The Big Game January 2011

January All-Stars

Blake Hoffarber, Minnesota Gopher men

Estan Tyler, St. Paul Johnson boys

Michelle Young, Woodbury girls

Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota Gopher men

Carl Hipp, Hamline men

2nd Team

Trevor Witt, St. Cloud State men

Al Nolen, Minnesota Gopher men

Jeremy Sutherland, Carleton men

Chris Palmer, St. Mary's me

Beth Doolittle, Hill Murray girls

3rd Team

Alexandra Lippert, Concordia (Moorhead) women

Tyler Nicolai, St. Thomas men

Jineen Williams, Concordia (St. Paul) women

Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

Kionna Kellogg, Minnesota Gopher women

Team of the Month

1. Hopkins boys 15-0 (#1AAAA)

2. Minnesota Gopher men 16-5 (5-4 Big 10)

3. Hill-Murray girls 16-0 (#1AAA)

4. Anoka-Ramsey CC women 19-1 (15-0 MCAC, #1 nationally)

5.

St. Thomas men 17-2 (12-2 MIAC, #8 D3)

6. Mankato State men 17-2 (13-2 NSIC, #12)

7. Plainview-Elgin-Millville boys 17-1 (#1AA)

8. St. Paul Johnson boys 15-2 (#2AA)

9. Esko girls 17-0 (#5AA)

10. Concordia (St.Paul) 11-8 (10-5 NSIC after 2-5 start)

Coach of the Month

1. Erin Herman, Hill-Murray girls

2. Tubby Smith, Minnesota Gopher men

3. Kenny Novak, Jr., Hopkins boys

4. Steve Fritz, St. Thomas men

5. Tim Whittle, Macalester men

6. Jeremy Post, White Bear Lake girls

7. Paul Fessler, Concordia (St. Paul) women

8. Guy Kalland, Carleton men

9. Vern Simmons, St. Paul Johnson boys

10. Dave DeWitt, Anoka-Ramsey CC women

Game of the Month

1. Minnesota Gopher men 70 Purdue 67, January 13

2.

St. Olaf 73 St. Thomas 68, snapping the Tommies' 53-game ho

me winning streak

3. C0ncordia (St. Paul) 91 Wayne State 58, January 29; Wayne coming in undefeated in first place in NSIC

4. Winona State men 93 St. Cloud State 91, OT, January 9

5. Minnesota Gopher men and women sweep Northwestern: the men 81-70, January 26, in their 1st game without injured Al Nolen; the women 63-58, snapping a 7 game Big 10 losing streak

6. Hopkins boys 92 Milwaukee Riverside 68, January 21: Riverside rated #1 in Wisconsin

7.

Hamline men 92 St. Thomas 79, January 17

8. Ohio State men 67 Minnesota 64, January 9

9. Macalester men 90 St. John's 81, January 5: Macalester ends a 52-game losing streak and a 26-game MIAC losing streak

10. Esko girls 54 Barnum 37, January 27: Barnum #1A previously undefeated

The Big Game, Player of the Day and Coach of the Day

Monday, 1/31--It was a night for upsets in the MIAC. The Bethel women dropped St. Ben's into a 1st place tie, 52-48, as Scotti Moats scored 21. The Macalester men won for just the 2nd time in the conference this year 68-67 at Gustavus. But none can compare with this: St. Olaf men 73 St. Thomas 68, ending the Tommies 53-game home winning streak as Bobby Fong scored 17 for the Oles. Player of the Day: Rachel Booth, St. Thomas women, has had a disappointing season thus far, but not last night, as she scored 28 in a 68-59 win over St. Olaf. Coach of the Day: Dan Kosmoski, St. Olaf men, for the big upset.

