on the May schedule is back as Battle at the Lakes returns.  Lots of Minnesota on Minnesota crime as expected here.  Its a pools only schedule, no brackets.  Here are games that stick out to me in schedule order.  All games are on Baller.TV but good luck getting that to work.

17U
PM North Showcase vs Select Mantey Fri 6:00

MSP Elite vs Select Mantey Sat 9:05
Fury Wilde vs Tulsa Hawks Sat 11:15
D1 vs Select Ohnstad Sat 12:20
MSP Elite vs PM North Showcase Sat 12:20
Northstar Titans Barker vs MN Lightning Ellerbusch Sat 12:20
Comets Belka vs MN Magic Premier Sat 2:30
Heat Grow vs Comets Elite Sat 5:45
WOTN Johnson vs Northstar Titans Barker Sat 5:45

D1 vs WI Playground Sun 9:05
D1 Prospects vs Fury Wilde Sun 10:10
Select Ohnstad vs Tulsa Hawks Sun 10:10
Select Ohnstad vs WI Playground Sun 12:20
WOTN Johnson vs MN Lightning Ellerbusch Sun 12:20
Fury Narum vs Gain Elite Sun 2:30

The highlight here is 11-1 Select Ohnstad taking on D1 Minnesota in the top pool.  D1 Minnesota started their season 0-5 but won their last 4 games in Kansas City 2 weeks ago.  Ahjany Lee and Joe Hurlburt vs Pharrell Payne is the highlight matchup in that one.  Lee and Hurlburt are high major guys, Payne is emerging quickly trying to jump into that same conversation.  (Czar's Correction: Lee plays on the D1 Prospects squad).  WI Playground also in that pool with star Jeffrey Brazziel amongst others.  Fury Wilde is in the 2nd pool with the Tulsa Hawks and the D1 MN Prospects.  2 very good games there.  Select Ohnstad gets a crossover game with the Hawks as well.

I was hoping we'd get Northstar Titans Terhaar rather than Northstar Titans Barker in the WOTN Johnson pool to go with MN Lightning Ellerbusch.  MSP Elite (Spring Lake Park crew including Logan Kinsey who just got a MN-Moorhead offer) gets a couple Minnesota opponents in their pool with Select Mantey and Playmakers North Showcase.  Heat Grow vs Comets Elite and Fury Narum vs Gain Elite stick out to me as games to show where you really stand.

16U
Gain Elite vs Heat Pratt, Fri 6 PM
Playmakers North vs Fury II 8:05 Fri

Fury Antl vs WI Playmakers Wausau 3-1 Sat 10:10
Comets Elite vs Playmakers North 12:20 Sat
WOTN Bertsch vs Select Emge 1:25 Sat
MN Bounce vs Team 1848, 2:30 Sat
Select Emge vs MN Lightning Ellerbusch Sat 7:55
Comets Elite vs Fury II Sat 9 PM

Heat Pratt vs MN Chill, Sun 9:05
Fury Antl vs WI Playground Sun 10:10
WOTN Bertsch vs MN Lightning Ellerbusch 11:15 Sun
Gain Elite vs MN Chill Sun 1:25

In Pool B, Fury Antl gets WI Playmakers Wausau in a rematch of the Comets Shootout championship game that Fury won big.  Fury Antl also gets top WI Playground squad.  Max Shikenjanski off to a hot start for Fury including a 39 point outburst last weekend vs the Pentagon Schoolers.  Good matchup in Pool D as you have 8-0 MN Bounce vs Team 1848.  Team 1848 was 3-1 in St. Cloud losing to Heat Pratt in the 1st round.  MN Bounce ran the table in the 2nd bracket in St. Cloud and won all 4 games in Atlanta last week.  Top WOTN and Select squads get together.  MN Chill has been on the road in Prep Hoops events and has played well.  Now a big weekend for them with quality local opponents in Heat Pratt and Gain Elite all in the same pool.  Fury Hayes, Playmakers North and Comets Elite all together in a pool as well. 

2021 Spring Hit The Road

This weekend was setup to be the 2nd NCAA open period of the spring.  With the NCAA shutting down D1s until June, we don't get that.  But that doesn't mean teams stay home.  This weekend most Minnesota teams hit the road.  There are a couple small local tournaments as well.  As it was to be an open period, I'll focus solely on the 17U teams here.

Kansas City
Prepare for a traffic jam on I-35 going south during the day on Friday and coming home Sunday afternoon.  23 17U teams from Minnesota will make the trip south, not to mention all the other levels. Feels like this year's midwest version of Las Vegas. 

15 of those teams are in the Prep Hoops event.  That includes both teams from D1, Fury, Select and Magic plus 4 Heat teams including their top 2.  MSP Elite, Northstar Titans Terhaar and Real Phenom (not sure which team) make up the rest.  

Games of Note
Fri 8:10 SD Attack vs Heat MacDonald
Sat 1:25 D1 vs Power5 3SSB
Sat 6:50 D1 vs Team Lavine 3SSB
Sun 9:05 D1 vs Dallas Showtyme Elite
Sun 9:05 Fury Wilde vs Iowa Barnstormers Gold
Sun 12:20 D1 vs Team Impact UAA
Sun 1:25 D1 Prospects vs Tulsa Hawks

A couple of fun regional games with Heat Mac taking on South Dakota Attack and Fury Wilde getting the top Iowa Barnstormers squad.  I wish we did more of those (similar to what we saw in Ames last July).  If only my dream of a 16 team regional championship could ever get off the ground.  D1 Minnesota's top team struggled last week going 0-4 in Chicago.  They get more shoe competition and a Dallas Showtyme group that was undefeated last week.  The D1 Prospects can get revenge for the top team against the Tulsa Hawks.  The Hawks were one of the teams to beat D1 last week in a 5 point game.

In the Recruit Look Kansas City session, Grassroots with their top 2 teams and Howard Pulley get their seasons underway.  Hustle Hard, Real Phenom (again not sure which team), MN Lightning Ellerbusch and 2 Minnesota Suns teams round out the local delegation.  

Games of Note
Sat 4:05 Howard Pulley vs KC Run GMC
Sat 5:10 Grassroots-Weston vs Nebraska Supreme
Sat 7:20 Grassroots-Caldwell vs Kingdom Hoops
Sun 1:55 Grassroots-Weston vs Colorado Hawks

Howard Pulley doesn't have to wait until their tournament for their annual meeting with KC Run GMC.  Grassroots-Weston gets fellow Under Armour member Nebraska Supreme and Isaac Traudt.  That Nebraska Supreme team is a merger between the Team Factory and Lincoln Supreme programs that were so good the last couple of years.  In the Sunday game, the Colorado Hawks feature top 5 2023 big man Baye Fall.  

For those with Baller.TV, the games from both tournaments will be live there.

The Rest
NY2LA teams will be in Louisville for a gigantic 3 organization event.  Long time AAU followers will probably recall the old Eddie Ford event that went on there.  That event includes the MN Comets, Team GetShook and Gain Elite.  A few other teams will make the trip to Sioux Falls. West Central Wildcats, Crossfire-Pederson, SW MN Stars, MN Rise, Comets Belka and West Central United are all in the top bracket there.  A little mid Minnesota crime there as WC United gets Comets Belka at 6:30 on Saturday night.

Locally
Minnesota Select and D1 Minnesota both have small tournaments in town this weekend.  E1T1 with 2 teams and Starks Elite in the D1 tourney.  Howard Pulley's other teams are playing up in the Select tourney.  Northstar Titans Barker and Rip City amongst the others in that 17U bracket.

2021 Comets Shootout Review

Great to have the Comets Shootout return after being called off due to COVID last year.  This was my 1st tourney seeing COVID protocols in place in person.  The back to back scheduling is different but there's something to be said for it.  Get in, get out and be done.  While we didn't have the full usual crowd of fans and college coaches, there was enough there to have a reasonable game time feel.  Regardless, great to be back in the gym.  With many metro teams only getting 1 practice in before the tourney due to the quick turnaround and early week curfews, we'll definitely see much different basketball from these teams later in the season.  But that's also the great equalizer of this tournament.  

Show Me (but not in Missouri):  Good runs by WOTN Bertsch and Crossfire Barger to the 16U Blue semifinals.  Liked what I saw from 16u ECI Prospects freshman Isaiah Schafer (more that on later), Isaac Nyakundi (Duluth East) of Starks Elite and JT Thornton (Lakeville North) of WOTN.  Jasper Hedin (Winona), Brandon Melchoir (Elk River), and Hakeem Ford (Mpls SW) caught my eye in the 17s.

Team that Most Surprised Me:  Real Phenom-Nick 17s lost their opener to Heat MacDonald but then ran the table with wins over Comets Belka, WI Swing Bredesen and Heat Grow to finish 3-1 and win the consolation side of the 17U Blue bracket.  Productive weekend for Davion Evans (Robbinsdale Cooper).

Best Finish of the Weekend: 17U Team GetShook vs WI Swing Bredesen.  In the Saturday opener, GetShook was down 3 with the ball with under 30 seconds to go.  Swing had 3 fouls to give and gave 1 of them.  But they couldn't give another.  Donald Ferguson (Osseo) hit a tough 3 to tie and then after Swing went too quick at the end we had a scramble with 5 seconds left.  GetShook picks up and throws it ahead for a Keyon Broussard (Roseville) layup to beat the buzzer and a 42-40 win.

Clap Along (if you feel like like happiness is the truth): One thing that really stuck out in 17s was the lack of size.  Lots of bigger wing types but in terms of real post guys, they're hard to find.  That was a key edge for Select Ohnstad having Pharrell Payne (Park of Cottage Grove) in the middle.  His impact was definitely felt this weekend and as a breakout guy during the regular season, the progression will be fun to watch.  Particularly since he's playing for Mitch Ohnstad who's known for his work with bigs.

Jump Off My Page: I saw only 1 15u game all weekend and that was the 15U blue championship.  North Dakota's top ranked 2024 Jeremiah Sem highlighted that game. H was the most explosive player I saw all weekend, regardless of age level.  Athletically he was at another level than anybody he played.  The game was a defensive struggle but Sem sealed it with a 3 point play and dunk in the last minute to give ECI Prospects the 39-32 championship over Team GetShook.  That ECI roster has 3 of the top 4 ranked freshman in North Dakota and the 4th plays up on their 16s (and played well).  Looking forward to see that group in the coming years with 2 good guards and 2 solid bigs. 

17U Blue Bracket Results
4-0 - Select Ohnstad (1st)
3-1 - Fury Wilde (2nd), Heat MacDonald (3rd), Comets Elite (5th), Real Phenom (9th) 
2-2 - WOTN Johnson (4th), Team GetShook (6th), MN Rise (7th), Heat Grow (10th), WI Swing Bredesen (11th), MN Lightning Ellerbusch (13th)
1-3 - Team 1848 (8th), ECI Prospects (12th), Fury Narum (14th), Comets Belka (15th)
0-4 Magic Premier (16th)

16U Blue Bracket Results
4-0 - Fury Antl (1st)
3-1 - Playmakers Showcase Wausau (2nd), WOTN Bertsch (3rd), WI Swing Bredesen (5th), Team 1848 (9th)
2-2 - Crossfire Barger (4th), Heat Pratt (6th), ECI Prospects (7th), Starks Elite (10th), Hall of Fame (11th), MN Lightning Ellerbusch (13th)
1-3 - MN Rise (8th), Fury Hayes (12th), Magic Premier (14th), Comets Elite (15th)
0-4 - Real Phenom (16th) 

15U Blue Bracket Results
4-0 - ECI Prospects (1st)
3-1 - Team GetShook (2nd), Fury Zurn (3rd), Playmakers Showcase (5th), Heat Bohrer (9th)
2-2 - Team 1848 (4th), MN Rise (6th), Crossfire Ronning (7th), Heat PB&J (10th), WI Swing Bredesen (11th), MN Rush (13th)
1-3 - MN Lightning Lyga (8th), MN Select Altenhofen (12th), WOTN Mitchell (14th), Magic Premier (15th)
0-4 - Comets Elite (16th)

16U White Bracket: MN Bounce 4-0 (1st) for the Maple Grove based group who got to play all 4 of their games at Whitney.  Great balance from that crew in the championship game with 9 of the 10 guys scoring at least 2 buckets and nobody in double figures.  Fun team to watch play.

