The MSHSL has been running a historical feature celebrating the 100th year of tournament basketball for the past 2 months. You can see them on its Web site at www.mshsl.org (then click on 100 Yrs of BB. Scroll down to the bottom of the column for links to past features.)
The final 2 installments cover the top boys games and the top girls games in tournament history. In the interest of full disclosure, I helped to pick the top games, players, coaches, etc., so it's a little late to complain now. Still, the group didn't agree with my every whim and wish. So what I am doing here is listing my own picks of the top 10 games ever--both boys and girls, all mushed together in one list.
1. Wabasso 117 Red Lake 113 (OT), 1997 boys Class A semi-final. Just a completely incredible game, even without Gerald Kingbird's fantastic finish (13 points in one minute to force OT). I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. In fact, I did see it with my own eyes, and I'm still not sure I believe it.
2. Edgerton 63 Richfield 60 (OT), 1960 boys semi-final. This was the game that made the Edgerton legend. The final was an afterthought.
3. New York Mills 61 Albany 52, 1979 girls Class A final. The MSHSL underplayed this one. This put girls basketball on the map. Karvonen vs. Skalicky was like Ali-Frazier, Bird and Magic. Yes, it was Magic. Girls ball was never the same.
4. Hopkins 71 Eastview 60 (OT), 2005 boys Class AAAA final. Already a greeeeaaaat game before Hoffarber's unbelievable shot.
5, Lynd 58 Crosby-Ironton 47, 1946 boys quarter-final. Lynd was the 1st team ever to run a modern fast break in the state high school tournament, and they ran on every possession if they could. No one had ever seen such a thing, least of all heavily favored (#2 rated) C-I. They had no inkling of what they were running into, and ended up taking 3 timeouts in the 1st quarter to catch their breath.
6, Buhl 41 Mpls. Edison 32, 1936 boys quarter-final. Way back in the day when 20 percent was a "good" shooting percentage, Buhl upset #1 rated, undefeated Edison by shooting an unheard of 50 percent.
7. Rochester Mayo 78 Bloomington Jefferson 70, 1997 girls Class AAAA semi-final. Mayo, led by Coco and Kelly Miller, came from way behind in the 4th quarter in the highest scoring game in the girls tournament to that time.
8. Gaylord 13 Gilbert 9, 1926 boys final. It's funny. When people complained about the lack of action in basketball back in the 1920s and 1930s, they're talking about games like this one. But nobody cared. When Gaylord pulled its 3rd straight upset, it was as if every small town had won (except Gilbert, of course). Fans were so excited that when a hat was passed among the crowd in the Kenwood Armory lobby to help pay Gaylord's way to the national tournament in Chicago, the not untidy sum (in those days) of $500 was raised.
9. Osseo 66 Rochester Mayo 58, 1996 girls Class AA semi-final. As in 1960, the final was an afterthought. Oh, but wait, Hastings defeated Osseo in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Still most old-timers prefer this game to the Osseo-Mayo game of the following year. I am in the minority on this one.
10. Marshall 75 Cloquet 74, 1963 boys final. Like Wabasso and Lynd, Cloquet was one of those rare teams that liked to fast break on every possession. So why is it that such a team has never won on Saturday night? There's a terrific photo of Cloquet's Dave Meisner crying on the shoulder of Marshall's John Nefstead just after the final buzzer.
And now 2 more just for good measure. Honorable Mention, we'll call it.
11. Bloomington Jefferson 60 Hibbing 51, 1976 boys Class AA final. Lingenfelter vs. McHale. Lingenfelter outplayed McHale for the 2nd straight year (it was in a consolation final the previous year). Most thought Lingenfelter the better player. Their college and pro careers didn't bear that out, I guess.
12. Fosston 29 Mountain Lake 27, 1913 boys final. Not so much the game, though by all accounts it was well played.
But the point is that the inaugural tournament was an experiment. Nobody knew how it would come off, or if it would come off at all. It was a smashing success. So much so that it was announced immediately afterwards that there would not only be a tournament in 1914, but permanently thereafter. How could they know it would be "permanent"? We know that it is and has been "permanent." But its founders and the participants all seemed to understand that they had created something special, and reports from 1913 indicate that an incredibly positive spirit was shared by all. Wouldn't it be fun to go back in our time machine (if only we had one) to experience that spirit? Well, on the other hand, maybe we have and maybe we do experience that spirit, even if only now and again, as when Wabasso and Red Lake delighted us so indescribably, or when Edgerton gave us all that attitude adjustment in 1960, or when Hoffarber drained that totally impossible shot in 2005. Maybe. Or maybe we experience it, to some degree at least, every year, every tournament.
But I'd still like to go back and see for sure. Is the tournament of today more or less what they had in mind? Have we (everyone associated with the tournament over the succeeding 99 years) lived up to the hopes of its founders? Would they approve of what their tournament (and ours) has become? I think yes. It would be fun to go back and share in the spirit of 1913. But it would be fun to share with them, insofar as mere words can convey it, the spirit of these ensuing 99 years. I think yes, I think they would approve. Congrats to all on 100 years of ethical play. Not a slam dunk, but you did it.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Thursday's Semi-Finals
Having now seen the 4 AAAA quarter-finals, but none of the AAA games, it's time to update my state tournament predictions. I got 7 of these 8 quarter-final games right, missing only on Eden Prairie over Eastview.
Class AAA Noon Thursday
Washburn 77 Johnson 74. Washburn won the TC Game 90-89. This is also a replay of a 2009 semi-final won by Washburn 91-66. Marcus Marshall scored 23 with 3 steals for Johnson on Wednesday, Jerry Pratt had 14 points, 8 boards, 6 steals and 3 blocks for Washburn. No change.
