Game of the Day Thursday December 29, 2011: More High School Action

Review

The Lakeville North boys pulled away from a 31-30 half-time lead to a 78-67 win over Mpls. Washburn. North had 4 players in double figures to 3, led by Nick Anderson's 20 points, for Washburn.

The Mankato East boys edged Montevideo 81-77.

The Benilde-St. Margaret's boys beat Eden Prairie in their (EP's) own holiday tournament 80-68.

Class AA Providence girls beat Class AAAA Lakeville North 41-33 to win the Rochester Rotary tournament.

Meanwhile, the Big Two tournaments (Best Buy boys and Dick's girls) went like this.

Best Buy (Boys)

Championship Semis: A pair of blowouts. St. Paul Johnson 82 Chanhassan 56 and Hopkins 91 Henry Sibley 62. Marcus Marshall scored 23 for Johnson.

Consolation Semis: Duluth East 85 Mpls. Henry 76 as Stafford scored 40, and Minnetonka 99 Las Vegas Durango 57.

Dick's (Girls)

Championship Semis: Eden Prairie 51 Osseo 43 and Hopkins 61 St. Paul Central 31. Sydney Coffey scored 22 for Hopkins.

Consolation Semis: Milwaukee Rufus King got its sea-legs under it after a terrible performance against Eden Prairie. King 98 Hutchinson 68 as Alexis Eckles scored 27. And Prior Lake surprised, well, they surprised me, beating Maple Grove 50-39.



Player of the Day: Tyus Jones scored 39 points in leading the Apple Valley boys over Rocori 100-74.

Coach of the Day: Ray Finley of the Providence girls for leading his team over AAAA Lakeville North and winning the Rochester Rotary tournament.

Preview

The tournaments just keep on coming. The best tournaments--Dick's for the girls and Best Buy for the boys--move into the semi-final round. See my report for yesterday--game times are the same again today, though obviously the match-ups are different.

Still, today's Best Bets for individual match-ups look like this:

Boys: Lakeville North vs. Mpls. Washburn at Lakeville North. #4AAAA vs. #2AAA.

Mankato East vs. Montevideo at Southwest State. #7AAA vs. #3AA. East beat "home team" Marshall 89-80 last night. Monte won 62-35.

Girls: Providence vs. Lakeville North at Rochester. #1AA vs. #4AAAA. Each pulverized its opponent yesterday, Providence beat Jefferson by the unlikely score of 60-17 while North dominated White Bear Lake 55-30. Despite the 2 class difference, this is a toss-up.