January 6th, 2022 CzarPI

This is the 1st CzarPI of the 2021-22 season (see CzarPI Explained Here). It includes games through Wednesday, January 5th, 2022. The value in () after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking within their class.

CzarPI Record: 1263-221 (85.1%)

Class AAAA

1. Shakopee - 63.65 (19) 0-0 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
2. Park Center - 62.88 (22) 0-0 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
3. Owatonna - 60 (18) 0-0 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
4. Lakeville North - 59.98 (23) 0-0 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
5. East Ridge - 59.94 (13) 1-0 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
6. Hopkins - 59.05 (35) 0-1 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
7. Buffalo - 58.99 (52) 0-0 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
8. Minnetonka - 57.88 (15) 0-1 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
9. Robbinsdale Armstrong - 57.05 (6) 1-2 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
10. Mounds View - 54.8 (56) 0-0 vs higher, 8-2 vs lower
11. Osseo - 54.3 (14) 1-2 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
12. Lakeville South - 53.7 (16) 1-1 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
13. Rochester Mayo - 53.62 (20) 1-2 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
14. Spring Lake Park - 53.18 (34) 1-1 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
15. Wayzata - 52.94 (12) 2-2 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
16. Sartell-St. Stephen - 52.71 (38) 1-2 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
17. Eastview - 51.82 (48) 0-2 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
18. Minneapolis South - 51.35 (51) 2-1 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
19. Bloomington Jefferson - 50.91 (50) 0-0 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
20. Robbinsdale Cooper - 50.89 (30) 0-2 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
21. Eden Prairie - 50.21 (31) 0-3 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
22. Brainerd - 49.79 (63) 0-0 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
23. Northfield - 49.52 (26) 1-2 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
24. Irondale - 49.45 (40) 1-2 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
25. Minneapolis Washburn - 49.23 (7) 1-3 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
26. Edina - 49.2 (8) 1-4 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
27. Rosemount - 49 (27) 1-3 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
28. Eagan - 48.68 (5) 0-5 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
29. Cretin-Derham Hall - 48.58 (3) 1-2 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
30. St. Louis Park - 48.07 (55) 3-2 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
31. Rochester John Marshall - 47.8 (44) 0-2 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
32. Woodbury - 47.16 (46) 1-3 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
33. Apple Valley - 46.78 (49) 0-1 vs higher, 2-4 vs lower
34. Moorhead - 46.62 (41) 0-2 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
35. Rochester Century - 46.44 (37) 2-3 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
36. Tartan - 46.36 (60) 1-1 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
37. Chanhassen - 46.13 (36) 1-3 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
38. White Bear Lake - 45.57 (47) 2-3 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
39. Elk River - 45.14 (59) 2-1 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
40. Bemidji - 45.09 (57) 0-3 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
41. Park of Cottage Grove - 44.93 (39) 1-3 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
42. Stillwater Area - 44.87 (64) 1-3 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
43. Rogers - 44.83 (29) 1-3 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
44. Waconia - 44.65 (17) 1-5 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
45. Andover - 44.54 (53) 1-3 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
46. Farmington - 44.41 (45) 2-4 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
47. Minneapolis Southwest - 44.37 (33) 2-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
48. Forest Lake - 44.05 (21) 2-4 vs higher, 0-3 vs lower
49. Maple Grove - 43.97 (9) 2-4 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
50. Duluth East - 42.81 (62) 1-4 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
51. Burnsville - 42.56 (10) 1-4 vs higher, 0-2 vs lower
52. Coon Rapids - 41.62 (61) 2-2 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
53. Prior Lake - 40.2 (28) 3-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
54. Anoka - 39.83 (32) 1-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
55. Centennial - 38.9 (42) 2-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
56. St. Paul Central - 37.39 (4) 1-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
57. Roseville - 35.36 (43) 1-7 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
58. Blaine - 33.18 (54) 1-6 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
59. Hastings - 33.08 (11) 0-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
60. St. Michael-Albertville - 32.78 (58) 2-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
61. North St. Paul - 28.38 (24) 1-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
62. Chaska - 27.17 (2) 1-8 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
63. Champlin Park - 0 (1) 0-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
64. Cambridge-Isanti - 0 (25) 0-10 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower

Class AAA

1. Columbia Heights - 60.02 (40) 0-0 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
2. Princeton - 58.56 (46) 0-0 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
3. South St. Paul - 58.2 (51) 0-0 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
4. Mankato West - 57.98 (22) 0-1 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
5. Jordan - 57.6 (33) 0-0 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
6. North Branch - 57.26 (41) 0-0 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
7. New Ulm - 55.15 (30) 1-1 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
8. Two Rivers - 55.05 (35) 1-0 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
9. Red Wing - 54.57 (27) 0-0 vs higher, 4-3 vs lower
10. DeLaSalle - 54.48 (4) 0-1 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
11. Hutchinson - 54.29 (36) 0-0 vs higher, 6-3 vs lower
12. Hibbing - 54.1 (39) 0-2 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
13. Orono - 54.05 (42) 0-1 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
14. Alexandria - 53.99 (43) 0-1 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
15. Totino-Grace - 53.77 (56) 1-0 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
16. Winona - 52.41 (5) 1-2 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
17. Simley - 52.08 (60) 1-0 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
18. Stewartville - 52.07 (26) 1-0 vs higher, 4-3 vs lower
19. Becker - 51.96 (53) 1-1 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
20. Cloquet - 51.2 (20) 0-3 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
21. Kasson-Mantorville - 50.6 (44) 0-2 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
22. Sauk Rapids-Rice - 49.5 (16) 1-2 vs higher, 2-3 vs lower
23. Bloomington Kennedy - 49.46 (59) 0-0 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
24. Mankato East - 49.44 (28) 2-3 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
25. Mahtomedi - 49.39 (8) 0-2 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
26. Marshall - 49.14 (54) 0-2 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
27. Richfield - 48.97 (9) 1-1 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
28. St. Cloud Apollo - 48.54 (31) 1-2 vs higher, 3-3 vs lower
29. Hermantown - 48.26 (24) 1-4 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
30. Benilde-St. Margaret's - 47.77 (52) 1-2 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
31. Byron - 47.61 (49) 1-3 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
32. St. Peter - 47.34 (21) 0-5 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
33. St. Thomas Academy - 46.7 (55) 0-3 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
34. Austin - 46.65 (18) 2-3 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
35. St. Cloud Tech - 44.63 (7) 2-4 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
36. Big Lake - 44.59 (47) 0-3 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
37. Mound Westonka - 44.58 (32) 1-4 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
38. Fridley - 44.17 (14) 0-2 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
39. St. Paul Johnson - 44.07 (61) 0-1 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
40. Rocori - 43.55 (25) 2-5 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
41. Detroit Lakes - 43.11 (1) 1-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
42. New Prague - 42.7 (11) 1-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
43. St. Francis - 41.58 (48) 1-4 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
44. Holy Angels - 41.49 (34) 2-6 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
45. Willmar - 40.66 (2) 1-7 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
46. Grand Rapids - 40.58 (6) 1-6 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
47. Chisago Lakes Area - 39.66 (29) 1-4 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
48. Monticello - 39.63 (45) 1-5 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
49. Duluth Denfeld - 37.68 (3) 1-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
50. Delano - 37.31 (12) 1-8 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
51. Minneapolis Henry - 36.89 (57) 1-2 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
52. St. Anthony Village - 35.45 (58) 1-5 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
53. St. Paul Como Park - 35.26 (37) 0-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
54. Worthington - 34.98 (10) 1-3 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
55. Little Falls - 31.94 (50) 1-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
56. Faribault - 26.89 (19) 0-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
57. Zimmerman - 26.51 (15) 1-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
58. St. Paul Harding - 25.04 (17) 1-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
59. Hill-Murray - 24.07 (23) 1-7 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
60. Albert Lea - 23.98 (38) 0-6 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
61. St. Paul Highland Park - 0 (13) 0-9 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower

