Cougars hang on to end the regular season.

Prologue
The schedule dwindled some so I change plans to get a look at Burnsville at Lakeville South.  1st look at Burnsville this season and with both teams not favored in 1st round games next week I figured another look at frosh Jack Sorenson would be a good thing.  Nice work from the Lakeville South pep band in my limited listening (late arrival and electronics panic).  Interesting variation on the "Jump shake your booty" chant from students as they used it on a player's mom.  Funny but scary at the same time.  Mom didn't oblige but did find the humor in it.

Song of the Day
Hot for Teacher - Van Halen

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 1288 ounces  (109 games, 93 days)

  • 12 oz 7 Up 
  • 20 oz Barq's Root Beer
  • 20 oz Mug Root Beer 
  • 68 oz Sprite 
  • 84 oz Dr Pepper
  • 160 oz Red Powerade
  • 232 oz Red Gatorade
  • 184 oz Coke 
  • 508 oz Pepsi
Game Time
Pretty even 1st half.  Cody Kairis for 2 and buries a 3 at the 12 minute mark.  That gives Lakeville South their 1st lead at 15-12.  Soph Jason Gumm good minutes off the Burnsville bench in this one.  He converts back to back buckets and then after a Lakeville South 3 scores again before getting into foul trouble.  18 all at 10:20.  Kairis with a jumper for a 1 point Cougars lead but then a technical on South.  Joe Morris makes the 2 technicals but misses the front end of the bonus on the foul.  They also convert the possession for a 3 point lead.  Morris with the post turnaround, converts a turnover for 2 and to the rank for 2 more as he turns down a ball screen.  Burnsville by 5.  The turnover bug starts to bite but Burnsville still takes a 39-34 lead to halftime.

Lakeville South comes out with the 1st 6 points of the half as they turn up the pressure.  Strange that Burnsville's bigs who really weren't ball handlers were trying to handle the full court defense.  Didn't get that at all.  A feed for a Kyle Martin layup and a 3 point play from Brenon Larson-Gulsvig and the Cougars lead is up to 7.  Sorenson for 3, 2 Martin free throws and Afron Janetkhan for 3 and Kairus off the baseline screen for the 3 point play.  The run is 13-2 and the Cougars lead 70-57 with 6:55 left.  Gumm back in the game with 4 fouls and he knocks down 3 bombs in a 2 minute stretch.  He hits the last 3, Brett Shepley with a slick post move faking middle and finishing with the left hand and Ben Nienow trails the break and buries a 3.  That's an 8-0 run for the Blaze and the lead for Lakeville South is down to 76-72 with 3:51 left and they need a timeout to regroup.  A pair of free throws cuts the lead to 3 and South will go to the 2 guard X delay game.  They make 8-8 from the line in the last 2:33 with 1 turnover to seal the game.  Lakeville South wins 85-80.

Post Game
Burnsville finishes the regular season 8-18 overall, 3-15 for 9th place in the South Suburban.  Joe Morris leads the way with 19 points.  Fellow junior forward Brett Shepley adds 14 as does guard Levi Miller and soph reserve Jason Gumm.  Turnovers ultimately the difference as the ball security just wasn't good enough against the extended defense.  But keep in mind leading scorer Zach Smith would likely be that guy and he didn't play tonight.  They will likely open the playoffs at Shakopee on Wednesday in the 1 vs 8 game in section 2AAAA.

Lakeville South finishes 10-15 overall, 7-11 in the South Suburban.  That's good enough for a 3-way tie for 6th in the league standings.  Cody Kairis finishes with 22 points to lead the Cougars.  Jack Sorenson finishes with 16 points after a rough start of turnovers and missed shots.  Kairis 6-6 down the stretch from the charity stripe.  Lakeville South likely the 6 seed in 2AAAA.  That means a trip to Chanhassen most likely or Kennedy in round 1 on Wednesday.

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