Sunday, 1/30--Minnesota Gopher women 60 Michigan 50. The Gophers knock Michigan out of a first place tie. Minnesota took early leads of 5-0, 11-4 and 21-7 and never trailed. The Wolverines got within 43-42 in the second half, and it felt like deja vu for the Gophers who have blown three second half double-digit leads at home this year. But from there the Gophers scored 6 straight on a Dockery put-back, an Antoine layup and a Voigt layup on a feed from Antoine. Player of the Day: Kionna Kellogg, Gopher women, scored 6 of the 1st 8 points, and finished with 8 and 12 rebounds. Coach of the Day: Pam Borton, Gopher women. It took awhile but getting the freshman Kellogg into the starting lineup has resulted in 2 straight wins. Kellogg is averaging 8 points and 14 boards in the 2 Gopher wins.

Saturday, 1/29--Concordia (St. Paul) women 91 Wayne State 58. Wayne came in 14-0 in the NSIC and led 37-33 at the half. The Bears manhandled 'em 58-21 in the 2nd half as Jineen Williams ran wild, finishing with 22 points, 12 boards, 5 assists and 4 steals. Concordia, which started 2-5 in the conference, is now 10-5. Williams. Paul Fessler, Concordia (St. Paul) women.

Friday, 1/28--Lakeville South boys 69 Eagan 64 (OT). #7AAAA knocks off #6AAAA. Alex Richter scores 19 for South, Jameson Parsons 23 for Eagan. Kyle Noreen, Minnesota Transitions 41 points in 95-65 win over New Life. Jeremy Post, White Bear Lake girls, beat Mounds View 56-54 in OT.

Thursday, 1/27--Minnesota Gopher women 63 Northwestern 58, snapping a 7-game losing streak in the Big 10. Katie Loberg scored 8 of the Gophers' 1st 10 points, while freshman Kionna Kellogg added 8 points and 15 boards in her 2nd career start. The Gophers had 21 offensive rebounds. Loberg, Gopher women, 21 points, 7 boards. Scott Antonutti

, #5AA Esko girls, whose team upset #1A Barnum 54-37

Wednesday, 1/26--Minnesota Gopher men 81 Northwestern 70. Biiiiiiiig win what with the loss of Al Nolen to injury. Mbakwe, Sampson and Iverson dominated inside, though Hoffarber led the scoring with 20. Blake Hoffarber or Trevor Mbakwe, though Hoff's 4 turnovers and Mbakwe's 6 missed FT work against them. Ergo, the split award. Kerri Stockwell, Hamline. The 5-9 (in the MIAC) Pipers shocked first-place and #20-ranked St. Ben's 77-58 thanks to 8-of-15 shooting from beyond the 3-point line.

Tuesday, 1/25--Eastview boys (#6AAAA) 59 Lakeville South (#3AAAA) 43. Zach Lofton, Columbia Heights boys 43. Dave Cresap, Perham boys. Perham returned to the floor for the 1st time since Zach Gabbard collapsed on the floor last week, and the #4 rated Yellowjackets hammered West Central 64-13.

Monday, 1/24--Duluth East boys 113 Mpls. North 87. Freshman Taylor Thunstedt, New London-Spicer girls, 13 points tonight to lead the Wildcats but also hit 8 3-pointers on Saturday night in a 77-40 win over Long Prairie-Grey Eagle. Mike Dreier, New London-Spicer girls, who won at previously 11-1 Benson 63-46, just keeps on winning despite losing 4 starters off last year's squad. The Wildcats are now 15-2.

Sunday, 1/23--#1 Anoka-Ramsey CC women 68 #9 Minnesota West 66. The Lady Jays led by as many as 20 points before the Golden Rams rallied, showing why they're the #1 JC Division 3 team in the nation.

Stephanie Pilgrim, Anoka-Ramsey women 21 points. Mike Fury, Minnesota West women.

Saturday, 1/22--Breakdown Boys Tipoff rescheduled. 11 games on 2 courts.