Class AA

1. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta - 61.63 (40) 0-0 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
2. Pipestone Area - 60.51 (24) 0-0 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
3. Thief River Falls - 60.23 (57) 0-0 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
4. Redwood Valley - 57.37 (38) 2-0 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
5. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - 56.8 (36) 0-1 vs higher, 9-1 vs lower
6. Spectrum - 56.56 (29) 0-0 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
7. St. Clair - 56.46 (30) 1-2 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
8. Rockford - 56.18 (65) 0-1 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
9. Sauk Centre - 56.16 (69) 0-0 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
10. Maple River - 55.67 (83) 0-1 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
11. Lake City - 55.17 (52) 0-0 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
12. Crosby-Ironton - 54.79 (114) 0-0 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
13. Albany - 54.63 (89) 0-1 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
14. Annandale - 54.51 (22) 0-2 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
15. Rush City - 54.31 (90) 0-1 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
16. Eden Valley-Watkins - 54.09 (14) 0-1 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
17. West Central Area - 54.05 (84) 0-1 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
18. Watertown-Mayer - 53.98 (87) 1-1 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
19. Barnesville - 53.88 (103) 1-0 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
20. Perham - 53.78 (88) 1-1 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
21. Esko - 53.75 (93) 0-1 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
22. Glencoe-Silver Lake - 53.49 (105) 0-1 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
23. Plainview-Elgin-Millville - 53.41 (118) 0-0 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
24. New London-Spicer - 53.2 (49) 1-1 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
25. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - 53 (54) 1-0 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
26. St. Paul Academy - 52.63 (115) 0-0 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
27. Minneapolis Edison - 52.57 (120) 0-0 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
28. Warroad - 52.54 (106) 0-1 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
29. Hiawatha Collegiate - 52.22 (81) 1-0 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
30. Milaca - 52.12 (77) 1-2 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
31. Osakis - 52.11 (73) 1-2 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
32. Pequot Lakes - 50.96 (94) 0-1 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
33. La Crescent-Hokah - 50.92 (121) 1-0 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
34. Blake - 50.82 (63) 1-1 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
35. Hawley - 50.63 (122) 0-0 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
36. Providence Academy - 50.56 (11) 2-4 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
37. Moose Lake-Willow River - 50.29 (111) 1-1 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
38. Menahga - 50.14 (37) 0-2 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
39. Maranatha Christian - 50.06 (60) 1-1 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
40. St. Agnes - 49.8 (113) 0-0 vs higher, 5-3 vs lower
41. Lewiston-Altura - 49.58 (123) 0-0 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
42. Eveleth-Gilbert - 49.48 (25) 0-2 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
43. Caledonia - 49.36 (124) 1-0 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
44. Two Harbors - 49.09 (101) 0-2 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
45. Holy Family Catholic - 49.03 (12) 2-3 vs higher, 2-3 vs lower
46. Chatfield - 48.97 (91) 0-1 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
47. Waseca - 48.9 (70) 0-2 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
48. Minneapolis North - 48.54 (3) 0-2 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
49. Montevideo - 47.97 (33) 1-3 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
50. St. Croix Prep - 47.86 (96) 1-1 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
51. Mora - 47.7 (112) 1-2 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
52. Southwest Christian - 47.36 (17) 1-4 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
53. Dassel-Cokato - 47.05 (95) 0-3 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
54. Pelican Rapids - 46.85 (42) 0-3 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
55. Belle Plaine - 46.28 (8) 1-4 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
56. Triton - 45.92 (18) 0-3 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
57. Park Rapids Area - 45.82 (99) 0-2 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
58. Fergus Falls - 45.78 (20) 1-3 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
59. Blue Earth Area - 45.46 (72) 0-3 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
60. Paynesville Area - 45.16 (50) 1-4 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
61. Jackson County Central - 45.01 (55) 2-4 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
62. St. James Area - 44.49 (75) 1-4 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
63. Litchfield - 43.97 (44) 1-5 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
64. Brooklyn Center - 43.52 (10) 0-1 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
65. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - 43.4 (102) 1-4 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
66. Fairmont - 43.27 (56) 1-5 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
67. Twin Cities Academy/Great River - 42.55 (119) 2-3 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
68. Aitkin - 42.46 (26) 0-3 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
69. Pillager - 42.07 (7) 0-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
70. Kimball Area - 41.85 (79) 1-5 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
71. Breck - 41.76 (15) 1-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
72. New Richland-H-E-G - 41.35 (28) 1-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
73. Concordia Academy - 41.07 (62) 2-4 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
74. Pierz - 41.05 (67) 1-5 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
75. Lakes International Language Academy - 40.84 (74) 1-5 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
76. Proctor - 40.34 (31) 1-6 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
77. Rochester Lourdes - 39.99 (58) 1-5 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
78. Red Lake - 39.94 (107) 2-3 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
79. Pine City - 39.86 (92) 1-4 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
80. Windom Area - 39.82 (45) 2-5 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
81. St. Croix Lutheran - 39.07 (41) 1-4 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
82. Zumbrota-Mazeppa - 38.81 (19) 1-6 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
83. Pine Island - 38.8 (76) 1-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
84. Melrose - 38.65 (53) 2-6 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
85. Hinckley-Finlayson - 38.45 (64) 2-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
86. Royalton - 38.22 (48) 1-4 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
87. Mounds Park Academy - 38.04 (110) 0-4 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
88. Math and Science Academy - 37.76 (125) 0-1 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
89. Greenway - 37.7 (98) 1-4 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
90. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City - 37.59 (71) 1-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
91. St. Cloud Cathedral - 37.52 (35) 1-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
92. International Falls - 36.6 (117) 0-4 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
93. Wadena-Deer Creek - 35.86 (23) 0-3 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
94. Norwood-Young America - 35.41 (51) 1-6 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
95. Foley - 35.29 (85) 2-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
96. East Grand Forks - 34.89 (104) 1-3 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
97. Cannon Falls - 34.44 (4) 1-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
98. Virginia - 34.24 (34) 2-8 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
99. Minnewaska Area - 33.29 (9) 1-8 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
100. Nova Classical Academy - 32.72 (82) 0-4 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
101. Dover-Eyota - 32.13 (2) 1-9 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
102. Staples-Motley - 31.98 (109) 0-6 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
103. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - 31.83 (108) 0-5 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
104. Minnehaha Academy - 31.48 (21) 1-4 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
105. Luverne - 31.42 (13) 0-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
106. Frazee - 30.69 (6) 1-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
107. Minneapolis Roosevelt - 29.78 (66) 0-3 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
108. Mesabi East - 29.77 (61) 1-4 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
109. St. Paul Washington - 28.63 (97) 0-4 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
110. St. Paul Humboldt - 28.63 (116) 0-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
111. Blooming Prairie - 26.76 (5) 0-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
112. Tri-City United - 25.75 (78) 0-5 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
113. Minnesota Valley Lutheran - 25.02 (47) 0-8 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
114. Medford - 23.98 (46) 0-7 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
115. Winona Cotter/Hope Lutheran - 0 (1) 0-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
116. Cristo Rey Jesuit - 0 (16) 0-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
117. Crookston - 0 (27) 0-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
118. LeSueur-Henderson - 0 (32) 0-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
119. Holdingford - 0 (39) 0-8 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
120. Roseau - 0 (43) 0-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
121. High School for the Recording Arts - 0 (59) 0-1 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
122. St. Charles - 0 (68) 0-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
123. Maple Lake - 0 (80) 0-3 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
124. Hmong Academy - 0 (86) 0-2 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
125. Sibley East - 0 (100) 0-4 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
126. Ubah Medical Academy - 0 (126) 0-0 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower

