Thriller for Suburban East Supremacy

Prologue
Off to Woodbury for a huge matchup in the Suburban East.  Its the Royals taking on Roseville and the stakes are high.  Both teams come in 19-4 overall, 13-2 in the conference so the league title is at stake.  Not only that but the winner likely takes the top seed in section 4AAAA and likely avoids Tartan in the semifinals.  Very good crowd on hand considering a weeknight and Roseville girls at the state hockey tournament.

Game Time
Logan Brown starts off with a pullup and a bomb for a 5-1 Roseville lead at the 16:10 mark.  Then Woodbury explodes.  Renard Suggs with a layup and assist for another.  Rickey Suggs on the offensive glass and he gets an assist on the break.  9-0 run forces a Roseville timeout.  13:30 1st half and Woodbury leads 10-5.  But that timeout does nothing for the run.  Rickey Suggs drives for 2, Renard Suggs with back to back bombs and another Woodbury layup for 10 more in a row.  Roseville needs another timeout and then get a Brown 3 to break the run.  That's followed by Renard Suggs with a 3 and then in transition on a turnover, why not for another 3!  26-8 Woodbury leads.  The run is 25-3 over 6:40.

Roseville would make their own run.  Brown banks in another 3, Kobe Critchley for 3, Brown hot as he makes another 3.  Then a quick T on Roseville coach Ted Critchley for arguing the 2nd foul on Mack Johnson.  Its a shooting foul so Woodbury will have 4 FTs and the ball.  But they miss all 4 freebies and don't score on the possession.  Mack Johnson buries a 3 and Brown pulls up and converts a turnover.  After a Woodbury charge, Brown makes 2 FTs to cut the lead to 2 and then drives for 2 more to end a 22-4 Roseville run just before the half.  Interesting that Woodbury chose not to take a timeout during the run.  30 all with 1:35 left in the first half.

The runs don't end there.  Woodbury crosses over halftime with a 13-4 run.  Ryan Fritze with a drive for 2 and a 3 point play.  Renard Suggs with another triple during that spurt.  43-34 Woodbury with 16:15 left.  Then the 3s start flying.  Critchley for 3, Connor McKeen counters that for 3.  Then Brown nails a 3 to start an 11-0 Roseville run.  Jordan Burich cutting for a layup and then getting a steal that looks like a sure 2 for Brown but Rickey Suggs tracks it down and swats it away.   Burich very active as he converts a putback for a 3 point play and Brown nails another 3 after a Woodbury turnover.  48-46 Roseville back in front with 13:05 to play.

Woodbury responds with 7 of the next 9 as Renard Suggs goes to the reverse layup.  McKeen on the offensive glass and then post Ben Rexroth running the floor for the 3 point play.  53-50 Woodbury with 11:06 left.  Mack Johnson for 3 to tie the game.  Then a dicey jump ball call and a minor ball slam becomes a quick T on Woodbury.   Mack Johnson makes the technical free throws but then he'll sit with 8:38 left as he picks up his 4th foul.  Rickey Suggs with back to back hoops to tie the game at 57 but then he fouls Critchley on an NBA 3 and he has to sit with 4 fouls and 7:54 left.  Brown with another bomb and Critchley gives back the fouls on a 3 as he fouls Renard Suggs for 2 of 3 free throws.  62-61 Roseville leading as Woodbury uses their 1st timeout of the night with 6:29 left.  Breathe.

Mack Johnson returns at the 4:51 mark and immediately fouls on the inbounds and he's done with 5 fouls and 4:50 to play.  Fritze runs his way to a layup before Emeche Wells buries a 3 with 3:35 left for a 69-65 Roseville lead.  Down the stretch we go as Roseville gets up in the air to pass (somewhere Bill Walton is going nuts).  Rickey Suggs converts a putback after that and Woodbury is down 70-67 with 1:21 left.  Here comes the press.  Roseville has ball tipped away and it looks like a sure 10 second count but nobody can hear anything and somehow Roseville gets a timeout with 1:06 left to avoid the 10 count.  Wow.  Brown to the basket and scores with 57 seconds left countered by 2 McKeen free throws.  Roseville misses a front end with 44.5 to play

Woodbury comes back with a chance to tie but Renard Suggs has his 3 off the mark with 32 seconds left.  Wells with 1 of 2 free throws and Renard Suggs with 2 FTs with 22 seconds left.  Roseville ball up 73-71,  Brown fouled before the ball is inbounded and steps up and makes both ends of the 1 and 1, CLUTCH!  Rickey Suggs with a putback with 10.3 left but Brown no doubt about his 2 FTs with 8.2 left for a 77-73 lead.  Renard Suggs throws in another 3 at the horn but it doesn't matter. Roseville wins a thriller 77-76.

Post Game
For Woodbury, Renard Suggs with another big game against the Raiders as he finishes with 28 points and 6 3s.  Connor McKeen with 17, Rickey Suggs with 14, Ryan Fritze with 10, Ben Rexroth with 7 and that's all the scoring.  This makes the debate for the 2 seed with Tartan in 4AAAA very interesting as both are now even in the loss column (Titans had their entire staff watching tonight).  Tartan has a conference title, Woodbury doesn't but you have a fair case for saying the Suburban East is a tougher league.

For Roseville, Logan Brown comes up absolutely gigantic playing the game of his life when needed.  He finishes with 7 3s and 37 points.  He scores 6 of those in the last minute to put the game away including 4 of 4 FTs.  Mack Johnson held to 12 points and was in foul trouble all night.  Raiders come from 18 down in the 1st half and 9 down with 15:45 to play.  To lock up the league, they have to survive a tough trip to White Bear Lake on Tuesday.  They won the 1st meeting by 12 in late January.

A night of royal purple

Prologue

It a night of purple for the Wayzata at Hopkins showdown.  It Hoops For Hoops night with everybody in purple for cancer research.  Players all in purple for warmups for both teams.  Coach Novak and Coach Ward both sporting tennis shoes with their nice outfits as they support the great cause. Even I put my wallet where my mouth is and chipped in some of The Czar's vast wealth during the 75 second rush at halftime.  Walking Taco had heat but while I used to like the lettuce, its wilting now.  Too overpowering.  As to overpowering music, we have the Lean Mean Performance Machine (Hopkins band) in the house.  But purple and overpowering only means 1 artist for our

Song of the Day
Deep Purple  - Space Truckin

Game Time
Andre McDonald not listed on the Hopkins roster anymore.  Bradley Carlson sitting out for Wayzata due to illness.  An important glue guy missing.  Chad Potas scores in the post early and Wayzata has a 7-2 lead.  Zach Stahl starts a 13-0 run with 1 drive for 2 and then taking the defensive rebound coast to coast for a 3 point play.  Siyani Chambers finishes the run with a layup.  Then Potas goes down in a heap with a right knee injury and he won't return.  Stahl posting on the BLOB.  His bucket puts Hopkins up 23-11 at the 9:50 mark.  Its a 21-4 spurt in 5:45.  Demetrius Martin with 7 straight to push the lead to 14, 30-16 at the 7:45 mark.  The lead gets to 17 but Wayzata hangs around with a pair of Ryan Walstad 3s.  48-33 Hopkins at the break.  Big advantage of 15-3 in makes at the foul line for Hopkins in the half.

11-3 run for Wayzata to start the 2nd half.  Zach Robertson with a jumper to start it and soph guard Kyle Kalivoda finishes it with 2 baskets at the rim.  51-44 Hopkins with 15:15 left.  Wayzata with the momentum and Zach Stahl sitting with 4 fouls.  Hopkins responds with Martin going to the rack for a 3 point play.  Then he cuts and converts the reverse layup.  Jamal Davis takes a steal for a dunk to end a 9-0 Hopkins run and the lead is back to 16.  60-44 Royals with 12:30 left.  Robertson with a pair of hoops as Wayzata cuts the lead to 62-50 with 10:53 left.  They take time to talk it over.  A Kalivoda bucket cuts the lead to 11 but Hopkins closes it out from there.  Siyani Chambers with the push and he finds Martin for a 3 point play.  Chambers adds 2 FTs.  Nick Jorgenson scores and Martin takes a turnover for a layup.  Davis with the 3 point play and adds a 3 point bomb.  Martin with a pullup at the 6:30 mark to push the lead to 26 and the benches empty.  The 3 minute run totals 17-2 and puts this one out of reach.  Hopkins wins 98-69.

Post Game
For Wayzata, Zach Robertson leads with 18 points and 6 rebounds.  Guards Colin Nugent and Kyle Kalivoda add 10 each.  Only 3 seniors on the Wayzata roster which is rare for them.  They will all be missed but the Trojans will have plenty of talent coming back with 5 pieces coming back not to mention players like forward Nick Eid or frosh guard Grant Long from the JV squad.  The Trojans fall to 18-4 and a shocking 1-4 in the Lake Conference.  This all makes the race for the 2 seed in section 6AAAA a mess.  Wayzata has beaten Minnetonka and Edina but Minnetonka has 2 losses to Edina.  Friday will have some answers as Wayzata hosts Edina.

For Hopkins, Demetrius Martin leads with 26 points.  Quiet nights from Zach Stahl and Siyani Chambers.  Hopkins is now 23-1 and 6-0 in the Lake Conference.  Tonight's win officially clinches another conference title for the Royals and certainly the #1 seed in section 6AAAA.  They finish at Minnetonka on Friday and host Edina next Tuesday.

First CzarPI of 2011-12

So with all the discussion recently around using the computers to seed instead of coaches, I decided to bring back the CzarPI as a point of discussion and contrast (see CzarPI Explained here).  It includes games through February 18th, 2012.  The value in () after the CzarPI value is the team's strength of schedule ranking within their class.

Czar's Note: 2/20/12.  Had to repost this as there was a major data error with 1 team that I found and I had to eliminate 3 non-MSHSL teams.

Class AAAA

1. Hopkins - 62.34 (7)
2. Eastview - 61.62 (8)
3. Lakeville North - 61.49 (16)
4. Osseo - 58.05 (41)
5. Eden Prairie - 57.88 (1)
6. Wayzata - 57.2 (34)
7. Apple Valley - 57.16 (11)
8. Minnetonka - 56.13 (14)
9. Roseville - 55.95 (48)
10. Moorhead - 55.71 (9)
11. Duluth East - 55.55 (2)
12. Woodbury - 55.41 (47)
13. Edina - 55.06 (3)
14. Chanhassen - 54.83 (32)
15. Park Center - 54.43 (30)
16. Owatonna - 54.09 (59)
17. Champlin Park - 53.71 (36)
18. St. Michael-Albertville - 52.7 (60)
19. Buffalo - 52.62 (27)
20. Tartan - 52.36 (61)
21. Mahtomedi - 52.15 (54)
22. St. Cloud Tech - 52.13 (23)
23. Cretin-Derham Hall - 52.11 (17)
24. Rogers - 51.72 (49)
25. Mounds View - 51.57 (44)
26. Brainerd - 51.33 (33)
27. Prior Lake - 50.82 (12)
28. Bemidji - 50.77 (25)
29. Centennial - 50.56 (42)
30. Henry Sibley - 50.46 (19)
31. White Bear Lake - 50.38 (29)
32. Elk River - 49.46 (24)
33. Rochester Century - 49.03 (57)
34. Maple Grove - 48.95 (18)
35. Lakeville South - 48.87 (4)
36. Eagan - 48.46 (6)
37. Blaine - 48.38 (46)
38. Rosemount - 47.46 (13)
39. Robbinsdale Cooper - 45.22 (35)
40. St. Louis Park - 45.18 (45)
41. Irondale - 45.13 (40)
42. North St. Paul - 44.8 (56)
43. East Ridge - 43.61 (37)
44. Stillwater Area - 43.51 (20)
45. Shakopee - 42.54 (28)
46. Rochester Mayo - 42.36 (43)
47. Minneapolis South - 41.05 (21)
48. Anoka - 40.97 (22)
49. Farmington - 40.67 (51)
50. Coon Rapids - 40.1 (26)
51. Forest Lake - 39.9 (50)
52. Bloomington Jefferson - 39.65 (15)
53. Bloomington Kennedy - 39.59 (10)
54. Northfield - 39.58 (38)
55. St. Francis - 38.42 (63)
56. Rochester John Marshall - 37.25 (52)
57. Robbinsdale Armstrong - 36.85 (31)
58. Hastings - 36.51 (62)
59. Minneapolis Southwest - 35.96 (58)
60. Andover - 34.15 (39)
61. Cambridge-Isanti - 24.88 (55)
62. Burnsville - 23.92 (5)
63. Park of Cottage Grove - 23.87 (53)

