2021 Big 12 Classic Thoughts

Its another year of the Big 12 Classic.  This year we visit Totino-Grace for 7 quality games on the schedule.  Impressive restraint holds me to only 2 cans of Pepsi on the day.  Good crowd for the big late games.

Game 1: Edina 85 #5AAAA East Ridge 73
There are few offenses more fun to watch than Edina's.  Great concepts (e.g throw back and face cut a switch).  They put up a staggering 65.3% EFG in this one.  Soph Kole Hanson another nice game with 5 triples and 27 points to lead Edina.  Gabe Jobe adds 21 of his 23 in the 2nd half.  Kendall Blue with 23 of his 33 points in the 2nd half to keep East Ridge close.  Edina couldn't keep him away from the rim.  Alex Mattes adds 15 of his 19 (4 triples on the day) in the second half as well for East Ridge.  Edina pays a heavy price for the win though as guard Sammy Presthus tore an Achilles early in the 2nd half.

Game 2: #3AAA South St. Paul 83 Waconia 71
Expect SSP to keep this game in the back of their minds for March preparation. Former DLS assistant Dan Rubischko now running the Waconia program so a ton of those DLS ideas in effect.  DLS and SSP expected to be the section 3AAA championship game.  Waconia would hang around as SSP isn't much of a threat defensively if you don't turn it over.  But too much Devin Newsome and Alonzo Dodd getting to the rim.  Dodd leads SSP with 25 points.  Newsome explosive off the bounce for 24 points. Noah Bonick leads 3 Wildcats in double figures with 21 points.

Game 3: Byron 84 #2B Enderlin (ND) 68
Colorado commit Joe Hurlburt leading a huge Enderlin lineup that goes 6'10, 6'10, 6'6 on the front line.  But it was the Byron 3-2 zone that keep that big lineup mostly out of the paint.  Even without Ahjany Lee (the intended reason for this game), Byron's toughness was just too much.  They had all 5 starters in double figures.  Hurlburt and big wing Carson Bartholomay each knock down 5 3s in the game on their way to 23 and 24 points respectively. Enderlin would cut the Byron lead to 2 with 9:30 left.  But they don't make a field goal for the next 5 minutes.  19-5 Byron run as they're getting everything inside with great patience and ball movement.  No Czar Insights for this one

Game 4: #7AAAA Hopkins 69 Osseo 66
Osseo would play from behind for the entire game but they made it interesting as they cut the lead to 1 late.  CJ O'Hara another solid game with 17 points to lead Hopkins.  Elvis Nnaji got more post touches and finished with 16 points.  The bench also productive with 8th grader Jayden Moore scoring 11 points along with 12 from Josh Hoffman.  Big story of the game was Osseo guard Tyriece Waits.  Waits goes off for 20 of his 34 points in the 2nd half. 3 triples, 7 free throws and numerous rim attacks.

Game 5: #8AAAA Lakeville North 68 Minneapolis South 50
Lakeville North still using the Syracuse/Merrimack style 2-3 zone.  That keeps South out of their pick and roll game with their guards.  North goes on a 17-0 run in the 2nd half as they hold South without a field goal for about 8 minutes.  Nolan Winter another solid outing of 22 points.  Summer breakout guy JT Thornton adds 16 for Lakeville North.  Poet Davis with 4 3s and 15 points off the bench to lead South.

Game 6: #3AAAA Wayzata 59 #4AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall 50
This is a rematch of last season's class AAAA championship game.  Carter Bjerke carrying the Wayzata offense with 13 points in the first half as Wayzata built a 7 point halftime lead.  Hayden Tibbits 12 critical 2nd half points to keep that lead.  That overcomes 5 triples and 17 2nd half points from Donavhan Cain.  Tre Holloman cold day shooting (4-20) and 9 points.  CDH not finding any other offense as they shoot 30% for the game.  Bjerke leads Wayzata with 16 points.  Cain leads CDH with 19 points.

Game 7: #1AAA Totino-Grace 61 #2AAA DeLaSalle 58
Third game in 3 days for Totino-Grace and this one is after a return trip from Sioux Falls.  DLS largely controlled this one.  TG takes time down 24-11 at the 6:26 mark of the first half.  Demarion Watson with 2 3s to start the 2nd half and put TG up 34-33.  Cash Chavis 3 buckets and 5 FTs as DLS keeps the lead.  51-46 Islanders as the start the stretch run.  TG with a late run to take over.  Taison Chatman with a tough corner 3 to tie. And 1 with the free throw missed but Demarion Watson puts that back.  Watson then adds a dunk and all of a sudden TG is up 59-53 with 2:20 left.  TG leaves 4 points at the line but DLS misses a late heave to allow TG to steal one.  TG really unable to take advantage of their huge size.  Demarion Watson did come up huge late protecting the rim and with the man level putback late.  8 combined points from Ahjany Lee and Patrick Bath with nothing really in post ups is a difficult recipe.  Taison Chatman showing his elite scoring ability with 18 points to lead TG.  Another quality game from soph Cash Chavis with 21 points to lead DeLaSalle.  Kyle Johnson with 14 points including a clutch late 3 off the Islanders bench.

Czar Insights