Class A

1. New York Mills - 60.6 (49) 0-0 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
2. Martin County West - 60.56 (50) 0-0 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
3. Cass Lake-Bena - 60.52 (51) 0-0 vs higher, 9-0 vs lower
4. Rushford-Peterson - 58.64 (16) 0-0 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
5. Central MN Christian - 57.97 (14) 0-0 vs higher, 7-2 vs lower
6. North Woods - 57.5 (43) 0-0 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
7. Cherry - 57.49 (23) 0-1 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
8. Ashby - 55.91 (28) 1-1 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
9. Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's - 55.85 (124) 0-0 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
10. Mahnomen/Waubun - 55.65 (7) 0-2 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
11. Hayfield - 54.66 (99) 0-1 vs higher, 10-0 vs lower
12. Sacred Heart - 53.48 (140) 0-0 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
13. Henning - 53.04 (143) 0-0 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
14. Fertile-Beltrami - 52.95 (67) 0-1 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
15. Kenyon-Wanamingo - 52.59 (59) 0-1 vs higher, 7-1 vs lower
16. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 52.56 (72) 0-1 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
17. Chisholm - 52.46 (129) 0-0 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
18. Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey - 52.13 (86) 0-0 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
19. Nevis - 51.46 (88) 0-2 vs higher, 8-0 vs lower
20. Springfield - 51.38 (122) 1-1 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
21. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - 51.04 (22) 0-2 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
22. Fosston - 50.35 (133) 0-1 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
23. Hancock - 49.98 (40) 0-2 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
24. New Life Academy - 49.95 (127) 0-1 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
25. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo - 49.93 (126) 0-1 vs higher, 8-1 vs lower
26. Dawson-Boyd - 49.91 (93) 0-2 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
27. Lakeview - 49.82 (153) 0-0 vs higher, 10-0 vs lower
28. Southland - 49.39 (38) 0-1 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
29. Mankato Loyola - 49.37 (109) 0-2 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
30. Avail Academy - 49.2 (65) 0-1 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
31. Deer River - 49.01 (87) 0-2 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
32. Red Lake County - 48.86 (15) 0-2 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
33. Ada-Borup-West - 48.82 (17) 0-2 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
34. Southwest MN Christian - 48.62 (77) 0-2 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
35. Liberty Classical Academy - 48.58 (155) 1-0 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
36. Brandon/Evansville - 48.28 (21) 0-2 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
37. Lyle/Austin Pacelli - 48.26 (108) 0-2 vs higher, 7-0 vs lower
38. BOLD - 47.78 (83) 0-2 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
39. Spring Grove - 47.38 (142) 1-1 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
40. Goodridge/Grygla - 47.1 (136) 0-1 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
41. Northland - 46.91 (53) 1-3 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
42. Blackduck - 46.8 (89) 1-2 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
43. Lester Prairie - 46.75 (91) 0-2 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
44. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton - 46.67 (117) 0-1 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
45. Swanville - 46.39 (145) 0-0 vs higher, 5-2 vs lower
46. Hope Academy - 45.67 (30) 0-3 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
47. Duluth Marshall - 45.54 (11) 1-3 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
48. Goodhue - 45.49 (102) 1-2 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
49. Cromwell-Wright - 45.38 (138) 0-1 vs higher, 6-2 vs lower
50. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart - 45.3 (47) 0-2 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
51. Westbrook-Walnut Grove - 45.24 (52) 0-2 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
52. Northern Freeze - 45.19 (1) 1-4 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
53. CHOF - 44.66 (27) 0-1 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
54. Legacy Christian - 44.38 (96) 0-2 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
55. United South Central - 44.28 (39) 0-3 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
56. Barnum - 43.85 (101) 1-3 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
57. Mountain Iron-Buhl - 43.2 (75) 1-3 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
58. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - 43.03 (81) 1-3 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
59. West Lutheran - 42.94 (18) 1-2 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
60. Wabasso - 42.79 (154) 0-1 vs higher, 6-1 vs lower
61. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton - 42.73 (84) 0-3 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
62. Kingsland - 42.63 (62) 0-2 vs higher, 3-2 vs lower
63. Kaleidoscope Charter - 42.49 (144) 0-2 vs higher, 4-2 vs lower
64. Upsala - 42.35 (132) 1-2 vs higher, 3-3 vs lower
65. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 42.25 (82) 1-3 vs higher, 3-3 vs lower
66. Pine River-Backus - 42.2 (5) 1-5 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
67. Northome/Kelliher - 42.07 (137) 0-3 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
68. Trinity School - 41.94 (105) 1-2 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
69. Parkers Prairie - 41.8 (112) 0-3 vs higher, 5-0 vs lower
70. Mayer Lutheran - 41.71 (37) 0-3 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
71. Fillmore Central - 41.7 (2) 1-4 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
72. Lake Park-Audubon - 41.68 (103) 0-3 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
73. Bethlehem Academy - 41.53 (6) 0-4 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
74. Nashwauk-Keewatin - 41.41 (34) 0-4 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
75. Lac qui Parle Valley - 41.39 (46) 1-5 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
76. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River - 40.79 (3) 1-6 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
77. Clearbrook-Gonvick - 40.77 (13) 0-4 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
78. Ely - 40.61 (146) 0-2 vs higher, 6-0 vs lower
79. Madelia - 40.57 (123) 1-1 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
80. New Ulm Cathedral - 40.4 (36) 1-4 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
81. Randolph - 40.33 (121) 2-4 vs higher, 2-2 vs lower
82. Grand Meadow - 40.25 (115) 2-4 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
83. MACCRAY - 40.21 (90) 1-6 vs higher, 4-1 vs lower
84. Carlton - 39.47 (116) 0-2 vs higher, 2-4 vs lower
85. Ogilvie - 39.18 (135) 1-2 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
86. Battle Lake - 39.12 (70) 1-3 vs higher, 1-2 vs lower
87. Murray County Central - 38.84 (63) 0-4 vs higher, 5-1 vs lower
88. Minneota - 38.8 (61) 1-4 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
89. South Ridge - 38.56 (8) 0-3 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
90. Lanesboro - 38.45 (119) 0-3 vs higher, 3-1 vs lower
91. Lakeview Christian - 37.5 (92) 0-3 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
92. Wrenshall - 37.18 (149) 1-3 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
93. T/ML/GHEC - 36.9 (78) 0-5 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
94. Nicollet - 36.89 (79) 1-4 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
95. Eagle Ridge Academy - 36.49 (148) 0-3 vs higher, 4-0 vs lower
96. NCE/U-H - 36.34 (111) 0-2 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
97. Wabasha-Kellogg - 36.03 (31) 1-6 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
98. Rothsay - 35.9 (20) 1-5 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
99. Browerville-Eagle Valley - 35.86 (29) 0-3 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
100. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross - 35.68 (107) 0-2 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
101. Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda - 35.48 (25) 1-4 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
102. Schaeffer Academy - 34.79 (64) 1-5 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
103. LeRoy-Ostrander - 34.63 (157) 0-2 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
104. Bigfork - 34.17 (100) 0-6 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
105. Cedar Mountain - 34.03 (131) 1-4 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
106. Benson - 33.93 (85) 1-5 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
107. Lake of the Woods - 33.9 (114) 0-3 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
108. Stephen-Argyle - 33.6 (73) 0-5 vs higher, 3-0 vs lower
109. Park Christian - 33.38 (106) 0-4 vs higher, 2-1 vs lower
110. McGregor - 31.6 (152) 1-3 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
111. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley - 31.24 (19) 1-7 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
112. St. John's Prep - 31.2 (71) 0-5 vs higher, 1-1 vs lower
113. East Central - 31.01 (97) 1-7 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
114. Underwood - 30.97 (80) 0-6 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
115. Verndale - 30.3 (98) 1-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
116. Silver Bay - 30.19 (60) 1-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
117. Win-E-Mac - 30.05 (12) 1-6 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
118. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 29.95 (113) 0-7 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
119. Breckenridge - 29.63 (48) 1-6 vs higher, 0-1 vs lower
120. Heritage Christian - 29.62 (134) 1-3 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
121. Hills-Beaver Creek - 27.79 (128) 0-3 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
122. PACT Charter - 27.55 (150) 0-5 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
123. Littlefork-Big Falls - 26.43 (147) 1-5 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
124. Metro Schools College Prep - 26.25 (159) 1-2 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
125. Mabel-Canton - 25.77 (125) 0-4 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
126. Chesterton Academy - 24.43 (151) 1-2 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
127. Renville County West - 24.16 (104) 0-5 vs higher, 2-0 vs lower
128. Braham - 21.67 (76) 1-9 vs higher, 1-0 vs lower
129. Sleepy Eye - 0 (4) 0-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
130. Cleveland - 0 (9) 0-10 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
131. Ortonville - 0 (10) 0-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
132. Bagley - 0 (24) 0-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
133. Red Rock Central - 0 (26) 0-4 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
134. Sebeka - 0 (32) 0-4 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
135. Hill City - 0 (33) 0-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
136. Houston - 0 (35) 0-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
137. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop - 0 (41) 0-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
138. North Lakes Academy - 0 (42) 0-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
139. Mille Lacs - 0 (44) 0-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
140. Kittson County Central - 0 (45) 0-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
141. Laporte - 0 (54) 0-4 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
142. Yellow Medicine East - 0 (55) 0-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
143. United Christian Academy - 0 (56) 0-3 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
144. Cook County - 0 (57) 0-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
145. Fond du Lac Ojibwe - 0 (58) 0-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
146. Canby - 0 (66) 0-8 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
147. Climax/Fisher - 0 (68) 0-7 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
148. Floodwood - 0 (69) 0-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
149. Adrian/Ellsworth - 0 (74) 0-3 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
150. Alden-Conger - 0 (94) 0-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
151. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley - 0 (95) 0-5 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
152. Groves Academy - 0 (110) 0-2 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
153. Lincoln International - 0 (118) 0-0 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
154. Edgerton - 0 (120) 0-4 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
155. Academy for Sciences & Ag - 0 (130) 0-2 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
156. Community of Peace Academy - 0 (139) 0-8 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
157. Glenville-Emmons - 0 (141) 0-4 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
158. Bertha-Hewitt - 0 (156) 0-6 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower
159. Minnesota Transitions Charter - 0 (158) 0-1 vs higher, 0-0 vs lower

Don't Pack this one in

Prologue
Miserable weather means online viewing and while my planned game did come on, it didn't come in on time.  But happenstance is in my favor as  I pick up the #3AAA South St. Paul vs Mahtomedi game on YouTube as my alternate.  It takes until early 2nd half to get caught up, but this one didn't disappoint.  Not the Mahtomedi squad you expect with Will Underwood and Owen Carlson out.

Game Time
Quick start for South St. Paul as they jump out to a 16-6 lead just over 6 minutes into the game.  5 different Packers with buckets and Alonzo Dodd isn't one of them.  Mahtomedi hanging around with their 1-2-2 zone to try to slow down the high powered Packers offense.  AJ McCleery getting whatever he wants inside for Mahtomedi.  He scores 8 out of 10 for the Zephyrs.  Plus he draws the 2nd foul on Dodd at the 7:09 mark.  Mahtomedi with the lead down to 3 as Dodd sits.  Its McCleery again at the 3:18 mark with a 3 point play and that's the 2nd on Devin Newsome.  That brings Dodd back in as we're all tied at 29.  Dodd with 2 buckets to regain the lead.  McCleery closes out the half with yet another bucket.  35-34 South St. Paul at the break.

The second half sees South St. Paul come out with their 4 top starters sitting.  McCleery 3 more quick buckets as Mahtomedi takes the lead.  James Ecker gets hot with 2 bombs after a couple of free throws.  16-0 Mahtomedi run over a stretch of just under 5 minutes.  54-42 Mahtomedi leading with 10:05 left.  That will get the South St. Paul starters up off the bench.  America Fitch breaks the run with a 3 and those guys return at the 9:30 mark.  Dodd, bucket.  Tay Harmon steal and triple and give me 3 more on the inside out pass to beat the zone.  Dodd right corner 3, right wing 3 bang bang.  Dodd and Newsome add pairs of free throws.  Its a 22-4 Packers run (19-4 after starters return) over 6 and a half minutes.  64-58 South St. Paul leads with 3:06 left.  Mahtomedi with a bucket with 10.3 left to cut the margin to 2.  SSP makes the 1st free throw, misses the 2nd and gets it back.  Packers seal it by making 1 of those 2 freebies with 8.3 left.  South St. Paul survives 72-68.

Post Game
Mahtomedi falls to 2-3 overall, 0-1 in the Metro East.  AJ McCleery with 27 points to lead Mahtomedi.  3 others with 9 points.  South St. Paul was patient and moved the ball vs the 1-2-2 and 2-3 zones, only 11-27 shooting inside against it but 11-33 from 3.  But more importantly it slowed the pace to something manageable.  Mahtomedi continues Metro East play at home on Friday against upstart Henry Sibley Two Rivers.   Then a trip to another pleasant league surprise, St. Thomas Academy, next Tuesday.