DeLaSalle 62 Grand Rapids 58. The Thunderhawks unable to replicate their big upset of 2010? Jarvis Johnson scored 22 with 9 boards for DeLaSalle. He is a freshman, brother of DLS girls star Tyseanna. DLS girls coach Faith Johnson Patterson is auntie to both. No change.
Class AAAA 6 p.m Thursday
Hopkins 69 Osseo 65. I think the window to beat Hopkins was open Wednesday. It may not be there Thursday or Saturday. This is a replay of the 2009 final won by Hopkins 69-59. The 2 also played in a 2002 semi-final and that was also won by Hopkins 71-58. Siyani Chambers scored 25 for Hopkins, DJ Hebert 18 for Osseo on Wednesday. No change.
Eden Prairie 60 Lakeville North 58. EP was the class of AAAA today and Grant Shaeffer scored 41 points. Change alert.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Target Center All-Stars Wednesday
4 AAAA quarter-finals and 2 AA quarter-finals. The stars of the stars are:
Grant Shaeffer, Eden Prairie, 6-0, jr, G, 41 points
Siyani Chambers, Hopkins, 6-0, sr, G, 25 points, 2 assists, 2 steals
Renard Suggs, Woodbury, 6-2, jr, G, 21 points, 5 assists
Joey King, Eastview, 6-9, sr, F, 27 points, 7 rebounds
Mitch Weg, Worthington, 6-8, sr, C, 24 points, 10 rebounds
Second Team
Jordan Bruhn, Perham, 6-2, sr, G, 21 points, 7 assists, 2 steals
Sander Mohn, Eden Prairie, 6-4, sr, G, 19 points, 3 assists
DJ Hebert, Osseo, 6-2, sr., G, 18 points, 2 assists
Demetrius Martin, Hopkins, 6-2, sr, G, 21 points, 2 assists
Ryan Saarela, Lakeville North, 6-5, sr, F, 13 points, 13 rebounds, 1 block
Grant Shaeffer, Eden Prairie, 6-0, jr, G, 41 points
Siyani Chambers, Hopkins, 6-0, sr, G, 25 points, 2 assists, 2 steals
Renard Suggs, Woodbury, 6-2, jr, G, 21 points, 5 assists
Joey King, Eastview, 6-9, sr, F, 27 points, 7 rebounds
Mitch Weg, Worthington, 6-8, sr, C, 24 points, 10 rebounds
Second Team
Jordan Bruhn, Perham, 6-2, sr, G, 21 points, 7 assists, 2 steals
Sander Mohn, Eden Prairie, 6-4, sr, G, 19 points, 3 assists
DJ Hebert, Osseo, 6-2, sr., G, 18 points, 2 assists
Demetrius Martin, Hopkins, 6-2, sr, G, 21 points, 2 assists
Ryan Saarela, Lakeville North, 6-5, sr, F, 13 points, 13 rebounds, 1 block
Litchfield Dragons 51 Watertown-Mayer Royals 40
Early on Watertown-Mayer couldn't buy a basket. Later on it got its shooting percentage up above Litchfield's, but it couldn't get enough chances due to its own turnovers and Litch's offensive boards. Mostly those extra possessions translated into FT. Litch made 17-of-27, WM only 5-of-8.
Nate Krach had 18 points and 12 boards for WM. Jon Terning and Zach Kinny had 14 points each for WM.
Litchfield will play Perham in Friday's semi-final. Perham looks a little to skilled for Litchfield but I've been wrong before.
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Terning 2 more FT and Kinny 2 FT. 51-40 with 10 seconds to play.
Terning 2 FT for Litch, and an offensive foul on WM, then an easy lay-up off a back door cut. Now it is over 47-37 inside of a minute. WM has out-shot Litch, but Litch has had 12 extra posessions, again due to more 2nd chances and fewer turnovers.
Terrific in-bounds play from Litch as Zach Kinny fed Quinn Anderson for 2. Kratch answers. 43-37 at 1:20.
Litch again not smart. Missed a FT and committed a foul to stop the clock going after the rebound. Weinmann made 2 FT to get within 6.
But then Kratch hits a 2 + 1. 40-33 at 1:55. Not over.
Both teams turning it over with careless passes. WM got within 40-30 and had the ball back but promptly threw it away.
Litch timeout. The only conceivable reason is for coach John Carlson to tell them to be patient. 40-28 at 3:15.
Litch had been so patient but now not doing as good a job of milking the clock. A steal #+ 2 by Trevor Weinmann followed by a turnover by Litch, but WM was unable to capitalize. 39-28 at 3:24.
Krach suddenly leads all scorers with 13, but within 8 for the 1st time in a very long time, WM threw up an NBA 3 which, predictably, did not go in. Litch answered with a 3, and WM committed the charge. Big turnaround the past minute. 37-26 at 4:42.
32-22 after a Nate Krach 2 + 1. Momentum slowly shifting, Litchfield now looking frustrated as both teams are shooting poorly. And now another big time baseline drive by Kratch. 32-24 at 6:30.
Suddenly 27-14. I still think it's over but there's at least a glimmer. But Litch is so patient, they'll just run out the clock if they have to.
Litch scores 1st 3 buckets of the 2nd half, one of them a 3. 27-8. Game over. But I will say this. Nate Krach just now finally showed why he is Nate Krach with a nice baseline drive and a big stretch to reach the rim. He now has 2 2nd half buckets to go with just 1 in the 1st.
Lost my connection there for a bit. At the half it is 20-8. Litch is shooting 29 percent, WM 25 percent, but Litch has 12 extra possessions due to 4 more offensive boards and 8 fewer turnovers. Jon Terning leads all scorers with 8 points and that's not for WM.
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This one is close to getting out of hand. It is 17-5. Litch has 10 more possessions than WM. WM needs to protect the ball and hit the defensive boards. If it doesn't do that, getting its shooting percentage up will be too little too late.
