Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Stiffened penalties on hold | Minnesota Hockey Hub | MN Boys High School Hockey

 By David La Vaque, Star Tribune

The Minnesota State High School League, armed with new evidence that referees called checking from behind significantly more often after Jack Jablonski suffered a paralyzing injury, is finding it slow going to change the culture of hockey.

The league presented data to the National Federation of State High School Associations in April showing a big jump in major penalties called for checking from behind after Jablonski was hurt. The league had moved swiftly to elevate the consequences of the dangerous hit to a 5-minute major penalty, which left teams shorthanded and more vulnerable to being scored upon.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Gary Tinsley awarded degree posthumously - Minneapolis News and Weather KMSP FOX 9

 MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) -

Gary Tinsley was awarded a degree posthumously by the University of Minnesota on Thursday.

It's been exactly 34 days since Tinsley, 22, died of an enlarged heart on April 6 in his dorm room at Roy Wilkins Hall.

Tinsley was a starting linebacker for the Gophers football team and had been training for the NFL in the days leading up to his death. 

'U' approves agreement with Vikings to use TCF | kare11.com

 FROM KARE11.COM 

 MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota's Board of Regents has approved an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings that allows the use of TCF Bank Stadium during the NFL team's construction of its new stadium.

The board unanimously approved the letter of intent on Friday. It is non-binding, but sets the parameters that university President Eric Kaler and the Vikings can use to develop a lease agreement.

DeLaSalle pitcher won't let birth defect slow him down | StarTribune.com

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Standing in the middle of the diamond with a baseball in hand, Ben Albert is complete. It's here, propped on a 10-inch pile of dirt, where the DeLaSalle High School pitcher has found a place of fulfillment.

In a routine that has become as normal as adjusting his cap, Albert waits for a return throw from his catcher at the bottom of the hill, right arm raised. He catches the ball and tucks the flattened Rawlings glove under his left armpit. He pulls out his hand, grabs the ball and climbs back on the mound to pitch again.

Check out the link below for the full report.

Friday, May 11, 2012

GET TO KNOW LEE DEKOVEN EDWARDS


Lee Dekoven Edwards Jr. was born in Edina, Minnesota on May 13, 1996. He has two sisters and two brothers. One of his brothers passed away at childbirth.

Edwards will graduate from Lakeville North in 2014. He is on the football and track team. He said that, “Football to me is not a sport, it’s my life! I live and breathe football. It’s all I think about and I am always looking for ways to better myself in the preseason and also get closer to a state championship.” 

I asked him what he did this past summer and he said, “This past summer I worked really hard on emphasizing my arm knee coordination and focused on running crisp routes in order to shake the defenders. Also I really worked on footwork and defensive drills, since I am dangerous on special team’s offense and defense I got to work on them all in order to be the best player I can be. Also I attended the University of Michigan Technique camp that helped manifest those skills.”

He also participates in Track & Field and Weight lifting and he is continually training. He explained a little bit about himself by adding, “Well if there is one thing you should know about me. I am a fighter; I have been hit with a lot of roadblocks in my life. Injury, Family, Racism, or Bias treatment (not in my favor.) But I always come out on top and whatever it is I preserver and I just do the best I can. I Love Michigan it’s my dream school and I would love to attend such a wonderful institution when I graduate from high school. I put a lot of my time in the gym in order to reach that goal and also I put it in the books. If there was one phrase I had to take from my father it would be “Million dollar legs Five cent head” it’s not going to get you where you need to be.”

KEVIN LAMONT THOMPSON MAKES ALL STAR TEAM AND ALL AMERICAN THIRD TEAM


6'1” guard Kevin Lamont Thompson from Dakota County Technical College has earned the post season honers of making the NJCAA All American third team as announced by the NJCAA.

Thompson will be making an appearance in the 2012 NJCAA All Star game in Las Vegas, NV.

Thompson and DCTC teammate Clinton Parker made the All Region 13 team. 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

DAN RUBISCHKO IS NAMED HEAD BOYS' BASKETBALL COACH AT ST. THOMAS ACADEMY


Dan Rubischko has been named the head boys' varsity basketball coach at St. Thomas High School. He replaces Mike Sjoberg who had to step down because Sjoberg took a promotion at the school as he was promoted to assistant headmaster. He couldn't do both jobs.

In 16 seasons, Sjoberg compiled a 355-139 record with six trips to the state tournament in 16 seasons as the head coach at St. Thomas Academy.

Rubischko has been the head basketball coach at Saint Bernard's High School and Blake High school. He has been the top Assistant boys' varsity coach for the past 15 seasons at Minneapolis DeLaSalle High School.  Also Rubishko is his 10th season as the head girls softball coach at Eden Prairie High School.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

THE TOP 17U HOWARD PULLEY PANTHERS DAY TWO RECAPS


On the second day of the Howard Pulley Sables Invitational tournament in the first game of the day the top Howard Pulley Panthers 17U team played against Kingdom Hoops out of Iowa.

The game got off to a quick start as each team forced shots and looked to get into there offense early. Kingdom Hoops played mostly man-to-man defense in the first half. Pulley switched between man-to-man and zone which created enough confusion to slow down the Kingdom players while getting into their offensive sets.