#3AAA South St. Paul improves to 9-0. They survive despite their top 4 starters sitting out the first 8:30 of the 2nd half and first half foul trouble of their 2 stars.  Alonzo Dodd 19 points, most coming at critical times to lead South St. Paul.  Tay Harmon with 4 triples and 16 big points as well.  Plus his usual intense on ball defense.  Shawn West-Zimpel 11 points off the Packers bench.  Devin Newsome held to 7 points.  The Packers host Hill-Murray on Friday night before a quick Saturday afternoon turnaround vs #10AAA Austin in the Rochester Hoops Challenge.  That will be the 3rd game of the season against a top team from the Big 9 as they already have quality wins over Mankato East and Mankato West.

Czar Insights

For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  Mahtomedi's 26 turnovers didn't turn into a huge points off turnovers advantage for South St. Paul.  But 18 extra shots and 7 extra 3s overcomes Mahtomedi's shooting advantage.

 

2021 Capitol City Classic Day 2 Thoughts

Prologue
After a visit from the Crown Prince to enjoy the fine Siberian weather for the Winter Classic, let's review my final games of the holiday week.  I took in 6 games at Day 2 of the 1st annual Capitol City Classic at Concordia-St. Paul.  Long time since I've been at the Gangelhoff Center.  It will be interesting to see how many of the local teams that have previously gone to St. Cloud end up coming to this event in the future.

Game 1: Owatonna 62 #9AAAA Osseo 54
Owatonna comes in as one of the favorites in section 1AAAA and the Big 9.  Brayden Williams with a huge 2nd half for Owatonna.  He knocks down 5 triples and scores 21 of his 25 in that half.  Osseo has the lead down to 1 but then turns it over 8 times in a stretch of 15 possessions.  The last 2 of those turn into triples for Williams and an 8-0 run.  Owatonna 43-32 at that point and that's too much to overcome.  Benard Omooria with a couple of triples cancelled out by 2 more Williams triples kills any Osseo chance.  Ty Creger with 10 of his 14 for Owatonna in the 1st half.  Benard Omooria 16 pts, Lewis Cargeor 15 to lead Osseo.  Tyriece Waits held to 4 points for Osseo was also critical.

Game 2: Waconia 47 Holy Angels 36
Offense really hard to come by in this one.  Both teams under 33% EFG for the game.  AHA only 2 FG in their 1st 17 trips.  That's followed by a Waconia stretch across halftime with no FG in 11 trips.  This was a 5 point game with 11:15 left before AHA went 16 straight trips without a field goal until the final 3 possessions.  Waconia outscores the Stars 14-3 in that stretch to close the game out.  Waconia 15 made free throws to only 12 FT attempts for Holy Angels.  Balanced scoring for Waconia with Noah Bonick scoring 11 points. Ty Miller and Joe Meath add 10 each.  Rob Issa 7 points at the end of the game to lead Holy Angels with 14 points.

Game 3: St. Thomas Academy 63 Mound-Westonka 55
One of the good stories of this season is St. Thomas Academy.  They held Mound-Westonka to 1 FG in the 1st 17 possessions of the 2nd half (add in the last 2 of the 1st half for a 1-19 streak).  That allowed the Cadets to flip a 5 point halftime deficit.  Jack Chamberlain would convert 2 Mound-Westonka turnovers into a bucket and bonus free throws.  That would break open a 3 point game in the last 2:30.  Only a difference of 1 turnover, but STA got 12 more points off of turnovers in the game.  Jack Chamberlain 22 points, Nathan Johnson 15 to lead the Cadets.  Jason Spaeth 20 points, Jake Dallman 16 points for Mound-Westonka.

Game 4: #3 D2 La Crosse Central (WI) 63 #3AAAA Wayzata 54
My alma mater comes in on a hot streak with 2 wins over top 5 teams in Madison right before the holiday.  Only loss on the season (a major surprise) is to Benilde-St. Margaret's in the Southside Showcase in mid-December.  Wayzata jumped on them 9-0 after 4 trips.  Central would hold Wayzata scoreless the last 6+ minutes and finish the 1st half on a 9-0 run of their own to take a 24-22 lead to halftime.  

A critical point near the midpoint of the second half.  A shooting foul on Wayzata plus a player technical.  Central makes all 4 free throws and converts the possession.  That 6 point trip turns a 2 point game into an 8 point game.  Central would play a ton of 2-3 zone and give up 9 3s in the half.  I'm sitting there going nuts saying GET OUT OF THE ZONE and wondering how long can you stay in it.  But Wayzata only shoots 13-35 from 3 and only 14 attempts from 2.  Central's 5 long defenders were a problem for the Trojans.  Central won on the glass, in the paint and at the foul line. Wayzata despite all those 3s, never really threatened after the 6 point possession.  Central returns here to play Hopkins in the South Metro Showcase at Burnsville Jan 22nd.  Wish that game would be in the Border Battle.

Carter Bjerke 3 triples and 13 of his 15 points in the 2nd half.  Ryan Harvey 9 of his 12 points in the 1st half in the hot Wayzata start.  Central with 3 starters in double figures led by 15 points from seniors Devon Fielding and Colin Adams.

Game 5: #8AAA Benilde-St. Margaret's 98 Richfield 81
Benilde-St. Margaret's lost on day 1 to Holy Angels.  They were also depleted for this game with veteran guards Maddox Alipate and Ryan Warren unavailable.  Very sloppy game with 56 turnovers and 62 free throws.  25 Richfield turnovers for 41 BSM points got the young BSM roster out and running.  Soph guard Jayden Daisy 12 pts and frosh forward Abu Keita 16 points off the BSM bench. Frosh Jalen Wilson continues to play well with 18 points.  Senior Camden Carter 17 points and 3 triples in a solid fill-in starting role.  PG Mitchell January 22 points to lead Richfield

Game 6: #3AAA South St. Paul 78 #6AAA Mankato West 62
What a great way to end 2021 with the annual White Jacket Game.  A little last minute planning pulls that off after not doing the game last season.  For those who don't know this is the annual game that I attend with SSP coach Matt McCollister wearing his white suit coat.  Its a tradition that goes back many seasons.

As to the game, South St. Paul's man defense really disrupted Mankato West's offense and didn't get hammered inside despite a size disadvantage.  Then on the offensive end, the usual problems of trying to slow down Devin Newsome and Alonzo Dodd.  Newsome 18 points and Dodd 17 points drive the offense. But getting 4 3s and a combined 25 points from lefties Shawn West-Zimpel and Kaiden Moua was just as critical.  10-18 from 3 for SSP makes them awfully tough to beat.  Newsome is a major problem off the bounce and a steal for whomever gets him at this point.  Strong, quick and can finish and shoots it well enough that you have to respect it.

Czar Insights
For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  

2021 Tartan Tourney Day 1

Prologue
To Tartan for their annual holiday tournament.  Tough luck in their schedule with Mahtomedi backing out and then a late Fridley cancellation.  That meant only 2 games today and only 2 night games on the final day.  You know its bad when the home team couldn't get themselves a game.  Split schedule of 2:45 and 6:15 means I get to take in Tartan assistant Bill Fetsch running his guys thru skill work.

Game 1: #10AAAA Park of Cottage Grove 66 Andover 56
Pharrel Payne still out for this one.  But the Wolfpack does have Jamari Walker back to man the interior.  Andover gets a bucket on their first possession but then goes 17 trips with just 1 field goal.  Park takes advantage with a 23-4 run.  Andover would cut the lead back to 9 thanks to 9 Ben Kopetzki points.  3 interior hoops for Andover plus a triple and 2 free throws from Sammy Musungu cut the lead down to 40-34 with 13:48 left.  But another Andover offensive drought sets in.  They get only 1 FG in their next 15 trips.  Evan Bearth with 3 of his 4 second half field goals in a 12-1 Park run that pushes the lead back to 52-35 with 9:32 left.  Andover scores 14 of the next 18 with a couple of Connor Foy triples included.  56-49 Park with 4:05 left  But Andover gets no closer. Jamari Walker with 14 of his 23 points in the first half as there was no answer for him inside.  Evan Bearth 14 points including the points in the run that put the game away in the 2nd half.  Sammy Musungu 14 of his 20 in the 2nd half for Andover.  Ben Kopetzki adds 16.

Game 2: #6AAA Mankato West 48 White Bear Lake 44
Jack Janicki early and often for WBL.  3 buckets for him and its 13-7 Bears at the 10:57 mark.  Mankato West turns up their defense and goes on a 9-0 run to take a 19-17 lead at the 3:38 mark.  1 point game at the half as Mankato West leads 21-20.  Louis Magers a putback and a conversion of a turnover for the Scarlets and the total run is 15-3 across halftime.  Magers another putback to keep the Scarlets lead at 31-26 with 11:22 left.  Janicki 2 hoops to keep the Bears within 35-34.  Wyatt Hawks (sleeper forward for WBL) with 2 free throws for the lead that its countered by a 3 point play plus another Magers bucket off a post set.  42-38 West with 4:20 left.

Janicki with bombs from the wing and from on top.  44-42 White Bear Lake back on top with 2:50 left.  Mekhi Collins with a strong 2 inside to tie the game with 1:42 left.  White Bear Lake misses a jumper with about a minute left.  West will be patient like most possessions in this game.  Finally its who else but Magers with 17 seconds left for the lead on the attack.  Janicki misses a challenged look from the top.  Magers seals it at the line with 0.4 left.  Magers finishes with 21 points, 14 in the 2nd half.  Janicki another nice game with 28 points as he was the only offense White Bear Lake could find.  2/3 of the Mankato West offense in the paint.  Their inside strength with Magers and Collins against #3AAA South St. Paul in the Capitol City will be very interesting to watch.  They switch everything which won't be as big a factor vs Alonzo Dodd and the DDM system of SSP but expect Dodd to see multiple bodies.

