No Stair Climbing Agony

Prologue
Since I'm going to see the local 4A teams during the season and a boatload of them again at the tipoff classic, a late schedule change is in order.  I visit St. Agnes for their boys/girls doubleheader with Heritage.  The #5A Heritage girls give me the privilege of seeing a blowout, drinking Coke and watching THE WORLD'S WORST OFFENSE.  Gives me a great appreciation for tomorrow.  The jumbo Nathan's hot dog is one of top hot dogs I have all year and didn't disappoint tonight.  Tonight's title is a reference to coach Hopkins comically noting on twitter my distaste for the incredibly steep bleachers in the new gym.  Its a rare gym where Czar seating rules don't apply.


Season Ticker:

• Number of Games: 17
• In Person: 14
• Online: 3
• Number of Teams: 32
• 4A: 17
• 3A: 6
• 2A: 3
• 1A: 2
• Wisconsin: 2
• Girls: 2
• Number of Buildings:7

Beverage Ticker: 114.7 ounces (1380 calories)

• Coke: 28.9 ounces (340 calories) 
• Dr. Pepper: 20 ounces (240 calories)
• Pepsi: 33.8 ounces (430 calories)
• 7-Up: 12 ounces (140 calories)
• Sprite: 20 ounces (230 calories)

Food Ticker:

• Hot Dogs:2
• Pizza:1
• Walking Tacos: 1
• Extra: 1
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: 1 (175 calories)

Game Time:
Andrew Brownell banks in a 3 and Jacob Brezny buries one as well for St. Agnes.  That leads them on an 8-0 run to start the game.  But then they'll go on a scoring drought for 8:25.  Heritage takes advantage of that to go on an 11-2 run. TJ Guggenberger back in with 2 fouls to bury a 3 for an 11-10 lead.  Then he'll go right back to the bench after his 3rd foul at the 5:25 mark.  Sam Masek with a 3 to put St. Agnes back ahead.  Brezny hits from deep again and why not another to beat the halftime buzzer.  23-15 St. Agnes at the break.  Only 2 FG for Heritage in the last 9+ minutes and 1 of those was by Guggenberger during the brief stint he played in that time.

Guggenberger gets his game going to start the 2nd half.  Heritage using a nice set to get him a big middle gap from the left wing.  That leads to a pair of free throws.  He'll add a triple off a scrum as well.  Guggenberger with another driving bucket and the lead is down to 4.  28-24 St. Agnes with 12:25 left.  St. Agnes looks to pull away from there.  Masek with a BLOB layup and spins for 2 free throws.  That draws the 4th foul on Guggenberger with 10:49 left.  A pair of Heritage turnovers follows.  Then they give up the always criminal offensive rebound of a free throw and that leads to a bucket.  Another turnover, another layup.  Coach Tim Herman tries to hold off on the timeout but finally takes one with 9:26 left.  38-27 St. Agnes.

Guggenberger comes back in but it doesn't help.  Brezny feels it and hits back to back 3s.  Masek puts back a miss off another Heritage turnover.  That's part of a 10-0 that pushes the lead to 19.  It stays at 19, 50-31 with 5:40 left and the game should be done.  But Heritage rallies with a 12-0 run to make it interesting.  Alex Edstrom with a 3 easy buckets during the run.  St. Agnes gets a break with 1:25 left as Heritage misses a free throw and the possession goes to the Aggies.  St. Agnes shooting quickly late and not getting anything to go in fueling that run.  But there's not enough time left to finish the rally.  St. Agnes wins 52-45.

Post Game:
TJ Guggenberger leads Heritage with 13 points.  10 of those in the 2nd half as he had 1st half foul trouble. Alex Edstrom using the late buckets to push his total to 12 points.  With Guggenberger out, Heritage really struggled to generate any offense.  Heritage falls to 1-1 overall.  They have a quick back to back turnaround thanks to an afternoon home game with Central MN Christian.  Then its off to Legacy on Tuesday to start MCAA play.

Jacob Brenzy feeling it for St. Agnes with 6 3s and 20 points to lead the Aggies.  Sam Masek adds 12 points.  Luke Plamann productive inside with 10 points.  Not a pretty win, but they took advantage of the Heritage turnovers and hit some shots.  The Aggies have a couple of section games next week as they visit Twin Cities Academy/Great River on Tuesday and then host Mounds Park Academy on Friday.