I counted 12 passes on the last Litch possession, and it felt like a pretty quick shot!
There's the 1st turnover on Litch, a good aggressive one, a charge by Zach Whitchurch. Alex Runck of WM did a great job to get position. But after a WM turnover, Litch came back to score to make it 13-5 at 8:30. WM is finding it hard to get a good look and is getting zero 2nd chances.
Litch is up 11-2 but is only shooting 29 percent. Of course, WM is at 20 percent and has the only 3 turnovers. Litch also has the edge in offensive boards 2-0.
This is starting out as by far the most deliberate game we've seen today with the pace being very much to the liking of Litchfield, who is up 9-2 at 12:00. Both teams are playing an aggressive man defense and forcing their opponent to move the ball around ad infinitum, not that either offense seems really to mind.
Litchfield and Watertown-Mayer are now warming up, 18 minutes til game time. this game cannot possibly top the 2 OT games we've had today, or can it. The winner of this game gets Perham, a daunting task. Perham wasn't dazzling but, hey, they were giving up 2-3 inches per man.
Litchfield is the #4 seed, Watertown is unseeded. But Watertown is 28-2 and Litch is 24-4. Litch bet Watertown 63-50 back in January. But the 2 have several common opponents and Watertown beat one of them, Howard Lake-WW, twice while Litch lost.
Nate Krach had 18 points and 12 boards for WM. Jon Terning and Zach Kinny had 14 points each for WM.
Litchfield will play Perham in Friday's semi-final. Perham looks a little to skilled for Litchfield but I've been wrong before.
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Terning 2 more FT and Kinny 2 FT. 51-40 with 10 seconds to play.
Terning 2 FT for Litch, and an offensive foul on WM, then an easy lay-up off a back door cut. Now it is over 47-37 inside of a minute. WM has out-shot Litch, but Litch has had 12 extra posessions, again due to more 2nd chances and fewer turnovers.
Terrific in-bounds play from Litch as Zach Kinny fed Quinn Anderson for 2. Kratch answers. 43-37 at 1:20.
Litch again not smart. Missed a FT and committed a foul to stop the clock going after the rebound. Weinmann made 2 FT to get within 6.
But then Kratch hits a 2 + 1. 40-33 at 1:55. Not over.
Both teams turning it over with careless passes. WM got within 40-30 and had the ball back but promptly threw it away.
Litch timeout. The only conceivable reason is for coach John Carlson to tell them to be patient. 40-28 at 3:15.
Litch had been so patient but now not doing as good a job of milking the clock. A steal #+ 2 by Trevor Weinmann followed by a turnover by Litch, but WM was unable to capitalize. 39-28 at 3:24.
Krach suddenly leads all scorers with 13, but within 8 for the 1st time in a very long time, WM threw up an NBA 3 which, predictably, did not go in. Litch answered with a 3, and WM committed the charge. Big turnaround the past minute. 37-26 at 4:42.
32-22 after a Nate Krach 2 + 1. Momentum slowly shifting, Litchfield now looking frustrated as both teams are shooting poorly. And now another big time baseline drive by Kratch. 32-24 at 6:30.
Suddenly 27-14. I still think it's over but there's at least a glimmer. But Litch is so patient, they'll just run out the clock if they have to.
Litch scores 1st 3 buckets of the 2nd half, one of them a 3. 27-8. Game over. But I will say this. Nate Krach just now finally showed why he is Nate Krach with a nice baseline drive and a big stretch to reach the rim. He now has 2 2nd half buckets to go with just 1 in the 1st.
Lost my connection there for a bit. At the half it is 20-8. Litch is shooting 29 percent, WM 25 percent, but Litch has 12 extra possessions due to 4 more offensive boards and 8 fewer turnovers. Jon Terning leads all scorers with 8 points and that's not for WM.
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This one is close to getting out of hand. It is 17-5. Litch has 10 more possessions than WM. WM needs to protect the ball and hit the defensive boards. If it doesn't do that, getting its shooting percentage up will be too little too late.
I counted 12 passes on the last Litch possession, and it felt like a pretty quick shot!
There's the 1st turnover on Litch, a good aggressive one, a charge by Zach Whitchurch. Alex Runck of WM did a great job to get position. But after a WM turnover, Litch came back to score to make it 13-5 at 8:30. WM is finding it hard to get a good look and is getting zero 2nd chances.
Litch is up 11-2 but is only shooting 29 percent. Of course, WM is at 20 percent and has the only 3 turnovers. Litch also has the edge in offensive boards 2-0.
This is starting out as by far the most deliberate game we've seen today with the pace being very much to the liking of Litchfield, who is up 9-2 at 12:00. Both teams are playing an aggressive man defense and forcing their opponent to move the ball around ad infinitum, not that either offense seems really to mind.
Litchfield and Watertown-Mayer are now warming up, 18 minutes til game time. this game cannot possibly top the 2 OT games we've had today, or can it. The winner of this game gets Perham, a daunting task. Perham wasn't dazzling but, hey, they were giving up 2-3 inches per man.
Litchfield is the #4 seed, Watertown is unseeded. But Watertown is 28-2 and Litch is 24-4. Litch bet Watertown 63-50 back in January. But the 2 have several common opponents and Watertown beat one of them, Howard Lake-WW, twice while Litch lost.
Perham Yellowjackets 51 Worthington Trojans 47
Final: Perham 51 Worthington 47. The stats are very very even: Perham shot 48 percent, Worthington 47. Worthington had 26 boards to 23 for Perham. Worthington had 11 turnovers to nine for Perham, though points off turnovers were 13-8 Perham. 2nd chance points were 8-4 Worthington. FT wre 8-2 Perham. (Yes, Worthington made just 2 FT of just 4 attempts. The FT and the points of turnovers were the story.