Czar Insights

For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  Today's theme: Paint Domination. Interior play from Park and Mankato West puts them over the top.

2021 TCO Holiday Classic Day 1

Prologue
Holiday tournaments back in full force.  I make my usual venture to Augsburg for their holiday tourney.  The tourney back up to 8 teams this year after being at 6 for a few years.  Hopkins returning to the event after winning it the last 3 times and 9 out of the last 10.  They've had some epic games in this event with Minnehaha in recent years and Johnson before that.

Game 1: #7AAAA Hopkins 86 Minneapolis Washburn 39
This one got out of hand quickly.  Hopkins scoring 4 buckets on turnovers in the first 6 times Washburn had it.  Hopkins scores 24 points off of 24 Washburn turnovers.  Elvis Nnaji dunks everything for 19 points.  CJ O'Hara with all 13 of his points in the 1st half as he played limited time in the 2nd half.  12 different Royals end up scoring.  Cass Ramberg 10 points to lead Washburn.

Game 2: Forest Lake 68 St. Paul Johnson 55
Forest Lake would use a mid second half 11-2 run to break open an even game.  Good matchup of sophomore forwards here between Owen Waldoch (FL) and Daejohn Thomas (SPJ).  Waldoch with a big 3 point play to put Forest Lake up 56-44 with 8:10 left and send Thomas to the bench with 4 fouls.  That ended the big run.  Waldoch would foul out on a flop charge 3 minutes later but Forest Lake would hang on.  Waldoch leads Forest Lake with 21 points.  Fellow soph Nolan Dumonceaux adds 14 with 4 3s.  Ishmael David leads Johnson with 17 points.  Christian Jones 11, Daejohn Thomas 10.  Forest Lake 10-22 from 3 compared to 4-14 for Johnson.

Game 3: Minneapolis Southwest 83 Cambridge-Isanti 64
Dead even first half before Southwest pulls away in the 2nd half.  3 point game around midway thru the 2nd half.  Then Southwest scores on 15 out of 17 trips as the Bluejackets couldn't get stops out of their matchup zone.  Hakeem Ford and Preston Engen lead the onslaught as they combine for 24 of their 33 points the 2nd half.  Ford finishes with 17, Engen with 16 as 11 Lakers end up scoring.  Guards Kobe Karels and John Troolin with 16 points each for Cambridge-Isanti.  They'll make a nice backcourt for next year as Karels is a junior and Troolin only a sophomore.  Always fun to watch the motion offense of Cambridge-Isanti.  They use screens and will back cut you off of that as well as anybody.

Game 4: Big Lake 82 Duluth East 79
This one was fun and a contrast of styles.  You have a big Duluth East lineup (sans Will Van Scoy) against a smaller and mobile Big Lake crew.  Isaac Nyakundi and Bryce Miller getting what they want inside but can also step out and shoot it for Duluth East.  Fun to watch.  But the story here was Big Lake's shooting. They hit 18 of 30 from the great beyond with 7 different guys (including all 5 starters) making one.  Every time Duluth East made a run, a Big Lake 3 killed it.  

Big Lake comes out and hits 4 triples to start the 2nd half and converts a turnover into a layup to open up a 63-47 lead with 13:50 left.  Duluth East would rally to within 2 within 1:50 left and have a chance to tie.  Jobe Juenemann carrying the Duluth East offense in the 2nd half with 5 3s and 2 other buckets.  Definitely a name to watch.  Blocked shot and 4-4 bonus free throws for Big Lake counter a Nyakundi putback for a 3 point play with 10 seconds left.  That gives Duluth East 1 last chance down 3 but they miss a 3 at the buzzer.  Duluth East shoots 12-30 from 3 themselves.  Half of those makes from Juenemann who finished with 19 of his 30 points in the 2nd half.  Isaac Nyakundi adds 20 points for the Greyhounds.  Mitchell Hill with 5 3s and 21 points to lead Big Lake.  Soph Owen Layton off the Hornets bench with 5 3s of his own and 19 points.  Johnathon O'Brien chips in with 15 points.  Its a junior laden Hornets crew who is now 2-3 against a tough schedule. 

Czar Insights
For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  

Back to where college hoops began

Prologue
Its night 2 at the Hutton Holiday Classic.  Always fun to be at Hutton Arena at Hamline and good to see holiday hoops back there.  Only 1 game instead the planned 2 but an interesting game it is.  Bloomington Jefferson taking on Milwaukee Carmen NW.   Carmen NW picked to win the small schools division of the Milwaukee City Conference.  Soph Dupree Fletcher leads a very young Carmen squad to take on Daniel Freitag and the Jags.  35 second shot clock in use tonight but the refs didn't know that so we have some immediate confusion.  Was also confusing to see it reset to 20 on an offensive rebound.  That's one of those minor details that I'm sure will be fun once we start using it for the 2023-24 season.  My holiday gift to everyone is that I'll spare you a bunch of bad Where in the World is Carmen San Diego jokes and pick something more sophisticated for tonight's music.

Song of the Day: Carmen (the opera) - Georges Bizet

Game Time
Daniel Freitag gets off to a nice start for Jefferson.  He has a stretch of 8 straight Jags points as Jefferson takes a 13-7 lead.  Blake Mamalakis with a triple and another Freitag hoop to stretch the lead to 22-9. That's right after Dupree Fletcher picks up his 3rd foul of the half.  Jags go the break up 31-20.

Fletcher wastes no time getting his game going in the 2nd half.  He puts back a miss, makes 2 free throws and buries a straight away 3.  He'll add a 3 point play for good measure as Carmen pulls to within 43-42.  Freitag with a 3 to stop that momentum.  Then Hayden Holland with 9 straight Jags points including a pair of his own triples to push the lead back to double figures.

Jefferson appears ready to close it out but they turn it over 3 straight times.  The last one converted into a bucket.  Then its Fletcher with a kickout assist for a 3 and we're tied at 62 with 1:59 to play.  Out of a Jags timeout its Holland with a clutch triple for the lead.  Fletcher counters with a bucket.  Fletcher with a 3, Jags timeout with 13 seconds left up 3.  Fletcher then steals in the inbounds and gets a timeout with 10.9 left.  Carmen has a chance to tie but their 3 is no good.  Clock confusion as it doesn't start right away but it won't matter.  Freitag seals it with 2 free throws.  That's 8 of 8 free tosses for Jefferson in the last 1:09.  Jefferson wins 75-70.

Post Game
Bloomington Jefferson has now won 4 in a row after we did their season opening tight loss to Rosemount.  That 4-1 record includes solid wins at Farmington and Duluth East along with this one.  Daniel Freitag with 25 points and 9 rebounds (give or take on the rebounds) to lead the Jags.  Blake Mamalakis with 5 triples in a breakout game comes up big with 19 points. Hayden Holland finishes with 22 points, 18 of them in a terrific second half.  3 triples in there including the tiebreaker with 1:42 left.  It was fun to see them run their White Set against Carmen's 1-3-1 a few times.  Carmen got out of the 1-3-1 with about 8 minutes to go after having some 2nd half success with it.  Surprised me that they never came back to it, especially with the shot clock in use.  Jefferson is off until the new year when they open Metro West play at Waconia.  Dupree Fletcher with 21 of his 23 in the second half to lead Carmen NW.  They are now 4-3 on the season which includes yesterday's win over Fridley.

Czar Insights
For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.   Jefferson 10-22 from the 3 point line was the major difference here.

Let the holiday spirit return

Prologue
I kick my holiday season of 22 games into full gear with a triple header.  First its an afternoon matinee for northside pride.  Then off to St. Paul for day 1 of the Harding tourney in the night session.  Nothing like my first game purchased Pepsi of the season.  Expiration date 11/15/21.  Thank you COVID.  But I'm still here to tell you about it so that can't be all bad.

Game 1: #1AA Minneapolis North 82 Minneapolis Henry 53
While the final score isn't necessarily a surprise, how we got there definitely was.  North couldn't get any offense going in the first 11 minutes. Meanwhile Ajani McCrae buries 4 triples and don't look now but Henry is up 10.  They'll keep that lead at 29-22 at the 3:20 mark.  North decides to pound the ball inside to Gani Stevens.  That leads to a 13-2 run to end the half with 5 Henry turnovers helping that run.  35-31 North at the break.  The lead remains 4 with  10:25 left before North runs away and hides with a 27-3 run.  Again its Stevens dominating the low post and 6 turnovers that the Polars turn into points.  North dominates the offensive glass with 31 offensive boards and they force 34 turnovers.  3 point shooting still dicey though (more on that later).  Henry didn't help themselves by missing 17 of 25 free throws.  Demeiko Anderson 21 points to lead North, Stevens adds 17.  McCrae finishes with 15 for Henry.

Game 2: St. Paul Academy 93 St. Paul Washington 33
This is a section 4AA matchup and it was over quickly.  SPA up 4-2 before they go off on a 33-0 run.  Washington with a listless performance and that's being nice.  62 to 12 on points in the paint, 34 turnovers.  Just basic ball pressure out of the SPA 2-3 zone forced turnovers on entry passes.  Nobody stopping drives the rim or giving help.  Looked like a bad youth game and layup drill.  Brandt Baskerville took advantage of that for 30 points , 4 3s included.  24 of those in the first half before sitting the last 12+ minutes.  Clarke Baskerville 15 points.  Soph wing Ethan Carter 17 points.  Carter is part of a nice youth trio that SPA has coming up.