Class AAA

1. Benilde-St. Margaret's - 60.56 (4)
2. Grand Rapids - 59.21 (3)
3. Minneapolis Washburn - 56.46 (46)
4. Spring Lake Park - 55.64 (15)
5. DeLaSalle - 55.03 (34)
6. Kasson-Mantorville - 54.97 (31)
7. Blake - 54.94 (55)
8. Willmar - 54.86 (17)
9. Zimmerman - 54.59 (43)
10. Thief River Falls - 54.45 (11)
11. Mankato East - 54.16 (44)
12. Little Falls - 54.15 (41)
13. Waconia - 53.88 (19)
14. Austin - 53.87 (59)
15. Marshall - 53.73 (13)
16. Detroit Lakes - 53.69 (28)
17. St. Anthony Village - 53.29 (47)
18. Fergus Falls - 52.5 (2)
19. Duluth Denfeld - 52.01 (27)
20. Delano - 51.42 (42)
21. Rocori - 50.58 (24)
22. Chaska - 50.47 (7)
23. New Prague - 50.43 (53)
24. St. Thomas Academy - 50.04 (35)
25. Hill-Murray - 49.87 (18)
26. Holy Angels - 49.84 (25)
27. St. Paul Johnson - 48.79 (58)
28. Richfield - 48.78 (40)
29. Totino-Grace - 48.65 (22)
30. Alexandria - 47.96 (5)
31. Columbia Heights - 47.58 (10)
32. Hermantown - 47.43 (57)
33. Minneapolis Henry - 46.42 (38)
34. Hibbing - 46.2 (32)
35. Big Lake - 46.18 (50)
36. East Grand Forks - 45.42 (61)
37. St. Paul Highland Park - 44.77 (63)
38. Princeton - 44.63 (62)
39. Sartell-St. Stephen - 44.34 (9)
40. Sauk Rapids-Rice - 44.27 (6)
41. St. Cloud Apollo - 44.11 (14)
42. Hutchinson - 43.44 (16)
43. St. Paul Central - 43.11 (64)
44. Fridley - 43.07 (52)
45. Winona - 42.86 (33)
46. Mound-Westonka - 42.61 (30)
47. Mankato West - 42.47 (37)
48. Red Wing - 42.09 (54)
49. Orono - 41.08 (12)
50. Minneapolis Roosevelt - 40.19 (60)
51. Waseca - 39.79 (49)
52. St. Paul Harding - 38.56 (65)
53. Simley - 37.69 (39)
54. Cloquet - 37.65 (36)
55. Albert Lea - 36.8 (21)
56. Becker - 35.05 (48)
57. Chisago Lakes Area - 34.11 (29)
58. North Branch - 32.11 (45)
59. Monticello - 29.01 (23)
60. St. Paul Como Park - 27.98 (20)
61. New Ulm - 27.62 (26)
62. Holy Family Catholic - 26.98 (1)
63. Dassel-Cokato - 26.53 (8)
64. Faribault - 24.57 (56)
65. South St. Paul - 19.52 (51)

Class AA

1. Redwood Valley - 59.35 (38)
2. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown - 57.91 (77)
3. Perham - 57.42 (60)
4. Pelican Rapids - 57.36 (17)
5. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle - 57.32 (85)
6. St. Peter - 56.88 (106)
7. Litchfield - 56.78 (42)
8. Watertown-Mayer - 56.69 (81)
9. Braham - 56.62 (96)
10. Montevideo - 56 (8)
11. Deer River - 55.57 (73)
12. Worthington - 55.49 (3)
13. Esko - 55.27 (65)
14. Hayfield - 55.25 (15)
15. Maple River - 54.74 (76)
16. St. Cloud Cathedral - 54.51 (41)
17. Mayer Lutheran - 54.51 (62)
18. Fairmont - 54.3 (35)
19. Plainview-Elgin-Millville - 54.09 (59)
20. Byron - 53.64 (79)
21. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - 53.05 (101)
22. St. Croix Lutheran - 52.89 (57)
23. Cannon Falls - 52.68 (115)
24. Virginia - 52.63 (91)
25. Rochester Lourdes - 52.36 (34)
26. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - 52.13 (70)
27. Pierz - 52 (83)
28. United South Central - 51.69 (95)
29. International Falls - 51.62 (111)
30. Melrose - 51.03 (50)
31. Bagley - 50.98 (97)
32. Windom Area - 50.78 (21)
33. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta - 50.4 (55)
34. St. Charles - 50.4 (98)
35. Kingsland - 50.23 (99)
36. Trinity School - 49.91 (107)
37. New Life Academy - 49.73 (39)
38. Luverne - 49.43 (49)
39. Crosby-Ironton - 49.19 (25)
40. Concordia Academy-Roseville - 48.73 (75)
41. Hawley - 48.58 (54)
42. Great River - 48.55 (126)
43. Lake City - 48.43 (116)
44. Sauk Centre - 48.31 (24)
45. Minnehaha Academy - 48.19 (67)
46. Moose Lake-Willow River - 47.75 (109)
47. Kenyon-Wanamingo - 47.72 (56)
48. Norwood-Young America - 47.53 (104)
49. Benson - 47.28 (94)
50. Pequot Lakes - 47.25 (33)
51. Caledonia - 46.58 (113)
52. Martin County West - 46.54 (74)
53. Annandale - 46.42 (102)
54. Albany - 46.22 (51)
55. Warroad - 46.21 (86)
56. Southland - 46.2 (100)
57. Belle Plaine - 46.12 (31)
58. Lewiston-Altura - 45.84 (46)
59. Barnesville - 45.75 (90)
60. BOLD - 45.67 (92)
61. Jordan - 45.55 (44)
62. Hinckley-Finlayson - 45.37 (125)
63. Crookston - 44.51 (89)
64. Providence Academy - 43.91 (108)
65. St. John's Prep - 43.51 (40)
66. St. Agnes - 43.37 (18)
67. Montgomery-Lonsdale - 43.32 (36)
68. Winona Cotter - 42.33 (30)
69. Zumbrota-Mazeppa - 42.29 (80)
70. Aitkin - 42.06 (88)
71. Breckenridge - 42.04 (82)
72. New London-Spicer - 41.76 (37)
73. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton - 41.73 (105)
74. Maple Lake - 41.69 (78)
75. International School of MN - 41.27 (121)
76. Sibley East - 41.25 (6)
77. Wadena-Deer Creek - 41.13 (72)
78. Osakis - 40.96 (4)
79. Kimball Area - 40.81 (61)
80. Minnewaska Area - 40.45 (20)
81. Greenway - 40.4 (123)
82. Chatfield - 40.22 (52)
83. Mora - 40.13 (13)
84. Glencoe-Silver Lake - 39.66 (26)
85. Frazee - 39.49 (9)
86. Blue Earth Area - 39.43 (27)
87. New Richland-H-E-G - 39.33 (64)
88. Staples-Motley - 39.26 (2)
89. Rush City - 38.84 (120)
90. Duluth Marshall - 38.53 (119)
91. Brooklyn Center - 38.35 (5)
92. St. Paul Academy - 37.8 (45)
93. LeSueur-Henderson - 37.51 (14)
94. Breck - 37.12 (28)
95. Pine Island - 37.01 (23)
96. St. Paul Humboldt - 36.13 (93)
97. Spectrum - 36.11 (66)
98. Eden Valley-Watkins - 35.8 (84)
99. Jackson County Central - 35.79 (11)
100. Minneapolis North - 35.39 (22)
101. Yellow Medicine East - 35.09 (118)
102. Eveleth-Gilbert - 34.9 (112)
103. Proctor - 34.69 (117)
104. Minneapolis Edison - 34.67 (114)
105. Stewartville - 33.94 (1)
106. Foley - 33.7 (32)
107. Two Harbors - 33.31 (68)
108. Medford - 33.27 (103)
109. Rockford - 33.23 (10)
110. Holdingford - 32.99 (16)
111. Paynesville Area - 32.22 (47)
112. Park Rapids Area - 31.68 (63)
113. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - 30.78 (7)
114. Pipestone Area - 30.61 (12)
115. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop - 30.32 (69)
116. Pine City - 30.07 (122)
117. La Crescent - 29.6 (110)
118. Milaca - 29.01 (43)
119. Roseau - 28.73 (87)
120. Mounds Park Academy - 28.48 (53)
121. Dover-Eyota - 28.12 (48)
122. Triton - 27.44 (29)
123. Lac qui Parle Valley - 27.38 (71)
124. St. James - 26.48 (19)
125. Wabasha-Kellogg - 19.47 (58)
126. Cristo Rey Jesuit - 0 (124)
127. Hmong Academy - 0 (127)