Mitch Weg scored 24, Jordan Bruhn 21 but Bruhn had more help, specifically 13 by Jordan Cresap.
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Perham now using its fouls to prevent the 3 pointer, though now there's a foul against Perham on the rebound. But FT missed. Game over.
Weg has out-scored Bruhn 24-21. You know, size vs. moves. But Bruhn has had a little more help, except trying to in-bound the ball just now. He has been unable to do so, twice, and has called 2 timeeouts. 3rd time's a charm. He gets it to Anderson, who is fouled and makes 1 of 2, 51-47. 7 seconds left to play.
Vorwald gets inside but misses a lay-up at 23 seconds. Perham is fouled at 22 seconds. Jordan Anderson makes them both, Perham by 5. Weg hits a lay-up, 50-47 at 10.9 seconds.
Perham just keeps milking the clock and is able to play keep-away effectively. Inside of 2 minutes now, the Trojns not fouling. Finally Bluhm is fouled at 0:57 exactly and misses the throw. Weg for a layuup at 36 seconds. 48-45 Perham, timeout Worthington.
Perham running a lot of clock on it's last possession, then getting inside for a lay-up. Worthington responds.
Approaching 5 minutes, Worthington has been unable to use its size much of the 2nd half, whereas Perham's quickness in getting the shots they want is more tangible.
Schumacher with a steal, Bruhn advances it, and gets it to Cresap for a breakaway layup. Textbook. 39-35.
Now, Bruhn finds Wiskow under the hoop for an easy 2. 37-35 Perham. Timeout Worthington.
Cresap from the outside and Bruhn driving to the rim is keeping Perham close. In fact they're back to even at 35-all at 11 minutes.
They're trading baskets--it's just that for the moment that's 2 Worthington baskets to 1 for Perham. The Trojans are getting inside easily. but Mitch Weg has drawn a 3rd foul, though he is staying in the game. 35-30 Worthington at 12:45.
Worthington draws first blood in the 2nd on a 3 by Lucas Henning but Mark Schumacher responds with only his 2nd bucket of the night. 27-24.
Weg has 15 for Worthington and 7 boards leading all players on both teams in both categories. Bruhn has 11 for Perham and has 3 of only 4 assists that were recorded in the 1st half.
In the 2nd half, Perham has to find a way to neutralize Worthington's edge in the lane (20 points in the paint to 12 for Perham) and in 2nd chance points (6-0). I expect to see it step up the defensive pressure at least in the half court. As for Perham, they need to capitalize on their quickness, they need to get out a run a little more.
Did I mention we're inside of a minute. This game is zooming along, unlike every other one today. A Perham steal gives them a chance to tie or lead at half-time. But Bruhn misses the 3. Worthington 24 Perham 22 at half-time.
A Bruhn 2 on a drive and Cresap with a 3 and suddenly it's 22-all. Worthington still dominating the boards as Weg rebounds his own shot, puts it in the bucket and draws the foul. But misses the throw. 24-22 Worthington.
Points in the paint now 18-10 Worthington, overall it is 22-17 Worthington. Perham timeout. The Trojans are finding it much too easy to score. Rebounds are 14-7 and offensive boards 4-0 Worthington.
2 more Worthington buckets in the paint sandwiched around a Bruhn drive. 18-17 Worthington. Offensive boards are 3-0 Worthington.
The 2 teams have decided they like my story line--size vs. quickness. Worthington's last 3 buckets are from point-blank range, 1 of them a put-back. Whereas last time down Perham's Wiskow beat the defense down court for a breakaway layup. 15-14 Perham.
Right now quickness is winning 10-7. Perham has been getting to the rim but has misseed 6-of-10 shots. Turnovers are 5 for Worthington 2 for Perham.
Worthington is huge in case you didn't know. Not huge for AA, just huge. 6-8, 6-5, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 huge. Perham is quick especially in the person of point guard Jordan Bruhn. Right now it is 7-6 Worthington and the Trojans have an 8-2 edge on the boards.
Mitch Weg scored 24, Jordan Bruhn 21 but Bruhn had more help, specifically 13 by Jordan Cresap.
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Perham now using its fouls to prevent the 3 pointer, though now there's a foul against Perham on the rebound. But FT missed. Game over.
Weg has out-scored Bruhn 24-21. You know, size vs. moves. But Bruhn has had a little more help, except trying to in-bound the ball just now. He has been unable to do so, twice, and has called 2 timeeouts. 3rd time's a charm. He gets it to Anderson, who is fouled and makes 1 of 2, 51-47. 7 seconds left to play.
Vorwald gets inside but misses a lay-up at 23 seconds. Perham is fouled at 22 seconds. Jordan Anderson makes them both, Perham by 5. Weg hits a lay-up, 50-47 at 10.9 seconds.
Perham just keeps milking the clock and is able to play keep-away effectively. Inside of 2 minutes now, the Trojns not fouling. Finally Bluhm is fouled at 0:57 exactly and misses the throw. Weg for a layuup at 36 seconds. 48-45 Perham, timeout Worthington.
Perham running a lot of clock on it's last possession, then getting inside for a lay-up. Worthington responds.
Approaching 5 minutes, Worthington has been unable to use its size much of the 2nd half, whereas Perham's quickness in getting the shots they want is more tangible.
Schumacher with a steal, Bruhn advances it, and gets it to Cresap for a breakaway layup. Textbook. 39-35.
Now, Bruhn finds Wiskow under the hoop for an easy 2. 37-35 Perham. Timeout Worthington.
Cresap from the outside and Bruhn driving to the rim is keeping Perham close. In fact they're back to even at 35-all at 11 minutes.