Game 3: Hope Academy 83 St. Paul Harding 54
Harding able to gain an early 7-2 lead before giving up a 25-2 run.  Robert Htoo keeping Harding close with 3 late buckets.  Hope by 11 at the half.  But Hope's guard play too much. Elijah Wade with a couple buckets in a 12-2 run that pushes the lead over 20 and its garbage time from there.  Wade finishes with 29 points and 3 triples.  The other big threat in the Hope backcourt, Jordan Brown, goes for 7 triples and 27 points.  Harding playing a ton of players as they rebuild.  That includes a freshman point guard which can make for some growing pains.

Czar Insights
For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  

Bad 3 point shooting was a theme of the day.

• Minneapolis North 4-30 
• Note that North was also 0-18 vs Minnehaha and 6-18 vs Chicago Simeon.  Keep an eye on this as the season goes on.
• St. Paul Washington 3-26
• St. Paul Harding 4-20

Big runs in the games too.  

• North had a 27-3 run. 
  St Paul Academy had a 33-0 run. 
  Hope Academy had a 25-2 run.

 

It came upon the stormy night

Prologue
Continuing my video look around the metro, let's take in a section 2AAAA seeding battle between Chanhassen and Prior Lake.  Also a chance to get a look at Malcolm Jones of Prior Lake.  Small crowd on hand during this holiday week.  But with this game, it did not come upon the midnight clear.  It was a Storm(y) night.

Game Time
Malcolm Jones picks up his 2nd foul midway thru the half and has to sit.  But they'll play offense/defense with him to get him some of those lost minutes.  A late 10-0 Prior Lake run comes from a 3 point play from Kyle Haas, a layup off a turnover and a corner triple.  34-20 Prior Lake at the half.

Chanhassen storms out of halftime on a 21-6 run.  Eli Sweeney and Braden Barger leading that run.  That run puts Chan on top 41-40.  Haas 2 more buckets and a pair of Jones free throws put Prior Lake back on top 50-45 with 5:01 left.  That lead is 6 with 3:27 left.  Chan converts 2 out of 3 late Lakers turnovers into points.  Soph PG Max Woods lays one in and then takes a handoff and buries a 3 after another.  He'll add a driving layup for a late lead.  

After Prior Lake makes 1 of 2 free throws with 45.4 left, Chanhassen looks to hold.  After a pair of time outs, they get a 5 second call with 7.5 left to give Prior Lake 1 last chance.  That chance is no good.  So its only fitting that with Jeremy Johnson on the Chan staff that our running twitter joke of FREE basketball occurs.  54 all as we go to the extra no cost session.

Prior Lake misses 4 free throws on the first 3 trips of the overtime.  Jaxon McDonald buries a 3 to put Chan ahead.  Prior Lake decides to stop messing around and throw the ball to Jones inside.  He goes with a man level 3 point play and then rejects a shot on the other end.  All tied at 59.  Prior Lake turns it over on the rejection and its Sweeney going to the spin cycle for a bucket and the foul.  Another missed Prior Lake chance.  Chanhassen makes 5 of 6 charity tosses late but the miss does give the Lakers a chance down 2 with 8.3 left.  Prior Lake drives and no good.  Barger finishes it with 2 free throws and 0.8 left.  Chanhassen wins 66-62 in overtime.

Post Game
Prior Lake falls to 1-4 overall.  Malcolm Jones leads the Lakers with 19 points and close to double digit rebounds.  Kellan Miller adds 10 points.  Jones very effective when he got post touches.  But I was surprised there wasn't more emphasis on that.  They had 5 of their 12 missed free throws in the overtime.  Combine that with 8-29 shooting and offense was hard to come by after halftime.  Quick turnaround for Prior Lake with Apple Valley coming in for the back to back conference opener. 

Chanhassen improves to 2-1.  They too get the quick turnaround with a trip to Buffalo for a back to back.  Eli Sweeney leads the Storm with 15 points. Junior wing Braden Barger and guard Jaxon McDonald each add 12.  Soph PG Max Woods with 7 of his 9 late in regulation to help bring Chanhassen back.  They were down as much as 14 in the first half after cold shooting (7-24) but heated up in the 2nd half

Czar Insights

For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights. Chanhassen only goes for .83 PPP and still wins.  Both teams under 40% FG and barely broke 40% in the EFG category.

2021 Big 12 Classic Thoughts

Its another year of the Big 12 Classic.  This year we visit Totino-Grace for 7 quality games on the schedule.  Impressive restraint holds me to only 2 cans of Pepsi on the day.  Good crowd for the big late games.

Game 1: Edina 85 #5AAAA East Ridge 73
There are few offenses more fun to watch than Edina's.  Great concepts (e.g throw back and face cut a switch).  They put up a staggering 65.3% EFG in this one.  Soph Kole Hanson another nice game with 5 triples and 27 points to lead Edina.  Gabe Jobe adds 21 of his 23 in the 2nd half.  Kendall Blue with 23 of his 33 points in the 2nd half to keep East Ridge close.  Edina couldn't keep him away from the rim.  Alex Mattes adds 15 of his 19 (4 triples on the day) in the second half as well for East Ridge.  Edina pays a heavy price for the win though as guard Sammy Presthus tore an Achilles early in the 2nd half.

Game 2: #3AAA South St. Paul 83 Waconia 71
Expect SSP to keep this game in the back of their minds for March preparation. Former DLS assistant Dan Rubischko now running the Waconia program so a ton of those DLS ideas in effect.  DLS and SSP expected to be the section 3AAA championship game.  Waconia would hang around as SSP isn't much of a threat defensively if you don't turn it over.  But too much Devin Newsome and Alonzo Dodd getting to the rim.  Dodd leads SSP with 25 points.  Newsome explosive off the bounce for 24 points. Noah Bonick leads 3 Wildcats in double figures with 21 points.

Game 3: Byron 84 #2B Enderlin (ND) 68
Colorado commit Joe Hurlburt leading a huge Enderlin lineup that goes 6'10, 6'10, 6'6 on the front line.  But it was the Byron 3-2 zone that keep that big lineup mostly out of the paint.  Even without Ahjany Lee (the intended reason for this game), Byron's toughness was just too much.  They had all 5 starters in double figures.  Hurlburt and big wing Carson Bartholomay each knock down 5 3s in the game on their way to 23 and 24 points respectively. Enderlin would cut the Byron lead to 2 with 9:30 left.  But they don't make a field goal for the next 5 minutes.  19-5 Byron run as they're getting everything inside with great patience and ball movement.  No Czar Insights for this one

Game 4: #7AAAA Hopkins 69 Osseo 66
Osseo would play from behind for the entire game but they made it interesting as they cut the lead to 1 late.  CJ O'Hara another solid game with 17 points to lead Hopkins.  Elvis Nnaji got more post touches and finished with 16 points.  The bench also productive with 8th grader Jayden Moore scoring 11 points along with 12 from Josh Hoffman.  Big story of the game was Osseo guard Tyriece Waits.  Waits goes off for 20 of his 34 points in the 2nd half. 3 triples, 7 free throws and numerous rim attacks.

Game 5: #8AAAA Lakeville North 68 Minneapolis South 50
Lakeville North still using the Syracuse/Merrimack style 2-3 zone.  That keeps South out of their pick and roll game with their guards.  North goes on a 17-0 run in the 2nd half as they hold South without a field goal for about 8 minutes.  Nolan Winter another solid outing of 22 points.  Summer breakout guy JT Thornton adds 16 for Lakeville North.  Poet Davis with 4 3s and 15 points off the bench to lead South.

Game 6: #3AAAA Wayzata 59 #4AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall 50
This is a rematch of last season's class AAAA championship game.  Carter Bjerke carrying the Wayzata offense with 13 points in the first half as Wayzata built a 7 point halftime lead.  Hayden Tibbits 12 critical 2nd half points to keep that lead.  That overcomes 5 triples and 17 2nd half points from Donavhan Cain.  Tre Holloman cold day shooting (4-20) and 9 points.  CDH not finding any other offense as they shoot 30% for the game.  Bjerke leads Wayzata with 16 points.  Cain leads CDH with 19 points.

Game 7: #1AAA Totino-Grace 61 #2AAA DeLaSalle 58
Third game in 3 days for Totino-Grace and this one is after a return trip from Sioux Falls.  DLS largely controlled this one.  TG takes time down 24-11 at the 6:26 mark of the first half.  Demarion Watson with 2 3s to start the 2nd half and put TG up 34-33.  Cash Chavis 3 buckets and 5 FTs as DLS keeps the lead.  51-46 Islanders as the start the stretch run.  TG with a late run to take over.  Taison Chatman with a tough corner 3 to tie. And 1 with the free throw missed but Demarion Watson puts that back.  Watson then adds a dunk and all of a sudden TG is up 59-53 with 2:20 left.  TG leaves 4 points at the line but DLS misses a late heave to allow TG to steal one.  TG really unable to take advantage of their huge size.  Demarion Watson did come up huge late protecting the rim and with the man level putback late.  8 combined points from Ahjany Lee and Patrick Bath with nothing really in post ups is a difficult recipe.  Taison Chatman showing his elite scoring ability with 18 points to lead TG.  Another quality game from soph Cash Chavis with 21 points to lead DeLaSalle.  Kyle Johnson with 14 points including a clutch late 3 off the Islanders bench.

