Upsets Averted

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the weather inside is so delightful.  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.  OK OK OK!  That will be enough of the fluffy white stuff already, ENOUGH!  First an icy adventure to see St. Paul Washington vs St. Paul Como Park in a makeup game from last week.  Then mush Husky mush as I make the trek to see Andover at Totino-Grace.

Monday: Como Park 87 Washington 71
I can never get enough of the history on the walls at Arlington Washington.  First half story was Washington PG Zaveon Smith.  He goes for 3 straight triples.  Drew White adds a nice tip dunk and the Eagles take a 29-18 lead later in the half.  They'll hold that lead at 11, 39-28 at the half.  But the writing was on the wall.  Josh Ward started to heat up late in the 1st half.  He keeps that going in the 2nd half.  3 buckets and a free throw and Como takes a 46-45 lead.  Junior guard Tyroun Sain also very productive for Como Park in this one.  Plus quality bench minutes from Mohamed Ahmed though he did start the 2nd half.  The Cougars go spread and Washington has no answer for those 3.  Final score is a little misleading as it was a 2 point game with just over 4 minutes left.  Donzello Barros with a 4 point play and a pair of free throws in the final stretch to all Como Park to pull away.  Zaveon Smith goes for 33, most of those in the 1st half.  Josh Ward with 20 of his 28 in the 2nd half.  Tyroun Sain adds 22, Mohamed Ahmed with 16.  Como Park stays out of a tie for the cellar with Washington with the win.

Tuesday: Totino-Grace 54 Andover 45
Devin and Riley Burger with early 3s for TG.  Brandon Eldien off the bench with a stepback jumper and free throw for Andover.  DJ Akpati swipes an inbounds pass for a bucket.  12-7 TG at 11:25.  Andover counters with a 10-0 run.  An extra pass finds Nolan Belschner for 3 and junior forward Shandon Schannauer buries a triple in the run.  TG guard Eric Krieger sits with his 2nd foul at the end of the run.  Mitch Burton with great lunch pail minutes for TG all night.  Great screening and moving and hustle.  But he'll go to the slick reverse in the post too plus a cut for a bucket.  That keeps Totino-Grace within 22-20 at the break.

Then the 3 point barrage begins.  Its the Burger kids again as they each hit an early pair of bombs.  Krieger adds a high post give and follow plus a bomb of his own.  40-30 TG with under 13 to play.  Eldien driving for 2 free throws and he stop and pop for 2 more.  Andover misses 2 free throws to get closer but its Eldien from deep.  That pulls Andover within 43-42 with under 5 minutes left.

Burton steps out and buries a 3.  Then its Akpati taking the bump and then finishing to get the pseudo continuation call for a 3 point play.  Eldien makes 1 more 3 but Andover can't score and Totino-Grace closes it out with 5 of 6 free throws.  The Eagles get no scoring from the bench but 4 of 5 starters go for double figures and all finish between 9 and 12 points.  6 2nd half 3s were a huge factor.  Eric Krieger held to 2 FG but 7-8 FTs for 12 points.  Devin Burger 3 triples and 12 points as well.  Mitch Burton with 11. Brandon Eldien leads Andover with 13 of his 16 points off the bench in the 2nd half.  Shandon Schannauer adds 14.  Andover drops to 2-8 and a tie for the last spot in the NW Suburban North.  Blaine, Osseo and Champlin Park are next.  TG snaps a 5 game losing streak.  They visit Irondale before a home week with Spring Lake Park and Osseo.  Then a trip to Blaine.