More adventures in the TCAC

Prologue
Its another night in the TCAC.  Thanks to the quiet metro schedule, I make the trip to the trail filled Opus 2 neighborhood and The School of Rhetoric at Eagle Ridge Academy.  Eagle Ridge Academy is the co-op school with former EMAC powerhouse International School of Minnesota.  Eagle Ridge hosting in their nice new looking gym rather than playing on the rubber floor at ISM.  Its a division game vs Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf.  So a new building and a new experience watching MSAD.  Nice looking concession stand but light fare.  Popcorn was present but not my kind of thing.  Red Gatorade keeps the ticker moving.  The JV game was cancelled so the refs worked an intrasquad ISM JV scrimmage.  The game was moved cross-court because of a leak on 1 side of the main floor.  In a huge moment of irony, a leak springs over the 2nd court and the JV game is called.  Pull the bleachers back out and we're back to the main court setup which magically is OK now.

Song of the Day:  Paul Simon - Slip Slidin Away

Number of Teams I've Seen: 114 (38 courts).  14 out of state, 9 girls

Beverage Ticker: 667.6 ounces (7265 Calories)
58 days, 79 games, 2 scrimmages added on

• Pepsi: 232.9 ounces (2910 calories)
• Coke: 124 ounces (1480 calories)
• Dr. Pepper: 24 ounces (300 calories)
• Sprite: 52 ounces (620 calories)
• A&W Root Beer : 28.9 ounces (410 calories)
• Mug Root Beer: 20 ounces (260 calories)
• Red Gatorade/Powerade: 181.8 ounces (1285 calories)

Hot Dog Ticker: 9
Pizza Ticker: 7
Walking Taco Ticker: 6

Game Time:
MSAD can't generate any offense early.  A couple of Preston Dahlen buckets put ISM up 6-1 at the 13:30 mark.  MSAD with a timeout during that stretch and I don't know sign language but I can safely say it was not a happy timeout.  Then 6 in a row from MSAD as PG Dawson Moder converts a pair of turnovers into easy hoops and another turnover is another layup.  Micah Hjelle for 3, a technical free throw and a hoop to put ISM up 18-11.  Preston Dahlen converting another MSAD turnover.  Moder 2 more hoops and Hjelle with another in the half.  24-18 ISM at the break.

Preston Dahlen 2 free throws, a bucket and an ISM steal for 2.  33-22 Huskies (or Gryphons if you go with the in-house mascot) with 12:55 to play.  But their offense is sputtering.  Javis Johnson with a putback and runs for a layup.  Juan Salgado converts 2 turnovers into hoops.  ISM Coach Shun Tillman gets a soft technical during the run and doesn't use a timeout either.  The MSAD spurt is 14-0 and they lead 36-33 with 8:30 to go.  Preston Dahlen with a steal for 2 as ISM gets the lead right back.  Salgado 2 more buckets and its Moder going the distance with 3:40 left.  46-43 MSAD leads.  They're doing all this with all-EMAC player Kyrell Cummings on the bench.  Hjelle comes right back with a bomb to tie it.  Then a set play leads to Preston Dahlen in the post and he runs for a layup to put ISM back in the lead.  The rest is free throws as ISM goes on a 12-0 run to end the game.  ISM/ERA wins 55-46.
 
Post Game
Dawson Moder leads MSAD with 15 points.  Juan Salgado with 12.  Kyrell Cummings 8 points but only 1 field goal.  Very interesting to watch the sign language communication from their bench.  For those of us used to seeing 2 coaches stalk the sideline all night, this game was a rarity.   Shun Tillman sat and said almost nothing (except for the T) all night.  Coach Lee Jones all over the place but everything is silent sign language.  Not to mention mostly silent fans for 1 side.  MSAD with the tough back to back at Hope tomorrow.

Preston Dahlen with 22 points as the best player on the floor in this one.  Micah Hjelle chips in with 17.  Both players return next year as a couple nice pieces to build around.  This win was much tougher than the 65-21 over the Trojans back in December.  ISM goes to St. Paul Prep/HSRA on Friday.  Then another brutal trip to Prairie Seeds Academy on Tuesday.