They're trading baskets--it's just that for the moment that's 2 Worthington baskets to 1 for Perham. The Trojans are getting inside easily. but Mitch Weg has drawn a 3rd foul, though he is staying in the game. 35-30 Worthington at 12:45.
Worthington draws first blood in the 2nd on a 3 by Lucas Henning but Mark Schumacher responds with only his 2nd bucket of the night. 27-24.
Weg has 15 for Worthington and 7 boards leading all players on both teams in both categories. Bruhn has 11 for Perham and has 3 of only 4 assists that were recorded in the 1st half.
In the 2nd half, Perham has to find a way to neutralize Worthington's edge in the lane (20 points in the paint to 12 for Perham) and in 2nd chance points (6-0). I expect to see it step up the defensive pressure at least in the half court. As for Perham, they need to capitalize on their quickness, they need to get out a run a little more.
Did I mention we're inside of a minute. This game is zooming along, unlike every other one today. A Perham steal gives them a chance to tie or lead at half-time. But Bruhn misses the 3. Worthington 24 Perham 22 at half-time.
A Bruhn 2 on a drive and Cresap with a 3 and suddenly it's 22-all. Worthington still dominating the boards as Weg rebounds his own shot, puts it in the bucket and draws the foul. But misses the throw. 24-22 Worthington.
Points in the paint now 18-10 Worthington, overall it is 22-17 Worthington. Perham timeout. The Trojans are finding it much too easy to score. Rebounds are 14-7 and offensive boards 4-0 Worthington.
2 more Worthington buckets in the paint sandwiched around a Bruhn drive. 18-17 Worthington. Offensive boards are 3-0 Worthington.
The 2 teams have decided they like my story line--size vs. quickness. Worthington's last 3 buckets are from point-blank range, 1 of them a put-back. Whereas last time down Perham's Wiskow beat the defense down court for a breakaway layup. 15-14 Perham.
Right now quickness is winning 10-7. Perham has been getting to the rim but has misseed 6-of-10 shots. Turnovers are 5 for Worthington 2 for Perham.
Worthington is huge in case you didn't know. Not huge for AA, just huge. 6-8, 6-5, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 huge. Perham is quick especially in the person of point guard Jordan Bruhn. Right now it is 7-6 Worthington and the Trojans have an 8-2 edge on the boards.
Eden Prairie Eagles 75 Eastview Lightning 68 (OT)
Final score: Eden Prairie 75 Eastview 68. One of four seeded teams falls. What happened? Grant Shaeffer happened. 39 points in the 2nd half and OT happened. Holy cow!
Eastview had this game won most of the way. They lost it on the last possession of regulation. Ahead by 3 and WITH A FOUL TO GIVE, all they had to do was prevent Shaeffer, who was 8-for-9 in the 2nd half and 4-for-4 on 3-pointers, from beating them. Instead, they lost sight of Shaeffer and didn't use their foul. Of course he converted. OT. Check and mate, EP.
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Shaeffer is having one of the greatest halves (plus OT) of basketball I have ever seen. He had 2 points on 0-of-4 shooting at the half. He now has 37 points on 11-of-16 shooting plus 11-of-11 FT and EP is on its way to tomorrow's semi-final against Lakeville North. (It is 70-61 at 1:14.)
Shaeffer blows by everybody for another layup, and then deja vu all over again except it's an and 1. in between it's King for 2 and now King draw another foul. Makes 2 throws this time. 62-61 EP 2:45.
I'll tell you what's overrated, it's that stupid overrated chant. But King misses 2 throws.
I am sorry but Eastview booted that defensive possesion. Shaeffer is 8-of-9 and they had a foul to give, and they lost the guy for an open 3. Ouch. Momentum with EP now.
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EP will get a shot. King shooting 2, ahead 55-54, 8 seconds to play. 1st throw is good, 2nd is good. 57-54. Full court pressure by Eastview. Eastview has a foul to give. But it doesn't give it AND MICHAEL JORDAN--NO, NO, THAT'S GRANT SHAEFFER--HITS THE 3. OVERTIME. Eastview lost Shaeffer who is now 8-of-9 in the 2nd half and 3-for-3 on 3s, and they had a foul to give.
Eastview very adept at keep-away, forcing EP to foul. King gets 1-of-2, Sander Mohn his 4th foul. But Shaffer continues his Michael Jordan impression with a long 3. 55-54, still 14 seconds left.
Shaeffer for 3, EP timeout, 47 seconds to play, Eastview's ball leading 54-51.
EP kept the ball out of King's hands but Haugh made a pretty dribble drive through a double to the rim for 2. Mohn hit a pair of throws. 54-48.
Down the stretch it will be Mohn and Shaeffer taking EP's shots, while Eastview tries to get the ball into King's hand where he can do something. Like now, a dribble drive from the top of the key, a foul and 2 FT. 51-46 Eastview and EP takes timeout at 3:40.
2 more on the dribble drive for Shaeffer, who has been unstoppable. 46-46 at 5:50.
King has 7 of Eastview's last 9 points, and Shaeffer 4 of the last 7. Mohn has finally relinquished his job of guarding King. King is scoring and Mohn picked up a 3rd foul.
Eastview's little 7-3 run has come as Grant Shaeffer sat after his 2nd foul at about 12:00. Now would be a good time to get his aggressiveness back in the lineup for EP, and here he comes.
Bolger makes 1-of-2 FT, and King hits a 3 off the offensive board. Suddenly Eastview is up 35-34.
Mohn very physical guarding King. Mohn listed at 6-4, King 6-9, but no way is there 5 inches of difference.
A Mohn 3 makes it 34-28 EP at 12:00. Bolger answers. Where would Eastview be without his 11 points off the bench? 34-31.