Class A

1. Browerville - 57.75 (40)
2. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - 56.91 (93)
3. Southwest MN Christian - 56.81 (48)
4. Battle Lake - 55.23 (142)
5. Cook County - 54.56 (67)
6. Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's - 54.13 (52)
7. Cass Lake-Bena - 54.09 (76)
8. Rushford-Peterson - 53.91 (58)
9. Prairie Seeds Academy - 53.5 (69)
10. FAIR School - 53.26 (123)
11. Ulen-Hitterdal - 53.17 (103)
12. Ada-Borup - 53.12 (77)
13. Dawson-Boyd - 53.02 (126)
14. Maranatha Christian - 53.02 (36)
15. North Woods - 52.94 (122)
16. Spring Grove - 52.92 (132)
17. Lakeview Christian - 52.87 (120)
18. Fertile-Beltrami - 51.76 (19)
19. MACCRAY - 51.71 (71)
20. Fulda - 51.66 (68)
21. Fosston - 51.55 (99)
22. Kittson County Central - 51.44 (81)
23. Upsala - 51.43 (3)
24. Goodhue - 51.4 (44)
25. Ashby - 51.21 (140)
26. Pillager - 50.95 (102)
27. Heritage Christian - 50.94 (45)
28. Cedar Mountain/Comfrey - 50.81 (31)
29. Bigfork - 50.77 (47)
30. West Lutheran - 50.76 (33)
31. Ellsworth - 50.75 (11)
32. New Ulm Cathedral - 50.72 (88)
33. Northern Freeze - 50.68 (90)
34. Red Lake - 50.32 (62)
35. Mt. Lake/Butterfield-Odin - 50.21 (112)
36. Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity - 50.05 (9)
37. Bethlehem Academy - 49.85 (80)
38. Stephen-Argyle - 49.57 (113)
39. Mankato Loyola - 49.18 (20)
40. Eagle Valley - 48.78 (13)
41. Barnum - 48.73 (131)
42. Royalton - 48.45 (7)
43. Houston - 48.32 (136)
44. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton - 47.94 (85)
45. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City - 47.9 (35)
46. Murray County Central - 47.16 (86)
47. Granada-Huntley-East Chain - 47.07 (51)
48. Isle - 46.93 (135)
49. Goodridge/Grygla - 46.78 (115)
50. Ely - 46.72 (89)
51. Ortonville - 46.58 (128)
52. Springfield - 46.39 (8)
53. Bertha-Hewitt - 46.3 (60)
54. Henning - 46.11 (114)
55. Lanesboro - 46.1 (148)
56. Southwest Star Concept - 46.09 (61)
57. South Ridge - 46.08 (100)
58. Hill City - 46.04 (83)
59. Northome/Kelliher - 45.59 (105)
60. Blackduck - 44.92 (117)
61. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy - 44.26 (96)
62. Littlefork-Big Falls - 44.23 (55)
63. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart - 44.04 (21)
64. Minnesota Valley Lutheran - 43.84 (16)
65. Adrian - 43.8 (39)
66. Mahnomen - 43.71 (17)
67. Chisholm - 43.49 (130)
68. Community of Peace Academy - 43.46 (163)
69. Hope Academy - 43.4 (166)
70. Le Center - 43.33 (124)
71. CHOF - 43.23 (70)
72. Menahga - 43.15 (74)
73. St. Clair - 43.1 (95)
74. Madelia - 43.02 (137)
75. Floodwood - 42.93 (101)
76. Four Directions Charter - 42.81 (158)
77. Silver Bay - 42.79 (53)
78. Ogilvie - 42.42 (87)
79. Bethany Academy - 42.02 (34)
80. St. Croix Prep - 41.85 (143)
81. Legacy Christian - 41.68 (5)
82. Mesabi East - 41.51 (10)
83. Pine River-Backus - 41.49 (66)
84. Red Rock Central - 41.3 (49)
85. Mabel-Canton - 41.24 (133)
86. McGregor - 41.17 (91)
87. Norman County West - 41.04 (94)
88. Minnesota Transitions Charter - 41.04 (18)
89. Nevis - 40.46 (65)
90. Liberty Classical Academy - 40.12 (165)
91. Fillmore Central - 39.78 (24)
92. Southwest Christian - 39.75 (29)
93. Lincoln HI - 39.73 (156)
94. Canby - 39.71 (153)
95. Fond du Lac Ojibwe - 39.7 (75)
96. Hills-Beaver Creek - 39.63 (57)
97. Nashwauk-Keewatin - 39.63 (118)
98. Blooming Prairie - 39.45 (56)
99. PACT Charter - 39.27 (12)
100. North Lakes Academy - 39.19 (161)
101. Glenville-Emmons - 39.18 (155)
102. Swanville - 39.09 (4)
103. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo - 38.97 (84)
104. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River - 38.86 (82)
105. Norman County East - 38.57 (46)
106. Hancock - 38.47 (98)
107. Waubun - 38.37 (43)
108. Nicollet - 38.19 (150)
109. Calvin Christian - 38.09 (160)
110. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley - 38.07 (146)
111. West Central Area - 37.88 (1)
112. Wabasso - 37.83 (79)
113. Wheaton/Herman-Norcross - 37.63 (152)
114. Win-E-Mac - 37.32 (41)
115. Lyle/Austin Pacelli - 37.25 (154)
116. Cromwell - 37.15 (30)
117. Central MN Christian - 37 (110)
118. Carlton - 36.54 (22)
119. Brandon/Evansville - 36.31 (104)
120. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley - 36.17 (159)
121. Sleepy Eye - 36.04 (28)
122. Lake Park-Audubon - 35.7 (63)
123. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - 35.56 (50)
124. Parkers Prairie - 35.33 (6)
125. Cleveland - 35.27 (147)
126. Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg - 34.97 (97)
127. Red Lake County - 34.48 (138)
128. Onamia - 34.17 (119)
129. Truman - 34.13 (72)
130. Climax/Fisher - 33.74 (64)
131. Mountain Iron-Buhl - 33.19 (32)
132. Verndale - 32.78 (107)
133. Underwood - 32.44 (144)
134. Sebeka - 31.76 (37)
135. Northeast Range - 31.47 (111)
136. Cherry - 31.11 (27)
137. Park Christian - 30.5 (149)
138. Schaeffer Academy - 30.32 (116)
139. Martin Luther - 30.11 (108)
140. Grand Meadow - 29.78 (145)
141. Hope Lutheran - 29.42 (129)
142. Minneota - 29.32 (139)
143. Westbrook-Walnut Grove - 28.82 (15)
144. Clearbrook-Gonvick - 28.7 (92)
145. Nova Classical Academy - 28.64 (157)
146. Lakeview - 26.86 (141)
147. Math & Science Academy - 26.06 (14)
148. E.C.H.O. Charter - 25.82 (164)
149. Randolph - 25.77 (59)
150. Edgerton - 25.62 (38)
151. MN Academy for the Deaf - 24.82 (162)
152. East Central - 24.67 (78)
153. Wrenshall - 24.6 (25)
154. Rothsay - 22.61 (23)
155. Round Lake-Brewster - 18.68 (109)
156. New York Mills - 17.43 (42)
157. Renville County West - 15.99 (106)
158. Northland - 14.3 (73)
159. Mesabi Academy - 0 (125)
160. Laporte - 0 (134)
161. Lake of the Woods - 0 (121)
162. Alden-Conger - 0 (127)
163. Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig - 0 (167)
164. Learning for Leadership - 0 (2)
165. LeRoy-Ostrander - 0 (151)
166. Sacred Heart - 0 (54)
167. St. Paul Prep - 0 (26)

A St. Paul Saturday

Prologue
My week long tour of St. Paul concludes with a close double dip.  We'll start with Brainerd at Central and then mosey down Hamline to the nightcap of #4AAA DeLaSalle at #10AAAA Cretin-Derham Hall.  Lots of folks on hand at CDH including most of section 3 to scout the Raiders.  Pump N Run, Howard Pulley and Net Gain all represented.  U of St. Thomas on hand take a look at Taylor Montero.  Jay Pivec and Ed Cassidy from Dakota County Technical College also watching.

Game 1: Brainerd at St. Paul Central
Central coming in on a streak of 6 of 7 wins against a weak city schedule.  Brainerd came in winning 3 of  4 and in the middle of the pack in the Central Lakes.  The Warriors can move up as they still have 2nd place Rocori on the schedule.  Montrell Williams with the 1st 5 for Central before an 11-2 Brainerd run forces the Minutemen to take a timeout.  11-7 Warriors at the 12:13 mark.  Central counters with a 23-6 run as Williams knocks down back to back 3s and takes a steal for a dunk during that run.  Brainerd gets 5 in a row before a 9-2 Central spurt ends the half.  39-24 Minutemen at the break.

Brainerd starts the half on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 8.  Center Malik Durant-Haines sat out the 1st half and enters at the 14:55 mark.  He immediately scores a pair of buckets.  Darius Campbell with back to back buckets and soph Rayeon Williams with 3 in a row to push the lead to 55-36.  A Felix Taylor putback with 6:25 left keeps the lead at 57-39 and Brainerd has 5 new guys at the table.  That appears to be the waving of the white flag but hold on a minute.  A silly Central technical changes everything and Jack Sauer goes off.  He nails a 3 and scores a pair of buckets to cut the lead to 63-51 with 2:13 left.  Central turns it over and Sauer knocks down a 3 and scores a layup on another Central turnover.  Turnover by Central again and its Sauer again for 3.  63-59 Central with 1:25 left. 13 in a row for Jack Sauer and this one is interesting again.  Central misses a front end and the criminal offensive rebound chance but Brainerd turns it over with 40 seconds left and wouldn't get any closer.  Central wins 69-61.  Montrell Williams leads Central with 24 points.  Jack Sauer with 21 of his 25 in the 2nd half including 4 3s.  Central hosts Johnson on Tuesday with a chance to split the regular season St. Paul City title and then they finish the regular season on Thursday at Highland Park.

Game 2: De La Salle at Cretin-Derham Hall
Shawn Fitzgibbons comes off the DLS bench in this one, but Reid Travis gets off to a quick start.  He converts a 3 point play at the 10:51 mark to tie the game at 10.  That's 7 in a row for the star sophomore.  Travis gets a breather and Luke Scott nails a pair of 3s to keep the Islanders momentum going.  18-12 DLS at the 6:40 mark.  The run is 18-5 over 8 minutes.  That was after CDH scored the first 7 of the game in 3:20.  The rest of the half is even for a 29-25 DLS lead at halftime.

De La Salle puts this one out of reach in the 1st 9 minutes of the 2nd half.  Ross Barker with a pair of hoops around a Luke Hamel 3 point play.  Nice to see Hamel getting a start as he's been active and productive for the Raiders recently.  Scott with another 3, Travis takes a turnover for a dunk.  Timeout CDH as the lead is 38-28 with 11:57 to play.  Jarvis Johnson for 3, Jacob Svanoe fouled for 3 free throws, Tyler Moore with a putback and Jarvis Johnson with a layup.  48-31 DLS with 8:35 to play.  19-6 Islanders outscore the Raiders so far in the half.  CDH makes it interesting in the last 3 minutes with Cortez Tillman for 3 and Sam Neumann with a pair of long 3s and a basket.  Luke Scott with 4 free throws and Ross Barker with 2 more to keep the margin safe.  DLS wins 64-56.  Sam Neumann 4 3s and 22 points.  CJ Neumann 15 points.  Reid Travis with 20 points.  Luke Scott 4 3s and 4 FTs for 16 points.  Considering that CDH played zone much of the game and recent performance, I think its time for me to eat some crow.  DLS has looked much better against zone recently.

Holy Angels wins defensive battle

Troy Bell Jersey

Prologue
I take a 1 day break from my tour of St. Paul as I venture to Holy Angels to see them take on Shakopee in a Missota conference matchup.  Rare that I pass on pizza at Holy Angels but when I saw them take on Duluth East 3 weeks ago it was a bit greasy so I went with a respectable hot dog.  Interesting that the Shakopee Area Catholic Schools kids performed the national anthem and had a 6th-8th grade group do a big dance routine at the half.  That included the longest single kick line I think I've seen.  So long that they had to wrap it around on 1 end.  Then you had me there to see Shakopee but decked out in a Academy of Holy Angels Stars T-Shirt.  A strange day to say the least so that gives me an opportunity to pull out this classic.

Song of the Day
Oingo Boingo - Weird Science

Game Time
We can skip the 1st 7 minutes as the offense is non-existant and ugly.  Sam Keis for 3 for a 6-2 Holy Angels lead and it feels like an offensive outburst.  Timeout AHA at 10:50 and I'd call it a MoKiller timeout but what momentum.  Shakopee's star soph wing/post Tyler Weiss with the layup on the high-low feed and a jumper at the 9:15 mark.  That's the 1st 6 for the Sabers.  6'1 lefty forward Sam Oldsberg off the Sabers bench with back to back putbacks.  Those end an 11-2 Shakopee run over 3:55.  13-10 Sabers at the 6:55 mark.  Danny Sullivan scores a putback off a turnover to put AHA back on top 14-13 at the 3:30 mark.  That's his only bucket of the night.  Kies with a pair of buckets countered by 2 freebies and another putback by Oldsberg.  20-19 Holy Angels with the lead at the half.

Frosh point guard Evan Hagan with a runner for Shakopee to give them a 25-24 lead with 13:35 to play.  Then Jordan Dembley converts a turnover for a layup and nails a left wing step back jumper before converting another turnover into 1 of 2 free throws.  30-25 Stars at the 9:16 mark and the rest for Weiss is over.  Keis adds 2 free throws at the 8:30 mark to conclude an 8-0 Holy Angels over 4+.  32-25 Stars lead.  Weiss gets a post touch on an X look (we'll show it below) and scores.  Only 1 field goal in a 6 minute stretch for the Sabers.  Keis to the rim for a layup to push the lead to 37-28 with 6:55 left.  Brentan Carkuff inside and converts the 3 point play thru 3 Stars.  39-34 Holy Angels with 4:37 left.  That's the last field goal of the night for the Sabers.  The Stars spread with Dembley controlling.  He converts a putback and then scores on a post up with 3:10 left to push the lead to 8.  Holy Angels wins 46-35.