2021 State Tourney Quick Hits

Some quick observations from the 2021 State Tournament

Class A
It was a wacky class A tourney with the top seeds going out immediately in the quarters.  Junior forward Matt Thompson of Hancock was a big part of that in the north half of the bracket.  A name that definitely caught the attention of coaches.  On the other side of the bracket, Ethan Slaathaug put Hayfield on his back with a monster tournament.  He graduates but Hayfield returns a ton behind him.  Expect the Vikings to make another big run next season..  

Class AA
How about Caledonia playing without their star Eli King and beating #2 Minneapolis North in the semis and giving #1 Waseca all they wanted before Ryan Dufault's game winner with 2.3 seconds left in the championship.  Not to mention getting thru a very tough section 1AA.  Athletics remain as strong as ever for the Warriors.  Don't expect them to drop too far.  

After making the AAA championship game in 2019, Waseca came in #1 this season and lived up to all the billing.  Despite only 13 combined points from Andrew Morgan and Kyreese Willingham and 6-30 total 3 point shooting in the championship game, the Bluejays still found a way to win the game of the day.

Class AAA
No shock here that Minnehaha took home their 4th straight title, 1st in AAA.  Byron gave them a fight in the quarters before the Redhawks cruised thru the semis and championship game.  What a run with 2 of the top players in Minnesota history during that stretch.  While Minnehaha for the 1st time in forever won't be a prohibitive favorite to win a state title next season, the cupboard isn't bare either.  With Mercy Miller, Prince Aligbe, Donovan Smith and Chase Carter all returning, the Redhawks will still be very dangerous.

Class AAAA
Tre Holloman putting a whole new roster on his back and taking them to the title game was a sight to see.  I saw them struggle in game 1 of the year vs Mounds View but the nice adjustments to using Holloman more in the low post and pinch post along with a slower defensive minded style worked like a charm.  That defense really carried them later in the season.  The Raiders will be in a similar spot next season, hard to bet against them.

Wayzata will have just about everybody back from a roster that clicked this season after struggling last year.  They'll be the first pick to win it all again next season.  We often talk about all the guard play and shooting the Trojans seem to have.  That remains true but defensively, they really turned it up.  After a halftime adjustment vs Duluth East in the quarters, Wayzata's defense stonewalled teams and that put them over the top.

Duluth East Wayzata 2021 State AAAA Qtrs Thoughts

Prologue
Its state tourney time as 15 of the 16 boys quarterfinals are being played today.  While I'll be on the road later to collect my NCAA tourney pool bragging rights from The Crown Prince, we get 1 AAAA quarterfinal going with the early start.  Its the middle game from the north.  2 seed Wayzata taking on 3 seed Duluth East. This game was actually scheduled in the regular season less than 3 weeks ago but was cancelled so some redemption there.  A couple of matchups to watch with Wayzata's Cam Heide and East's Mattie Thompson on the wing.  The big bodies Noah Paulson (East) and Carter Bjerke (Wayzata) is the other matchup to watch.

Game Time
Even start to the game early.  Giovani Saldivar 2 early triples for Duluth East.  14-11 Greyhounds on top.  Wayzata counters with an 8-0 run.  Kody Williams cashing in a turnover for a triple to end that.  19-14 Wayzata takes the lead.  Paulson then heats up inside.  He scores 3 straight buckets.  Mattie Thompson for 3 and 2 Paulson free throws.  16-2 Duluth East run for a 30-21 lead at the 6:49 mark.  Ryan Harvey productive minutes off the Wayzata bench to end the half.  He scores 7 points to keep Wayzata close.  Paulson beats the halftime buzzer for a 42-36 Duluth East halftime lead.

The 2nd half is all Wayzata.  Trojans come out of the break with an 18-2 run to take control.  It only takes 9 Wayzata possessions to pull that off.  5 Duluth East turnovers in 8 trips.  Eddie Beeninga big 2nd half.  He takes a steal for a 3 point play and adds a trey.  Cam Heide a 3 point play and a nice turnaround in the lane.  Duluth East tries to hang around.  Thompson backdoor for 2 to keep the Greyhounds within 56-51.  Beeninga too much to handle.  He drives for 2 more with 6 minutes left and the lead is back to 12.  He'll add another late bucket and 5 FTs.  No real threat the rest of the way. Wayzata wins 78-69.

Post Game
Too much 2nd half defense from Wayzata in this one.   Duluth East turns it over 12 times in the 2nd half, 19 times overall.  14 of those for Wayzata steals.  After 14 points in the 1st half, the defense holds big man Noah Paulson to just 1 free throw in the 2nd half.  Great ball pressure in the 2nd half a major factor there.  Eddie Beeninga scores 17 of his 26 points in the 2nd half.  Camden Heide scores 15, Carter Bjerke 14, Kody Williams 10 for Wayzata.  Heide came down awkwardly after a tip dunk midway thru the 2nd half.  He came back quickly but then left the game early.  Noah Paulson leads Duluth East with 15 points.  Zaa Buffalo with 13, Mattie Thompson with 11 for the Greyhounds.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Wayzata	Duluth East
Effective FG %	58.5%	64.3%
Offensive Rebound %	21.9%	28%
Free Throw Rate	41.5%	18.4%
Turnover %	13.2%	28.4%
Points Per Possession	1.15	1.03

Wayzata expands a minor free throw edge to a big one with late free throws to close the game out.  Both teams very solid shooting days.  It wasn't only the Duluth East turnovers with the pressure defense.  Wayzata also with a big edge in deflections.

The Real 2021 AAA State Championships

I likely end my in person viewing for the abbreviated 2021 season with a pair of class AAA section finals.  These games featured the top 4 teams in the last state rankings.  A really fun pair of games so let's get to it.

Thursday 3AAA Final: #4AAA Richfield 93 #2AAA South St. Paul 90
Charlie Murphy leading the officiating crew in this one.  Defense, optional.  With the size advantage, Richfield goes inside early and works out of the high post looking low on many possessions.  That gets a bit negated when Isaiah Casey-Hammond has to sit at the 4:56 mark with his 3rd foul.  SSP finishes the half on a 13-4 run thanks to 4 Alonzo Dodd buckets.  That breaks open an even game and gives SSP a 43-33 halftime lead.  Dodd with 18 in the half.

But we're just getting started.  The SSP gets to 13 but won't stay there.  Lamar Grayson won't let Richfield lose.  Free throw and a bucket for him.  Mitchell January posts for 2 FTs and converts a turnover after 2 more Grayson hoops.  51 all with 12:15 to play, Game On!.  Grayson and Dodd going back and forth.  Grayson 3 pt play and a bucket countered by a Dodd bucket and triple.  Tied at 60 with 10 minutes left.  The Richfield crowd more into it than the Packers crowd but the intensity goes up a couple notches for the home stretch.

Hammond fouls out at 8:03.  January appears to foul out on a charge at 7:04.  Ref totally botches his signals.  Even reports it as a charge to the table.  But they really mean its a block on the bang bang play and he stays in.  Big break for Richfield who isn't very deep.  Some would say the ball doesn't lie as January misses the front end of the bonus.  Ryan Miles with 2 buckets including one of those high low type dropoffs.  Spartans up 73-68 with 5:30 left.  Dodd with a pretty spin to cut the margin to 2.  Grayson 2 buckets, January off the glass for 2 more.  Richfield with a block on 1 end and Grayson converts it on the other.  83-74 Richfield with 2:45 left.  Timeout SSP and that appears to be the critical run.

But wait there's more.  SSP misses a  3, 1 chance, 2 chances, Dodd puts back the 3rd chance and is fouled.  He misses that FT, Richfield gets the board and gives it right back.  Pass finds Dodd for a layup.  Richfield another turnover on their possession.  Dodd pushes it back the other way and finds Romantay Harmon for a left corner 3.  BANG!  Just like that SSP is back within 83-81 with 2:05 left.  Grayson 1 FT and Dodd with the nice scoop on the other end.  84-83 Richfield with 1:36 left.

January right back for Richfield and he goes to the rack for a 3 point play.  Jump ball but it stays with SSP with 1:12 left.  They then miss a good look at a 3.  Richfield holds and SSP has to foul.  They make 1 FT.  Devin Newsome counters with a 3 for SSP with 26 seconds left.  88-86 Spartans lead.  Grayson calmly makes 2 FTs before Dodd gets a quick 2.  Richfield 1-2 FTs with 10.9 left.   Spartans now up 3.

Dodd takes the inbounds.  Gets a high ball screen going to his right at the top of the key.  Rejects it and gets fouled on a 3 with 6.1 seconds left.  Oh my!  He makes the 1st, misses the 2nd and makes the 3rd.  SSP has to foul again and its Grayson making 2 more FTs with 5 seconds left.  SSP timeout between those freebies doesn't ice him at all.  SSP goes immediately.  They make a pass out of bounds but the clock starts on it.  An open look at a 3 is therefore rushed and doesn't get off in time anyway.  Richfield wins an absolute thriller.  The 2nd half was a full game by itself (60-47 scoring).  Lamar Grayson goes for 28 of his 37 in the 2nd half.  I feel for the Mr Basketball Committee and how they have to pick a top 5.  Somebody really worthy is going to get left out.  Grayson making a huge case for why it shouldn't be him.  He matched Alonzo Dodd bucket for bucket.  Dodd with 21 of his 39 in the 2nd half.  Devin Newsome adds 21 for SSP.  Ryan Miles and Mitchell January both with 17 for Richfield.  Richfield only takes 5 3s all game and doesn't make any.  SSP was 10-23 from deep.  Richfield shoots 25-40 at the charity stripe compared to 12-24 for SSP.

Four Factors

FACTOR	South St. Paul	Richfield
Effective FG %	56.5%	50%
Offensive Rebound %	44.7%	46.9%
Free Throw Rate	34.8%	58.8%
Turnover %	17.5%	14.8%
Points Per Possession	1.13	1.15

Friday 4AAA Final: #1AAA Minnehaha 73 #3AAA Totino-Grace 60
This is one of the most anticipated games of the season.  Interesting lineup alteration by Nick Carroll bring star soph Taison Chatman off the bench.  2 early stories here.  Really sloppy play by Minnehaha and hot TG shooting.  They make 6 of their 1st 9 3s.  Devin Burger with 4 of them.  Minnehaha turns it over 13 times in the 1st 23 trips, mostly unforced.  DJ Akpati with a 3 to end an 11-2 TG run.  Eagles up 28-13 at the 5:40 mark.  Chet Holmgren with the only Minnehaha field goals to that point.  Minnehaha stops turning it over and they get points on 11 of the last 13 trips of the half.  They also ratchet up the defense holding TG to 1 FG in the final 12 trips.  20-4 Minnehaha run to end the half.  Redhawks up 33-32 at the break.