West Gym

12:30 p.m. Braham vs. Holy Family. Holy Family 82-74, Ryan Dahl nets 36

2:15 St. Cloud Apollo vs. Eden Prairie, EP 72-46.

4 Waconia vs. Apple Valley. AV 67-65

5:45 Benilde-SM vs. Cretin Derham. Benilde 62-60 on Myles Barnes' buzzer-beater.

7:30 Minnetonka vsl. Lakeville South. South 91-67 as Alex Richter hits 30

East Gym

Noon Shakopee vs. Orono. Shakopee 64-51.

1:45 Duluth East vs. Minnesota Transitions. East 69 MTC 65.

3:30 Henry Sibley vs. Maranatha Chrisitan. Maranatha 71-66

5:15 Buffalo vs. Marshall. Buffalo 72-69 on Josh High's buzzer-beater

7 Osseo vs. Hopkins. Hopkins 86-68

Saturday, 1/22--Minnesota Gopher men 69 Michigan 64. The Gophers get their first Big 10 road win, and get over .500 in conference play (4-3) by out-rebounding the Wolverines an amazing 38-13. Michigan led as late as 41-40. Ryan Dahl of Holy Family is the top scorer on a winner at the Breakdown Tip-Off with 36, though Tyler Vaughan of Braham nets 37 in the same game. Zach Goring, Apple Valley boys keep on winning without Tyus Jones. Yesterday they beat Waconia 67-65, coming from 60-53 down, at the Breakdown Tip-Off.

Friday, 1/21--Hopkins boys 92 Milwaukee Riverside 68. Riverside was previously undefeated and rated #1 in Wisconsin. Estan Tyler, St. Paul Johnson. Saved the Governors bacon with 30 points and 6 assists in a 70-66 win over a hard-nosed Superior, WI, team. Kenny Novak, Jr., Hopkins boys, who hammered the #1 team in Wisconsin 92-68. 'Nuff said.

Thursday, 1/20--Wisconsin Badger women 71 at Minnesota Gophers 63. For the 3rd time in a still young Big 10 season, the Gophers coughed up a double-digit second half lead. The Gophers' biggest lead was 34-18 with 5:00 remaining in the 1st half. It was 44-30 at the half. Wisconsin took its 1st lead of the night at 59-58 and pulled away. The Badgers out-scored the Gophers 41-19 in the 2nd half and 19-6 over the last 7:00. Orono's Jordan Smith scored 40 points in a 113-107 OT win over Hutchinson. It was 97-all at the end of regulation. Keith Ferris, Wadena-Deer Creek girls, who won a key Section 8AA South meeting with Hawley 45-27

Wednesday, 1/19--Carleton men 70 Hamline 67, and St. Thomas women 62 Macalester 60. Jeremy Sutherland's 3 with 6 seconds remaining was the different in Carleton's win. Sutherland finished with 25 points and 9 boards. Meanwhile, St. Thomas and Macalester were tied 8 times, the last at 45-45 at 9:08. Macalester shot 0-for-6 after that when it had the chance to tie or take the lead. Sutherland and Rachel Booth, St. Thomas women 18 points, 9 boards. Ellen Thompson, Macalester women for flirting with a big upset, on the road no less.

Tuesday, 1/18--Sartell-St. Stephen girls 55 Alexandria 53. Sartell remains unbeaten. Alex, after an 8-0 start, has lost 2 straight. Michelle Young, Woodbury 36 points in a 70-41 win over Forest Lake. Katie Martin, Sartell-St. Stephen

Monday, 1/17--Hamline men 92 St. Thomas 79. The Pipers upset the previously undefeated, #4 rated Tommies after 13 straight defeats to their St. Paul rival, and they did it by raining 3s (12 of them) on St. Thomas. The Tommies led 47-44 at the half, but Hamline tied it at 49-49 and took the lead for good at 53-51 at 15:53. Carl Hipp, Hamline men 20 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks. Nelson Whitmore, Hamline men.