2 EP buckets by Shaeffer and Carpenter on a put-back of his own miss gives EP its largest lead at 26-21 but Eastview scores on a King put-back and a pair of throws by Haugh. 26-25 EP at 15:00.
Aside from those 2 FT, the 2nd half is being delayed by an electrical problem. They are setting up a step ladder under the Eastview basket and calling for an elelctrician. OK, now we are ready.
Those are 2nd half points, according to Live Stats, so the half-time score was indeed 21-20 in favor of Eastview. They have to be happy to have Joey King back in the game after he sat out the last 15 minutes of the 1st half. They cannot be happy about much of anything else in this game. They were ahead 21-11 at about 6 minutes and have been out-scored 11-0 since then.
I guess this game has gotten just a bit chippy, or maybe just physical. EP will shoot 2 FT to open the 2nd half (or end the 1st) due to a flagrant foul in the last seconds of the 1st half. Grant Shaeffer shoots 1, it's good, and 2, also good. 22-21 EP, and they retain possession to open the half.
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EP students doing the "boring" chant. I don't think Eastview is trying to run the clock, the EP D is just that good. Eastview ended up getting only a desperation shot to end the 1st half after running the clock down from :21. A technical foul was then called on Eastview's Quinn Trusty for some kind of flagrant act in a scrum at the end. EP will shoot 2 foul shots before the start of the 2nd half. So I am not sure that 21-20 is our half-time score. Eastview leads 21-20 right now, but if a FT is made, I would assume it would be attributed to the 1st half.
EP really turned it around, out-scoring Eastview 9-0 in the final 5:30 of the half. Mohn scored 5 of those points for a total of 10 in the 1st half. Haugh has 7 and Bolger 5 for Eastview. Eastview leads 9-4 on points off turnovers, EP leads 6-0 on 2nd chancers. Eastview cannot be happy to be up 21-20 and potentially still to trail at the half after leading 21-11 at 5:30.
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A stoppage of play at 2:33 and a lengthy discussion. EP pulled #23 Carpenter off the floor and it looked like a technical foul might ensue. But no, and Eastview in-bounded the ball. Not sure what that was all about.
Sander Mohn has 8 of EP's 14 points but he needs some more help. Haugh leads Eastview with 7.
EP just broke an almost 5 minute drought on buckets by Jake Hari and Jordan Peterson 19-11.
Now its Sam Burt scoring off the bench, with the assist to Bolger, and makes the and 1. 17-7 at 8:43. EP looking frustrated and getting physical.
Eastview's guards--Haugh and Narum--look a little bit quicker getting to th4e wspot on offense and defense. Haugh adds another bucket, and Bolger a 3 off the bench. 14-7 at 9:30.
Joey King got 2 quick offensive fouls, the 2nd coming at 14:53, and King sat down. For how long? Meanwhile, Sander Mohn scored Eden Prairie's 1st points on a 2 + 1 and Abriam Carpenter scored off the offensive glass. Darin Haugh countered with a 3. Eastview 9 EP 7.
We are underway, and Joey King and Ben Oberfeld score the 1st 2 buckets inside for Eastview, who leads early 4-0.
Eastview had this game won most of the way. They lost it on the last possession of regulation. Ahead by 3 and WITH A FOUL TO GIVE, all they had to do was prevent Shaeffer, who was 8-for-9 in the 2nd half and 4-for-4 on 3-pointers, from beating them. Instead, they lost sight of Shaeffer and didn't use their foul. Of course he converted. OT. Check and mate, EP.
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Shaeffer is having one of the greatest halves (plus OT) of basketball I have ever seen. He had 2 points on 0-of-4 shooting at the half. He now has 37 points on 11-of-16 shooting plus 11-of-11 FT and EP is on its way to tomorrow's semi-final against Lakeville North. (It is 70-61 at 1:14.)
Shaeffer blows by everybody for another layup, and then deja vu all over again except it's an and 1. in between it's King for 2 and now King draw another foul. Makes 2 throws this time. 62-61 EP 2:45.
I'll tell you what's overrated, it's that stupid overrated chant. But King misses 2 throws.
I am sorry but Eastview booted that defensive possesion. Shaeffer is 8-of-9 and they had a foul to give, and they lost the guy for an open 3. Ouch. Momentum with EP now.
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EP will get a shot. King shooting 2, ahead 55-54, 8 seconds to play. 1st throw is good, 2nd is good. 57-54. Full court pressure by Eastview. Eastview has a foul to give. But it doesn't give it AND MICHAEL JORDAN--NO, NO, THAT'S GRANT SHAEFFER--HITS THE 3. OVERTIME. Eastview lost Shaeffer who is now 8-of-9 in the 2nd half and 3-for-3 on 3s, and they had a foul to give.
Eastview very adept at keep-away, forcing EP to foul. King gets 1-of-2, Sander Mohn his 4th foul. But Shaffer continues his Michael Jordan impression with a long 3. 55-54, still 14 seconds left.
Shaeffer for 3, EP timeout, 47 seconds to play, Eastview's ball leading 54-51.
EP kept the ball out of King's hands but Haugh made a pretty dribble drive through a double to the rim for 2. Mohn hit a pair of throws. 54-48.
Down the stretch it will be Mohn and Shaeffer taking EP's shots, while Eastview tries to get the ball into King's hand where he can do something. Like now, a dribble drive from the top of the key, a foul and 2 FT. 51-46 Eastview and EP takes timeout at 3:40.
2 more on the dribble drive for Shaeffer, who has been unstoppable. 46-46 at 5:50.
King has 7 of Eastview's last 9 points, and Shaeffer 4 of the last 7. Mohn has finally relinquished his job of guarding King. King is scoring and Mohn picked up a 3rd foul.
Eastview's little 7-3 run has come as Grant Shaeffer sat after his 2nd foul at about 12:00. Now would be a good time to get his aggressiveness back in the lineup for EP, and here he comes.