Post Game
An ugly game to say the least.  Tyler Weiss leads Shakopee with 12 points on 6-12 FGs.  Shot looks a little funky but its effective and he can play inside or out.  The Sabers have 0 seniors on this year's roster which means not only do they have everybody back next year, but both bigs (Weiss and 6'8" or so Jake Maiers) are back.  Starting point guard Evan Hagen is only a freshman.  Shakopee falls to 4-7 in the Missota and 8-15 overall.  They've now lost 5 out of 6.  They have a couple of winnable games against Red Wing and at Northfield before closing out the regular season at home against league leader Chanhassen.  They're probably looking at the 5 or 6 seed in section 2AAAA.  They have a win over Waconia in their favor where Kennedy beat Cooper and Jefferson has now lost 12 of 13 and still has to play at Apple Valley and host Eastview.

For Holy Angels, Sam Kies leads with 13 and they win despite only 3 points from star forward Danny Sullivan.  He's playing more outside now with the emergence of sophomore center Charlie Koontz.  The Stars have now won 4 out of 5 to improve to 12-8 (6-4) and look out as you appear to have another Larry McKenzie team peaking as they get to March.  The section is absolutely insane with 19-3 Blake having a win over DeLaSalle and still only the 6th best QRF in the section.  Holy Angels can really help themselves in the race for a 1st round home game as they have Chaska and New Prague at home and the annual rivalry game at Richfield (Blake also has that game).  Win all of those and the case for #3 is great.  But right now its hard to argue against Chaska right now for that 3 seed with head-head wins over AHA (and higher league finish right now) and Blake.  Plenty to still be determined in those 3-6 spots in that section.

Play of the Day
Not original by any means as Chaska ran this a ton for Spencer Tollackson and Armstrong has used this as well over the years.  Horns set or 1-4 low.  Weiss in this case looking for a post up on the right box.  Point guard takes the ball to left slot.  Left post X cuts to the right slot.  Reverse the ball to the wing and look inside with the floor spread for your best post player.  You'll see this type of action tons from Utah State at the college level.  They run a ton of other stuff off of it too as Stew Morrill has one of the thickest playbooks anywhere.

Big Cats battle in section 4A

Prologue
My tour of St. Paul continues with a trip to the Salvation Army to see a section 4A battle between CHOF and PACT.  These teams in a battle for home games in the section round of 16 games.  The usual Kit Kat on the menu and a orange gatorade.  Thankfully not the always amusing 500 ml (16.9 oz) size.

Game Time
CHOF off to a 12-2 start as Kendall Strandlund scores the 1st 5 for the Lions.  12-2 CHOF as PACT regroups with a timeout at the 13:51 mark.  That pays off in a 10-2 run for the Panthers with a pair of Austin Stone baskets.  Danny Mooers with a pair of straight away 3s for PACT and that ties the game at 18 with 6:20 left.  We go to halftime tied at 26.

The second half sees Darian Warneke score the 1st 5 for CHOF.  But the half belongs to PACT's Drew Zeiroth.  The lefty scores the 1st 12 of the half for PACT.  Add in a PACT putback and they lead 40-35 with 11 minutes to play.  Warneke layup, Tyler Strandlund for 2 and Kendall Strandlund for 3.  44-42 CHOF back on top with 8:52 left.  Zieroth 2 free throws countered by Tyler Strandland coast to coast for 2 FTs of his own.  Zieroth counters for 3 but 8th grader Kit Piepkorn counters with his own 3.  49 all with 5:53 left.  Tyler Strandland with a steal for 1 Kendall Strandland bucket and an assist for another.  Zieroth gets loose for another 3 at the 2 minute mark.  55-52 CHOF as PACT takes time to set the defense.  Kendall Strandland gets loose on the inbounds for a breakaway layup, then he gets the block from behind on the PACT possession.  On the other end, Tyler Strandlund to the basket and he finishes with the emphatic lefty dunk for a 3 point play.  That's a nasty finish!  1:17 to go and the lead is 8.  That's too much.  CHOF wins 65-54.

Post Game
For PACT, Drew Zieroth leads with 24 points.  Thanks to a late missed 3, the junior is 3 points short of 1000 for his career.  Think of him as another Calvin Walker type (though I won't use the Chris Mullin reference out of respect).  The Panthers fall to 6-15 and have now lost 8 out of 9 games.  They have 2 big section games coming up with the game tomorrow at Legacy and then a home game with St. Croix Prep on Tuesday (shout out to coach Liesener who was in the building tonight).

For CHOF, Junior Kendall Strandlund finishes with 21 points.  Senior star Tyler Strandlund also with 21 points.  He added 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks.  8th grade brother Anders Strandlund is one keep an eye on as well.  Not to mention the rest of their 8th graders like Kit Piepkorn, Brauc Eckman (who was huge in a big comeback in the JV game) and Kit Rohlf and they something to work with in the next 4 years.  The Lions improve to 9-9 overall.  Their schedule is brutal the rest of the way as they play at PSA and Maranatha (2 of the top teams in the section).  Four Directions and Heritage visit the Sal.  Not out of the question that they could go 0-4 in that stretch.

Off to see a legend

Prologue
Off to Cretin-Derham Hall to complete one of my must do items on my 2011-12 schedule.  That's see Mounds View and legendary coach Ziggy Kauls in his 45th and final year.  Nice pregame ceremony with CDH coach Jerry Kline Jr presenting coach Kauls with a custom game ball.  As always the hot dog gets the Czar's A+ grade.  Add in a can of Barq's Root Beer and that's my kind of concession fare.  Not a great night for a college coach to have to work.  Saw one in the building with his mistress, committed or foolish?  Only time will tell.  Fitting that its Valentine's Day for my 1st post after the death of one of my favorite's growing up, Whitney Houston.  Few better singers for songs on this day and I'll pick one with a Valentine's Day title (if not theme in the actual lyrics).  So she's a no-brainer choice for

Song of the Day
Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You

Game Time
Slow start for Mounds View's offense as they start with their version The Swing (the ugly step sister of THE WORLD'S WORST OFFENSE).  Frosh Sam Neumann knocks down a pair of 3s, Cortez Tillman with 5 in a row and Neumann finishes it with a bucket.  14-4 Raiders at the 11:15 mark.  But that would be their last field goal of the half.  Mounds View's patience pays off as they use a 7-0 run to cut the margin to 17-14 at the 3:15 mark.  Nice cut down the lane from Mike Kerfeld for a layup and a skip to Paul Kroska for 3 in that run.  20-16 CDH at the half.

The CDH field goal drought ends after 12:45 as they get the 1st bucket of the half.  That starts a 12-0 run where Sam Neumann knocks down 1 3 and then heat checks from the volleyball line to close it out.  32-16 CDH at the 13:35 mark and Mounds View takes time.  Cortez Tillman with a 3 to push the lead to 37-20.  Then soph post Tim Hanson comes off the bench and converts a 3 point play with 8:38 to go for the 1st Mustangs field goal of the half.  Their field goal drought is 11:42.  That starts a mini 7-2 spurt and forces a CDH timeout with 6:19 left.  39-27 CDH at that point.  Tillman and CJ Neumann put it away as Tillman makes back to back 3s and CJ scores 10 in a row in 2 minutes to blow the score open.  CDH wins 57-40.

Post Game
For Mounds View, Mike Kerfeld and Andy Justin lead with 10 each.  This squad doesn't have a lot of firepower (they tried swing, power motion and a 5 out look to get their 40) so its a tribute to coach Kauls that they have 14 wins (14-7 overall).  They're 7-6 in conference and remain tied with White Bear Lake for 4th in the Suburban East.  Both are battling Mahtomedi for the 4th seed and final home game in section 4AAAA.  Though White Bear Lake just beat the Mustangs by 20 in their last meeting.  Next up a trip to East Ridge on Friday to start a stretch of 4 must win games before closing out the regular season at home vs Woodbury.

For Cretin-Derham Hall, freshman Sam Neumann finishes with 4 3s and 19 points to lead the Raiders in scoring.  Cortez Tillman 13 of his 18 in the 2nd half and all 3 of his triples.  CJ Neumann with his 10 in a row late reaches double figures with 11 and 7.  Raiders still holding off Eagan for the 3rd slot in section 3AAAA.  If they run their final 5 in league play (no Roseville or Woodbury), a loss to DeLaSalle on Saturday shouldn't hurt them there.  Raiders are 13-7 overall, 10-3 in the Suburban East.  That's 3rd in the league, 1 game behind Woodbury who hosts Roseville next Thursday.

Hopkins rolls with stars shining

Prologue
To Robbinsdale Cooper for an afternoon showing with the new likely #1 Hopkins.  Surprised that there wasn't a bigger crowd for this one.  I missed out on the pizza at the concession stand, major oversight on my part.  This was the 3rd game in 3 days for Cooper.  No Ken Novak coaching for Hopkins as he was tossed in last night's game at Edina.

Song of the Day
Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight

Game Time
Hopkins getting off to a normal good start with Zach Stahl taking over inside.  6 early points for a 13-6 lead.  Rashad Vaughn with his 2nd hoop as Cooper cuts the lead to 15-12 at the 10:15 mark.  Stahl with back to back 3 point plays as there's no answer for him.  Vaughn has to deal with him on defense but has 2 fouls.  21-13 Hopkins at the 9:19 mark.  Vaughn doesn't let it affect his offense as he scores 13 in a row and 15 of the last 17 for the Hawks in the half.  His 3 point play and jumper cut the lead to 27-23 with 5 left in the half.  Stahl 2 buckets and a tip by Andre McDonald with a mystery Cooper 2 put in there (nobody can find the points but they ended up on the board).  Add in a Jake Wright 3 and its 36-25 Hopkins at the 3:10 mark.  Vaughn ends his streak with a 3, then a Cooper layup before Vaughn scores on a turnover.  Demetrius Martin with a late 3 and Hopkins leads at half 41-32.

Siyani Chambers with a pullup, Stahl an easy bucket and then an assist to Martin for 3  to cash in a turnover.  48-34 Hopkins looking to pull away at the 16:17 mark.  Cooper takes timeout and Vaughn leads a run.  He makes 2 3s and 2 FTs in a 10-2 run.  Cooper missed 2 FTs that would have cut the lead to 4.  50-44 Hopkins with 13:30 to play.  Stahl scores on the inbounds lob and then on the post.  Nick Jorgenson with 2 and the lead is back to 12.  Vaughn with 2 free thrwos at the 10:18 mark to keep the Hawks within 10.  Vaughn and Stahl go back and forth with Vaughn for 3, Stahl scoop at the hoop and 2-3 free throws and Vaughn 2 free throws.  66-55 Hopkins inside of 7 to play.  8 of the next 10 go to Hopkins with an Andre McDonald bucket and a nice cut from Demetrius Martin for a 3 point play.  The rest is child's play.  Hopkins wins 93-61.

Post Game
For Cooper, Rashad Vaughn with 35 points and 9 rebounds.  No help as no one else ended up with more than 6.  Vaughn also had a rough matchup with Stahl trying to defend inside which isn't his game.  Cooper falls to 10-11 overall.  They are 6-5 in the N Suburba in a 3 way tie for 5th.  They have a tough one at sliding Spring Lake Park on Tuesday and they still have to go to #1AAA Benilde-St. Margaret's on Feb 24th.

For Hopkins, Zach Stahl was huge with 36 points and 8 boards.  Demetrius Martin with 17, Andre McDonald with 12.  The Royals keep rolling along as they are now 20-1 overall, 4-0 in the Lake.  They are at Maple Grove on Tuesday before they finish the season with the last rotation of Lake Conference games.