TG 3 quick scores to start the 2nd half and reclaim the lead 39-35.  Holmgren a steal for 2, a free throw, a bucket and 2 more freebies.  A Carter Weierke 3 is sandwiched in there.  45-44 TG.  Isaiah Davis for 3 and Minnehaha takes the lead 47-45.  Burger another bomb, CJ O'Hara converts a turnover, Chatman converts a turnover into a 3.  TG up 53-47 with 8:50 left.  Holmgren with a tip dunk to cut the margin to 1 before another Burger triple from up top.  56-52 TG with 6:38 left as they take time.  Hercy Miller for 3 and then throw it up to Holmgren and let him go get it.  Demarion Watson stops that momentum with a left wing triple  59-57 TG with about 5 minutes left.

But TG won't get another field goal.  Hercy Miller drive for 2 and a steal for 2 more.  Another TG turnover becomes a Prince Aligbe dunk.  Holmgren to a cutting Mercy Miller for 2 and he'll dunk the next possession.  TG 4 turnovers in 5 possessions.  The rest is fouls and free throws.  Minnehaha ends the game on a 16-1 run over the last 5 min.  1 point for TG in their last 13 trips, very similar to the end of the first half.  Chet Holmgren his usual big game with 24 points.  Some Coke drinking writer had him for 16 rebs, 7 ast and 3 blk as well.  Mercy Miller 19 points and new Tennessee State commit Hercy Miller with 16 points.  Devin Burger with 6 of Totino-Grace's 14 3s in the game.  He leads the Eagles with 21 points.  Taison Chatman adds 14 points

Four Factors

FACTOR	Minnehaha	Totino-Grace
Effective FG %	58.5%	56.9%
Offensive Rebound %	45.2%	11.4%
Free Throw Rate	90.2%	15.7%
Turnover %	29.6%	23.9%
Points Per Possession	1.03	0.85

As to the AAA state tourney, here are my predictions for the seeding.  These winners should end up the top 2 seeds in the south portion of the AAA bracket.  I would expect Minnehaha to take on Byron (Holmgren vs Ahjany Lee, thank you).  That leaves Richfield with Mankato West.  In the top half. De La Salle likely gets the top seed and Monticello with a very entertaining outstate matchup of Hibbing vs Alexandria as the other game. 

Raiding the 4AAAA semis

Prologue
After almost 2 months of nothing but 94 straight online games (93 local plus the Nebraska big school championship) , I'm back in the gym for a 4AAAA semifinal rubber match between East Ridge and host Cretin-Derham Hall.  The teams split the regular season with Tre Holloman not playing during the CDH loss at East Ridge.  KB and the Sunshine Band on the whistle.  Sadly Suel Forrester is no longer on the Public Address and none of the great beef hot dog concessions.

Game Time
Tre Holloman assist for a 3 and a take of his own for 2 on the 1st 2 Raiders possessions.  5-0  CDH and East Ridge has only had the ball once.  East Ridge scores 3 straight buckets including 2 from Kendall Blue for a 6-5 lead.  But their offense isn't lighting it up either.  Alex Mattes with a bucket and he'll trade 3s with Marselio Mendez for a 15-13 Raptors lead.  Ben North with 3 of 4 FTs in that stretch.  CDH finally breaks out of a 2 for 16 shooting stretch by scoring on 9 of their last 11 trips of the half.  Holloman to Mendez for another 3, an assist to Peter Howard for a layup.  Then he finds Jack Tauer who beats the buzzer (or does he) from the top of the key.  DANG IT CHLOE!  30-21 Cretin-Derham Hall at the break. 

Holloman adding scoring to his assists in the 2nd half.  He goes in the post for 2.  Then a steal for a dunk and he'll add a left baseline jumper being left alone.  Coach Josh Peltier not happy with his Raptors squad.  Holloman adds a triple and the halftime lead is now doubled.  43-25 CDH with 13:07 left.  Another Holloman steal for a dunk keeps the lead at 47-29.  East Ridge unable to get stops as that's CDH points on 17 out of 21 possessions across halftime.  Kendall Blue with a pair of hoops.  Raptors cut the margin to 51-40 with 9:20 left on a Ben North drive.

But East Ridge won't threaten any more than that.  Holloman in the post for 2 free throws.  Jack Plum with a steal for a dunk.  Holloman strips Blue for another bucket and goes coast to coast to beat the press for 2 more. 65-49 CDH with 4 minutes left.  East Ridge started giving fouls with 6 minutes left and tried to strategically foul guys.  That didn't get them any closer.  Cretin-Derham Hall advances 76-61 to play at top seed Woodbury in the section 4AAAA finals.  Woodbury won 2 close meetings in the regular season.

Post Game
East Ridge finishes a disappointing season at 12-7.  Kendall Blue leads the Raptors with 17 points.  He had Tre Holloman hounding him much of the night.  Ben North and Alex Mattes solid nights from the guard spots.  Both finish with 13 points.  North had the tough task of guarding Holloman for much of the night as well.  East Ridge ran 1 high low all night which was shocking to me.  Not sure if Drew Adams was even looked at for a post touch.  He had 8 points and 7 of them very late.  Defensively do you try the bigger Blue on Holloman with the amount that CDH likes to use Holloman in the post?

Tre Holloman leads Cretin-Derham Hall with 28 points and 11 assists for almost that many.  Steals, posting, distributing and he even knocked down a couple jumpers.  They use him a ton in the post and pinch post and have gotten away from just high ball screens that teams will just go under like Mounds View did at the start of the season.  Very nice adjustment by the CDH staff.  The passing made the role guys look great.  Daniel Montalbano 15 points, Marselio Mendez 13 points coming up big in secondary spots.  Mendez with a couple of big triples in the 1st half.  Jack Plum adds 10.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Cretin-Derham Hall	East Ridge
Effective FG %	52.4%	45.7%
Offensive Rebound %	48.7%	37.1%
Free Throw Rate	25.8%	53.2%
Turnover %	13.9%	20.6%
Points Per Possession	1.17	0.97

Most surprising number here for me is 17 offensive rebounds for CDH, 10 of them in the 1st half.  That's a number that East Ridge should win, if not dominate, in this game.  East Ridge couldn't get stops either.  After a 4-18 start, CDH shoots 26-44 the rest of the way to break open a close game.  They win EFG% which means Czar's Law is now 102-24 (81%) on the season.  That shooting was mostly from 2 as well.  Raiders only 5-14 from 3.  East Ridge still managed to win the FT battle despite giving fouls and putting CDH on the line for a large chunk of the last 6 minutes.  They make 18 to CDH's 16 attempts.  While CDH missed the 1st 2 front ends, they made 7 of the next 8.  Of 8 live ball turnovers for East Ridge, 5 of them became immediate buckets which is a killer.

A COVID Super Saturday

This playoff Saturday is always known for being jam packed with semifinal double-headers (and once upon a time a St. Cloud triple-header).  Everything being home site this season takes that away.  So we turn it into NCAA type viewing with games going on all day at many different locations.  2 games fully including below after taking in the 5AAAA and 7AAAA 2 seeds moving on.  Anoka and Centennial hung around until the final few minutes until Duluth East and Mounds View ultimately won by double figures.

5AAAA Quarterfinal: (5) Osseo 63 (4) Spring Lake Park 46

One of the AAU All-Stars on the whistle for this one.  This crew was kept busy.  40 total free throw attempts and 4 players fouling out.  Spring Lake Park with no answer for the Osseo 2-3 zone.  Spring Lake Park goes a stretch of 21 trips with only 3 field goals.  While the EFG was dreadful, it wasn't because they settled for 3s against the zone. Only 12 3 pt attempts for Spring Lake Park in 45 total shots.  I had the Panthers 9-25 on paint attempts.  Gotta convert inside.  Josh Ola-Joseph with a nice stretch for Osseo as they opened the lead.  Fitzgerald Wreh and Kaleb Skelly both foul out with 5-6 minutes left and that kills any final chance that Spring Lake Park had.  Osseo gets 4 in double figures.  Josh Ola-Joseph leads with 15.  Benard Omooria with 14, Blessed Barhayiga cleaning up inside with 14. Tyriece Waits adds 10.  The Osseo offense very dribble heavy though.  Not the kind of offense we've seen from them in years past.  Trey Johnston hits the only 3 triples for Spring Lake Park against that zone.  He leads the Panthers with 13 points.  Fitzgerald Wreh adds 12.

 Four Factors

FACTOR	Spring Lake Park	Osseo
Effective FG %	38.9%	54.4%
Offensive Rebound %	55.3%	53.6%
Free Throw Rate	44.4%	44.4%
Turnover %	29.6%	21.8%
Points Per Possession	0.85	1.15

3AAAA Semifinal: (3) Rosemount 59 (2) Lakeville North 49

Teacher vs Mentor in this one as John Oxton takes on Lance Walsten who was an assistant and player for him once upon a time.  Lakeville North playing 1-2-2 zone for most of the 1st half.  Caleb Siwek and Will Blascziek providing the offense for each side in the 1st half.  Siwek 14 of Rosemount's 24 first half points.  Blascziek with 12.  Difference in the half is a couple of Hudson Vaith 3s off the Lakeville North bench.  He spins and scores to beat the halftime buzzer.  28-24 Lakeville North at the half.

Rosemount comes out of the halftime break with an 8-0 run.  Noah Loehr 2 buckets and a hoop in that.  Tied at 34 before Rosemount takes the lead for good.  Siwek with a 3 point play.  Sean Sullivan starts a great 2nd half stretch for him with a triple and bonus free throws.  Its a 10-1 Irish run for a 44-35 lead.  R'Moni Warner for 3 and then a steal for Lakeville North.  Cooper Laufenburger scores on the possession to cut the margin to 44-40 with 6:18 left.

Siwek out of the timeout takes a handoff and buries a top of the key 3.  Laufenburger with a strong finish for a 3 point play. Blascziek with a triple and its back to a 1 possession game with 3:46 left.  Sullivan scores out of the timeout.  Rosemount gets stops from there and makes 8-10 FTs to close it out.  Rosemount's guard play outstanding with Caleb Siwek scoring 25, Sean Sullivan 12 of his 15 in the 2nd half.  Sullivan also doing his usual defensive stopper role as well.  Will Blascziek leads Lakeville North with 18 points, but only 2 second half baskets.  Nobody else in double figures.  Rosemount will host the section final next Thursday against Park of Cottage Grove.  The Wolfpack pulled the upset 55-52 in OT at Eastview.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Lakeville North	Rosemount
Effective FG %	45.7%	48.7%
Offensive Rebound %	36.8%	50%
Free Throw Rate	31.9%	73.7%
Turnover %	18.2%	21.8%
Points Per Possession	0.89	1.07

2021 6AAAA Semis Viewing

The 1st Friday night continues another usual bit of the sections schedule with the 6AAAA semifinals. We're not in Osseo for a doubleheader of these games but CCX Sports has both so something in the world is right.  

Semifinal #1: (1) #2AAAA Wayzata 94 (5) Minneapolis South 50

The Scribe on the whistle for this one.  Close game early.  South within 12-11 on a putback with about 11 minutes left.  Wayzata runs away and hides from there.  They go on a 37-4 run until South scores 6 of the last 7 of the half.  5 triples from Wayzata in that run.  50-21 Trojans at the half and they roll from there.  Wayzata shoots 14-27 from 3 with 9 different players making one.  South on the other hand shoots 1-18 from the 3 for the game.  Wayzata largely getting anything they want on offense against a porous Tigers defense. Trojans shoot 37-60 overall for a sky high 73.3% EFG and 1.42 PPP.  Minneapolis South finishes their season 7-8.  De'Mari Larkins was a bright spot with 15 points.  Jerome Williams adds 12 points.  South returning a sophomore and 4 freshman starters to their lineup as they look to the future.  Wayzata great balance with 5 players in double figures.  Carter Bjerke leads with 16 points and 4 3s.  Camden Heide 15 points, Kody Williams 14 pts.  Ryan Harvey 13 off the bench with 3 triples and Drew Berkland with 11.  This looked like the high-powered execution machines of past Wayzata teams.  Only hole in the stat sheet for the Trojans is 6-14 from the charity stripe.