Czar Insights

An IMAC Grinder

Prologue
Taking our chances again with the NFHS setup its an IMAC matchup on my schedule.  Undefeated St. Paul Academy taking on Providence Academy.  Providence playing without guard Liam Carney in their lineup.  Big loss for the Lions.

Game Time
Jimmy Fafinski taking care of his points and those of Carney as well.  He scores the 1st 11 Providence points. Lions jump out to an 11-2 lead at the 13:19 mark of the first half.  SPA claws back to within 5 thanks to a Clarke Baskerville triple.  Providence with a 9-0 run including a Fafinski bomb to push the lead to 24-10 at the 8:10 mark.  SPA stays with a 2-3 zone that showed some success and it holds Providence to 3 FG the rest of the half, but 2 were putbacks.  Spartans within 30-21 at the half.

Mark McCarthy 2 buckets and 2 FTs for Providence as they keep the lead around the 10 mark.  Brandt Baskerville with a 3 at the 6 minute mark and SPA is hanging around down only 8.  McCarthy with a dangerous foul line jumper with 2:20 left to keep the lead at 10.  Fafinski closes it out with a 3 point play and a tip dunk off a turnover.  Providence wins 62-50.

Post Game
St. Paul Academy falls to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the IMAC.  They play in the St. Paul Harding tourney next week where I may see them again.  Brandt Baskerville and Tysen Hayes with 14 points each to lead the offense.  Not much offensive firepower so expect them to grind games out with a slow pace.

Providence improves to 2-3 overall, 2-0 in the IMAC.  Jimmy Fafinski too much to handle with 33 points.  4 triples plus attacking the glass off the bounce or getting offensive boards.  Forward Mark McCarthy adds 12 of his 19 in the second half.  They're also limited on offense with Carney out of the lineup (27 points in the 1 game he played).  But McCarthy and Fafinski showed they can fill in.  They'll have to as only 2 other players scored for the Lions.  Providence travels to Dassel-Cokato on Tuesday for their last game before the holidays.

Czar Insights

For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  Just not enough offense for SPA.

Another Bears and Ponies Classic

Prologue
Its another night of video. This time I take in a must see game of Stillwater at White Bear Lake.  This was a classic last year.  Plus you have 2 of the state's best juniors, Max Shikenjanski and Jack Janicki going at it.  The sad part of doing video is missing out on the fantastic Donatelli's pizza and the WBL pep band. The good news is that it saves me a forever trip home.  Best part of the night was The Horn announcers butchering but being able to fix the pronounciation of Shikenjanski.

Song of the Day: In A Gadda Da Vita - Iron Butterfly

Game Time
White Bear Lake going after Shikenjanski early on his touches.  That holds him without a field goal until the 11:40 mark.  That cuts the Bears lead to 12-9.  Jack Misgen with a pair of triples and 10 points before he picks up a 2nd foul.  Shikenjanski carries the Stillwater offense as expected for the rest of the half.  Janicki and Shikenjanski trade 3s in the last 10 seconds of the half.  30-26 White Bear Lake at the break.

Drew Johnson 3 quick 3s for Stillwater as they start to see shots go in.  Shikenjanski flares off the spin action in the Princeton point series for a triple in there too.  Stillwater takes their 1st lead in forever 40-38 with 12:30 left.  Shikenjanski free throw and an assist cancelled out by a tough Janicki 3.  45 all with 8:50 left.  Janicki with a tip in off a turnover.  Misgen another hoop for a 53-49 WBL lead with about 4 minutes left.

Shikenjanski straight away for 3.  Then he'll convert a turnover for 2 more.  54-53 Stillwater back on top with 3:10 left.  Janicki counters with a tough finish.  Shikenjanski with Tanner Thomson for a bucket.  Janicki to a cutting Misgen for 2 and the foul with 1:34 left.  The free throw is no good.  Shikenjanski with the long pass to a sreaking Thomson for 1 of 2 FTs to tie the game with 90 ticks left.

White Bear Lake turnover and who else but Shikenjanski to convert it with 1:05 to play.  59-57 Ponies on top. White Bear Lake misses a 3 but is fouled on the rebound with 33.8 left to keep it.  Janicki fouled and makes the 1st of 2.  Misses the 2nd, Bears get it back and miss a 3.  Stillwater gets the rebound with 14 seconds left.  White Bear Lake has to foul but they aren't in the bonus.  Stillwater uses a timeout for the inbounds but Janicki steals that.  Timeout WBL with 11.9 to play.  Stillwater gives their 1 foul to give with 7.6 left.  WBL inbounds and mishandles it.  Jump ball to Stillwater with 3.6 left.  They miss the front end but no timeouts left for White Bear Lake.  Heave is no good. Stillwater wins 59-58

Post Game
White Bear Lake falls to 3-2 overall, 1-1 in the Suburban East.  Jack Janicki with 16 of his 22 points in the second half to lead the Bears.  Jack Misgen 10 of his 16 in the first half. He also had to chase Shikenjanski around most of the night.  Nice night from forward Wyatt Hawks with 10 points. Its a junior laden rotation with only 1 senior so a 2 year process here for new coach Greg Burke.  The Bears have another rivalry game at Mahtomedi on Saturday plus a home game with Anoka next week before the holidays.

Stillwater improves to 2-2 overall, 1-1in the Suburban East.  Max Shikenjanski leads the Ponies with 25 points and 4 triples.  Drew Johnson clutch early in the 2nd half with 3 of his 4 triples.  He finishes with 14 points.  Always fun to watch the Princeton Point Series.  They'll even post Shikenjanski a little bit out of it.  The high flare screen after starting down hill off the spin entry is a bear to defend too.  The Ponies get North St. Paul on Saturday before taking their turn at Mahtomedi on Tuesday.

Czar Insights

For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  In a tight game like this, its the little things that matter.  Stillwater wins the points off of turnovers big despite the actual turnover numbers being close.  Stillwater also more productive putting back the misses they were able to grab.  White Bear Lake had the lead for most of the game and Stillwater never had a lead bigger than 3 but got it done anyway.

Falcons fly by the Rebels

Prologue
No better production than the CCX folks in the northwest metro.  Let's take in their telecast of Robbinsdale Armstrong at Champlin Park in a NW Suburban opener.  New head coach Aaron Kloeppner not available for Champlin Park tonight.  He'll have to wait for his coaching debut.  Armstrong meanwhile is in game 3 of their schedule so no opening night jitters for them.

Game Time
Armstrong goes 1-2-2 press to start and that immediately pays off with a couple of steals for points.  We're even midway thru the first half when the scoreboard goes out.  Then after some play, we have a discussion and 2 points some how come off the scoreboard for Armstrong.  Never got fixed, play on.  Ayo Taki concludes his strong first half with a pair of free throws for Champlin Park.  Lorenzo Andrews great bench energy for Champlin Park with 6 late points.  That run puts Champlin Park up 39-32 at the break.

A pair of free throws see Champlin Park extend that lead to 53-41 with 12:23 left.  Armstrong has their own bench spark.  Its soph Langden College scoring 4 of the next 5 Falcons buckets.  Nice job finding him out of the dunkers spot for layups.  The turnovers starting to mount for Champlin.  Peyton Newburn and Seth Newburn each convert those into buckets during an 11-0 run that allows Armstrong to reclaim the lead.  64-59 Falcons with 3:29 left.  Both Newberns finishing turnovers and getting to the rim at will.  A nice elbow iso set used for some of that and to find College for the layups.  The Rebels are out of gas.  Armstrong wins 75-68.

Post Game
Champlin Park starts the season 0-1 overall and in the NW Suburban.  Ayo Taki with 15 of his 24 points in the first half.  He had 5 triples on the night.  Very productive game for the senior wing.  Luke Graff 3 triples and 11 points.  Lorenzo Andrews nice bench minutes with 8 of his 10 points in the first half.  Champlin Park with only 2 FGs in the last 11 minutes until a game ending 3. 11 of their 27 turnovers in that stretch.  It doesn't get any easier with a trip to Totino-Grace on Thursday and then a home game with Wayzata heading into the holidays.

Armstrong is now 2-1 overall, 1-0 in the NW Suburban.  They played without center Payton Mogire due to illness.  Peyton Newbern leads all scorers with 25 points.  19 points for Seth Newbern.  Not afraid to put their bodies in and take charges or attack the rim.  Owen Skram adds 15 with all 3 Armstrong triples.  Falcons only 3-15 from 3 on the night.  Their 2-2-1 and 1-2-2 3/4 presses were the difference as they forced 27 turnovers for 34 points.  They go into the holidays with home games against Coon Rapids and Minnetonka on Thursday and Saturday this week.

Czar Insights

For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights. Czar's law violation with exception once again tonight.  Champlin Park shot it well but couldn't take care of it.  54-20 points in the paint as well for Armstrong.

 

Hylanders tame the Mustangs

Prologue
Its a quality game for a Monday night with Maranatha visiting #5AAA Columbia Heights.  Should be a fun matchup of athletic teams that want to get up and down.  Time to make use of that NFHS subscription and take the chance that it works.  Cheadle getting back to back metro duty with the whistle in this one.

Game Time
We get pregame technicals for dunking so Maranatha is up 4-0 before they win the opening tip.  Muja Burton starting his night off strong with a pair of putbacks for Heights.  Maranatha clinging to a 12-11 lead early.  All Columbia Heights after that.  Terrence Brown 8 straight points and Burton adds his first triple of the night.  19-15 Heights as MCA takes a timeout.  Burton 2 more stickbacks.  Turnovers mounting for Maranatha. Heights stretches the lead to 50-32 at the break.  Burton with 4 triples in the 2nd half to make sure there's no resistance.  The lead almost gets to running time but not quite.  Columbia Heights rolls to a 103-74 victory.  Very strange game for Heights with 2 technicals for pregame dunking and 2 more techs for guys not in the book.