Bolger makes 1-of-2 FT, and King hits a 3 off the offensive board. Suddenly Eastview is up 35-34.
Mohn very physical guarding King. Mohn listed at 6-4, King 6-9, but no way is there 5 inches of difference.
A Mohn 3 makes it 34-28 EP at 12:00. Bolger answers. Where would Eastview be without his 11 points off the bench? 34-31.
2 EP buckets by Shaeffer and Carpenter on a put-back of his own miss gives EP its largest lead at 26-21 but Eastview scores on a King put-back and a pair of throws by Haugh. 26-25 EP at 15:00.
Aside from those 2 FT, the 2nd half is being delayed by an electrical problem. They are setting up a step ladder under the Eastview basket and calling for an elelctrician. OK, now we are ready.
Those are 2nd half points, according to Live Stats, so the half-time score was indeed 21-20 in favor of Eastview. They have to be happy to have Joey King back in the game after he sat out the last 15 minutes of the 1st half. They cannot be happy about much of anything else in this game. They were ahead 21-11 at about 6 minutes and have been out-scored 11-0 since then.
I guess this game has gotten just a bit chippy, or maybe just physical. EP will shoot 2 FT to open the 2nd half (or end the 1st) due to a flagrant foul in the last seconds of the 1st half. Grant Shaeffer shoots 1, it's good, and 2, also good. 22-21 EP, and they retain possession to open the half.
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EP students doing the "boring" chant. I don't think Eastview is trying to run the clock, the EP D is just that good. Eastview ended up getting only a desperation shot to end the 1st half after running the clock down from :21. A technical foul was then called on Eastview's Quinn Trusty for some kind of flagrant act in a scrum at the end. EP will shoot 2 foul shots before the start of the 2nd half. So I am not sure that 21-20 is our half-time score. Eastview leads 21-20 right now, but if a FT is made, I would assume it would be attributed to the 1st half.
EP really turned it around, out-scoring Eastview 9-0 in the final 5:30 of the half. Mohn scored 5 of those points for a total of 10 in the 1st half. Haugh has 7 and Bolger 5 for Eastview. Eastview leads 9-4 on points off turnovers, EP leads 6-0 on 2nd chancers. Eastview cannot be happy to be up 21-20 and potentially still to trail at the half after leading 21-11 at 5:30.
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A stoppage of play at 2:33 and a lengthy discussion. EP pulled #23 Carpenter off the floor and it looked like a technical foul might ensue. But no, and Eastview in-bounded the ball. Not sure what that was all about.
Sander Mohn has 8 of EP's 14 points but he needs some more help. Haugh leads Eastview with 7.
EP just broke an almost 5 minute drought on buckets by Jake Hari and Jordan Peterson 19-11.
Now its Sam Burt scoring off the bench, with the assist to Bolger, and makes the and 1. 17-7 at 8:43. EP looking frustrated and getting physical.
Eastview's guards--Haugh and Narum--look a little bit quicker getting to th4e wspot on offense and defense. Haugh adds another bucket, and Bolger a 3 off the bench. 14-7 at 9:30.
Joey King got 2 quick offensive fouls, the 2nd coming at 14:53, and King sat down. For how long? Meanwhile, Sander Mohn scored Eden Prairie's 1st points on a 2 + 1 and Abriam Carpenter scored off the offensive glass. Darin Haugh countered with a 3. Eastview 9 EP 7.
We are underway, and Joey King and Ben Oberfeld score the 1st 2 buckets inside for Eastview, who leads early 4-0.
Lakeville North Panthers 61 Moorhead Spuds 55
Lakeville North started slowly--and especially started very slowly to exploit its size advantage inside. but ultimately it got going both inside and outside. After trailing 18-9 midway through the 1st half, North outscored Moorhead 52-37 the rest of the way. Mr. Inside was Ryan Saarela with 13 points and 13 boards. Mr. Outside was Grant Erickson with 11 points. Leading scorer Tyler Flack added 8 points and 6 rebounds, all but 1 rebound in the 2nd half.
Ultimately Lakeville North won the game at the FT line with a 17-7 edge, and with 2nd chance points (a 15-5 edge). All the other numbers were very close.
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A 3 by Ellingson but 1-of-2 FT by Erickson. And now a missed 3, a North rebound and another Moorhead foul. Saarela hits 2 for a 61-55 lead. And that is the final score.
56-52 North, now 57 as Grant Erickson drains a FT, and now another, 58-52 with 30 seconds remaining.
Tyler Flack for 2 on a nice turnaround from the right baseline. Lakeville North 54 Moorhead 50 with 1:17 to play. Moorhead takes a timeout. They've been looking to Lien of late. What about Nelson?
An exchange of 3s by Tyler of Lakeville and Ellingson (from Lien) for Moorhead. 50-50 . Now 51-50 Lakeville at exactly 5:00. Lien and Nelson will have to do some scoring for Moorhead, Lakeville ought to be looking inside to Flack and Saarela.
Moorhead is trying hard to exploit a mis-match: 6-4 Aaron Lien being guarded by 6-1 Trey Heid. There's a Lein bucket to tie it at 47.
Erik Bye hit a 3 for Moorhead at 8:47, then got the assist on a Camden Bosche lay-up, then Bosche assisted Austin Nelson. Suddenly 45-45 and a Lakeville North timeout at 7:12. The mo has shifted again.
Inside and out. Saarela gets a tip-in, then Grant Erickson an aggressive drive to the hoop. 443-38.
A pair of David Tyler buckets, his 1st of the day, gave North the lead at 37-35, then extended it to 39-35. North is also getting inside a little better with Flack and Saarela in there.