A Roseville Thriller

Welcome to Raider Country

Prologue
A late day in my real life keeps me away from my planned matchup of Lakeville North at Eastview (a thriller).  But its not all bad.  I get a showdown of the best of the Suburban East with Cretin-Derham Hall 1 game behind visiting league-leading Roseville.  We have a full student section on the baseline, the Roseville band and the Raider mascot.  Its wolf like so we'll add it to the best mange competition with the MTS Wolf and the PSA Lycan.  Full on 1 side with bleachers open behind the benches at Roseville which is very rare.  Quality pizza and pepsi on the concessions menu.

Game Time
Cortez Tillman opens the scoring with a 3 point play.  Roseville responds with an 11-0 run.  Logan Brown with a couple of jumpers off of turnovers and 5 points from under appreciated guard Collin Johnson.  The Neumanns attempt to bring CDH back with CJ on the offensive glass, Sam for 3, CJ to Sam backdoor for a 3 point play on the double clutch.  14-12 Roseville at the 11:15 mark.  Mack Johnson and Kobe Critchley with 3s as the lead stretches to 7.  Then a block party.  CJ Neumann swat on 1 end, CDH back the other way and Critchley blocks that and throws the outlet to Mack Johnson for a layup. Emeche Wells takes a steal for a layup and just went CDH was getting going they need a timeout to stall the lost momentum.  31-21 Roseville at the 5:53 mark.  Cortez Tillman banks in 1 3 and makes another one right after it to cut the lead to 8.  Taylor Montero with 2 free throws and 3 point play to cut the lead to 5.  Jacob Hall beats the halftime buzzer for a 46-39 Roseville lead.  They played the last 10+ without center Jordan Burich (2 fouls) and last 7 without Logan Brown (3 fouls).

Burich with a layup and then Brown with great hustle for a layup and then he nails a pullup jumper in the lane.  55-41 Roseville with 13:45 to play.  CDH goes 1-3-1 with Sam Neumann on top and they get a couple of shots to fall.  CJ Neumann with a layup and Tillman with another 3.  Shea Fields with a steal for 2 followed by another Tillman 3.  That's a 10-0 run in 90 seconds to cut the lead to 4.  55-51 Roseville with 11:50 to play.  Brown breaks the run with a 3 but CDH isn't done.  Tillman with 2 free throws, CJ Neumann runs down the lane and makes an awkward 2, then the great extra pass after a kickout finds Sam Neumann all alone for the right wing 3.  60-58 Roseville hanging on with 10:20 left.  17-3 CDH run in 3:25.  Teams trade buckets before Montero steals a soft pass and takes it for 2.  CJ Neumann then cuts to the rim and is wide open on a baseline out of bounds.  That results in 1 of 2 free throws and CDH has the lead 65-64 with 6:34 to play.  Brown and Luke Hamel trade putbacks.  Then Mack Johnson inside out from Burich for 3 with 5:05 left.  Tillman and Wells trade buckets before a Montero drive and lefty score with 3:25 left to tie the game at 71.  Collin Johnson drive and patient pass to Burich for a layup (and missed FT on the foul).  He then finds Mack Johnson for the 1st of back to back clutch bombs.  Those sandwich a CJ Neumann bucket on the post.  79-73 Roseville with 1:50 left. Offenses getting it done down the stretch.  Montero with 2 freebies.  Roseville holds and Burich with a nice cut for a layup with 1 minute left.  CJ Neumann puts back a miss with 47.1 to play.  CDH timeout to stop the clock down 81-77.

Roseville can't get it in and its a 5 second violation.  Tillman promptly knocks down a 3 with 40.2 left and here we go.  Roseville gets it in this time but rushing the ball up the sidelines, CDH does a great job to chase it down and get the backtap for a turnover.  35 seconds left and back comes CDH.  Tillman and CJ Neumann both miss but CDH gets it back with 18.9 to play.  We'll play on without the timeout.  CJ Neumann catches the inbound at the right elbow, fakes the handoff to the inbounder and takes it to the rack for 2 with 14 seconds left.  82-81 CDH takes the lead.  Back comes Roseville and they'll also go without a timeout.  Ball ends up in the hands of Emeche Wells in a 1-4 low set as time ticks away.  Down to 5, 4, 3 and Wells isn't going anywhere, SHOOT IT!  He just gets it off from 18 feet away at the buzzer over Montero just like last season.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!  No doubt about it as the jumper was pure.

Its pandemonium as the Roseville students flood the court and why not.  Wells beats the buzzer for the 2nd straight year at home vs CDH and Roseville gets the huge 83-82 win.

Post Game
For Cretin-Derham Hall, their big 3 all play well.  Taylor Montero and Cortez Tillman with 23 each.  Tillman with 5 3s on the night.  CJ Neumann with 21 points and 11 rebounds.  Luke Hamel with the 5 bench points and was productive pounding the offensive glass, especially later in the 1st half with Burich sitting and Roseville using the small lineup.  Once again CDH goes to the 1-3-1 in the 2nd half and almost pulls off a big win.  They used a similar tactic to beat Woodbury a couple of weeks ago.  But the zone is very different when Sam Neumann plays the top rather than Fields.  The length makes a difference and I thought Sam should have been brought back in sooner down the stretch.  CDH falls to 12-7 overall, 9-3 in the Suburban East and 3rd place.  That's 1 game behind Woodbury and now 2 behind Roseville (and Roseville won both).  They host Mounds View on Tuesday in a battle for 3rd.  In section terms I don't think this hurts them.  I messed it up in my Tartan article the other night, CDH is now in 3AAAA and fairly solid in the 3 slot which would most likely mean Apple Valley in a semifinal.

For Roseville, Mack Johnson comes up large with 24 points, 6 3s.  3 of those 3s in the last 5 minutes.  Logan Brown with 13 of his 17 in the 2nd half.  He was huge early in the half when Mack Johnson rested with foul trouble.  Emeche Wells 10 of his 14 in the 1st half but the last 2 were the most important.  Jordan Burich and Collin Johnson each with 10 to round out all 5 starters in double figures.  Collin Johnson is one of those kids who won't wow, but he's rock solid and a calming influence on them (like Montero is for CDH).  I'd really like to see him get more minutes.  Burich's foul trouble hurt in the 1st half and CDH won the battle on the glass in those 10 minutes.  Roseville is now 17-3 and 11-1 in the Suburban East to stay 1 game up on Woodbury.  They still have to visit Woodbury on February 23rd in a game that could be for the outright or split conference title.  Roseville with a win in that game would likely lock up not only the conference title but also the #1 seed in the 4AAAA playoffs.  A Woodbury win would muddy the waters quite a bit.

Maranatha clinches another MCAA title

Prologue
Its a first time trip to West Lutheran as the Warriors host Maranatha with the MCAA North Division still in flux.  West Lutheran 1 game back and they won at MCA 68-67 As is typical of an MCAA gym, pack everybody on to 1 side.  Loved the sausage and canadian bacon on the pizza.  Good to talk to injured MCA star Josh Goldschmidt during the JV game.  He hopes to be ready to go for the AAU season coming off a torn ACL during football.  Really vocal West Lutheran student section who came out on to the sideline to greet the team out of the locker room.


Game Time
Maranatha jumps out to a 10-3 lead with a quick pace in the 1st 2:37.  Ole... Ole Ole Ole.. as the West Lutheran kids are enjoying the night.  Isaiah Hanson gets it going for MCA with a bucket on the post, 2 putbacks and a 3.  21-9 Mustangs at the 8:10 mark.  The lead is 27-18 at the 6:01 mark when West Lutheran goes on a 9-2 run to get right back in it.  Justin Anderson with a couple of big 3s in that run and MCA needs a timeout at the 3:48 mark.  29-26 Maranatha with the lead.  MCA responds with a 13-0 run the rest of the half to break the game open.  42-26 Mustangs at half.

They add the 1st 4 of the 2nd half to stretch the lead to 20.  West Lutheran gets 7 in a row with the last 5 from Dustin Barth to cut the lead to 52-39 with 10 minutes left.  The Hansons put the game away.  Isaiah to the basket for 2 and frosh Jeremiah for 3 followed by Isaiah with a layup.  59-39 with 8:25 left.  West Lutheran wouldn't threaten again. Nice to see Isaiah playing hard even in a blowout.  Late in the game, he kicks out to Jamie Hammond for 3 and then hustles after a turnover to pin a layup to the board.  Maranatha wins 75-57.

Post Game
For West Lutheran, Justin Anderson with 13 of his 16 in the 1st half to lead the Warriors.  Dustin Barth with 12 of his 15 in the 2nd half to try and keep them close.  Just no answers for the MCA 1-3-1 zone and cold shooting.  The Warriors fall to 9-3 in the MCAA (2nd in the North) and 16-5 overall.  Still have to think they're a serious contender to be the 4 seed right behind MCA in section 4A.  They'll get a check of status with a trip to one of the section favorites Prairie Seeds on Tuesday.

For Maranatha, Isaiah Hanson played very well and topped all scorers with 25 points.  Garrison Gillard added 14.  Mustangs gave up a couple of runs but nicely bounced back to put the game out of reach.  They avenge their only loss in the last 3 years in league play.  Their record improves to 14-6 and 11-1 in the MCAA.  A pair of road games and then a very interesting home game with Blake on 2/21 before the MCAA tournament game.

Titans take control of conference race

Prologue
Off to St. Thomas Academy for an important Classic Suburban showdown with Tartan.  No concessions since it was a late arrival right before the varsity game.  We have the St. Thomas Academy band with nice versions of Sweet Caroline and 25 or 6 to 4.  But a surprisingly small crowd on hand considering the implications at the top of the league standings.

Game Time
Darrion Strong with the 1st 5 for Tartan and a Kharie Kirkland steal for 2. 7-3 Tartan in the 1st 3 minutes.  Thomas Sjoberg scores and then finds Nick Waldvogel for 3.  Cal Schneider adds 2 on the post and St. Thomas leads 8-7 as Tartan takes timeout at the 11:11 mark.  Mike Hudspeth off the Tartan bench knocks down a pair of 3s for a 17-13 Tartan lead inside of 5 minutes left in the half.    Then the transition defense goes away for Tartan.  Waldvogel runs out for a layup, a scramble for a Sjoberg 3, John Gould with a layup and Sjoberg follows on the break for a 2 handed jam to end a 9-0 Cadets run.  Strong with the last 5 of the half for the Titans.  25-22 St. Thomas Academy at half.

Sjoberg would start the 2nd half with 2 free throws as the offenses really struggled in the 1st part of the second half.  Schneider with slick footwork inside on the post for 2 and the Cadets lead 31-25 with 12:30 to play.  Then Strong heats up.  A give and go for 2, then his 2nd 3 of the half. Hudspeth with another 3.  Strong converts a turnover for 2 more.  10-0 Tartan run in 2 minutes for a 35-31 lead with 10:30 left.  4 in a row for the Cadets to tie before Strong isolates for 3 and nails another jumper.  15 of the 1st 18 for Tartan in the half from Strong.  That's after Kyle Von Schmidt Pauli uses a broom to get a stuck ball between from the top of the backboard and supporting post.  40-35 Titans with 7:50 left.  St. Thomas would stay close but never get over the hump.  Tartan doing a nice job of spreading the floor late and using their ability to take people off the bounce to their advantage.  A pair of Kirkland free throws with 2:02 left pushes the lead to 7.  But then an offensive foul on Strong and then 5 straight misses free throws.  Add in a long NBA range 3 from Sjoberg with 30 seconds left and we have a game.  Xavier Hall makes 1 with 28.7 left for a 55-52 lead and St. Thomas will have a chance to tie.  But they turn it over with 20.1 left and won't get any closer.  Tartan wins 59-52.

