Garcia's size dominates

Prologue
Its my longest day and arguably longest metro road trip of the season.  Nothing like a 7 AM dentist appointment to start the day.  By the end of the day Apple Valley would feel like they had a root canal.  Red Savoy's pizza on the menu, good change of pace.  KB in the house without the Sunshine Band and not working.  The always entertaining Prior Lake broadcast crew on hand.

Season Ticker:

• Number of Games: 71
• In Person: 53
• Online: 18
• Number of Teams: 101
• 4A: 39
• 3A: 26
• 2A: 19
• 1A: 7
• Non-Minnesota: 6 (4 Wisconsin)
• Girls: 4
• Number of Buildings: 23
• Number of Bands: 1

Beverage Ticker: 378.7 ounces (4450 calories)

• Coke: 60.9 ounces (720 calories) 
• Dr. Pepper: 20 ounces (240 calories)
• Pepsi: 177.8 ounces (2230 calories)
• 7-Up: 12 ounces (140 calories)
• Sprite: 44 ounces (510 calories) 
• Mug Root Beer: 12 ounces (160 calories)
• A&W Root Beer: 12 ounces (170 calories)
• Fruit Punch Gatorade: 40 ounces (280 calories)

Food Ticker:

• Hot Dogs: 11
• Pizza: 4
• Walking Tacos: 1
• Extras
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: 2 (420 calories)
• Lays Potato Chips: 2 (320 calories)

Game Time:
The 1st half is all about Dawson Garcia.  He takes over inside against the smallish Apple Valley lineup's 1-2-2 zone.  He's all over the glass too as he has a double double long before halftime.  A 14-3 run opens up the lead.  Garcia adds 8 late points and its 34-23 Prior Lake at the half.  Garcia with 25 of the points.  The rest of the Prior Lake roster 2-12 from the floor.  Bilhal Kone and Davy Hosea quickness off the bounce keeping Apple Valley within striking range.  Rest of the AV roster 2-10 in the half.

In the 2nd half, the rest of Prior Lake's roster comes to life and that's the difference.  3 players combine for 4 triples in a 4 minute span.  Dylan Bair with 2 of those in the spurt.  That pushes the Prior Lake lead to 49-29.  Bobbie Jackson with 5 of 6 free throws for Apple Valley off their bench.  Productive rim attacks there.  Then it's Kone with a steal and a high flying 1 handed dunk with under 7 minutes left.  Hosea adds a triple and the lead is down to 13 with 6:20 left. 

But Garcia's rest is over.  He spins for 2 and then has the nice feed out of the double team to a cutting Bair for a layup.  Bair adds another layup and triple.  Garcia with 2 freebies and a putback.  9-0 run slams the door and empties the benches.  Prior Lake wins 80-58.

Post Game:
For Apple Valley, Davy Hosea leads the way with 16 points.  Bihlal Kone adds 12 before fouling out.  He was given the task of trying to guard Garcia some of the time.  No win situation there.  Bobbie Jackson with 8 of his 10 points off the bench in the 2nd half.  Definitely noting him for next year's lineup.  Apple Valley 4 of 16 from 3.  The Eagles fall to 4-5 overall, 0-2 in the South Suburban.  They visit Woodbury on Saturday in their final non-conference game of the regular season.  Then a trip to Farmington and a visit from archrival Eastview next week.

Prior Lake dropped out of this week's state poll.  They improve to 4-3 overall, 2-0 in the South Suburban.  3 tough road games await the Lakers in the next week.  They have the back to back turnaround at Chanhassen in a section game.  Then off they go to their rival #6 Shakopee and #10 Lakeville South next week.  Dawson Garcia dominated the paint to the tune of 39 points and 17 rebounds on my officially unofficial stat sheet.  He was able to just go over the top once he got into gaps in the Apple Valley zone.  Didn't have the jumper going but didn't need it on this night.  Dylan Bair comes up big in the 2nd half with 3 triples and 14 of his 18 points.