OK, so, Sunny's been a little bit under the weather here, so we're still playing catch up with December and those last few days of 2018. It was a great year in every way, by the way. No complaints here.
So, anyway, we had four high school games matching teams rated #3 or better. In order of the higher rankings:
1. The #1AAA Alexandria girls handled the #1AA Roseau Rams 82-64 in the championship of the Perham holiday tournament. Alex goes to 9-0 while Roseau slips to 7-2, but figures to hang on to #1AA despite the loss. I mean, Alex looks tough. They've also got wins over DeLaSalle, Sauk Centre and a couple of 4A teams. Here they just had too much firepower as 6-0 junior Ella Grove led the way with 19 points and 10 boards. Senior point guard Kaye Paschka added 19 points, 5 boards and 5 assists, and 5-11 senior McKenzie Duwenhoegger added 9 points and 14 boards. Alex shot 24-for-56 from the field including 5-of-10 3s.
2. The #2A Minneota boys knocked off #1A Springfield--probably not an upset, however, as the game took place on the Minneota court. From where I sit they both look like western Minnesota teams but Springfield is in section 2A and Minneota in 3A, so this could be a preview of a state tournament game, even a final. Springfield led 43-38 at the half and 65-62 at the 7 minute mark. Minnesota tied it up at 72-all with 2 minutes left, then Jacob Hennen gave his team a 74-72 lead. Springfield never caught up as Logan Sussner scored 2 off the offensive glass and Tom Hennen made a pair of throws. Jacob Hennen finished with 27 points and 10 boards, Sussner with 19 and 12, and Tom Hennen with 18 and 8. Isaac Fink led the Tigers with 20 and 11 and Decker Scheffler added 19 and 6.
3. #3AAAA Hopkins roared back from a 38-33 halftime deficit to defeat #1AA Minnehaha for the 2nd time this season, 97-85. Yes, the Royals torched the Augsburg gym for 64 2nd half points. A pair of Jalen Suggs 3s made the final as close as it was, and enabled Suggs to finish with 39 points. Chet Holmgren had 23-10 and 8 blocks for the RedHawks. Zeke Nnaji scored 29 for Hopkins, Kerwin Walton 25, Jalen Dearring 17 and Rayquan Velentin 16.
4. Finally, the #2AAAA Wayzata girls handled #3AAA Hill-Murray 67-42 to win the Pioneers holiday tournament for the 3rd straight year. Jenna Johnson scored 19 for Wayzata, Delaney Runyon 18 for Hill-Murray. But, make no mistake, Hill-Murray remains a bona fide threat for that AAA state championship. They are one athletic group. But, Wayzata, on the other hand, my goodness, the size and athleticism are pretty incredible.
Player of the Day--Jalen Suggs
Team of the Day--Alexandria girls
Coach of the Day--Wendy Kohler, Alexandria
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