Sunday, 1/16--Minnesota Gopher men 69 Iowa Hawkeyes 59. Hey, a win is a win, and after starting 0-2 and 1-3, the Gophers are back to even .500 in the Big 10. But the folks over at the Gopherhole.com are not happy. Minnesota led at the half 30-19. A mere 3:30 into the 2nd half it was 32-32. Then after slowly building the lead up to 62-49, Iowa was within 62-55 with 2 minutes still to play. But the Gophers held on largely due to the play of Trevor Mbakwe, Ralph Sampson and Al Nolen. Can't decide. Mbakwe, Sampson, Nolen. Tubby Smith.

Saturday, 1/15--#6AAAA Eden Prairie defeats #7AAAA Cretin. 60-57. Sonja Ellingson, St. Catherine's women, 20 points, 9 rebounds, and St. Kate's (just 2-6 going into today's game) hands St. Thomas its first MIAC loss. Both St. Thomas posts, Rachel Booth and Maggie Weiers, foul out trying to contain Ellingson. Josh Mohagen, #10AAA Fergus Falls girls, who win central Minnesota bragging rights at #8AAA Alexandria, 40-36.

Friday, 1/14--Shakopee girls 41 Farmington 34 in the battle of the unbeatens in Missota conference games. Player of the Day: Michelle Young, Woodbury girls, 26 points as White Bear Lake escapes 45-44. Coach of the Day: Mike Roysland, Minnesota-Crookston women who, going in 2-7 versus Winona's State 7-2, nevertheless pulled the upset 82-72 because several of them helped to tie up of the Gophers.

Thursday, 1/13--Minnesota Gopher men 70 Purdue Boilermakers 67. The Gophers squandered a 53-45 lead and trailed 61-57 at 8:50. But the Gophers caught up and the score was tied at 61, 63, 65 and 67. Al Nolen hit the winner at 3:17 and neither team scored again. Blake Hoffarber 26 points 4 assists. Vern Simmons of #2AAA St. Paul Johnson. the Governors dodged a bullet tonight, winning at #4AAAA Eden Prairie 68-59, after trailing 56-54 with 4:00 remaining.

Wednesday, 1/12--Break up the Tommies! St. Thomas swept a women's and men's doubleheader at Concordia (Moorhead), against a couple of very good Cobber teams, and both remain undefeated and in sole possession of 1st place in the MIAC. The men rallied from 5 down with 2:00 remaining, closing out the game on a 19-6 run. The final was St. Thomas 69-61. The women took an early 12-0 lead. Concordia came as close as 3 points, once in the 1st half and once in the 2nd, but in the end St. Thomas pushed out to a 67-54 final. Tyler Nicolai, St. Thomas men, scored 21 with 2 blocks and 2 steals, while Alexandra Lippert of the Concordia women had a heckuva game with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks, though it wasn't enough to avert defeat. Do you have to ask about the coaches? Steve Fritz, St. Thomas men and Ruth Sinn, St. Thomas women.

Tuesday, 1/11--Centennial girls 72 Maple Grove 62. Centennial stays unbeaten in the Northwest Suburban, handing the Crimson its first conference defeat. Ted Lutterman, Cambridge-Isanti. The senior guard had the kind of day every player dreams about--26 points in a 54-52 win over arch-rival Princeton. But not only that, it was his half-court shot at the final buzzer that gave Cambridge the win. Omar McMillan, Richfield boys, who clobbered #10AAA St. Thomas 92-68 to stay unbeaten in the Classic Suburban.

Monday, 1/10--#1AA Plainview-Elgin-Millville boys 74 at #10A Rushford-Peterson 40. Sattoria Rule, Mpls. South 22 points in a 59-42 win over Mpls. Roosevelt. Kirk Thompson, Plainview-EM boys.