 Four Factors

FACTOR	Wayzata	Mpls South
Effective FG %	73.3%	33.6%
Offensive Rebound %	38.7%	32.6%
Free Throw Rate	23.3%	34.6%
Turnover %	13.6%	20.9%
Points Per Possession	1.42	0.75

Semifinal #2: (2) #4AAAA Robbinsdale Cooper 84 (3) Robbinsdale Armstrong 57

This one was over just about when it started.  Armstrong 7 turnovers and 2-13 shooting in their 1st 18 trips.  Davion Evans with a 3 and a 3 point play.  Prince Appiah with 2 putbacks as he was very active inside all night.  25-5 Cooper just over 10 minutes in and this one was never close.  Dylan Inniger couldn't get a look against the Cooper defense.  His 2 buckets were 3s in the final minutes long after the outcome was decided.  Armstrong shoots 3-20 from the 3 point line, 12-31 from the charity stripe and turns it over 20 times.  Cooper won't be happy with their 23 turnovers. 7 of them in a row were in a 9-0 1st half run that allowed Armstrong to get the margin back to 20 after it was 40-11.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Cooper	Armstrong
Effective FG %	54.8%	38.8%
Offensive Rebound %	48.7%	41.1%
Free Throw Rate	33.3%	53.5%
Turnover %	29.9%	25.6%
Points Per Possession	1.09	0.73

 

Rev up the playoff engine

Prologue
One of my favorite traditions during the opening round of the playoffs is the Thursday night small school game.  Its always a nice reprieve from the big school games.  Also a nice lead-in to the big school section semis.  Tonight, leave the defense at home as Kaleidoscope visits Hope Academy.  Hope won the regular season meeting 87-80.

Game Time
The 2 stars not getting cheated in this one.  Elijah Wade 3 early buckets for a 9-8 Hope lead.  Michael Jude with 2 technical free throws for a wrong jersey on the home team.  Official scorer gets fired for that, if you're the home scorer you just fix that.  Jude adds a triple on the possession for a 18-16 Kaleidoscope lead.  Wade hoop and harm to tie the game at 23 at 9:32.  Wade and Jude trade pairs of buckets.  30-27 Kaliedoscope at 5:40.  Hope closes with 2 assisted Kaleb Dube layups and a Jordan Brown triple just before the buzzer.  38 all going to halftime.

Hope totally dominates the second half. Wade 1-2 free throws, then a steal for a bucket and another steal that he'll dish for an assist.  Then a straight away 3.  Zak Ruhland with a 3 off a great Dube hustle play to save an errant shot.  Ruhland adds another bucket.  Its a 20-3 Lions run before Kaleidoscope can make a bucket in the half.  That run only takes 5 minutes.  

A slight bit of drama as Wade picks up his 4th foul with 12 minutes left.  Matt Aasen with a 3 and a bucket.  Isaac Freeman with a putback with 6:30 left to cut the lead to 13.  Wade playing thru 4 fouls as he quickly came back in with just under 10 minutes left.  Comets only make 1 more field goal, a late Jude triple.  Hope scores 17 of the last 22 to win big.  Lions win 83-58.

Post Game
Kaleidoscope finishes their season 10-8.  Soph PG Michael Jude leads the Comets with 24 points.  Comets shoot 6-38 in the 2nd half.  With the exception of 1 senior, the Comets do return their entire lineup next season with a large group of sophomores in this year's rotation.

Hope advances to play at top seeded Legacy Christian on Saturday afternoon.  Elijah Wade 29 points to lead the Lions.  Jordan Brown 12 points.  Kaleb Dube and Eyuel Temesgen with 14 points each playing off those 2, particularly Wade who was everywhere.  Kaleidoscope had no answer for him anywhere.  Hope just went to the rim at will.  If it wasn't a direct layup it was a dish to Dube for easy points.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Hope	Kaleidoscope
Effective FG %	50.7%	31.8%
Offensive Rebound %	42.9%	42.1%
Free Throw Rate	9.2%	13%
Turnover %	14.9%	24%
Points Per Possession	1.12	0.77

153 shot attempts in this one meant plenty of offensive rebounds available.  The teams combined for 40 of those.  Kaleidoscope really tries to get shots up but some of those are quick difficult rim finishes.  That was part of their struggle in the 2nd half.  But they had plenty of solid looks that didn't go in.  Hope also won the turnover battle forcing 18 of them.

2021 Section 3AAAA Qtrs Viewing

Prologue
The big school playoffs roll on with a 4 vs 5 game in section 3AAAA.  Park of Cottage Grove hosting Eagan in this one.  Plenty of talent to preview for next year on display with Park going with a junior dominated lineup.  Eagan's lineup with a bunch of seniors but the leading scorers are a pair of sophs and the top big man is a junior.

Game Time
A cold start for both teams.  Eagan's Oscar Khazon gets a bucket and a steal for another 2. 6-2 Eagan 5 minutes in.  Eagan stretches that lead to 11-2.  Then its Jayden Lane with 12 of the next 14 for Park as they pull back to even at 18 at the 7:15 mark.  Khazon with a pull up and a wing triple to put Eagan back on top.  They'll go to halftime up 27-23.

Park goes 1-3-1 to start the 2nd half and its effective.  Lane with a steal for a bucket and we're immediately tied at 27.  He'll add 2 more bombs and another tough finish.  Pharrel Payne adds a putback.  10-2 Park run and they lead 37-32 with 13:45 left.  3 straight Eagan turnovers to end the run.  They continue to struggle vs the zone as Lane takes another steal for a dunk.  Khazon trying to keep Eagan close.  He buries a left corner 3 off a turnover and adds a tough 2.  

That 2nd bucket vs man as Park switched out of the zone after a timeout.  Payne with a dunk and a pair of free throws to keep Park ahead 50-41. Timeout Eagan and Park will go back to the 1-3-1. Evan Bearth for 3 and a blocked shots gives him a layup. Lane another steal for a bucket. Park stretches the lead to 61-46 and its over.  Park wins 65-52.

Post Game
Soph guard Oscar Khazon with 22 points to lead Eagan.  He was out the 1st time I watched Eagan this year.  Fellow soph Emmanuel Schmitter adds 10 points.  Good young group to build around for coach Kevin McKenzie.  Eagan finishes their season 6-13.

Jayden Lane outstanding for Park.  He created on offense, hit 4 3s and was a pest in the 1-3-1 zone on defense.  He finishes with 26 points to lead all scorers.  Pharrel Payne had a quiet first half but finished with 15 points.  Evan Bearth also in double figures with 11 points.  The move to the 1-3-1 in the 2nd half was the critical moment.  Then a quick step away from it to avoid a set play before closing the game with it.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Park	Eagan
Effective FG %	54.6%	57%
Offensive Rebound %	43.3%	26.1%
Free Throw Rate	12.7%	9.3%
Turnover %	17.9%	27.3%
Points Per Possession	1.16	0.95

Park was cold in the 1st half but almost made up the EFG value.  Wolfpack shot 17-29 in the 2nd half.  Czar's Law takes the L to fall to 96-24 on the season.  8 2nd half turnovers for Eagan leading to 3 transition buckets for Park.  13 offensive rebounds also a factor for Park.  Very clean game with only 11 total free throw attempts.

2021 2AAAA Qtrs Viewing

Early starts for 3 of the 4 quarterfinals in section 2AAAA along with a normal starts means the old Ernie Banks favorite.  Let's Play Two!

Game 1: 3 Chaska 57 def 6 Minnetonka 44
#5AAAA Chaska off to a very slow start in this one.  They go 1-8 from the floor to start the game.  Tonka doubling the post after giving 49 pts and getting mauled by the Hawks bigs in the last meeting.  Vlad Ciubotaru with a triple and fade for a 7-0 Tonka lead.  Jakobe Lyles good bench minutes with a 3 point play and an assist for a Jack Frick triple plus a triple of his own.  Luke Strazzanti a 3 point play and 2 FTs.  Chaska takes a 26-21 lead to halftime with only 3 players scoring.

Ciubotaru fouled on a 3 and makes all 3 FTs.  Vince Brown adds a 3 and Jalen Cain off the bounce for 1-2 FTs.  That means Tonka also gets the 1st 7 points of the 2nd half to tie it up at 26.  Jack Frick with a bucket, a triple and an assist off a Tonka turnover.  Brady Nicholson 2 and the harm and Chaska threatens to run away up 38-31.  Tonka closes to 38-36 thanks to 4 straight Chaska turnovers.  Jalen Cain with 8 straight Skippers points as Chaska has no answer for him attacking off the dribble.  Vince Brown finishes that spurt by putting back a missed free throw.

Chaska closes it from there with buckets on 6 of their next 7 trips.  Frick with a layup on a set, Spencer Goetz 2 assisted layups (1 on a set).  Nicholson finishes it.  10-0 Chaska run for a 12 point lead.  No danger from there.  5-6 free throws to close it out.  Second half shooting in this one Chaska 12-20, Tonka 8-24.  Tonka finishes 4-21 from 3 for the game.  Jack Frick scores 16 points, Luke Strazzanti 13 and Brady Nicholson 10 for Chaska.  Minnetonka gets 18 points from Jalen Cain and 13 from Vince Brown.  Chaska advances to a rematch at Eden Prairie on Friday at 5 PM.  EP won the 1st meeting 61-55 less than 2 weeks ago.  Minnetonka finishes their season with a 6-12 record.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Chaska	Minnetonka
Effective FG %	54.7%	40.9%
Offensive Rebound %	33.3%	18.2%
Free Throw Rate	27.9%	29.6%
Turnover %	24.5%	17%
Points Per Possession	1.08	0.83

Games 2/3:
5 Bloomington Jefferson 59 def 4 Edina 57 in section 2AAAA
5 Minneapolis South 56 def 4 Minneapolis Southwest 55 in section 6AAAA

For the late session and due to some delayed video in the 6AAAA game, lets have some fun with a couple of 4 vs 5 games.  Jefferson doing what Jefferson does and running patient offense and sound defense.  A couple nice plays in the half from Jefferson frosh Daniel Frietag pushes the Jags to a 23-20 halftime lead on Edina.  Meanwhile South giving Southwest all they want.  South with a late 1st half spurt for a 30-25 halftime lead.

South opens up a 7 point lead that is quickly washed away by Southwest.  A couple of South triples in an 8-0 takes a 46-45 lead and stretches it to 54-45 with just over 3 min left.  But South's youth still learning how to close it out.  Southwest fights back and a putback with 25 seconds left cuts the lead to 1.  South to the foul line with 10.2 left and misses a front end.  SW pushes the ball to their bench and takes timeout with 5.2 left.  South has 2 fouls to give and they smartly use them.  Another SW timeout to setup a final play with 1.9 left.  They get an open right corner 3 and that's off the mark.

Meanwhile, Daniel Frietag and Jeremy Wanguhu productive in the 2nd half for Jefferson.  Jags open up a 51-39 lead with 6 minutes left.  Hornets rally back with Brady Helgren scoring a bucket and a couple of FTs.  Gabe Jobe a big night for the Hornets,  He'll drive and score with 1:35 left to cut the lead to 2.  Wanguhu on the cut and they find him with a minute left.  Jobe counters with 2 free throws.  Jefferson 1 free throw and I think they iced their own shooter on the 2nd.  Jobe 2 more freebies with 18.9 left and Edina gets the steal.  Nothing off of that so they take timeout with 9 seconds left.  Staggered screen away to the top on the SLOB and they try to find the 2nd screener Helgren on the slip.  Isaac Freitag was guarding the 1st screener and makes a very alert defensive play to tip the pass.  Officials say its off Helgren.  Jefferson makes 1 FT with 6.7 left.  Edina pushes and will get 1 last good look from the right wing.  That's no good, no Shock The Czar.  Jefferson wins.