Post Game
For St. Thomas Academy, Thomas Sjoberg leads with 17 points, 12 in the 1st half.  6-18 FGs including 1-9 in the 2nd half.  His late long 3 was his only field goal in the 2nd half and only points in 15 minutes.  He added 4 assists for 10 points as well.  Cal Schneider productive with 9 points inside.  St. Thomas falls to 11-6 overall, 7-3 in the Classic Suburban.  That's tied for 2nd with Richfield.  But Richfield still hosts Tartan in a couple of weeks.  An interesting home game with River Falls (who lost 55-52 to Tartan and beat a pretty decent Baldwin-Woodville team last week) looms on Saturday and Duluth East comes to town next Friday night.

For Tartan, Darrion Strong continues to play very well.  He leads all scorers with 26 points, 15 of those in a 6 minute stretch midway through the 2nd half where Tartan was +12.  Tartan is now 9-1 in the Classic Suburban with a 2 game lead on both Richfield and St. Thomas and 3-0 vs those 2 (at Richfield on 2/21).  Overall record is 15-5 with South St. Paul and Simley on the schedule prior to that Richfield game.  The fight for the 2 seed is still out there.  Winner of the Suburban East (Roseville now) likely gets the 1, but Woodbury or Cretin-Derham hall will have a say in that and have a higher power ranking than Tartan now.

Red Knights win another tight road war

Prologue
Its my 3rd straight DeLaSalle game as its back to the island for the annual rivalry tilt with #1 Benilde-St Margaret's.  A full house in the stands and standing 2-3 deep on the baseline walls with 100 or more stuck outside by the time we get the boys game started in this doubleheader.  That includes Jay Pivec, Flip Saunders and the Mr Basketball committee in the stands.  The hot dog bun left much to be desired as it was one of the worst of the year being separated and crumbling on the touch (sorry Islanders, have to be honest, the people want to know).  Dr. Pepper is always a quality choice as the overheated gym required much refreshment.  Billy Crystal (also reminds of guy Bobcat Goldthwait picked on in Police Academy) and John Lithgow 2 of the 3 officials tonight.  As to fashion, I'm certainly no expert but Islanders AD Darcy Cascaes is one of the few who could wear a scarf in a gym that hot and pull it off.

Game Time
Benilde-St. Margaret's goes...man to man??  Very shocking for any of us who have paid any attention to DLS basketball.  Only a couple of minutes pass and there's the 1-3-1 but only for a couple of minutes and the Red Knights play man the rest of the way.  Sanjay Lumpkin to the basket for 2 on a turnover and drives for 2 more.  He scores 10 of the 1st 15 for Benilde-St. Margaret's.  That's part of a 6-0 run that forces an Islanders timeout.  17-11 BSM at the 10:45 mark.  DeLaSalle responds with a 11-2 run with Tyler Moore driving for a 3 point play and putting back a miss.  22-19 DLS at the 7:05 mark.  27-22 Islanders after a Shawn Fitzgibbons layup at the 5:40 mark.  But he sits with his 2nd foul seconds later at the 5:17 mark and takes the DLS offense with him.  BSM goes on a 12-0 run the rest of the half for a 34-27 halftime lead.

Lumpkin doing work to start the 2nd half.  He grabs a miss for 2 free throws and then runs like he robbed Fort Knox for 2 more free throws.  I don't remember seeing a kid run that hard and fast from 1 end to the other on a play all year.  40-32 Red Knights at the 14:47 mark.  BSM keeping the Islanders at arm's length with a Zierden pull up and a nice cut by Will Dunn behind his defender for a layup.  49-41 BSM with 7:10 left.  DeLaSalle at home is tough though.  Fitzgibbons for 2, Reid Travis for an inbounds bunny.  Red Knights respond with Zierden flaring off of Lumpkin for a huge 3.  Lumpkin with a block and then a rebound.  Then on the other end he finds Zierden for a layup.  54-45 BSM with 4:41 left and DeLaSalle needs a timeout.  Again the Islanders come out of a timeout on a run.  Luke Scott flares for 3, a inbounds lob for Lumpkin is tipped away and Travis takes it the other way for a big dunk.  Travis then pulls up on Lumpkin for a jumper with 2:35 left (this was after Lumpkin got him in the 1st half, fun 1 on 1 battle).  The teams trade missed 3s before Dunn makes a floater.  Moore misses and DLS looks done.

Lumpkin trying to kill time up high against Travis inside 90 seconds to play and a 58-52 BSM lead.  But Travis picks his pocket and goes the other way for what looks like a dunk.  Lumpkin gets him from behind to prevent the 2 but its an intentional foul with 1:17 left.  Oh my, now DLS has life.  Travis makes 1 of 2 and Luke Scott buries a 3 on the inbounds as DLS keeps it.  58-56 BSM ahead with the ball and 59.7 left. DLS ran that play all night and they've run it for years (we'll show it below).  Time after time, BSM gave up open looks on it and had Lumpkin jumping out off of Travis to try and challenge the look.  Poor preparation and game adjustments there from the Red Knights.  BSM walks with 47.2 left and the Islanders have a chance.  Scott flares up high for 3 and gets mugged and will shoot free throws.  He makes 2 and then after a BSM timeout makes the 3rd.  59-58 DLS has the lead with 32.7 seconds to play.  BSM inbounds and goes since they drew it up in the timeout after the 2nd free throw.  Zierden goes to his right off a top of the key ball screen from Lumpkin.  He gets a mediocre to small bump and the ball is clearly off Zierden's right shin right in front of the BSM bench. Lithgow has a picture perfect look at it as the trail official and completely blows the call as he gives it to BSM with 22.8 left.  WOW!  Zierden catches the inbounds lob and pulls up for the super clutch 18 footer with 18 seconds left. Timeout DLS down 60-59.  The last possession is super physical as Fitzgibbons gets bumped off and Travis gets mugged at the left elbow.  DLS gets nothing and a long 3 at the buzzer is no good. BSM hangs on 60-59. 

Post Game
For DeLaSalle, Luke Scott with 16 of his 18 points in the 2nd half.  Good sets to get him good looks.  Reid Travis 16 points and 6 rebounds in the head to head battle with Lumpkin..  A couple of clutch plays late with the pull up and steal for the intentional foul in the last 3 minutes.  Interesting situation at the end as the final play broke down inside 10 seconds left, do you take a timeout there to regroup and then have to get the ball in and worry about a reset and possibly different defense. Other option is to just go and throw something up and go get it off the board late for a cheap 2 (its not the shot that beats you, usually the offensive rebound does).    The irony is that coach Thorson was just talking about this type of scenario on Twitter this past week.  Great point he made.  Neither one is right or wrong in principle.  The right answer is that you go with what you've practiced, BINGO!  Coaches, how many of these situations have you prepared for on a daily basis?  I view things like this like football coaches view special teams.  Its a big part of the game and deserves fair time in practice.  The Islanders have lost 2 in a row to fall to 12-5, 10-1 in the Tri-Metro.  They have 8 games in the final 3 weeks of the season, busy schedule.  That begins with a home tilt vs Minnehaha on Saturday night.

For Benilde-St. Margaret's, I was very surprised they didn't show more zone.  Especially considering that they will play 1-3-1 and DLS has struggled all year vs zone.  Granted they had the lead most of the way so why change.  Yes I know DLS did a couple things in the couple of minutes of zone.  That said, I can't imagine that the Islanders would have gotten a better rhythm vs zone than all the great man stuff they run.  I've said it before I'll say it again, there's is NO WAY I would play man against DeLaSalle, NONE.  Make their bench and non-scorers beat you against a zone.  How will they score??  Blake did a great job of this in the 1st win but even they made the mistake of chasing non-shooters and leaving Scott for a stretch of that game.  Sanjay Lumpkin leads the Red Knights with 20 points and 6 rebounds and a couple of blocks.  Isaiah Zierden with 17 points (6-11 FGs) and came up clutch with 9 of those points in the last 5:10 including the eventual game winner with 18 seconds left.  Will Dunn with 11, Isaiah Gray with 10.  Benilde-St. Margaret's is now 18-1 and 9-0 in the North Suburban.  7 league games remain starting with a city showdown and fun guard matchup against St. Louis Park on Thursday.

Play of the Day
Here's the baseline out of bounds that DeLaSalle used all night for looks.  Box set.  Luke Scott (shooter) on the ball side elbow.  Reid Travis ball side block.  Tyler Moore weakside elbow.  Sean Fitzgibbons (slasher, scorer) taking it out.

Travis pops to ball side corner for catch.  He sends it to Scott popping to the high slot.  Scott slot to slot to Moore popping up.  Scott straight down the lane line to screen for Fitzgibbons who hard curls it to the top of the 6 foot circle.  Travis then pins down (and shapes up strong afterwards) for the sharpshooer Scott going to the original ball side corner.  Great action and defender upon defender of Scott got lost trying to help on the Fitzgibbons curl and never got back or talked.  Good reactions by Lumpkin on a couple but he was too late on the late Scott 3 that gave DLS the lead.

Royals continue rivalry dominance

Prologue
Off to Hopkins for their Lake Conference showdown against rival Minnetonka.  Had the walking taco as always but the lettuce just didn't do it for me tonight.  Soph Luke Pettersen put on a shooting gallery for Minnetonka in the JV game as the Skippers stole one 72-71 (Royals fouled on a 3 at buzzer that was called on the ground for a 1 and 1 down 3).  Surprisingly small crowd but it did start to get more people in late.  Some current music for today's song of the day despite having the Hopkins band in attendance.

Song of the Day
Avicii - Levels

Game Time
4 quick turnovers for Minnetonka with Siyani Chambers converting those into a 3, another bucket and a long assist to Demetrius Martin for a layup.  16-2 Hopkins at the 14:05 mark.  Tommy McDermott in off the Skippers bench to stabalize the offense.  He nails a 3 and pulls up for 2 more.  Then his drive and kick to Andrew Grosz for 3 at the 7:40 cuts the Hopkins lead to 25-15.  Riley Dearring getting hot with a 3, a bucket and then on the post for 2 more as switching gets him matched up with Siyani Chambers.  Add in 2 free throws for Dearring for 6 in a row.  The lead is all the way down to 4.  35-31 Hopkins with 1:39 left in the half.  But the Royals respond as they always seem to.  They score the last 6 as Chambers runs out the clock and buries the fade away.  41-31 Royals at halftime.

Tonka hanging around in the second half.  Andrew Turnblad inside for 2 and then finds McDermott on the nice give and go with 13:40 left to cut the lead to 47-40.  Tonka gives it back with Zach Stahl putting back the 2nd of 2 missed FTs and Tonka turns it over for a Jamal Davis dunk to push the lead right back to double digits.The lead is 13 when Dearring steps back for 3.  Hopkins counters with Davis scoring after Chambers strips Latrell Love on the break.  Dearring again for 3, Love fouled for 2 free throws after a Royals turnover.   Then a big moment.  Tonka out on the break, Love to the basket and his shot is rejected and the backboard gets slapped.  Original ruling is a goaltend.  Coach Dasovich (who I've discussed this rule with a ton because as you know its a pet peeve of mind) correctly points out that slapping the backboard is NEVER EVER a goaltend (which is A: Stupid and B: 95% of high school refs call it incorrectly because its an inconsistent rule) .  Either play on if its a legit play or a technical if its deemed unsportsmanlike.  Refs almost send the ball to be inbounded but they huddle up and change the call to be a technical foul.  Very tough call there.  McDermott steps up and drains both technicals with 10:06 left.  57-52 Hopkins with the lead and Tonka will get the ball after the technical.  Possible makeup call on the inbounds as Latrell Love gets called for an illegal screen.  Chambers makes 2 free throws and a turnover becomes a Martin 3. Martin with a high floater at the 7:40 mark and the lead is 13.  Tonka doesn't threaten again.  Hopkins wins 94-76.

