Power up the AAA Batteries

I mentioned in my season previews that January 6th would be a fun day of hoops and it did not disappoint.  I took in 5 games from the day including 7 of the top teams in the state in class AAA.  Here's what I saw.

Game  1: #3AAAA Minnetonka 77 #9AAA De La Salle 71
Saturday games on the island never get old.  This game was a shooting gallery early as De La Salle's motion offense got them great looks from 3 that they knocked down.  Freshman Jaeden Udean with 3 of those off the bench.  DLS would open a 13 point lead that would be 10 at the half.  De'Von Irvin hot shooting with 14 points in the half for DLS.  Then a quick start to the 2nd half would see the Islanders push that lead to 16 in the first few minutes.  Minnetonka would storm back with a 23-3 run.  Kayden Wells with a putback and a 3 point play.  Greyson Uelmen buries a 3 and Tonka reclaims the lead 58-54 with 9 minutes left after trailing 51-35.  Intensity went up to another level at this point.  Turnovers costly for De La Salle late.  Andy Stefonowicz turns 1 into an assist.  Isa El-Amin 1-2 FTs off a turnover after he buried a clutch 3.  Jordan Cain was a major mismatch problem especially late after Ray James fouled out at the 4:12 mark.  Greyson Uelmen continues to play very well with 6 more triples and 27 points to lead Minnetonka.  Jordan Cain and Kayden Wells each with 11 in the 2nd half to finish with 16 and 14 points respectively.  Normally they're the ones at a size disadvantage inside, but the script was flipped today.  DeLaSalle had major problems with both of them.  De'Von Irvin 14 of his 16 in the 1st half to lead DeLaSalle.  Jaeden Udean 4 triples 13 points off the bench.  3 other starters in double figures for the Islanders as well.

Game 2: Chanhassen 74 Lakeville South 69
This one was tightly contested the whole way.  Riley Johnson had it going for Chanhassen as he scored the 1st 11 Storm points and 33 overall with 4 3s.  Max Woods with a double double and maybe a triple double if you're really generous on assists.  I had him for 21, 13 and 10 with the stretch to get the assists.  Keaton Ressler with the torch brightly burning for Lakeville South.  7 triples and 27 points to lead the Cougars attack.  Not much help though as only 1 other Cougar in double figures with DaMarcus Burks scoring a quiet 10. Lakeville South did have 1 final chance to tie it at the end with a 3 falling short.

Game 3: #1AAA Totino-Grace 72 Benilde-St. Margaret's 68
This was one of the games of the year on paper coming into the season.  While some may have thought the shine was off this game (cough cough), they were sadly mistaken.  Jayden Daisy had an electric 1st half with 18 points and 4 3s. That helped offset Jalen Wilson having to sit the last 5:17 for BSM with 2 fouls.  Red Knights take a 32-26 lead to halftime.  Tian Chatman had to sit the last 9 minutes with 2 fouls for TG.

TG immediately ties it and take takes the lead on a Tian Chatman 3 point play.  33-32 TG just over a minute in.  Then a 16-2 BSM run as Jaleel Donley and Jalen Wilson bury triples in the run.  48-35 BSM 13:44 as TG calls timeout to talk it over.  Tyler Wagner a bucket and a triple as TG came right back with an 11-1 run to cut the lead to 3 with 11:11 left.  BSM still in control though as Wilson makes bonus FTs with 6:53 left for a 59-50 lead.  He has to sit with his 4th foul at the 6:04 mark.  TG scores 6 straight and Wilson is right back in with 5:10 left. 

Isaiah Johnson came up big down the stretch for TG.  He makes 2 free throws and scores for a 63-61 TG lead with 3:49 left.  13-2 Eagles run.  Wilson 2 buckets sandwiched around 2 Johnson FTs.  68-67 BSM and they'll have it with 1:22 left but not convert.  Will Brands off an offensive rebound with the corner triple for the 70-68 TG lead with 42.1 left.  Wilson gets it inside on the right block vs Johnson but Chatman digs down and strips it away with 22 seconds left.  TG moves it and Johnson finds Brands full court for a layup to seal it.  

BSM made all 8 of their 3s to get the 13 point lead but didn't hit one the rest of the way.  Isaiah Johnson 20 points to lead TG.  Tyler Wagner 16 points with 3 triples. Chace Watley 13 points and not afraid to go in amongst the trees.  Jaleel Donley 23 points with 3 treys.  Jayden Daisy 18 of his 22 in the 1st half.  Jalen Wilson 17 (15 in the 2nd half) despite some foul trouble.  Will Brands very effective off the bench with 9 points including the final 5 of the game.

BSM's offense caught my eye in a positive way.  The offensive set they ran with a handback entry and then options for a lob, post or pick and roll action caught my attention.  Putting Donley, Wilson and Daisy in that action was effective.

Game 4: #5AAA Orono 77 #3AAA Alexandria 68
No Grayson Grove for Alexandria is a huge loss.  The Gopher commit has been out of the Cardinal lineup due to injury.  But you still had a trio of the state's top 2025s on display.  Brady Wooley takes advantage as dominates inside early forcing Alex out of their usually nasty 1-2-2 and into man.  Orono builds an 11 point 1st half lead but its down to 1 at the break.  Nolan Groves with a breakout 2nd half would push the lead to 13 with a 3 before Chase Thompson with a triple and bucket to cut it to 67-63 with 6:07 left.  But Groves wouldn't be denied.  1 bounce jumper on the left baseline, drive for a 3 point play and an offensive board for another hard-way 3 pointer.  That 8-2 spurt pushes the lead back to 10 and Orono is out of danger.  Brady Wooley 19 of his 21 points in the 1st half.  Per Orono stats he added 13 boards and 8 assists.  Many of those assists were to Groves, who would curl off him to the rim after refusing a handoff.  Pretty basketball.  Groves with 22 of his 29 points in the 2nd half.  Chase Thompson tried to do his part for Alexandria leading the Cardinals with 29 points and 4 3s.  But nobody else in double figures for Alexandria.

Game 5: #2AAA Mankato East 64 #7AAA Stewartville 63
Stewartville ran their way to an 8-0 start.  Then a 20-3 Mankato East run put the Cougars up by 9.  Still close at half with it being a 4 point East lead.  15-4 Mankato East run out of halftime game them a 15 point lead with 14:35 left.  Carson Schweim with a triple and then a block that led to a MJ Omot 3.  60-41 East rolling with 6:57 left. But hold the phone, Stewartville goes on a 20-2 run behind Henry Tschetter.  Tschetter a bucket and 4 FTs cut the lead to 3 with 44 seconds left.  The Tigers could play it out (thank you shot clock) but it looks like they chose a particular guy to foul.  That pays off as East misses the front end and Stewartville gets a putback with 8.8 left.  Schweim with 2 critical free throws to push the margin to 3.  Stewartville 3 is not good, putback that was counted at the buzzer ends up being meaningless.  Brogan Madson with another star game for East. He leads the way with 19 points.  Carson Schweim adds 4 triples and 18 points.  Henry Tschetter leads Stewartville with 25 points. Tegan Malone adds 10 for the Tigers.  East now with wins over #3, #5 and #7 in AAAA.  Stewartville with the win over #4 Delano but now losses to #2,#3 and #5 with 2 of those 3 losses by a total of 4 points.  If they make state, those results will loom large for seeding.  They still have 2 league games vs Byron plus Lake City (who they've already beaten by 23 on the road) and Benilde-St. Margaret's on the schedule.