There at 14:13 is Flack's 1st FG, a 3 from the left wing. 35-34 Moorhead. Here on press row, everybody is waiting for Lakeville to catch a spark. They appear flat. Those 2 Moorhead buckets right out of the half-time break were too easy.
All-metro Tyler Flack of Lakeville did not start either half, and has not yet scored. He is at the FT line and there, finally, is his 1st point. He also has just 1 rebound. He does not appear hurt, just a little indifferent.
Moorhead with the 1st 2 buckets of the 2nd half to lead 33-26, but Lakeville counters with a pair. 33-30 at 15:45.
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Camden Bosche for 2, Moorhead retakes the lead. Then after a Lakeville miss, Aaron Lien knocks down a pair of throws for a 29-26 half-time lead. The shooting pct. are both in the 40s but Moorhead has 5 3s to just 1 for North, while Lakeville is getting to the FT line, and leading 9 to 2 on FT. Nelson has 12 for Moorhead, all on 3s while Rasmussen and Trey Heid have 8 and 7 for Lakeville North.
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A pair of aggressive moves to the hoop by Lakeville's Brett Rasmussen result in a 2 and a 2 + 1 to take the lead at 26-25.
And another 3 for Nelson after a little blow. 21-17 Moorhead at 3:30.
Grant Erickson with a terrific high-speed spin move in the lane for an open lay-up. Am I sure he didn't shuffle his feet? They were a blur, all right. Suddenly it's 18-16.
Right now Moorhead has 6-2 Judd Roessler on 6-7 Tyler Flack. It is hard to envision that as a long-term strategy. And trailing 18-9, Lakeville just scored off the offensive glass to get within 18-11.
Another 3 for Nelson, all from deep in the left corner, and Moorhead leads 15-7.
Moorhead shooting 5-of-9, Lakeville 2-of-5 with 5 turnovers.
A pair of early 3s by Moorhead's Austin Nelson has the Spuds up 10-7 at 13:06.
Another player MIA. Tyler Flack, Lakeville North's leading scorer did not start. But wait, he is into the game at 15:08 with Moorhead up 4-3.
Ultimately Lakeville North won the game at the FT line with a 17-7 edge, and with 2nd chance points (a 15-5 edge). All the other numbers were very close.
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A 3 by Ellingson but 1-of-2 FT by Erickson. And now a missed 3, a North rebound and another Moorhead foul. Saarela hits 2 for a 61-55 lead. And that is the final score.
56-52 North, now 57 as Grant Erickson drains a FT, and now another, 58-52 with 30 seconds remaining.
Tyler Flack for 2 on a nice turnaround from the right baseline. Lakeville North 54 Moorhead 50 with 1:17 to play. Moorhead takes a timeout. They've been looking to Lien of late. What about Nelson?
An exchange of 3s by Tyler of Lakeville and Ellingson (from Lien) for Moorhead. 50-50 . Now 51-50 Lakeville at exactly 5:00. Lien and Nelson will have to do some scoring for Moorhead, Lakeville ought to be looking inside to Flack and Saarela.
Moorhead is trying hard to exploit a mis-match: 6-4 Aaron Lien being guarded by 6-1 Trey Heid. There's a Lein bucket to tie it at 47.
Erik Bye hit a 3 for Moorhead at 8:47, then got the assist on a Camden Bosche lay-up, then Bosche assisted Austin Nelson. Suddenly 45-45 and a Lakeville North timeout at 7:12. The mo has shifted again.
Inside and out. Saarela gets a tip-in, then Grant Erickson an aggressive drive to the hoop. 443-38.
A pair of David Tyler buckets, his 1st of the day, gave North the lead at 37-35, then extended it to 39-35. North is also getting inside a little better with Flack and Saarela in there.
There at 14:13 is Flack's 1st FG, a 3 from the left wing. 35-34 Moorhead. Here on press row, everybody is waiting for Lakeville to catch a spark. They appear flat. Those 2 Moorhead buckets right out of the half-time break were too easy.
All-metro Tyler Flack of Lakeville did not start either half, and has not yet scored. He is at the FT line and there, finally, is his 1st point. He also has just 1 rebound. He does not appear hurt, just a little indifferent.
Moorhead with the 1st 2 buckets of the 2nd half to lead 33-26, but Lakeville counters with a pair. 33-30 at 15:45.
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Camden Bosche for 2, Moorhead retakes the lead. Then after a Lakeville miss, Aaron Lien knocks down a pair of throws for a 29-26 half-time lead. The shooting pct. are both in the 40s but Moorhead has 5 3s to just 1 for North, while Lakeville is getting to the FT line, and leading 9 to 2 on FT. Nelson has 12 for Moorhead, all on 3s while Rasmussen and Trey Heid have 8 and 7 for Lakeville North.
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A pair of aggressive moves to the hoop by Lakeville's Brett Rasmussen result in a 2 and a 2 + 1 to take the lead at 26-25.
And another 3 for Nelson after a little blow. 21-17 Moorhead at 3:30.
Grant Erickson with a terrific high-speed spin move in the lane for an open lay-up. Am I sure he didn't shuffle his feet? They were a blur, all right. Suddenly it's 18-16.
Right now Moorhead has 6-2 Judd Roessler on 6-7 Tyler Flack. It is hard to envision that as a long-term strategy. And trailing 18-9, Lakeville just scored off the offensive glass to get within 18-11.
Another 3 for Nelson, all from deep in the left corner, and Moorhead leads 15-7.
Moorhead shooting 5-of-9, Lakeville 2-of-5 with 5 turnovers.
A pair of early 3s by Moorhead's Austin Nelson has the Spuds up 10-7 at 13:06.
Another player MIA. Tyler Flack, Lakeville North's leading scorer did not start. But wait, he is into the game at 15:08 with Moorhead up 4-3.
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