Post Game
For Minnetonka, Tommy McDermott comes off the bench and scores 22 points.  Riley Dearring with 3 3s and 20 points on 6-15 FGs.  I would have liked to see more of him used in the post.  Latrell Love a quiet night with 13 points and 9 rebounds.  Minnetonka falls to 14-5 and 1-2 in the Lake.  Its the 9th straight loss to Hopkins for the Skippers since the epic 74-71 OT win in the 2008 section final at Osseo.  They host Marcus Tyus and Anoka in non-conference play on Friday.  They finish the 1st round of Lake play at Wayzata next Tuesday.

For Hopkins, Siyani Chambers continues to play at a high level.  He finishes with 25 points.  Zach Stahl 20 points and 10 rebounds.  Demetrius Martin 15 and Nick Jorgenson 13.  The Royals used a tighter version of their box lob play that they ran last holiday season for Joe Coleman.  Fun to see that double loop again.  More than anybody I've seen all year, their cutting and extra pass after pass is so superior to everybody.  Really a pleasure to watch.  The Royals are now 18-1 and 3-0 in the Lake.  They are at Edina on Friday and then a quick turnaround at Cooper on Saturday afternoon which should draw a good crowd.

2012 Border Battle Review

Prologue
YAAAAAWN!  It's 5:30 AM, why am I getting up at this awful hour?  Its a long day trip to one the Czar's stomping grounds in the Old Kingdom as the 2012 Border Battle visits Sun Prairie, WI (suburban Madison).  Great concept of a Fritos walking taco but in a bowl.  Everything set out to make your own.  Salsa didn't have enough kick and the cheese was seriously lacking but overall a quality meal.  Smuggle in your own beverages and food as only popcorn and water are allowed in the new gym.

Game 1: #10AA Maple River (MN) vs #3 D3 Wisconsin Dells (WI)
Maple River playing without star Jaron Denn amongst their many injuries. Forward Shane Wimann with 9 points in the 1st quarter for the Dells before he picks us his 2nd foul late in the quarter.  Maple River hangs around in the 1st quarter with 4 3s in 6 FGs vs the Chiefs 1-2-2 zone.  Dells PG MJ Delmore takes over in the 2nd quarter.  He scores 15 in the quarter as the Chiefs outscore the Eagles 18-6.  36-22 Dells at the break.  Ben Larson scores 10 in the 3rd quarter for Maple River.  His 8 in a row with a pair of 3s cut the lead to 10.  46-35 Dells going to the 4th.  Clark Minks with 1 of his 5 3s on the day cuts the Dells lead to 8 but Maple River misses 2 free throws and won't get any closer.  Wisconsin Dells wins the opener 61-47.  MJ Delmore scored 28 points, 15 in the 2nd quarter that was ultimately the difference.  Shane Wimann 17 for the Dells.  For Maple River, Clark Minks with 17 points and the 5 3s.  Ben Larson 13, Josiah Breiter 14 for the Eagles.  Only 9 points from benches combined.  Tough day for Maple River vs the 1-2-2 zone that the Dells used.  They go to it at 3/4 court make or miss.  Hadn't seen that since Waukesha Catholic Memorial a few years ago.  Very few teams will extend on a miss.

Game 2: Maranatha (MN) vs #2 D3 Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (WI)
MCA also depleted as they played without one of their top players Josh Goldschmidt.  MCA with no answers early for GET star Riley Bambenek (Winona St recruit).  He scores 12 of the 1st 14 for a 14-7 lead.  Post Chris Johnson cleans up with 8 points late in the quarter.  MCA used 3 timeouts in the quarter to try and figure out the 1-3-1.  23-14 GET after 1.  Jamey Hammond with 3 triples in the 2nd quarter as MCA settles down.  MCA only down 38-31 at the half.  Frosh Grantham Guillard makes a pair of free throws and then a 3 from older brother Garrison at the 4 minute mark.  MCA within 44-38.  But GET would pull away from there.  They go on an 11-3 run to end the quarer and then bust the game open to 22 in the 4th .  GET wins 71-54.  Jamey Hammond 16 for MCA.  Riley Bambenek 24 points and 6 rebounds for GET.  Center Chris Johnson impressive again with 20 points.  They had the only FTs and 2 point FGs for GET.  The other 5 scorers combine for 9 3s.

Game 3: #6AAA Grand Rapids (MN) vs #6 D2 Beaver Dam (WI)
I said right before the game that this could be a sleeper game of the day but I didn't expect this.  Austin Pohlen with 2 assists for 3s and a 3 point play of his own as Grand Rapids opens on a  9-0 run.  Beaver Dam comes right back with an 11-0 run of their own. Pohlen with another assist for 3 as he's in on the 1st 12.  13-11 Grand Rapids after 1.  Beaver Dam switches from man to 1-3-1 for the whole 2nd quarter and that slows things down.  Their scoring point guard RJ Shelton scores the 1st 5 but Pohlen knocks down a pair of 3s.  23-22 Beaver Dam at half.  Pohlen 9 points and 3 assists for 9 more points (18 of the 22).  Beaver Dam back to man to start the 3rd (love the switching of defenses).  But it doesn't take long to go back to the 1-3-1.  Star frosh Alex Illikainen active for Grand Rapids in the quarter with 5 points and 6 rebounds.  Grand Rapids gets the last 4 of the quarter for a 34-33 lead going to the 4th.  Mike Spoden puts back a miss and converts a 3 point play after 2 Pohlen free throws.  Its an 11-0 run for the Thunderhawks and they lead 41-33 with 5:35 left.  Owen Salzwedel with 1 3 point play and puts back a miss for another with 3:27 left to cut the lead to 4.  Pohlen to Spoden and Illikainen for layups to sandwich a Beavers 3.  47-42 Grand Rapids with 2:25 left.  But the Thunderhawks miss 7 of 8 FTs (includes 2 front ends missed) down the stretch.  Wing Jake Heuer would make 2 with 44.8 left, Salzwedel 2 with 19.5 left and Heuer would post and be fouled.  He makes 2 more with 4.2 left and we'll go to overtime tied at 48.

Pohlen would drive for 2 and find Spoden for 2 free throws for the Grand Rapids scoring in the 1st overtime.  Grand Rapids held for the last 55 seconds but got into their look late and didn't get a good look 52 all and we'll go to a 2nd overtime.  Pohlen to the left hand to start the 2nd OT.  Beaver Dam would tie and then another long Grand Rapids possession. Pohlen would cash that in with 1:07 left for a 56-54 lead and make a FT after a Beavers turnover.  Heuer with a clutch 3 with 30 seconds left to tie it.  Grand Rapids would turn it over with 10 seconds left.  Beaver Dam used 2 timeouts to set up the final possession but couldn't convert and we'll go to a 3rd OT tied at 57.  Illikainen grabs an offensive board for 2 FTs, then Pohlen with a free throw and a steal for 2 free throws on the intentional foul on the breakaway.  David Liebe 3 of 4 FTs to push the lead to 8, 65-57 with 1:40 left.  But a pair of Thunderhawks turnovers result in 4 points.  67-65 Grand Rapids with 29.8 left but they would make their free throws from there to win 71-65 in 3 overtimes.  Jake Heuer 19 points as he was a tough matchup at the 3 and RJ Shelton 17 for Beaver Dam.  Austin Pohlen 26 points to lead Grand Rapids.  Mike Spoden 14 points mostly in the 4th quarter and overtimes.  Quiet day for frosh Alex Illikainen with 10 points and 9 boards, most of that in the 3rd quarter.

This was only the 2nd longest game in Border Battle history.  Manitowoc Roncalli beat Plainview-Elgin-Millville 91-83 in 4 overtimes at Owatonna in 2009.

Game 4: North St. Paul (MN) vs Madison Edgewood (WI)
This game was the only game of the day without a ranked team involved.  Edgewood has been playing without guard Spencer Brink and was coming off a tough loss the previous night.  Hunter Books scores the 1st 6 points for NSP as they jump out to the 6-0 lead.  Edgewood with 10 in a row to reclaim the lead and they wouldn't give it up.  UW-Milwaukee recruit Austin Arians with a 3 at the halftime buzzer for a 36-27 lead.  NSP would hang around as they hold Edgewood to only 1 FG in the 3rd quarter but they only get 1 FG until the last 30 seconds of the quarter where they get 2 of them to cut the Edgewood lead to 44-37 after 3.  Books with a jumper with 6:30 to play to cut the lead to 46-41.  Edgewood misses a layup but NSP can't convert.  Edgewood scores the next 7 and won't be threatened again.  70-59 Edgewood wins.  Austin Arians with 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Crusaders.  Hunter Books 23 for NSP.  Edgewood 23-30 FTs getting to the basket vs 10-14 for NSP.

Game 5: Tartan (MN) vs #10 D2 Waunakee (WI)
A good start for Tartan with a pair of 3s from Kyle Von Schmidt Pauli and another bucket.  Darrion Strong with a 3 and its 17-7 Tartan late in the1st.  Then Strong to Kharie Kirkland for 3 to beat the 1st quarter buzzer.  22-14 Tartan after 1.  Strong with another 3 to start the quarter for an 11 point lead.  Waunakee counters with 7 in a row to cut the lead to 4.  Strong for 3 to push the lead back to 7 before Waunakee gets 8 in a row with 5 from forward Will Decorah..  32-31 Waunakee at the 4:14 mark of the 2nd quarter.  Strong with a floater and then he beats the buzzer for 3 to give Tartan a 37-36 halftime lead.  Strong with 18 on 4 3s.  Decorah with 15 for Waunakee.  Elite defender Xavier Hall sat out almost the entire half with 2 fouls and now gets the task of slowing Decorah down.  Back and forth we go in the 3rd.  Joe Tagarelli with the 1st 6 of the quarter for Waunakee.  Tartan's star frosh Marshawn Wilson with a drive, a 3 and a free throw.  45-42 Tartan at the 3:40 mark.  Waunakee with 8 of the next 10 but Strong to Mitch Grohs for 3 to beat the 3rd quarter buzzer.  50 all going to the 4th.  A Tartan turnover results in a Waunakee bucket.  57-53 Warriors with 6:35 left.  Wilson for 3, Strong picks up a loose ball gives it up and gets it back for a layup and Wilson scores again.  61-58 Tartan with 4:35 left.  Decorah with a steal for 2 and Waunakee back on top 62-61 with 3:15 left.  Tagarelli in the post for 1 of 2 FTs with 1:22 left to tie the game at 64.  Tartan holds and Wilson is fouled on the trap with 19.7 left.  He makes 1 of 2 for a 65-64 lead.  Tagarelli spins and is fouled.  He makes 2 freebies with 5.9 left for the 1 point lead.  Strong drives and kicks to Mike Wales for an open 3 but this time Tartan doesn't beat the buzzer.  Waunakee wins 66-65.  What a battle.  Will Decorah with 23, Joe Tagarelli 17 for the Warriors.  They'll be a very tough out come tourney time.  Tartan gets 20 from Darrion Strong, 18 in 1st half.  Frosh Marshawn Wilson with all 15 of his points in the 2nd half.

Game 6: #5AAA De La Salle (MN) at Sun Prairie (WI)
UW-Milwaukee and Wisconsin with assistants in the building to watch this one.  Sean Fitzgibbons and Luke Scott with 3s for the Islanders to counter a pair of inside buckets from Sun Prairie's Andre Wallace.  6-4 DLS at the 6:20 mark.  Then the 1-3-1 is too much.  Sun Prairie goes on an 18-0 run with 9 points in a row from their D1 star Nick Fuller.  22-8 Cardinals after 1.  Fuller for 3, a drive and takes a turnover for a dunk.  29-10 Sun Prairie at the 4:10 mark, Fuller with 16 in a row.  Sun Prairie 33-15 at the half.  Fuller with 20 points.  Its blowout city from there, Sun Prairie leaves the starters in a little too long.  Sun Prairie wins 61-35 as DLS had no answer for the 1-3-1.  Nick Fuller finishes with 33 points.  DeLaSalle star Reid Travis held scoreless by the zone.