2021 Better Than Chalk Section Predictions

120 games and 2 months later, it all comes down to this.  Its March and now its tournament time if we want to conveniently ignore some final regular season make up games early in the week.  So that means prediction time.  

A rules refresher.  Any fool can pick nothing but top seeds (aka chalk) and claim they were something like 85-6.  My mission, and I do choose to accept it, is to do better than a bracket with nothing but higher seeds picked. Last year I was exactly even when the season was halted.  

Not happy with how I picked your team?  Use the hastag #ShockTheCzar on twitter and on your locker room/virtual whiteboards to express your outrage.  So without delay, here we go.  Upset picks will be noted with underlines

Class A
Section 1: United Christian gets the EMAC treatment from the 1A coaches (and don't get me started on the stupidity of them being in this section instead of section 4A).  They take that out on winless Houston in the pigtail game before losing to Lyle/Austin Pacelli

Section 2: Lester Prairie survives GFW in round 1 but then loses a rematch from last year's tourney to Sleepy Eye St. Mary's

Section 4:
Thursday Pigtails: PACT over Eagle Ridge, W Lutheran over N Lakes, Avail over Liberty for a 3rd time in an EMAC rivalry, Hope and Kaleidoscope is 1st one to 80 wins.  Hope won 87-80 in the regular season and with the home game they do it again.
Saturday Quarterfinals: Legacy over Hope, CHOF over Avail, Heritage over W Lutheran, Trinity over PACT
Tuesday semis: Legacy over Trinity, CHOF over Heritage
Th final: Legacy over CHOF.  Legacy won the regular season game big

Class AA
Section 4 (Nova Classical, Mounds Park Academy, Math & Science out)
Thursday Pigtails: New Life over Metro Schools College Prep, Cristo Rey over Washington, Concordia, one of the worst possible matchups for Hiawatha, gets the win.
Saturday Quarterfinals: St. Croix Prep over Concordia, St. Paul Academy over Cristo Rey, TCA/GR over New Life, St. Agnes Shocks the Czar with a win over Humboldt.
Tues Semis: SCPA over St. Agnes.  SPA over TCA/GR in a repeat of the regular season.
Th Final: SCPA over SPA

Section 5AA
Thursday Round of 16: Litchfield over Dassel-Cokato, Maranatha over Brooklyn Center, Providence over HLWW, Holy Family repeats over Breck, SW Christian lost the season opener to Watertown-Mayer but I'll take the upset here with W-M losing 6 of their last 7 (only win over Dassel-Cokato).
Sat Qtrs: North over SW Christian, Blake over Holy Family, Rockford over Providence, Litchfield over Maranatha
Wed Semis: North over Litchfield, Blake over Rockford
Fri Final:  North over Blake

Section 6: Spectrum goes out at Albany in the round of 16

Class AAA
Section 1: Simley over Kasson-Mantorville before losing to Austin
Section 3
Monday Pigtail: Harding on the road as high seed over Kennedy.
Wednesday Qtrs: SSP over Harding, Richfield over Sibley, St. Croix Lutheran over St. Thomas Academy, Holy Angels as home low seed knocks out Highland Park in the 4/5 game. 
Saturday semis: SSP over Holy Angels, Richfield over St. Croix Lutheran (teams split regular season
Thursday final: SSP over Richfield.  Richfield size is a problem but a 2 big man lineup trying to defend the SSP offense is also a problem.

Section 4:
Wednesday qtrs: Minnehaha over Como Park, TG over Hill-Murray, Columbia Heights over St. Anthony (closer than you think, Heights banged up), Mahtomedi wins a clash of styles over Johnson
Saturday semis: Minnehaha over Mahtomedi, TG over Columbia Heights
Thursday final: Minnehaha over TG.  Lots will be made of this game, but Minnehaha is a machine and TG hasn't had the elite season many (like me) thought they would.

Section 5:
Fri Qtr: Fridley over Becker continuing their winning streak against the Mississippi 8.  Delano wins to face them in the semis.
Tues semi: Delano over Fridley

Section 6: (Mpls Henry and Mpls Edison out)
Wednesday Qtrs: Waconia over Roosevelt, Orono over BSM.  I've been wrong on Orono all year and BSM won the regular season meeting big blowing the game open late.  No matter, I'll stick with them.
Sat semis: Mound-Westonka over Orono in a rivalry type battle.  DLS over Waconia
Th Final : DLS over Mound-Westonka.  DLS won't have to face a big man problem inside in this one.  I like how they matchup here.

Class AAAA
Section 1 (Rochester JM out)
Wed Qtrs: Owatonna over New Prague, Farmington over Rochester Mayo, Rochester Century wins a 3rd close game over Northfield
Sat Semis: Lakeville South over Century, Farmington grinds out a win vs Owatonna
Th final: Lakeville South over Farmington.  Teams split the regular season but Lakeville South has found a groove recently winning 5 in a row (Farmington, Shakopee, Eastview in that list).

Section 2
Tues Qtrs: Shakopee over Chanhassen, Eden Prairie over Prior Lake, Chaska repeats over Minnetonka, Edina too much firepower for Bloomington Jefferson.
Fri Semis: Shakopee over Edina, Eden Prairie repeats over Chaska
Th Final: Eden Prairie over Shakopee.  Eden Prairie very good defensively and Shakopee has struggled to score in big games since Cade McGraw went down.  McGraw may be back for this one but not enough.

Section 3:
Wed Qtrs: Eastview over Burnsville, Lakeville N over Apple Valley, Rosemount over Hastings, Park over Eagan because of home court
Sat semis: Eastview over Park, Lakeville North over Rosemount (teams split home and home)
Th final at Farmington: Lakeville North over Eastview.  Eastview lost the last meeting at home and is without Jackson Purcell.  Also hard to bet against John Oxton in a section final

Section 4:
Th Qtrs: Woodbury over Stillwater, CDH over NSP, E Ridge over White Bear Lake, Tartan over St. Paul Central.
Tues Semis: Woodbury over Tartan, CDH over East Ridge.  The teams split but CDH lost without Tre Holloman
Fri Final: Woodbury over CDH.  Woodbury won 2 close regular season meetings.

Section 5:
Fri/Sat Qtrs: Champlin Park over Irondale, Mounds View over Centennial, Park Center over Roseville, Spring Lake Park over Osseo.  Osseo and SLP tied in the NW Suburban standings but Osseo won the regular season meeting at home 46-45.  SLP gets the win on home court.
Tues Semis: Champlin Park over Spring Lake Park, Park Center over Mounds View.  Mounds View has fallen back after a hot start.
Th Final: Champlin Park over Park Center.  Champlin Park won 2 close meetings in the regular season.

Section 6: (Hopkins and St. Louis Park out)
Tues Qtrs: Cooper or Armstrong over Washburn, Southwest over South (teams split)
Fri Semis: Wayzata over Southwest, Cooper over Armstrong in a great district rivalry that sadly doesn't get played anymore.  Cooper too much quickness
Th Final: Wayzata over Cooper

Section 7:
Sat Qtrs: Duluth East over Anoka, Forest Lake over Cambridge-Isanti, Blaine another close win over Coon Rapids
Tues Semis: Andover over Blaine, Duluth East over Forest Lake
Th Final: Duluth East over Andover.  I've been high on Duluth East all year.  Noah Paulson and Mattie Thompson are both problem matchups.  Andover's high powered offense gets slowed down in this one.

Section 8:
Fri Qtrs: Maple Grove over Rogers, Buffalo over Elk River, STMA over Moorhead
Tues Semis: Brainerd repeats over STMA, Maple Grove over Buffalo
Fri Final: Maple Grove over Brainerd.  I liked what I saw of Brainerd in their win over Alexandria.  But 3 wins over Moorhead and STMA by a total of 10 points gets my attention.  Maple Grove continues their run in section 8.

A Titanic Finish

Prologue
The Saturday matinee this week is a trip to the Metro East.  Second place on the line with Mahtomedi hosting Tartan.  Tartan coming in on a surprising 3 game losing streak to fall into 3rd place.  But they move into a tie for 2nd and have the 2-0 head to head tiebreak with a win here.  Titans won the first meeting 63-58 after trailing by 8 at halftime.  All star officiating crew with Stoney, T-Rod and one of the AAU All-Stars on the whistles.

Game Time
Tartan grinding out long possessions early with their 5 out offense.  Curtis Favors working inside and David Perkins working outside for their offense.  Favors with 11 pionts in the 1st half.  Perkins with 3 triples and 11 to complement that.  Will Underwood 10 early points via a couple triples for Mahtomedi but very quiet in the 2nd part of the half.  Mahtomedi would take a 23-18 lead but they a stretch of 4 straight turnovers allowed Tartan to tie the game back up.  Marko Vuckomanovich 2 late Tartan hoops.  That sends Tartan to halftime with a 34-32 lead.

Underwood with a pretty cut and they find him off an offensive board for a 3 point play.  Then the defense loses him for a wide open 3.  Perkins counters with a 3 but Underwood puts back his own miss for another 3 point play.  Underwood scores 11 straight for Mahtomedi and its a 49-45 Zephyrs lead with 9:23 left.  Tartan takes time to try and figure out how to get a stop on him. 

The timeout works as Mahtomedi's offense goes into an 11 possession slump.  4 misses, 4 turnovers and 1-6 from the charity stripe.  Tartan takes advantage.  Derrick Love buries a kick out 3.  Perkins 2 FTs and a triple around a Dewayne Thompson putback.  A very smart set play call out of a timeout for another Perkins 3 with 6:05 left (the last Titans FG). Thompson adds bonus free throws for a 60-52 Tartan lead with 3:43 left.  That a 15-3 run for the Titans.

But now the turnover bug bites Tartan.  John Schaefer converts 1 into a dunk. Underwood converts another.  Schaefer with a putback after another Tartan turnover and its a 1 possession game with just under 2 minutes left.  Tartan misses 2 free throws and another turnover for 2 Mahtomedi misses.  Tartan with their 5th turnover in 7 trips.  Underwood pushes it back the other way and pulls up for 3.  Bank that baby in and we're tied with 25 seconds left.  DeWayne Thompson attacks with 3.2 left.  Block/Charge call and the AAU All-Star is up to the challenge seeing the foot on the charge circle.  BLOCK!  Thompson to the line, he'll miss the 1st and Mahtomedi will try to ice him with a timeout before the 2nd.  Nothing comes of that as Thompson makes the 2nd.  Another Zephyrs timeout to draw up a final play.  Ball out underneath and here we go.

This was fantastic on all levels.  Mahtomedi goes 1 guy deep under the rim.  3 in the backcourt across the foul line (nail and 2 wings).  Will Underwood goes a step or 2 deeper to the volleyball junction on the right wing.  Dewayne Thompson looking like he's going to double Underwood but he backs off.  Underwood takes a hard step to the ball.  The deep guy flashes right to the center circle.  Tartan loses him so its an easy catch.  On the flight of that pass, Underwood takes off for the rim and has a step.  But David Perkins, who hounded Underwood all day, turns on the burners and makes a fantastic play to tip the backdoor pass away and save the game.  Tartan wins 62-61.  

