Another great day of games at the 2023 Tipoff Classic. As is tradition I took in all 8 games played on the main court. But this season I had to do them on video due to illness. Here's a review of the great day of hoops I saw.
Game 1: #7AAA Mankato East 85 #9AAAA Buffalo 51
Mankato East very impressive as they jumped on Buffalo early and never let up. Carson Schweim looks like a hometown steal for Minnesota State. He scored 24 of his 28 points in the 1st half and knocked down 5 3s. 3 others in double figures for the high powered Cougars offense. They had a ridiculous 67% EFG%. Defensively they held a good offensive team to 40% EFG. Jordy Sorenson 3 triples and 14 points to lead Buffalo
Game 2: #4AAA Orono 74 #10AAAA Eastview 68
Rack up another one for class AAA in this one. Eastview 1-19 from 3 in the 1st half as they fell behind 49-18 at the break. Jon Mekonnen would score 21 of his 32 in the 2nd half with 4 of his 5 triples. Kam Mestas in foul trouble all game held to 6 points for the Lightning. Nolan Groves another showcase game as he poured in 27 points. Brady Wooley added 13 of his 17 in the 1st half.
Game 3: #1A Cherry 73 #2AA Holy Family 69
Gopher fans got a chance to see recruit Isaac Asuma play and he was solid with 21 points. Cherry would use a 21-5 first half run to take a 6 point halftime lead. Holy Family's Brayden Carlson was a major advantage inside with a 17 points double double. Holy Family pounded the offensive glass but didn't convert those chances. Add in 3 triples on his way to 21 points from Luke Graff and the Fire were poised for a win. But down 3 with 3:20 left, Cherry would go on a 10-0 run to win it. Isaac Asuma with a dagger 3 to close it out. Kole Hanson held to 1 3 in in each half after going off for a school record 47 against Chanhassen earlier in the week.
Game 4: #1AA Breck 71 #3AAA Alexandria 68
The smaller class school keeps the run going with this win. Alexandria would survive 1st half foul trouble from their stars Grayson Grove (Gopher commit) and Chase Thompson to take a 5 point lead into halftime. Sophomores Mason and Talan Witt carrying the offense in their absense. Thompson would lead the Alexandria offense with 4 triples and 23 points. Daniel Freitag (Wisconsin commit) came off the Breck bench in the 1st half before starting the 2nd half. 3 buckets in the 1st half before he controlled the 2nd half with 18 more points and finding corner shooters vs the Alexandria 1-2-2 zone. Grayson Grove passed the 1000 career points mark in the game. It was also the 1st game of the day that would come down to the final possession as Alexandria had a final chance to tie with a 3 but missed (HINT HINT!).
Game 5: #8AAAA Hopkins 73 #7AAAA East Ridge 72
Hopkins would take a 25 point lead in the 1st half and a 17 point lead to the half. Soph guard Bennett Skinner 10 second half points with 2 bombs as East Ridge would pull all the way back to even. JJ Semanko would break a 5 minute Hopkins drought by scoring 11 straight Royals points. East Ridge late rally with a Cedric Tomes hammer 3 and a layup off a turnover. Hopkins then misses a free throw to seal it. East Ridge out of a timeout tries to go back to the same hammer play for Tomes, but Hopkins recognizes it. The layup on the slip allows the clock to run out. JJ Semanko 16 of his 25 in the 2nd half to lead all scorers. Jayden Moore 18 pts 3 triples for Hopkins and Cedric Tomes 19 points 5 3s for East Ridge in the matchup of the top 2 2026 point guards in the state. Bennett Skinner and Charlie Theis add 16 each for East Ridge. East Ridge without a couple of important pieces for this one in Charlie Bern and Grant Miley.
Game 6: #1AAAA Park Center 81 #3AAAA Lakeville North 79
2 turnovers for Lakeville North and 4 trips into the game, Park Center was up 10-0. That lead would grow to 15 but Lakeville North calmed down and wiped away the margin before halftime. Xavier Frelix with 3 of his 4 triples early during the Pirates run. Park Center would push the lead back to 11 before a North rally. Jack Robison 7 straight in that stretch. Andrew Quam adds in a 3 before a Robison bomb and its 76-72 Panthers with 2:45 left. Cash Chavis 2 and the foul and another bucket and we're tied under a minute. 2 Matt Drake free throws with 24 seconds left keep it tied and here we go. Give the ball to Chavis and get out of the way. He fits the floater at the buzzer for the win. Another classic between these 2 teams. Chavis with 23 points to lead Park Center. Chiang Ring 20, Jackson Fowlkes 16 for the Pirates. Jack Robison 25 to lead Lakeville North. Andrew Quam 4 3s plus interior play on his way to 22 points. Matt Drake adds 17.
Game 7: #2AAAA Wayzata 83 #1AAA Totino-Grace 81
Totino-Grace would open a pair of 7 point leads in this game, 1 in each half. Isaiah Johnson 3 late buckets for TG. McAndrew carrying the Wayzata offense. Last possession and its Wayzata with it. McAndrew drives, tough shot from the left elbow at the horn to win it. Another wild finish. McAndrew with 22 of his 38 in the 2nd half in the win. Wyatt McBeth 11 for Wayzata. Wayzata played without wing Christian Wiggins. Very balanced game for Totino-Grace. Chace Watley 19 points including interior buckets against smaller guards. Gotta love guards in the post. Dothan Ijadimbola, Isaiah Johnson and Tian Chatman all add 17 points. Johnson and Ijadimbola both look like they could go for 40 on any given night.
Game 8: #6AAAA Minnetonka 103 #4AAAA Lakeville South 92
Marley Baah-Yeboah not yet back in the Lakeville South lineup. Minnetonka would jump out to a 42-23 lead in the 1st half. That lead would be cut to 13 at the break. Minnetonka with a very thin bench but 4 starters in double figures. Andy Stefonowicz and Jordan Cain with 27 points each. Grayson Uelmen adds 20. Ryan Johnson and Lauson Schmidt with 20 each for Lakeville South. Forward Hudson Greene 18 points off the Cougars bench with 3 triples.
What a day of games. The smaller class school goes 4-1 on day. McAndrew's buzzer beater prevents the sweep. The stars showed out, games came down to the end, big rallies so we had just about everything.
All Showcase Court 1st Team
Cash Chavis - Park Center
Daniel Freitag - Breck
Jackson McAndrew - Wayzata
Carson Schweim - Mankato East
Andy Stefonowicz - Minnetonka
All Showcase Court 2nd Team
Isaac Asuma - Cherry
Nolan Groves - Orono
Jack Robison - Lakeville North
JJ Semanko - Hopkins
Chase Thompson - Alexandria
Czar Insights
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