All Border Battle Team
MJ Delmore - Wisconsin Dells
Riley Bambenek - Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau
Will Decorah - Waunakee
Joe Tagarelli - Waunakee
Nick Fuller - Sun Prairie
Austin Arians - Madison Edgewood
Jake Heuer- Beaver Dam
Austin Pohlen - Grand Rapids
Darrion Strong - Tartan
Hunter Books - North (St. Paul)

History and Future
Wisconsin goes 5-1 on the day to even the all time series at 16-16.  That's payback for Minnesota going 5-0 at Eau Claire Memorial 2 years ago.  Zones were the story.  Dells 1-2-2, 1-3-1 from Beaver Dam, Sun Prairie, Waunakee and G-E-T were all very effective.  The 7th edition of the Border Battle comes to Prior Lake next season.  Here are your 2013 teams.

MN - Apple Valley, De La Salle, Hopkins, Osseo, Prior Lake, Eden Prairie and Mahtomedi.
WI - Rice Lake, Hudson, Manitowoc Roncalli, Appleton West, Madison Memorial, Eau Claire Regis and De Pere.

N Suburban showdown is AAA Classic

Prologue
There are nights when the available games and talent makes me realize that I have a major addiction to watching games.  Then there are nights like this where all the stars align.  Its #1AAA Benilde-St. Margaret's at #2AAA Spring Lake Park.  Both have 16 wins with only 1 loss and that was to #1AAAA Eastview (who got a major scare vs Eagan tonight).  Not only is this for the top spot in the polls but better yet its the defacto North Suburban title game.  Thanks to the insanity that is the unbalanced league schedule, this is the only time these teams will meet during league play this season.  I begin my night by getting a chance to see one of my former players in a 9th grade game that was won on a 3 at the buzzer.  Then blah concession fare during the JV game.  We end up with a full house of about 2000 after the long parent appreciation night ceremony.  We have John Lithgow and Dennis Haysbert as 2 of the 3 members of the quality officiating crew.  Flip Saunders in the house.  Surprised at how short he is (though he's still taller than me, I hate my life).  He took pictures with lots of the Spring Lake Park students after the game.  WCCO did their 6 PM news with a feed from the gym.

Game Time
Bryce Williams scores the 1st 5 for SLP which is countered by a 12-2 BSM run.  Sean Scott for SLP with 2 huge blocks early in the game.  SLP fights back with the next 6 with Williams taking a steal the other way for 2.  Isaiah Gray with a lefty bucket and posting off the inbounds as Benilde goes on a 9-2 run.  23-15 Red Knights at the 9:22 mark and it was their biggest lead all night.  Panthers fighting back again.  Scott makes a 3 and then smashes another shot off the glass and Zierden picks it up at the bottom of the center circle in the backcourt.  Scott with a layup and buries another triple.  25-23 BSM at the 6:50 mark.  BSM gets Zierden going with a UCLA cut into a right wing pick and roll for him.  He knocks down a 3 and then gets to the lane for 2 more off of it.  Soph guard TC Robinson puts back a miss for a 3 point play followed by Scott with back to back putbacks and SLP is back in the lead 32-30 at the 4:05 mark.  Lumpkin down the lane for a big one handed dunk at the 2:30 mark for a 36-34 BSM lead.  Scott and Williams make 3s to send SLP to the break up 40-37.

Scott flammable to start the 2nd half.  He posts for a free throw, then a head fake to send a defender flying by and 1 bounce to knock down the left wing 3.  He runs for a layup from Williams and then a sick move to ditch a defender out high and buries another 3 for 49-41 lead (biggest SLP lead all night).  2 BSM buckets before a Scott catch and 1 dribble back to get behind the line and he knocks it down from the right corner.  He has all 12 in the half to this point and BSM needs a timeout.  52-45 SLP with 13:29 left.  Then foul trouble starts to set in for SLP.  Williams sits with his 4th at the 13:12 mark.  Scott with another swat which results in a Robert Ben layup.  Then SLP's main defender on Isaiah Zierden, Jordan Thimmesch-Slepica, picks up his 4th foul with 10:52 left on a very strange Lithgow call opposite of the play and Jordan can't believe it.  I'll say it again about Lithgow like I did earlier in the year, good ref but calls way too much tick tack stuff that is ultimately meaningless in the actual play.

Lumpkin making a living at the foul line in the 2nd half for BSM.  His 2 with 9:34 left cut the lead to 3, 54-51.  But he goes over the infamous BLOB shooter inbounds and runs to the corner play and Scott makes him pay with yet another 3.  Scott adds 2 FTs inside Lumpkin pair of FTs and runout for a dunk.   BSM going to some zone but both offenses struggling.  Williams and Thimmesch-Slepica return at the 5:53 mark with SLP hanging on 61-58.  Lumpkin grabs an offensive board and as he's falling to the ground puts it back in to cut the lead to 1.  Then SLP with 2 turnovers, a missed drive to the rim and a missed front end in the next 90 seconds.  But BSM can't score any points on their end either as nothing will fall.  Scott grabs a miss with 2:52 left and scores.  Then BSM misses a bunny and turns it over after another missed SLP front end.  Scott converts that too.  65-60 SLP with 2:05 left as BSM takes timeout with the ball.

BSM turns it over and SLP misses inside.  A mysterious call on a SLP player on the ground sends Lumpkin to the line with 1:23 left.  He makes the first and misses the 2nd.  Isaiah Gray grabs the criminal offensive rebound of a free throw and converts.  SLP inbounds and promptly turns it over with 1:14 left.  Zierden is fouled with exactly a minute left and buries both to tie the game at 65.  Scott comes down and takes the quick 3 from straight away which is no good.  BSM rebounds wiht 45 seconds left and they'll hold for 1 and not take a time out.  Danon Briggs dribbles out most of the clock.  Then late the ball ends up in the left corner and we wonder what the shot will be like as it looks like OT.  But Lumpkin makes a great cut to the front of the rim and nobody sees him.  He gets the easy layup with 2.6 left.  Williams gets a decent look at 3 but its long and no good. BSM comes from 5 down in the last 2:05 to score the last 7 points.  Red Knights get a great road win 67-65 to hold on to #1 in one of the best games I've seen all year.

Post Game
For Spring Lake Park, Sean Scott was absolutely off the hook most of the night.  He finishes with 36 points (7 3s), 13 rebounds and 6 blocks on my sheet.  He had 21 of the 25 Panthers points in the 2nd half.  Bryce Williams was hot early and then foul trouble derailed him.  He scored all 12 of his points in the 1st half.  I would have liked them use Robert Ben more in the post against the small BSM lineup with Lumpkin mostly guarding Scott on the perimeter.  The Panthers had a couple of chances in the last 10 minutes where some bad shots and a couple of careless turnovers could have extended the lead and they came away with nothing.  They also missed all 3 front ends in the 2nd half (where BSM missed all 3 in the 1st half).  The Panthers fall to 8-1 in the N Suburban, 16-2 overall.  A quick turnaround with a tough road game at Centennial tomorrow afternoon and then at Irondale on Monday night.  The shame of tonight's loss is that SLP will probably drop in the polls which to me is ridiculous.  No way that should happen on an objective analysis.

For Benilde-St. Margaret's, Sanjay Lumpkin leads with 25 points and 14 rebounds on my sheet.  He had 14 of the 30 2nd half points.  That included 7 of 8 from the charity stripe.  Isaiah Zierden finished with 17 points but had a night where the ball just wouldn't go in.  I had him 7-22 shooting and missing his last 8 but good looks which we'll talk about below.  Lumpkin will be a serious contender to win Mr. Basketball and Scott really helped his cause, though a win probably was necessary to truly vault into the final 5.  The Red Knights improve to 17-1 and lead the N Suburban at 9-0.  The road is still tough as they are on the island to play at DeLaSalle on Tuesday night which should be another crazy atmosphere.

Play of the Day
Our play of the day is how Isaiah Zierden got good looks all night.  Basically a 1-4 high with Danon Briggs entering to Zierden on the right wing.  Briggs would UCLA cut through and the screener would go ball screen for Zierden.  Screener was mostly Lumpkin but Breion Creer was used here too. I like that as a different look.  Creer's a bigger screen and tougher to get around.  Lumpkin is a major threat if he's the screener.  SLP did a nice job of showing and preventing easy 3 point looks but that allowed Zierden to get by and have opportunities from the middle of the lane all night.

Tri-metro race tightens

Prologue
Off to the island for the first of 3 or 4 DeLaSalle games in a row on my schedule (something I'm not a fan of but this game, the Border Battle and the BSM game are too big to miss).  DeLaSalle trying to make up for their Tri-Metro loss back in December 50-44 at Blake. No upgrades at the concession stand tonight but A&W Root Beer is always a good variety choice.  We get one of the finest bands around in the DeLaSalle band.  They don't disappoint with this locally flavored tune for our

Song of the Day
Prince - When Doves Cry

Game Time
Blake had a ton of success with their 3-2 zone in the first game but in this one they go man to man.  Interesting start as the teams trade 5 second calls on the first possessions.  Hard to know that rule even existed anymore.  Reid Travis puts back a miss after a big Blake block.  That's his first opportunity for a 3 point play and he converts one on a lob.  7-0 DLS at the 15:30 mark and Blake goes to their zone.  The lead gets to 9-0 but the zone slows the pace.  John Veil for 3 and adds a free throw later.  Kebu Johnson down the lane and finishes right handed (he's lefty).  That cuts the DeLaSalle lead to 14-10 at the 7:30 mark.  Veil with a drive and pulls up for 3 to force a DeLaSalle timeout at the 4:46 mark.  19-15 Islanders lead.  That sparks DLS to the next 6 points, but Blake would fight back with a Veil assist for a 3 point play and Kebu drives for a righty dunk.  Trey Shepherd with a putback at the buzzer for a 27-21 halftime lead for DeLaSalle.

Then 3 Blake turnovers early in the second half are painful.  Shawn Fitzgibbons converts 1 for a layup, Luke Scott another and he follows that with a 3.  The lead balloons to 35-23 with 15:51 to play.  Blake fights back again with the next 6 as Kebu takes a turnover for a dunk and goes to the reverse layup.  35-29 DLS with 14:01 left.  DLS pushes the lead back to 11.  Blake looking for another comeback.  JR Bascom with a turnaround and then they miss a reverse layup.  Travis grabs it and throws the long bomb to Tyler Moore for a layup.  44-34 DLS with 5:05 left.  The teams trade a pair of buckets before Blake misses a pair of good looks at 3s before Kebu Johnson makes a jumper and Paul Blake scores.  49-42 DLS with 2:08 left.   But there's not enough time for a run now.  DeLaSalle wins 58-49.

Post Game
For Blake, Kebu Johnson leads with 15 points, John Veil with 13.  JR Bascom with 9 of his 11 in the 2nd half.  They ran a ton of pick and roll with Veil and Johnson being the handlers and really didn't get much out of it.  The Bears fall into a tie in the loss column at 11-1 in the Tri-Metro, 14-3 overall.  This was the 1st in a 5 game road swing.  Next is Monday at Roosevelt.  Big road test at Minnehaha in mid-February.

For DeLaSalle, Reid Travis 15 points and 8 rebounds.  He had 3 huge blocks in the 2nd half including 2 on the same possession that ended up in a turnover.  13 for Luke Scott.  The Islander offense vs zone wasn't pretty but their defense was once again outstanding.  Veil and Johnson with almost no good looks.  Islanders are now 10-1 in the Tri-Metro and 12-3 overall.  A stuff test at Sun Prairie, WI in the Border Battle on Saturday before the big showdown with #1AAA Benilde-St. Margaret's on Tuesday night.