What a great concept for the final play and a great defensive play to break it up.  I first saw the concept back in a 2003 Wisconsin playoff game that I still consider the best game I've ever seen in person That's Adams-Friendship vs La Crosse Aquinas in a Division 2 regional final for those wondering. In that game, the star player was doubled and wings started at the midcourt/sideline junction but the rest of the concept was the exact same.

Post Game
Mahtomedi finishes the regular season 12-4, 10-4 in the Metro East. Will Underwood 4 triples and 29 points to lead all scorers.  John Schaefer adds 12 points.  Mahtomedi will open the 4AAA playoffs on Friday vs St. Paul Johnson.  That's always an interesting matchup of styles.  18 turnovers too much to over come.

Tartan has the exact same record as Mahtomedi but won both head to head meetings by a total of 6 points.  A win over Hill-Murray on Monday would give them a 1/2 game margin for 2nd.  David Perkins with 6 triples and 22 points plus the hounding defense on Underwood.  Curtis Favors does the inside work for 16 points.  Dewayne Thompson with a couple of triples and 13 points as well.  Tartan very patient and disciplined in their 5 out offense.  But its varied 5 out with some triangle STS action for Favors, curls and flares that they use as back screens.

Four Factors

FACTOR	Mahtomedi	Tartan
Effective FG %	51%	49%
Offensive Rebound %	39.4%	35%
Free Throw Rate	25%	38.5%
Turnover %	27.3%	15.2%
Points Per Possession	0.92	0.94

Tartan went a cold 7-23 in the 2nd half to lose EFG.  They finish 9-31 from 3 but 12-21 from 2 thanks to Favors.  That means Czar's Law falls to 94-22 for the season.  But that means they win the turnover battle 18-10.  But 5 late Tartan turnovers almost cost them the game.  In fact, the last 14 Tartan possessions in the last 6 minutes were 5 TO, 4 misses and 4-10 FTs.  Both teams left points at the line, Tartan 11-20, Mahtomedi 8-13. 

March 12, 2021 CzarPI

This is the 5th CzarPI of the 2020-21 season (see CzarPI Explained Here). It includes games through Friday, March 12th, 2021. The value in () after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking within their class.

CzarPI Record: 2768-499 (84.7%)

Class AAAA

1. Champlin Park (18-0)  - 59.46 (40) 0-0 vs higher, 18-0 vs lower
2. Wayzata (14-2)  - 57.28 (21) 0-1 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
3. Duluth East (11-3)  - 56.45 (7) 0-2 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
4. Hopkins (12-5)  - 56.24 (9) 1-3 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
5. Eastview (16-2)  - 56.14 (55) 0-0 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
6. Brainerd (14-2)  - 56.01 (49) 1-1 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
7. Woodbury (15-3)  - 55.13 (53) 0-0 vs higher, 15-3 vs lower
8. St. Paul Central (10-1)  - 54.93 (62) 0-0 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
9. Mounds View (15-3)  - 54.46 (54) 1-1 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
10. Robbinsdale Cooper (14-2)  - 53.74 (61) 0-1 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
11. Park Center (13-5)  - 53.30 (19) 1-3 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
12. Chaska (12-3)  - 52.62 (57) 1-2 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
13. Tartan (11-4)  - 52.61 (33) 1-2 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
14. Owatonna (14-3)  - 52.44 (60) 1-3 vs higher, 13-0 vs lower
15. Cretin-Derham Hall (13-5)  - 51.81 (50) 1-3 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
16. Eden Prairie (11-6)  - 51.58 (27) 1-4 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
17. Shakopee (13-5)  - 51.41 (48) 0-2 vs higher, 13-3 vs lower
18. Lakeville North (12-6)  - 51.24 (43) 1-3 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
19. Moorhead (4-7)  - 50.90 (2) 3-3 vs higher, 1-4 vs lower
20. Lakeville South (12-6)  - 50.33 (44) 3-3 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
21. East Ridge (11-6)  - 50.23 (35) 2-4 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
22. Rosemount (12-6)  - 49.88 (45) 4-4 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
23. Spring Lake Park (12-6)  - 49.62 (47) 1-3 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
24. Andover (13-5)  - 49.36 (59) 1-4 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
25. Rochester Century (12-5)  - 49.29 (51) 1-5 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
26. Farmington (11-7)  - 48.88 (39) 4-6 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
27. Osseo (10-8)  - 48.41 (14) 2-6 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
28. Robbinsdale Armstrong (11-7)  - 48.21 (42) 3-6 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
29. Park of Cottage Grove (9-9)  - 47.54 (34) 2-6 vs higher, 7-3 vs lower
30. Forest Lake (10-8)  - 46.65 (37) 2-8 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
31. Buffalo (7-8)  - 46.37 (20) 2-5 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
32. Maple Grove (9-9)  - 46.36 (18) 3-8 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
33. New Prague (5-12)  - 46.35 (3) 3-12 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
34. Minnetonka (5-11)  - 45.67 (6) 3-8 vs higher, 2-3 vs lower
35. Minneapolis South (6-6)  - 45.64 (17) 1-4 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
36. Northfield (8-9)  - 45.51 (31) 2-6 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
37. Hastings (8-8)  - 45.50 (13) 2-7 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
38. Edina (6-9)  - 44.78 (8) 2-9 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
39. St. Michael-Albertville (6-12)  - 44.70 (5) 5-12 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
40. North St. Paul (5-9)  - 43.72 (1) 2-9 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
41. Bloomington Jefferson (9-8)  - 43.51 (38) 1-7 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
42. Minneapolis Southwest (9-7)  - 42.59 (41) 1-7 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
43. White Bear Lake (7-11)  - 41.36 (32) 2-10 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
44. Rochester Mayo (7-10)  - 37.75 (46) 1-9 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
45. Chanhassen (3-8)  - 37.26 (12) 1-7 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
46. Eagan (6-12)  - 36.95 (29) 1-11 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
47. Stillwater Area (4-14)  - 36.15 (24) 2-12 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
48. Elk River (4-11)  - 36.08 (25) 1-9 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
49. Coon Rapids (7-11)  - 34.79 (56) 1-10 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
50. Blaine (6-11)  - 33.94 (36) 1-10 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
51. Prior Lake (4-14)  - 33.64 (22) 1-13 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
52. Roseville (4-13)  - 33.57 (28) 2-13 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
53. Rogers (5-13)  - 32.91 (52) 2-13 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
54. St. Louis Park (3-13)  - 31.64 (4) 1-13 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
55. Apple Valley (4-14)  - 30.09 (23) 2-14 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
56. Cambridge-Isanti (2-14)  - 29.12 (26) 2-14 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
57. Minneapolis Washburn (2-8)  - 24.69 (15) 2-8 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
58. Irondale (1-17)  - 23.82 (16) 1-17 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
59. Rochester John Marshall (2-11)  - 22.73 (10) 0-11 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
60. Burnsville (0-18)  - 0.00 (11) 0-18 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
61. Centennial (2-16)  - 0.00 (58) 0-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
62. Anoka (0-17)  - 0.00 (30) 0-15 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
    

Class AAA

1. Minnehaha Academy (14-0)  - 67.18 (1) 0-0 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
2. South St. Paul (17-1)  - 59.28 (35) 0-0 vs higher, 17-1 vs lower
3. Alexandria (16-1)  - 58.47 (44) 0-0 vs higher, 16-1 vs lower
4. Mound Westonka (13-3)  - 58.41 (10) 0-2 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
5. Byron (14-1)  - 58.29 (45) 0-0 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
6. Marshall (14-3)  - 57.70 (7) 0-3 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
7. Hibbing (13-3)  - 55.71 (21) 2-3 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
8. Columbia Heights (11-2)  - 55.69 (52) 0-0 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
9. Totino-Grace (14-4)  - 54.93 (30) 0-2 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
10. Austin (14-2)  - 54.92 (59) 0-0 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
11. Delano (11-6)  - 54.88 (24) 0-2 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
12. DeLaSalle (12-5)  - 54.22 (17) 0-3 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
13. Princeton (14-1)  - 54.18 (65) 0-1 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
14. Mankato East (13-3)  - 53.91 (57) 1-0 vs higher, 12-3 vs lower
15. Mahtomedi (12-3)  - 53.68 (53) 1-1 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
16. Mankato West (13-4)  - 53.45 (43) 1-3 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
17. Richfield (12-4)  - 53.00 (40) 2-3 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
18. Minneapolis Edison (9-3)  - 52.73 (63) 0-0 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
19. St. Paul Highland Park (9-2)  - 52.50 (61) 0-1 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
20. St. Croix Lutheran (12-5)  - 52.45 (36) 2-5 vs higher, 10-0 vs lower
21. Waconia (11-6)  - 51.91 (25) 0-5 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
22. Simley (7-5)  - 50.74 (15) 1-3 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
23. Grand Rapids (7-7)  - 50.43 (4) 2-6 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
24. Sauk Rapids-Rice (9-6)  - 50.23 (50) 0-3 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
25. Sartell-St. Stephen (9-9)  - 50.08 (37) 3-4 vs higher, 6-5 vs lower
26. St. Paul Johnson (8-3)  - 50.07 (54) 1-3 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
27. Cloquet (9-6)  - 49.50 (27) 3-6 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
28. Detroit Lakes (8-6)  - 49.34 (41) 2-5 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
29. Orono (9-8)  - 48.90 (26) 1-6 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
30. Hutchinson (9-9)  - 48.88 (13) 2-8 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
31. St. Francis (12-6)  - 48.08 (60) 0-4 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
32. Worthington (8-10)  - 46.57 (12) 1-7 vs higher, 7-3 vs lower
33. St. Cloud Apollo (7-11)  - 44.83 (23) 2-8 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
34. St. Peter (8-10)  - 44.73 (22) 2-9 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
35. Benilde-St. Margaret's (7-8)  - 43.36 (48) 2-7 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
36. Hermantown (5-6)  - 43.29 (33) 1-6 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
37. Winona (10-7)  - 43.00 (55) 2-7 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
38. Kasson-Mantorville (7-11)  - 42.99 (29) 1-10 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
39. St. Cloud Tech (4-12)  - 42.96 (34) 4-6 vs higher, 0-6 vs lower
40. Willmar (6-12)  - 42.80 (14) 4-11 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
41. Big Lake (5-8)  - 42.61 (56) 0-4 vs higher, 5-4 vs lower
42. Rocori (6-11)  - 42.53 (31) 5-10 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
43. Chisago Lakes Area (9-7)  - 42.43 (64) 1-6 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
44. Holy Angels (7-10)  - 42.38 (39) 2-8 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
45. Becker (9-8)  - 42.26 (62) 2-7 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
46. Bemidji (5-10)  - 41.90 (11) 5-10 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
47. Fridley (7-9)  - 41.73 (47) 3-8 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
48. Little Falls (8-10)  - 41.37 (28) 2-10 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
49. New Ulm (5-10)  - 40.18 (49) 2-9 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
50. St. Anthony Village (5-13)  - 39.77 (6) 3-13 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
51. Minneapolis Henry (4-8)  - 39.15 (20) 1-8 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
52. St. Paul Harding (5-7)  - 37.54 (38) 1-7 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
53. Zimmerman (4-14)  - 36.81 (51) 2-13 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
54. St. Thomas Academy (2-10)  - 35.62 (2) 1-10 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
55. Monticello (5-12)  - 35.53 (58) 1-12 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
56. Henry Sibley (3-12)  - 34.85 (8) 1-11 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
57. Faribault (3-12)  - 32.04 (16) 1-12 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
58. Hill-Murray (2-11)  - 31.42 (5) 2-11 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
59. North Branch (2-15)  - 31.18 (46) 1-14 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
60. Minneapolis Roosevelt (1-11)  - 27.59 (42) 1-9 vs higher, 0-2 vs lower
61. Duluth Denfeld (1-9)  - 26.12 (3) 1-9 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
62. Bloomington Kennedy (1-15)  - 26.06 (32) 1-15 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
63. St. Paul Como Park (2-10)  - 0.00 (18) 0-10 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
64. Red Wing (2-15)  - 0.00 (19) 0-15 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
65. Albert Lea (0-18)  - 0.00 (9) 0-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower

