Weekend wrap with AAA showcase

We're a week out from the end of the 2019-2020 regular season in the metro (though a couple teams do start playoffs this week).  So with that in mind, its a matter of getting a better look at some local teams and fitting in 1 last monster game of the regular season.

Friday: Holy Angels 62 Columbia Heights 54
Columbia Heights continuing their road warrior season with a second trip to Holy Angels.  Heights only 1 game behind Holy Angels for 3rd in the Tri-Metro coming in.  This one ended much like the 1st.  Columbia Heights zone slows the pace early.  Beyond Jordan Jones they couldn't get any 1st half offense going. Bryce Boyd leads a balanced AHA half for a 34-21 halftime lead.  Holy Angels starts the 2nd half with a pair of 3s and the lead expands to 22 with under 12 minutes left.  Muja Burton started to heat up late in the 1st half and he leads a 2nd half rally.  55-44 with 6:38 left.  Burton 2 more bombs and the lead is down to 58-54 with 2:45 left.  20-3 run in total for the Hylanders.  Holy Angels with a quick missed 3 and a missed front end of the bonus.  But Heights doesn't score again.  Matt Banovetz with an assist to a cutting Boyd to beat pressure.  Stars hold on from there.  Bryce Boyd leads AHA with 18 points.  Matt Banovetz with a quiet 15.  Jordan Jones with 20 points in another good outing for Columbia Heights.  Muja Burton adds 3 triples and 19 points. 

Saturday: Minnetonka 75 Burnsville 63
This was a makeup game from the Granite City classic cancellations.  So this one was an early matinee at Park Center.  I don't stick around for the 2nd game but I do end up with the Jett's pizza meal deal.  Good when the concession stand knows I missed out in my 1 other trip.  Big 1st half for Daniel Rosenbur for Burnsville.  19 points and 3 triples in the half for him.  The Blaze open a 19-9 lead with Tonka looking like a hangover from a tough loss to Hopkins.  But Tonka gtes the cobwebs out and ties the game at the break.  Cam Steele matched Rosenbur in the 1st half and he takes over the 2nd half.  21 of his 37 points in the 2nd half.  That included 12 FTs in the half and 15 for the game.  Burnsville with only 1 FG in the last 10 minutes.  Soph PG Cohen Kellogg with a bucket and then the inbound off the defenders back for 2 more as the Skippers pull away.  17-2 Minnetonka run to end the game.  Daniel Rosenbur finishes with 27 points to lead Burnsville.

Saturday: #1AAA Minnehaha 61 #3AAA De La Salle 53
This is why I didn't stay for game 2 at Park Center.  Not as full or as early arriving a crowd as we saw for the Eden Prairie game but still a great crowd for this one.  De La Salle very patient on offense and they were able to get great looks all day.  Jalen Travis inside used his strength to effectively create space in the post vs Chet Holmgren.  Back and forth all the way.  Evan Boyd with a floater and the foul.  De La Salle up 43-41 with 5:56 left.  That's their last lead.  Minnehaha critical rally with a Holmgren 3 and they force 2 turnovers for buckets.  48-43 Minnehaha with 3:15 left.  Haskins flares away from a drive and gets the kickout for 3 and the foul.  48-47 Minnehaha with 2:40 left and they'll go to their famous triangle delay game.  Jalen Suggs adds 4 free throws to push the lead to 52-48 with 1:13 left.

Then a wild last minute.  De La Salle trying to get a good look.  Ballhandler hears a person whistle in the crowd and thinks its a refs whistle.  So he stops and gets called for a travel.  Really tough break there.  Aligbe 2 FTs and then he has a putback with the foul after another De La Salle turnover.  That will wrap it up.  Keijuan White goes hard to the rack for a dunk attempt.  Suggs goes up with him for the block but a foul is called.  Crowd erupts, taunts happen and some fool throws something.  Then we get a tech for more taunting after the AD is on the mic to tell people to stop taunting.  Thankfully the margin is big enough that the tech doesn't matter.  Holmgren adds a free throw and a dunk of the 2nd FT miss to close it out.

Cade Haskins with 5 triples and 23 points to lead De La Salle.  Limited help for him though.  Jalen Travis adds 9 and easily could have had 15 with bunnies that he missed.  De La Salle didn't turn the ball over until late and their patient offense got them great looks.  Nothing from this one would make them feel discouraged in a potential state championship rematch.  That will be must see TV.  Minnehaha gets great balance with all 5 starters scoring at least 8 points and 4 in double figures.  Chet Holmgren leads with 13.  Jalen Suggs 12 points and 6 assists on my unofficial sheet.  Prince Aligbe 11, Kaden Johnson 8 of his 10 early.  Minnehaha did try to use Holmgren in the post more against smaller guard defenders in this one.  That was a criticism from the Eden Prairie game.