The QF in Class AAA are done and I'm sorry to say that tomorrow will be the finals and the 3rd place game, instead of Saturday as previously scheduled. DeLaSalle and Simley won the first 2 games and they will play for the state title tomorrow (Thursday) at noon. This is Ali-Frazier stuff. Meanwhile, at 2 p.m. Becker and Waconia will play for 3rd--well, OK, 2nd.
I'm sorry if this sounds harsh. But, the seeds this year set all of this up. The heavyweights all ended up in the upper bracket. Simley and Holy Angels should have been #2 and #3, not #4 and #5. They should be playing in a semi, not the 1st round. But, anyway.
Game 1
Hermantown stayed closer than expected for awhile. They were down 29-27 late in the 1st half. It was 38-29 at the half. But, the 2nd half was all De and it ended up 85-52. It was closer than that but that isn't saying a whole lot, I know. Hermantown had a couple of nice players--senior guard Ava Asgard, who scored 15, and junior 6-0 forward Elly Schmitz, who scored 16.
But DLS, well they've got 7 or 8 or 9 nice players. The best is sophomore guard Kiani Lockett, a glue-type player who can also score 19 point against state tournament competition (with 8 assists). Senior post Nurjei Weems is a handful, and sophomore guard Sydney Runsewe is, too. They each scored 20. De made 13-of-23 3s and 14-of-27 2s, and turned it over just 10 times. Tough.
Game 2
Simley beat Holy Angels in what should have been a semi-final. Simley led 33-30 at the half. Holy Angels took leads of 41-40 and 44-42 but Simley scored the next 10. Champ Danso scored down low, then the Spartans scored in transition 4 times, with Ravyn Miles, Danso, Miles and Ysareia Chèvre doing the honors. The Stars got within 5 3 times, but Simley had too many weapons, moved and shared the ball really well, got really good shots, and made 'em, 7 in a row, 8-of-11 and 11-of 14 down the stretch. For the day, they made 27-of-49 and all 5 starters scored in double figures.
Meanwhile, Simley was able to defend Holy Angels mid-range game (Frankie Vascellero and Grace Massaquoi) who shot 8-of-24 between them. The final was 70-62.
Game 3
Unseeded Alexandria trailed #2 Becker 29-27 at the half, but heading into the stretch Alex was up 45-43 and coach Wendy Kohler thought she had Becker where she wanted them. But a couple of late 3s put Becker ahead 51-45. From there, Alex shot 4-of-12 with 2 turnover while Becker made 15-of-18 FT. Becker won 63-55.
Ella Grove had 21 for Alex playing on a sprained ankle, while Julia Bengtson led Becker with 16.
Game 4
Finally, unseeded Waconia needed OT but beat #3 Red Wing 52-45. It was 37-all at the end of regulation as both teams struggled offensively, shooting around 25 percent. In OT, Waconia's Addy Salzer hit a 3 and 4-for-4 FT to put it away.
Tomorrow, Tomorrow
As I saids, the upper bracket is where the power is. I still like Simley. They moved the ball so well today, got such good shots, and made 'em, that I think they can repeat that performance even against the Islanders. Sub-plot: The Islanders Runsewe and I'Tianna Salaam transferred from Simley to De after their 8th grade seasons. Simley by 3.
In the lower bracket, hopefully somebody will bring their shooting touch with them tomorrow. Whoever does that will win. More likely Becker than Waconia, but it's almost a toss-up. Becker by 4.
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