Post Game
Maranatha falls to 1-3 with their 3rd straight loss.  But its been a tough schedule with the other 2 losses to Holy Family and SW Christian by a combined 10 points.  Bailey McDonald leads the Mustangs with 26 points.  He hit 3 triples on the night.  Jeremiah La Velle adds 15.  Quick turnaround for their Skyline opener at Cristo Rey.  Then 2 non-conference games at home vs St. Paul opponents (Como Park and Twin Cities Academy) going into the holidays.  They start the new year with a big league home game vs New Life on January 4th.

Columbia Heights is now 2-0 on the season.  They get a week off before hosting Minneapolis Southwest.  Muja Burton with a monster night.  20 of his 36 points coming in the first half.  4 triples and just as many offensive rebound putbacks.  Guard Terrence Brown with a solid outing of 23 points despite leaving some freebies at the charity stripe.  Lots of difference zone type looks from Heights.  1-3-1 type thing, 2-3 and a 3-1-1 halfcourt trap that they used once and got beat on.  My kind of game.

Czar Insights

For details on exactly what the value in the chart mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.  Only 6-29 from 3 for the Mustangs compared to 10-21 for Heights. Add in the turnover edge and its blowout city.

 

2021 Breakdown Tipoff Classic Thoughts

So back to the big events with 2021 Breakdown Tipoff Classic returning to the schedule.  We did lose 1 game on the schedule with the Cretin-Derham Hall vs Totino-Grace game being called off.  But overall we had 7 games on the main court.  Here are some thoughts on the games I saw.

Game 1: #6AAAA Eastview 85 Maple Grove 68
Maple Grove would jump out to a 14-7 lead after 6+ minutes of this one.  That's without their top guard Jon Haakenson.  Dylan Omweno provides a spark off the Eastview bench and its all Lightning from there.  An 18-2 run puts Eastview up for good.  49-23 at the break and they cruise from there.  Kenji Scales leads the Lightning with 19 points.  Jamal Ambrose with 14 points and 4 triples in the matchup vs Lincoln Palbicki.  Kayser Hassan continues his breakout season with 14 points.  Dylan Omweno with an energetic 13 points off the bench.  Lefty Ashton Keomysy with 21 points to carry the Maple Grove offense.  Eastview so good and versatile on offense.  Very fun to watch. 

Game 2: #4AAAA Shakopee 87 Minnetonka 79
High powered offense in this one with lots of guard scoring and not much interior play.  Ibo El-Amin picked up a 2nd half technical for his 4th foul that looked like it might allow Shakopee to pull away but it didn't.  Shakopee with an uncharacteristic 17 first half turnovers.  That allowed Tonka to take a 39-37 halftime lead.  The point guards were the story in this one.  Cade McGraw with 27 points for Shakopee to lead all scorers.  That's despite having a splint on his left thumb which forced him to reverse finish everything at the rim with his right hand.  Soph Andy Stefonowicz tried to match him with 15 2nd half points including a couple of deep triples that kept Tonka close.  He finished with 2 2points to lead Minnetonka.  Yonis Mohamud and Nick Katona each with 18 points for Shakopee.  Ibo El-Amin and Jalen Cain both with 18 for Minnetonka.  Shakopee with 12 second chance points in the 2nd half.  That included a couple of those putbacks late to stretch out a 2 point lead to 8.
 
Game 3: Minneapolis South 61 #2AAA De La Salle 58
Most entertaining game of the day here with Minnesota Spartans teammates going at each other.  Nasir Whitlock and Randy McClendon come off the DLS bench in this one but I'm not counting that as they almost immediately come in.  D would use a 14-0 run including a McClendon 4 point play to open up a 1st half double digit lead.  In the 2nd half they couldn't keep the quick South guards off the foul line.  The Tigers had 5 2nd half FGs and 17 of 19 FTs going into the final couple of plays.  

DLS with a 5 point lead with 4:37 left. 2 of those free throws and a putback cut the margin to 1 with 2:56 left.  Then star guard Jerome Williams fouls out with 2:10 left.  De'Mari Larkins 2 FTs for a South 56-55 lead with 1:58 lead after a DLS turnover.  Cash Chavis counters with a 3 for DLS with 1:35 left.  Chiang Ring tips in a miss with 40 seconds left to tie it.  Jump ball to De La Salle with 5.5 left and off the inbound they get an easy look at a wide open 3 that's no good.  Its out of bounds to South with 1.4 left full court.  Larkins will inbound and get it back for a heave from the top of the opposite key and ITS GOOD!!  WOW!  Jerome Williams leads South with 20 points, 13 of 15 FTs.  Chiang Ring 14, De'Mari Larkins 12.  Randy McClendon 14, Cash Chavis with 10 for De La Salle.  Amir Everett 9 pts in solid bench minutes.  In addition to the win at the charity stripe, 30 to 14 points in the paint with Ring controlling the paint for South.

Game 4: #8AAAA Lakeville North 56 #10AAAA Park 43
No Pharrel Payne or Jamari Walker for Park in this one.  Lakeville North saw the return of Nolan Winter to the lineup.  His 24 points on the day, too much for Park to deal with when their size was out of the lineup.  Biggest story of the day though was the 2-3 zone that Lakeville North employed.  I've seen them go 1-2-2 over the years but coach Oxton is an old school man to man guy. That defense held Park to 4 first half field goals for a 25-13 Lakeville North lead.  Evan Bearth with a couple late 3s but Winter diffuses that with a couple buckets and a couple of free throws.  Park never really threatens.  Brayden Fick with 11 of his 16 points in the first half for Park.

Game 5: #5AAAA East Ridge 70 #7AAAA Hopkins 67
Fun battle of talented wing players in this one.  Kendall Blue and CJ O'Hara had themselves a fun back and forth.  O'Hara kept Hopkins close with 16 of his game high 25 points in the 2nd half to keep Hopkins close.  Blue would answer with 17 of his 22 in the second half.  Both players getting to the rim with a nasty dunk each but also knocked down a pair of 3s.  Alex Mattes adds 21 points for East Ridge. Max Wilson with 16 for Hopkins.  I'll be interested to watch the Hopkins offense this season.  Lots of excessive dribbling in this one and that's not the Ken Novak way.  Expect that to be cleaned up along with getting Elvis Nnaji more involved.  He had only 5 points but also spent time guarding Kendall Blue.

Game 6: #3AA Minneapolis North 84 #1AA Minnehaha 81
Biggest crowd of the day for this one.  Minnehaha turns it over 20 times for 20 points in the first 35 possessions of the game.  Looks like they're going to be run out of the building.  North's 1-2-2 3/4 press making it difficult to even get the ball across half court.  Minnehaha ends the game with 35 turnovers to lose the points off turnovers 33-12.  But they hang around by hammering the offensive board (17-6 2nd chance pts advantage).  Minneapolis North leaves a ton of points out there by going 16-37 at the charity stripe.  That include 7 late misses that gave Minnehaha a chance.  Prince Aligbe with 27 points to lead Minnehaha as he was a force inside.  Mercy Miller adds 22, 17 in the first half.  I was surprised how quiet he was late.  Willie Wilson leads 4 North starters in double figures with 21 points.  The Polar 1-2-2 press was fearsome and will be a nightmare in Minneapolis City play.

Game 7: #2AAAA Park Center 66 #1AAAA Wayzata 62
Bragging rights in AAAA also at stake with the top 2 teams in the polls going at it in this one.  Braeden Carrington and Carter Bjerke both pick up their 2nd foul midway thru the first half.  Bjerke sits the rest of the half while Carrington only gets a brief rest.  Wayzata able to extend their lead to 30-21 at the break.  The teams trade buckets to start the 2nd half before Park Center goes on a 14-0 run while Wayzata is mired in a stretch of 11 trips without a basket.  37-32 Pirates ahead as they take time with 12:06 left.  

Wayzata responds out of that timeout with a 10-2 run.  Hayden Tibbits ends that with a layup with 8 minutes left, 42-39 Trojans.  Leo Torbor with a triple and 3 FTs in a 11-2 run that allows the Pirates to break out of a tie game.  4 missed chances at the line late help Wayzata rally back to 1 possession.  But Torbor makes 1 of 2 free throws to seal the victory. 

Park Center only 8-25 from 3 but they held Wayzata to only 15 attempts from 3 with their defense.  Love the improvement of James Spencer inside for Park Center.  He's a guy they can go to in the post from time to time.  Not needed for this team with their firepower, but not sure it was expected either.  Carter Bjerke played far more in the post than I expected.  Probably a case of all of us talking about his top notch shooting and forgetting he can play inside too.

Bjerke leads Wayzata with 15 points.  Spencer Hall with 3 triples and 14 points for the Trojans.  Myles Barnette with a nice night off the bench with 12 points.  Park Center gets no points from their bench.  Leo Torbor 18 points to lead the Pirates.  Ayouba Berthe 15, Cody Pennebaker 13, Braeden Carrington 11.

Czar's All Tipoff Classic Team
Prince Aligbe -Minnehaha
Kendall Blue - East Ridge
Cade McGraw - Shakopee
CJ O'Hara - Hopkins
Nolan Winter - Lakeville North

Czar Insights
For details on exactly what the values in the charts mean, click here for the full explanation of Czar Insights.