Sunday, 1/9--Ohio State 67 Gopher men 64. The Gophers fell behind 32-22 at the half, then 43-28 and 55-37 with 8:31 left. They then closed on a 27-12 run but it wasn't enough. Neither team shot well, but the Buckeyes made 8-of-23 3s while the Gophers made just 2-of-15. Trevor Witt, St. Cloud State men, 33 points and 9 assists, but his team lost to Winona State 93-91 in OT when Ben Fisher of Winona (who finished with 12 points and 8 assists) scored the last 6 points including the game-winning jumper at :01. Scott Ballard, Winona State women, who beat St. Cloud 57-52 to stay in 2nd place in the NSIC.

Saturday, 1/8--St. Thomas men 68 Gustavus 64 (ot). The Tommies win their 24th straight regular season game, and their 50th straight on-campus conference game. Tyler Nicolai hits a big buzzer-beating 3-pointer for the 2nd straight game, this one sending it into OT. Iowa recruit Beth Doolittle finally breaks loose for her high school team, Hill-Murray, with 38 points in an 83-37 rout of Tartan. Mike Curfman, Bemidji State, which pulled off a big 79-78 upset of #21 ranked Augustana.

Friday, 1/7--North St. Paul girls 61 #5AAA Richfield 56 (ot). Phil Hegseth, Forest Lake boys 23 points as the Rangers upset #7AAAA Cretin 80-62. Mike Schumacher, Wayzata girls, who upset #4AAAA Buffalo 70-49.

Thursday, 1/6--MCCRAY girls 57 at #3A previously unbeaten Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 44. Mariah Adanane, DeLaSalle girls, 26 points in 79-57 loss to Hopkins. Tony Taylor, Windom boys, who won at Marshall 66-61 to take over 1st place in the Southwest Conference.

Wednesday, 1/5--St. Thomas men 62 Carleton 59. Can anybody around here hold a lead? The Gopher women and the Timberwolves both squandered 2nd half leads and lost. Carleton had a 59-57 lead and the ball with 38 seconds remaining, but missed 2 FT and then turned to ball over on their final 2 possessions. Alex Healy made 2 FT to tie it and Tyler Nicolai swished a 3 as the buzzer sounded. Aaron Burtzel, St. John's men, did it all against Macalester--28 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals--but the Macmen pulled the big upset. Tim Whittle, Macalester men, who defeated St. John's 90-81 despite Burtzel's big game. Here, at least, nobody blew a big lead. Macalester led wire-to-wire to end a 52-game MIAC losing streak as well as an overall 26-game losing streak.

Tuesday, 1/4--Gopher men 67 Indiana Hoosiers 63. The Gophers fell behind 32-26 at the half, then roared back to lead by as many as 8, 59-51. But Minnesota missed 7-of-15 FT in the 2nd half, and 5-of-9 as Indiana made it a 1-possession game at 65-63 at 0:07. Joey King, Eastview boys, scored 36 points as his #3AAAA-rated team dispatched #9AAAA Eagan 71-45. Tom Doyscher, Waconia boys, who surprised #5AAA Orono 69-51.

Monday, 1/3--St. Thomas men 90 St. Mary's 58. I wrote a full report on this game. Let's just say here that the Tommies looked great, except for some early defensive lapses. Chris Palmer, St. Mary's 25 points, 11 rebounds. Steve Fritz, St. Thomas men

Sunday, 1/2--Indiana Hoosiers women 80 Minnesota Gophers 79 (OT). The Gophers blew a 10-point lead with 6:00 remaining. Minnesota shot 37 percent; Kiara Buford shot 1-for-13. China Antoine 21 points, 6 steals.

Saturday, 1/1--Minnesota Timberwolves 103 New Jersey Nets 88. Trailing 55-54 at the half, the Wolves out-scored the Nets 49-33 in the 2nd. A 13-0 run to start the half pretty much iced it. Kevin Love 23 points, 10 boards, 4 assists, all team-highs. Kurt Rambis, Timberwolves.