Class AA

1. Melrose (17-1)  - 61.14 (18) 0-0 vs higher, 17-1 vs lower
2. Caledonia (16-0)  - 59.71 (79) 0-0 vs higher, 16-0 vs lower
3. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta (15-2)  - 59.33 (9) 0-2 vs higher, 15-0 vs lower
4. Annandale (14-1)  - 59.19 (66) 0-0 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
5. Blake (15-1)  - 59.11 (46) 0-1 vs higher, 15-0 vs lower
6. Waseca (16-1)  - 58.50 (65) 0-1 vs higher, 16-0 vs lower
7. Perham (13-4)  - 58.14 (16) 0-0 vs higher, 13-4 vs lower
8. Pequot Lakes (15-2)  - 57.85 (60) 0-1 vs higher, 15-1 vs lower
9. Mora (15-1)  - 57.05 (96) 0-0 vs higher, 15-1 vs lower
10. Breckenridge (12-4)  - 56.76 (23) 1-2 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
11. Maple River (17-1)  - 56.31 (113) 0-0 vs higher, 17-1 vs lower
12. Minneapolis North (11-1)  - 56.27 (87) 0-1 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
13. Luverne (14-3)  - 55.92 (71) 0-2 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
14. Stewartville (15-3)  - 55.59 (43) 1-3 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
15. Eden Valley-Watkins (16-2)  - 55.47 (110) 0-0 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
16. Litchfield (13-5)  - 55.45 (8) 2-2 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
17. St. Croix Prep (17-1)  - 55.36 (116) 0-1 vs higher, 17-0 vs lower
18. Albany (15-3)  - 55.28 (54) 1-3 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
19. Rockford (15-3)  - 55.13 (74) 2-2 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
20. Moose Lake-Willow River (13-3)  - 55.03 (52) 0-2 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
21. Duluth Marshall (12-3)  - 54.66 (99) 1-0 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
22. Minnesota Valley Lutheran (12-4)  - 54.18 (84) 0-1 vs higher, 12-3 vs lower
23. Plainview-Elgin-Millville (12-5)  - 54.09 (51) 0-1 vs higher, 12-4 vs lower
24. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (9-6)  - 54.08 (11) 1-3 vs higher, 8-3 vs lower
25. Barnesville (9-7)  - 53.88 (17) 3-2 vs higher, 6-5 vs lower
26. Lake City (11-5)  - 53.42 (32) 1-3 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
27. Blue Earth Area (13-4)  - 53.27 (82) 1-2 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
28. Lewiston-Altura (13-5)  - 52.33 (75) 0-3 vs higher, 13-2 vs lower
29. Redwood Valley (12-6)  - 52.04 (31) 1-5 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
30. Pine City (13-5)  - 51.87 (100) 0-1 vs higher, 13-4 vs lower
31. Warroad (14-2)  - 51.56 (124) 2-1 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
32. Esko (11-7)  - 51.53 (21) 0-6 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
33. Eveleth-Gilbert (12-5)  - 51.44 (98) 0-2 vs higher, 12-3 vs lower
34. Chatfield (13-4)  - 51.09 (108) 2-3 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
35. Glencoe-Silver Lake (10-8)  - 50.96 (15) 2-6 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
36. Fergus Falls (11-7)  - 50.66 (67) 2-3 vs higher, 9-4 vs lower
37. Goodhue (10-8)  - 50.63 (39) 2-4 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
38. Osakis (13-5)  - 50.56 (78) 0-4 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
39. Rush City (12-5)  - 50.21 (111) 2-3 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
40. Crosby-Ironton (9-7)  - 49.79 (47) 1-3 vs higher, 8-4 vs lower
41. Triton (11-7)  - 49.75 (48) 2-6 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
42. Sauk Centre (10-8)  - 49.68 (25) 2-5 vs higher, 8-3 vs lower
43. Pillager (11-6)  - 49.56 (95) 1-4 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
44. Southwest Christian (11-6)  - 49.03 (114) 1-3 vs higher, 10-3 vs lower
45. Providence Academy (11-7)  - 48.91 (42) 0-5 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
46. La Crescent-Hokah (8-7)  - 48.81 (7) 3-5 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
47. St. Paul Academy (8-7)  - 48.27 (94) 1-3 vs higher, 7-4 vs lower
48. Maranatha Christian (11-5)  - 48.18 (107) 1-4 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
49. Two Harbors (12-5)  - 48.14 (119) 1-4 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
50. Kenyon-Wanamingo (8-10)  - 48.00 (49) 3-6 vs higher, 5-4 vs lower
51. Watertown-Mayer (8-9)  - 47.92 (6) 3-7 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
52. Kimball Area (9-4)  - 47.70 (117) 1-3 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
53. Holy Family Catholic (6-9)  - 47.66 (44) 3-6 vs higher, 3-3 vs lower
54. Pierz (11-7)  - 47.66 (83) 2-5 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
55. Pelican Rapids (8-8)  - 47.46 (22) 1-8 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
56. Twin Cities Academy/Great River (9-5)  - 47.41 (102) 0-5 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
57. Jordan (7-10)  - 47.29 (26) 3-10 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
58. Minnewaska Area (7-10)  - 47.07 (1) 2-7 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
59. Frazee (8-9)  - 47.03 (33) 1-9 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
60. Wadena-Deer Creek (10-8)  - 47.00 (104) 2-5 vs higher, 8-3 vs lower
61. Hawley (7-10)  - 46.95 (27) 3-9 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
62. Menahga (6-8)  - 46.77 (72) 3-5 vs higher, 3-3 vs lower
63. Breck (9-7)  - 46.64 (77) 2-7 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
64. Aitkin (8-8)  - 46.47 (35) 2-8 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
65. Pipestone Area (8-10)  - 46.20 (38) 2-9 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
66. Paynesville Area (10-8)  - 45.76 (64) 1-8 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
67. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (10-8)  - 45.57 (106) 2-6 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
68. Belle Plaine (9-6)  - 45.37 (122) 1-4 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
69. Hiawatha Collegiate (9-6)  - 45.13 (120) 0-5 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
70. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (7-10)  - 44.37 (41) 3-7 vs higher, 4-3 vs lower
71. St. Paul Humboldt (6-5)  - 44.13 (85) 1-4 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
72. Spectrum (10-8)  - 43.92 (109) 1-6 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
73. Cannon Falls (8-9)  - 43.78 (50) 1-8 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
74. Windom Area (8-10)  - 43.71 (69) 3-9 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
75. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (6-10)  - 43.56 (4) 2-9 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
76. New London-Spicer (8-10)  - 43.28 (37) 4-10 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
77. Thief River Falls (6-7)  - 43.23 (73) 1-6 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
78. Virginia (6-10)  - 43.23 (14) 2-10 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
79. Benson (8-10)  - 43.22 (55) 2-8 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
80. International Falls (8-9)  - 43.05 (92) 1-9 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
81. Royalton (8-10)  - 42.27 (97) 1-8 vs higher, 7-2 vs lower
82. East Grand Forks (6-11)  - 42.04 (68) 3-9 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
83. Zumbrota-Mazeppa (5-11)  - 42.01 (19) 3-11 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
84. St. Charles (7-6)  - 41.99 (81) 1-6 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
85. Foley (7-11)  - 41.86 (57) 2-7 vs higher, 5-4 vs lower
86. Cristo Rey Jesuit (6-9)  - 39.87 (76) 2-8 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
87. Montevideo (5-12)  - 39.64 (13) 3-12 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
88. Tri-City United (5-8)  - 39.64 (91) 1-7 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
89. Park Rapids Area (5-11)  - 39.51 (40) 2-11 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
90. Fairmont (6-10)  - 39.39 (80) 2-10 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
91. Greenway (4-13)  - 39.32 (63) 2-11 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
92. Rochester Lourdes (4-12)  - 39.29 (30) 2-11 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
93. Milaca (5-13)  - 39.04 (20) 2-13 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
94. Norwood-Young America (6-12)  - 38.96 (115) 2-10 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
95. Bagley (8-9)  - 38.95 (112) 1-8 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
96. New Richland-H-E-G (5-12)  - 38.86 (93) 3-10 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
97. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle (6-12)  - 38.27 (103) 1-10 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
98. New Life Academy (6-11)  - 38.08 (86) 2-9 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
99. Staples-Motley (4-13)  - 37.94 (53) 3-13 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
100. Metro Schools College Prep (4-5)  - 37.30 (125) 0-5 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
101. Pine Island (4-14)  - 35.57 (45) 2-14 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
102. Mesabi East (2-14)  - 35.26 (36) 2-13 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
103. St. Agnes (6-12)  - 34.62 (88) 2-12 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
104. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (3-11)  - 34.32 (61) 2-10 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
105. Math and Science Academy (3-7)  - 33.70 (121) 0-5 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
106. Jackson County Central (3-15)  - 33.16 (12) 2-15 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
107. Maple Lake (4-14)  - 33.02 (58) 1-13 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
108. Medford (3-14)  - 32.21 (56) 2-14 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
109. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (2-13)  - 31.35 (34) 1-13 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
110. LeSueur-Henderson (3-14)  - 31.14 (105) 1-13 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
111. Brooklyn Center (1-15)  - 31.01 (5) 1-15 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
112. Roseau (6-11)  - 30.82 (118) 1-11 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
113. St. Cloud Cathedral (2-16)  - 30.79 (3) 2-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
114. Sibley East (3-14)  - 30.45 (101) 3-14 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
115. Holdingford (2-14)  - 30.12 (29) 2-14 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
116. Dassel-Cokato (2-16)  - 29.80 (2) 2-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
117. Proctor (2-10)  - 29.40 (62) 2-9 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
118. Concordia Academy (4-13)  - 28.28 (90) 1-13 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
119. Winona Cotter/Hope Lutheran (1-16)  - 27.29 (28) 1-15 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
120. Crookston (2-16)  - 27.04 (89) 2-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
121. St. James Area (1-16)  - 25.81 (59) 1-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
122. Dover-Eyota (2-14)  - 25.68 (24) 2-14 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
123. Mounds Park Academy (1-14)  - 21.80 (70) 1-14 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
124. St. Paul Washington (0-12)  - 0.00 (10) 0-10 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
125. Nova Classical Academy (1-16)  - 0.00 (123) 0-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower

