I decided I would spend day 1 at Target Center. I didn't see Class AA, I saw Class AAAA which, most years, are the best teams in the state. Lately, you'd have to say that Totino-Grace and DeLaSalle are pretty close to the best AAAA teams but that's a question for another day. For now, again, it's Class AAAA.
Park Center 92 Andover 72
On paper, you'd have to say that Park Center justified its #1 seed with a convincing 20 point win over conference rival Andover. Park Center beat Andover by 20 points over their last 2 meetings. Well, now they won by 20 in this one game all by itself.
But if you haven't heard, it was obvious from the opening tip that Andover guard Sam Musungu was not himself. He was listless. He was almost always the 10th man to cross center-court. Park Center ran a lot of its 1st half offense 5-against-4. Musungu is an elite athlete and he was not gonna be mentally down. He was not out of shape. Ergo, he was sick. I texted Andover coach Jeremy Hable later and he replied that, yeah, Sam was "pretty sick" with "flu-ish" symptoms. It is unlikely you'll see him tomorrow in the consolation semi-finals.
And, so, Park Center was able to run out to a 40-20 lead with 5 minutes remaining in the 1st half. It is very much to Andover's credit that they played even with the #1 seed the rest of the way. But after getting within 12 at 64-52 halfway through the 2nd half, Park Center outplayed them 28-20 the rest of the way. But, somehow, Musungu, after a truly dreadful and painful 1st half, bounced back and played with, well, let's say 50 percent more energy in the 2nd half, still only a third of his usual energy, still he finished up with 17 points, but just 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. The redoubtable Ben Kopetzki did what he could to fill the gap, as did the rest of the Andover rotation. Kopetzki finished with 22 points, 5 boards and 3 assists, but it was never going to be enough. To play and beat Park Center you're going to have to have all hands on deck and at maximum warp, and the Huskies just didn't have that today.
Taking nothing away from Park Center. Their opponent was weakened, but they attacked relentlessly, blocking shots and turning them into fast break baskets on the other end. I wouldn't say they shot the ball great. Rather, they moved the ball great and got easy shots of which they made 62 percent. Against an aggressive Park Center defense, Andover shot just 38 percent. Again, that just wasn't going to cut it.
Park Center was led by junior point guard Casmir Chavis, who just keeps getting better and better, with 18 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and even 2 blocked shots. 6-8 Chiang Ring, also a junior, was the other standout wit 13 points, 9 boards and 5 demoralizing blocked shots. But it was at least a 6-man effort as Joe Burgess added 15 points, JJ Ware 14 and 10 rebounds, Jackson Fowlkes (also a junior) with 14 points, and CJ O'Hara 12 with 6 assists. Even considering Andover's obvious problems today, it was an impressive performance by the Pirates.
Eastview 72 Minnetonka 68
This is not to say that Park Center's victory over Eastview in the semis is a done deal. The Lightning were obviously bigger but also quicker than Tonka in this one. As a result they ran out to leads of 9-0 and 20-9. Then, after Tonka got within one on 3 occasions, Eastview moved back out to a 34-28 half-time lead. It was more of the same in the 2nd half. Tonka actually took the lead at 39-38 and then 41-38, but again Eastview put the pedal down to run back to a 56-45 lead. I have never seen so many blocked shots turn into fast-break baskets the other way. There had to be 8 or 9 of them in the 2nd half alone. With 4 or 5 minutes left, LiveStats showed Eastview with a 10-1 advantage in blocks. They got 3 or 4 more the rest of the way and yet LiveStats still showed them at 10-1 at the end. Sorry. It had to be 15-1.
In any event, Tonka came back again to tie it up at 67 at 2:02, but again Eastview's flexibility told the tale. The ability to score inside and out and the ability to get huge stops meant a 5-1 scoring edge over those 2 minutes and a 72-68 win for the Lightning. Senior guard Dylan Onweno made 3-of-7 3s and 5-of-6 2s to thwart every Tonka rally. 6-6 senior post Chet Kloss blocked 8 shots. Tonka's 6-2 junior guard Andy Stefonowicz scored 22 points but it wasn't enough. Eastview shot 55 percent and Tonka 37. 'Nuf sed.
Lakeville North 87 Buffalo 59
Wayzata 81 White Bear Lake 61
The lower bracket was obviously nowhere near as exciting as the upper bracket. Lakeville North's awesome size advantage was way to much for Buffalo to contend with. The blocked shots were just 2-to-1, but the intimidation factor in the lane was huge, and so Lakeville North shot 61 percent and Buffalo 34 (40 percent on 3s but only 30 percent on 2s).
6-11 Nolan Winter scored 25 points for LN with 17 rebounds and 2 blocks. He may be the best Dakota County big ever to stoop to becoming a Wisconsin Badger. Ugh. LN's other stars did what they do--Jack Robison scored 16, Hudson Vaith 15 and Matt Drake 14.
Wayzata's size advantage over White Bear was nowhere near so extreme but a slight size advantage and a bigger advantage in quickness added up to a 54 percent (Wayzata) to 35 percent (White Bear) shooting advantage. Wayzata held White Bear guard Jack Janicki to a 5-of-18 shooting night and that alone was enough of a difference. Wayzata won both halves 38-25 an 43-36. The paint points were 36-20 Wayzata and the bench points 31-5.
What's Next?
#1 and #2 (Park Center and Lakeville North) didn't do anything to relinquish their status as favorites to reach the finals but Eastview and Wayzata both enhanced their status as teams capable of pulling an upset. Once upon a time I picked Park Center 65 Eastview 63 and Lakeville North 67 Wayzata 64. Today I'd probably lean toward Park Center by a slightly wider margin and Lakeville North by a margin that is slightly smaller.
Best of the Best
C- Chet Kloss, Eastview, 6-6, sr., 6 pts, 11 reb., 3 stl., 8 blk.
PF- Nolan Winter, Lakeville North, 6-11, sr., 25 pts, 17 reb., 2 blk.
PG- Casmir Chavis, Park Center, 6-4., jr., 18 pts, 5 reb., 11 asts, 2 stls., 2 blk.
CG- Ben Kopetzki, Andover, 6-0, sr., 22 pts, 5 reb., 3 asts.
SG- Dylan Omweno, Eastview, 6-2, sr., 25 pts, 2 reb, 2 asts, 3 stls.
6th Player- Andy Stefonowicz, Minnetonka, 6-2, jr., 22 pts, 5 reb., 3 asts., 3 stls.
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