2025 Southside Super Showcase Review

We're quickly approaching the midpoint of the 2024-2025 season.  Here's what has stuck out to me recently plus a look at the 2025 Southside Super Showcase

2025 Southside Super Showcase Review

Game 1: St. Thomas Academy 81 Minneapolis South 50
This was an 11 point game at the half before the Cadets ran away in the 2nd half.  No match inside for Andrew Nolde.  He scored 26 points with 16 rebounds to lead St. Thomas to the win.  

Game 2: Park 72 Columbia Heights 68
Park would open a 12 point 2nd half lead but Columbia Heights never went away.  Kahlil Mkali's bucket with 2:50 to play would give Heights a 67-65 lead.  A couple of breaks go Park's way late to allow them to close on a 7-1 run to win.  Anthony Giadyu 25 points to lead Park.  26 from Julian Manjo for Heights.

Game 3: St. Cloud Tech 51 Simley 42
Offense was a struggle for both squads in this one.  Simley playing without Tre Lovelace doesn't help that cause.  Mouldi Abdi would heat up late in the 1st half to put Tech up 4 at the break and they wouldn't trail after that.  Connor Streiff 16 points to lead Simley.

Game 4: St. Paul Johnson 71 Minneapolis Southwest 62
This one was also tight the entire way.  Too much Kenny Turner inside as he leads Johnson with 26 points.  But it was a couple of backbreaking triples that helped stretch a late lead from 1 to 8.  Dashiell Erickson with 17 off the bench to lead the Lakers.

Game 5: 1AAA Benilde St. Margaret's 75 Maple Grove 54
BSM trailed until late in the 1st half.  They finished the half on an 11-1 run in the final 2:26 for a 30-25 halftime lead and just kept going from there.  Much better defense from BSM in the 2nd half.  Jalen Wilson leading the way with 25 points.  Jaleel Donley 21 with 15 in the 2nd half to help break it open.  Keegan Harney 20 points, Baboucarr Ann with 16 for Maple Grove.

Game 6: Eden Prairie 81 Minneapolis Washburn 72
It was a 5 minute drought late that cost Washburn.  That allowed the Eagles to open just enough of a margin that couldn't be overcome.  Guard play in this one was really fun in the 2nd half.  Cooper Carlson of Washburn and Max Lorenson going back and forth.  Lorenson finishes with 41 points, 24 in the 2nd half.  Carter Pulrang with 16 and both with 5 triples.  Cooper Carlson with 28 points, 19 in the 2nd half to lead Washburn.

Game 7: Minnehaha Academy 72 Mahtomedi 57
19 all late in the 1st half before a 16-0 Minnehaha run would be the difference.  Only 1 FG in the last 7:15 of the half for the Zephyrs.  They would never be closer than 8 after that.  George Norsman leads Minnehaha with 18 of his 24 points in the 1st half.  Kingston Manning adds 21 points.  Mark Graff 17 of his 23 for Mahtomedi in the 2nd half.  Willie Roelofs adds 11.

Other notes
Apple Valley was the last of the 62 class AAAA teams that I needed to see.  After they beat Breck over the weekend, it was long since overdue to get them off my list.   Camare Young is a matchup problem as a power wing but the Eagles are much more than that.  They rebound and take care of the ball and they run some of the more unique sets that you'll see.  Breck's JP Musoke went over 1000 career points in the game.

Players that I want another look at

• 2026s
  
• Kobbe Willis (Benilde-St. Margaret's wing).  Stuck behind a dynamic trio now but can really shoot it and is good coming off screens.
• Brayden Gorton (Minneapolis Washburn forward). Lefty with good hands, shooting range and a nice touch
• Trey Parker (Apple Valley guard).  He led Apple Valley with 22 points in the win over Breck.  Another shot maker for the Eagles.
• Blake Nixon (Holy Angels wing).  Another outstanding game that I saw him play.  34 points in a win over St. Anthony including a 2nd half stretch where he was involved with 26 of 28 points.
• Thomas McEachern (Zimmernan wing).  35 points and 6 3s in a win over North Branch.  The go to guy in a major turnaround for the Thunder this season. Big, athletic and hitting shots.
  
• 2027s
  
• Ayden Green (Breck guard).  Got the start and had another quality game in my viewing.  22 points in the loss to Apple Valley with 3 triples.  Not the biggest guard but productive.
• Kellen Troup (Minnehaha wing).  17 points in the win over Mahtomedi.  Just scratching the surface of what he could be.
• Aaron Palmer (Heritage Christian forward).  Looks like he's taken a nice step since his freshman season.  11 points in a win over Mayer Lutheran.
• Eddie Lundeen (Cambridge-Isanti guard).  Looks like he'll be the next guard in line for the Bluejackets.  3 triples and 23 points in a blowout win over Chisago Lakes this week.
  
• 2028s
• Chase Maetzold (Mayer Lutheran wing).  Smooth shooting stroke for the 6'4 freshman saw him hit 4 triples in a loss to Heritage this week.
  

Season Totals
Number of Varsity Games watched: 111
Number of Teams seen: 155

Food and Beverage
1 Hot Dog
1 Walking Taco
1 Cheeseburger
5 slices of pizza
192.9 oz of Pepsi
1 12 pack of Coke wasted on Ryan James thanks to Minnesota winning Paul Bunyan's Axe.