The score went back and forth throughout the first half as neither team gave up easy baskets.
Kingdom Hoops had difficulty scoring in the first half. They went long portions without making a basket.

Quinton Lee Hooker for Pulley played well in the first half. He hand a few nice baskets and was able to score at will.

At halftime the score was Pulley 42 and Kingdom Hoops 22. 

Hooker was not afraid to shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. He was dead on from long range as he was able to step up and nail deep three point shots.

The second half was a mirror image of the first half. Pulley was too quick for Kingdom Hoops. Pulley came away with the 88-47 victory over Kingdom Hoops.


With this victory this makes the top Pulley team 2-0 in this weekend’s tournament so far.

TOP PULLEY 17U VS DAKOTA SCHOOLERS

In the second game of the Saturday session the top 17U Pulley team played the Dakota Schoolers. The game started out on a quick pace as each team raced up and down the court trading baskets.

Neither team went and on a run it took each team awhile to get accustomed to each other on both ends of the floor.

Without Tyus Robert Jones running the guard spot Quinton Lee Hooker stepped into that role just fine. Hooker did a good job of running the offense. He was able to drive coast to coast and get wide open layups.

At halftime the score was Pulley 57-30.

Pulley was too much for Dakota in the second half. Pulley came away with the 95-52 blowout win over the Dakota Schoolers.

With that victory the top Pulley 17u team is 3-0 in this weekend’s tournament so far.



SATURDAY FINAL GAME

In the third and final game of the day the Howard Pulley top 17u team took on the Minnesota Stars. Pulley jumped out big as they got on a 12-0 run in the first four minutes of the game.

The Southwest Stars didn't get frustrated when their shots did not fall.

Hooker for Pulley was all over the floor once again. He was Pulley's go to guy. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball and when he got the ball he took the ball hard to the basket. He also got everyone involved in the offense.

The Southwest Stars switched up between man-to-man and zone defense. They tried to confuse Pulley on the defensive end.

Hooker was able to slow his man down on the defensive end. He didn't give up any easy shots. Pulley was able to get a lot of easy wide open lay-ups on the offensive end. They were a little quicker on the offensive end.

At halftime the score was Pulley 34 and Southwest Stars 23.

As the second half got underway both teams came out looking to shoot the ball. Neither team took their time on the offensive end as they both made some bad shots and passes. As a result of the insistence on pressing the action the turnovers went up for both teams.

After the first few minutes however thing seemed to settle down as they each got into a shooting grove.

Pulley did a good job of passing the ball around the three-point line looking for an opening.

Pulley was up 40-30 with 11:28 left to go in regulation.

The Southwest Stars never gave up in the game. They kept on attacking the Pulley defense as they looked for weaknesses in Pulley’s defense. Pulley did a good job on the defensive end as they kept the pressure at a high level.

Pulley called a timeout with 8:00 left in regulation. The score was Pulley 52 and Southwest Stars 37.

Pulley was once again too much for the opposing team to handle. They looked sharp in all parts of the game. Southwest Stars kept on battling throughout the whole game but that wasn’t enough as Pulley came away with the 68-48 victory over Southwest Stars.

With that victory Pulley is 4-0 in the tournament. 

TRENT LOCKETT TO TRANSFER FROM ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY TO MARQUETTE


Former Hopkins High School boys' basketball player 6 foot 5 inch guard Trent Lockett has decided to transfer from Arizona State to Marquette University for his senior season.

According to the Minnesota Daily Dispatch the reason Lockett said about transferring was, “The reason I am transferring is to be closer to my mom, but at the same time I needed to make a good basketball decision, and Marquette provides a great fit for me to finish my collegiate basketball career.”

According to his twitter post Lockett said, “I've been a Sun Devil since 16. I love and appreciate the people and experience at ASU. Saying that, I am excited to finish my last yr. at MU!”

During his three seasons Lockett averaged 4.7 rebounds and 10.8 points per game during his time at Arizona State.

There was a lot of speculation that Lockett would end up at the University of Minnesota. He played his high school ball at Hopkins High School. 

H.S. Student Collapses Playing Basketball, Dies « CBS Minnesota

 From WCCO.com

NEW HOPE, Minn. (WCCO) — A Robbinsdale Cooper High School student died while playing basketball at a Twin Cities YMCA. 

Seventeen-year-old Kalonyea Wopea was playing basketball Thursday with some friends in New Hope.
Witnesses say he collapsed during a game. He was rushed to North Memorial Hospital where he died.
“I love him and he loved me. He’s just an outgoing person. Very happy all the time,” said his father, Miamen Wopea.


Saturday, May 5, 2012

TYUS ROBERT JONES AND AKOLDA DEAR MAYANG OUT FOR THE SABLES INVITATIONAL


Apple Valley and Howard Pulley 17U guard Tyus Robert Jones and Duluth East Akolda Dear Mayang are not participating in this year’s Sables Invitational Tournament which is taking place the weekend of May 4-6, 2012 at the High Performance Center in Eagan.

Tyus Robert Jones is home sick and Akolda Dear Mayang has a sprained ankle.