Class A

1. Mahnomen/Waubun (17-0)  - 60.06 (21) 0-0 vs higher, 17-0 vs lower
2. Ashby (18-0)  - 58.04 (110) 0-0 vs higher, 18-0 vs lower
3. Legacy Christian (17-1)  - 56.60 (107) 0-0 vs higher, 17-1 vs lower
4. Southwest MN Christian (16-2)  - 56.54 (85) 0-0 vs higher, 16-2 vs lower
5. Southland (15-2)  - 56.54 (27) 0-0 vs higher, 15-2 vs lower
6. Nevis (16-2)  - 56.37 (47) 0-1 vs higher, 16-1 vs lower
7. New York Mills (15-2)  - 56.28 (63) 0-1 vs higher, 15-1 vs lower
8. Nashwauk-Keewatin (15-2)  - 56.15 (43) 0-1 vs higher, 15-1 vs lower
9. Deer River (16-2)  - 55.61 (93) 0-1 vs higher, 16-1 vs lower
10. Lyle/Austin Pacelli (16-2)  - 55.25 (97) 1-1 vs higher, 15-1 vs lower
11. Cleveland (10-2)  - 55.21 (39) 0-0 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
12. Fertile-Beltrami (15-2)  - 55.05 (92) 0-1 vs higher, 15-1 vs lower
13. Cass Lake-Bena (15-3)  - 54.56 (36) 1-3 vs higher, 14-0 vs lower
14. Lac qui Parle Valley (15-3)  - 54.44 (94) 0-0 vs higher, 15-3 vs lower
15. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (15-3)  - 54.35 (86) 0-0 vs higher, 15-3 vs lower
16. St. Clair (11-2)  - 54.31 (91) 1-1 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
17. Westbrook-Walnut Grove (14-3)  - 54.19 (74) 0-2 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
18. Lester Prairie (15-3)  - 54.17 (102) 1-1 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
19. Renville County West (12-5)  - 53.93 (68) 1-1 vs higher, 11-4 vs lower
20. Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's (14-3)  - 53.74 (105) 0-2 vs higher, 14-1 vs lower
21. Central MN Christian (14-4)  - 53.52 (62) 2-3 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
22. Hayfield (14-4)  - 53.00 (31) 1-3 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
23. T/ML/GHEC (12-5)  - 52.79 (20) 1-3 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
24. Mankato Loyola (11-3)  - 52.79 (80) 2-3 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
25. Win-E-Mac (14-3)  - 52.75 (98) 1-3 vs higher, 13-0 vs lower
26. Hancock (13-5)  - 52.70 (14) 1-4 vs higher, 12-1 vs lower
27. Spring Grove (13-3)  - 52.67 (111) 1-1 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
28. Stephen-Argyle (11-3)  - 52.52 (95) 1-2 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
29. Parkers Prairie (13-4)  - 52.16 (60) 0-3 vs higher, 13-1 vs lower
30. Northern Freeze (11-5)  - 51.98 (54) 2-1 vs higher, 9-4 vs lower
31. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (14-4)  - 51.84 (100) 0-2 vs higher, 14-2 vs lower
32. Mayer Lutheran (13-3)  - 51.61 (129) 1-1 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
33. CHOF (8-5)  - 51.56 (12) 0-2 vs higher, 8-3 vs lower
34. East Central (13-3)  - 51.49 (133) 1-1 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
35. Henning (12-5)  - 51.36 (66) 0-3 vs higher, 12-2 vs lower
36. Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda (12-6)  - 50.44 (33) 1-3 vs higher, 11-3 vs lower
37. North Woods (11-5)  - 50.38 (69) 1-2 vs higher, 10-3 vs lower
38. New Ulm Cathedral (11-5)  - 50.17 (109) 1-3 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
39. Northland (14-4)  - 50.03 (136) 2-1 vs higher, 12-3 vs lower
40. Cherry (11-6)  - 49.71 (49) 1-4 vs higher, 10-2 vs lower
41. Upsala (12-6)  - 49.44 (25) 1-6 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
42. Randolph (11-6)  - 49.18 (50) 2-4 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
43. Red Lake County (12-6)  - 48.96 (52) 1-6 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
44. West Central Area (12-4)  - 48.81 (123) 2-4 vs higher, 10-0 vs lower
45. Grand Meadow (9-6)  - 47.93 (9) 2-5 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
46. United Christian Academy (11-4)  - 47.92 (146) 0-2 vs higher, 11-2 vs lower
47. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (11-6)  - 47.83 (113) 1-3 vs higher, 10-3 vs lower
48. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy (11-5)  - 47.53 (115) 1-4 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
49. Murray County Central (10-6)  - 47.46 (45) 1-5 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
50. South Ridge (12-6)  - 47.40 (118) 1-5 vs higher, 11-1 vs lower
51. Ely (11-6)  - 47.17 (124) 2-4 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
52. Minneota (11-6)  - 47.13 (126) 2-3 vs higher, 9-3 vs lower
53. Martin County West (10-8)  - 47.03 (32) 1-6 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
54. Barnum (10-8)  - 46.84 (58) 1-6 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
55. Chisholm (9-9)  - 46.66 (90) 3-5 vs higher, 6-4 vs lower
56. Heritage Christian (10-6)  - 46.42 (82) 0-5 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
57. Rushford-Peterson (11-6)  - 46.26 (76) 2-6 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
58. Wabasso (8-9)  - 45.93 (70) 2-5 vs higher, 6-4 vs lower
59. Hills-Beaver Creek (9-7)  - 45.90 (22) 2-6 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
60. Braham (12-6)  - 45.47 (135) 1-6 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
61. Red Lake (9-7)  - 45.25 (81) 0-5 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
62. Cedar Mountain (7-10)  - 45.12 (87) 2-6 vs higher, 5-4 vs lower
63. Springfield (7-9)  - 44.92 (78) 3-6 vs higher, 4-3 vs lower
64. MACCRAY (8-10)  - 44.65 (51) 2-7 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
65. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (10-8)  - 44.57 (101) 1-6 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
66. Ada-Borup (9-7)  - 44.39 (114) 1-5 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
67. Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey (8-8)  - 44.35 (13) 2-8 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
68. Verndale (9-9)  - 43.95 (84) 3-7 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
69. Sacred Heart (8-9)  - 43.86 (37) 2-8 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
70. Avail Academy (9-8)  - 43.85 (137) 1-6 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
71. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (8-8)  - 43.80 (30) 0-6 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
72. Lanesboro (7-11)  - 43.20 (16) 2-7 vs higher, 5-4 vs lower
73. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross (8-9)  - 43.07 (41) 1-8 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
74. Blackduck (9-8)  - 42.96 (71) 1-7 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
75. Nicollet (9-8)  - 42.71 (117) 2-7 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
76. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop (8-9)  - 42.62 (99) 3-9 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
77. Cromwell-Wright (11-6)  - 42.62 (145) 0-6 vs higher, 11-0 vs lower
78. Lakeview (8-8)  - 42.44 (112) 2-8 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
79. PACT Charter (8-9)  - 42.42 (75) 2-8 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
80. United South Central (5-8)  - 42.15 (56) 1-6 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
81. Hope Academy (5-10)  - 41.87 (130) 2-4 vs higher, 3-6 vs lower
82. Pine River-Backus (8-9)  - 41.59 (38) 1-8 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
83. BOLD (4-7)  - 40.92 (26) 2-7 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
84. Trinity School (9-9)  - 40.25 (127) 0-7 vs higher, 9-2 vs lower
85. Mountain Iron-Buhl (7-9)  - 40.10 (88) 1-9 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
86. Browerville/Eagle Valley (6-11)  - 40.10 (61) 0-10 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
87. Bethlehem Academy (5-11)  - 39.65 (40) 1-8 vs higher, 4-3 vs lower
88. Carlton (10-8)  - 39.54 (142) 0-7 vs higher, 10-1 vs lower
89. Lake Park-Audubon (7-10)  - 39.43 (131) 0-7 vs higher, 7-3 vs lower
90. Blooming Prairie (6-11)  - 39.29 (77) 3-9 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
91. Schaeffer Academy (5-9)  - 38.89 (24) 1-7 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
92. West Lutheran (7-9)  - 38.61 (73) 1-9 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
93. Hinckley-Finlayson (7-10)  - 38.57 (89) 1-10 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
94. Rothsay (8-10)  - 37.93 (108) 1-8 vs higher, 7-2 vs lower
95. Swanville (6-12)  - 37.78 (125) 2-10 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
96. Battle Lake (6-11)  - 37.71 (10) 2-10 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
97. LeRoy-Ostrander (7-7)  - 37.67 (119) 1-7 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
98. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (6-12)  - 37.06 (42) 1-12 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
99. St. John's Prep (6-12)  - 37.03 (143) 2-10 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
100. Clearbrook-Gonvick (4-14)  - 36.89 (19) 2-11 vs higher, 2-3 vs lower
101. Kaleidoscope Charter (8-6)  - 36.77 (150) 0-6 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
102. Madelia (4-12)  - 36.54 (83) 2-10 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
103. Brandon/Evansville (6-12)  - 36.21 (53) 3-11 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
104. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart (4-12)  - 36.20 (44) 2-12 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
105. Fosston (6-12)  - 36.02 (46) 2-11 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
106. Lakeview Christian (5-12)  - 35.37 (57) 1-12 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
107. Dawson-Boyd (3-15)  - 35.35 (18) 2-14 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
108. NCE/U-H (4-10)  - 35.01 (104) 1-10 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
109. Wrenshall (6-12)  - 33.97 (138) 0-9 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
110. Red Rock Central (5-13)  - 33.57 (8) 1-13 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
111. Sebeka (5-13)  - 33.45 (67) 1-13 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
112. Fillmore Central (3-9)  - 33.43 (2) 1-9 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
113. Sleepy Eye (2-15)  - 33.27 (64) 2-14 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
114. Goodridge/Grygla (7-11)  - 33.15 (106) 2-11 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
115. Ogilvie (4-11)  - 33.05 (139) 1-10 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
116. Liberty Classical Academy (5-11)  - 31.72 (147) 1-11 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
117. Wabasha-Kellogg (3-12)  - 31.62 (5) 1-11 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
118. Northome/Kelliher (7-11)  - 31.11 (132) 0-10 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
119. Mabel-Canton (5-13)  - 31.00 (65) 1-12 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
120. Hill City (4-12)  - 30.99 (120) 1-10 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
121. Alden-Conger (2-13)  - 30.57 (23) 2-13 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
122. Bigfork (3-14)  - 30.56 (28) 1-14 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
123. Ortonville (2-12)  - 30.21 (35) 1-10 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
124. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (3-14)  - 29.98 (59) 1-14 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
125. Silver Bay (4-13)  - 29.75 (122) 1-13 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
126. Floodwood (3-11)  - 28.71 (134) 1-10 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
127. McGregor (2-16)  - 28.59 (141) 2-14 vs higher, 0-2 vs lower
128. Kingsland (3-12)  - 28.54 (3) 1-12 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
129. Climax/Fisher (1-16)  - 27.82 (15) 1-14 vs higher, 0-2 vs lower
130. North Lakes Academy (2-14)  - 27.60 (48) 1-12 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
131. Onamia (2-15)  - 26.39 (103) 1-14 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
132. Canby (3-13)  - 26.36 (55) 2-13 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
133. Edgerton (2-15)  - 26.14 (7) 1-14 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
134. Isle (2-16)  - 22.74 (121) 2-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
135. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (2-13)  - 22.04 (79) 1-13 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
136. Eagle Ridge Academy (2-12)  - 21.86 (148) 1-11 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
137. Adrian/Ellsworth (1-16)  - 20.55 (6) 1-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
138. Cook County (1-13)  - 20.16 (96) 1-13 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
139. Littlefork-Big Falls (3-12)  - 20.09 (116) 0-12 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
140. Lakes International Language Academy (3-14)  - 19.48 (144) 1-14 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
141. Park Christian (2-15)  - 16.32 (17) 1-15 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
142. Glenville-Emmons (0-8)  - 0.00 (1) 0-8 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
143. Houston (0-16)  - 0.00 (4) 0-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
144. Kittson County Central (1-16)  - 0.00 (11) 0-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
145. Yellow Medicine East (0-17)  - 0.00 (29) 0-17 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
146. Underwood (0-17)  - 0.00 (34) 0-16 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
147. Bertha-Hewitt (1-12)  - 0.00 (72) 0-12 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
148. Laporte (2-14)  - 0.00 (128) 0-14 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
149. Lake of the Woods (0-14)  - 0.00 (140) 0-11 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
150. Chesterton Academy (0-5)  - 0.00 (149) 0-4 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower