2020 5AAAA Semis Recap

We're down semifinals and finals across the state this week.  My week begins with the 5AAAA semis at Coon Rapids.  Good crowd on hand.  Solid hot dog on the concessions.  No band for any of the schools was disappointing.  South Dakota on hand watching the games as well.

Game 1: Park Center 60 Mounds View 39
Dain Dainja with a pass out of the post that leads to an offensive board.  Then an assist for a layup and he'll score his own post up with Mounds View not bringing a double team.  Josh Brown 2 bombs and its 17-5 Park Center just over 5 minutes in.  Soph wing Dylan Wheeler with a couple of 3s as Mounds View counters with a 10-0 run to jump right back in the game.  Dainja 2 more inside hoops.  Wheeler a hoop and a triple.  Dainja ends the half with a mean dunk.  29-25 Park Cetner at the break.

Park Center much more disciplined on the defensive end in the 2nd half.  John Montgomery with a free throw and a tip in to keep Mounds View within 36-31 with 10:35 left.  Mustangs go the next 4 minutes without a field goal.  Dainja with a steal and some circus dribbling to go coast to coast for a 3 point play.  Josh Brown another triple.  Park Center hits a bunch of free throws from there to coast to a win  Dain Dainja with 17 points to lead all scorers.  Park Center with 4 in double figures.  Dylan Wheeler with 15 to lead Mounds View, 13 in the 1st half.  Mounds View tried a quick box and 1 on Josh Brown.  Interesting that they never really doubled inside much but Dainja's passing is a legit threat.

Game 2: Spring Lake Park 80 Champlin Park 59
2 simple storylines here.  Too much Gabe Myren for Spring Lake Park and too little offense from Champlin Park.  Spring Lake Park 4 early 3s to open a 19-6 lead.  Champlin Park with the next 10 to cut the margin to 3.  Francis Nwaokorie 1st 5 points in that run plus a skip pass for the next 3.  Myren converts 2 turnovers into 3 point plays.  Kaleb Skelly adds 3 triples.  Spring Lake Park 40-30 at the break.

Its a 12 point game with 12:30 left when Spring Lake Park blows it open.  Myren in the post, at the line, from deep and 2 more for 9 in a row.  Jacob Say adds his 3rd 3 of the night.  Blake Remme 2 hoops before a Myren putback.  Remme with the exclamation point with a mean tip dunk with 5:43 left.  74-43 Spring Lake Park lead after the 24-5 run.  Garbage time from the there.  Gabe Myren terrific with 33 points on the night. 20 of those in the 1st half.  Only 2 3s as he was attacking all night.  3 others in double figures for Spring Lake Park.  Cooper Olson and Devon Moore with 11 each for Champlin Park.  They strangely really didn't look at Francis Nwaokorie inside.  All 5 of his points in that 1 early spurt and largely invisible beyond that.  Some credit to Daydor Phillips for battling him in there all night.  His reward?  Another chance to battle with Dain Dainja inside in the section final at Rogers on Friday night.