MAPLE GROVE TOOK ON OSSEO IN A BOYS BASKETBALL GAME

Osseo and Maple Grove squared off in a boys basketball region semifinal game. Osseo look to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition.

 

Maple Grove called a timeout with 15:39 left in the first half. The score was Osseo 8, Maple Grove 0.

 

Maple Grove’s Reed Nikko scored his team’s first seven points.

 

Osseo’s Elliot Kane came up with a deep three-point basket. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball where he could shoot it.

 

Osseo’s Jamar Roberson took the ball hard to the basket as he tried to make his layups. He was able to hit free throws.

 

Maple Grove’s Matt Lindgren hit a three-point shot to tie the game at 14 with just over 8:00 left in the first half.

 

The score went back and forth. Both teams shot the three-point shot well.

 

Osseo’s Jordan Dembley and Wheeler Baker did a good job of running the offense. They knew where their teammates were supposed to be on the floor and they were able to move the ball well. Baker came up with big shots in the offense.

 

Maple Grove’s Tyler Barker did a good job of running their offense. He called out plays that he wanted ran.  

 

At halftime the score was Maple Grove 25, Osseo 21.

 

As the second half got underway Osseo looked to get the ball into the hands of Ian Theisen. Theisen was able to shoot the three-point shot as well as post up on the low block and score layups.

 

Teammate Giovanni Pastrano came up with a two handed slam dunk that gave his team energy and momentum. Kane continued to hit three-pointers throughout the second half.

 

Nikko continued to shoot well in the second half.

 

The defensive pressure that Osseo put on made it difficult for Maple Grove to hit shots in the second half.

 

Osseo took time off the clock late in the second half by swinging the ball around the three-point line.

 

Osseo’s Elliot Kane came up was able to hit mid-range jump shots throughout the second half. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

 

Maple Grove’s Brad Davison came up with some steals on the defensive end and was able to convert them to baskets on offense.

 

Osseo’s Baker stepped up and knocked down big shots late in regulation.

 

Osseo came away with the 55-43 victory over Maple Grove.

 

The leading scorers for Maple Grove were Nikko and Lindgren each with 14 points.

 

Osseo was lead in scoring by Kane with 14 points, Theisen with 13 points, Baker with 12 points and Dembley with 10 points.

 

Osseo will play Champlin Park on Friday March 7 in the region finals.

TNL EXPRESS TAKES ON MINNESOTA PUMP AND RUN 17U

It was Sunday morning and we are back in the first game of the Sunday session. In the first game it was TNL Express going up against Minnesota Pump and Run.


Both of these teams started off looking to get the ball up the court. Pump and Run started out playing zone defense.


Both teams were able to make shots early in the contest. TNL looked to push the ball up the court in transition.
Both teams traded baskets throughout the first half. Neither team was able to make a run in the first half.
Jake Kreuser for Pump and Run had a couple of nice moves in the first half. He was able to shake off his defender with a head fake and go in for a nice layup.


TNL had trouble breaking the Pump and Run press. Pump and Run did a good job getting the ball up the court.
Both teams were able to keep the score close throughout the first half. Each team was able to counter the others scoring chances.


Aaron Ernest Anderson from Pump and Run was a little spark plug throughout the game by coming up with some nice shots in the first half.


TNL was able to make some easy shots in the first half. Pump and Run kind of went to sleep and TNL was able to find the back door and get some wide open shots at the basket.


This has been a very competitive first half. TNL Express was able to go on a run late in the late in the first half. Pump and Run didn’t give up in the first half.


At half time the score was TNL Express 35 and Pump and Run 28.


In the start of the second half Pump and Run came out fired up and they were able to make some quick shots.
Turnover’s hurt the Pump and Run team for most of the game. Everyone on the team had a case of the fumbles.
Pump and Run tried to make a comeback in the second half. They were able to do that. Dyami Starks was able to make some nice plays and lead the Pump and Run back into the game.


Each team battled in the second half. Throughout this tournament the Pump and Run guys really did a good job of coming together when they were down and deciding to put up shots in critical times in the game. They did that again here in this game.


The Pump and Run was able to go on a run in the second half and battled their way back into the game and they were able to come away with a hard fought victory.


TNL Express played a tough game they were able to expose Pump and Run in the first half. They really put the pursuer on TNL.


In the end Pump and Run came away with the 65-56 victory.

AARON ERNEST ANDERSON ON THE BASKETBALL SEASON

I was able to do an email interview with Osseo high school basketball player Aaron Ernest Anderson. I wanted to give you a chance to see what’s going through the mind of basketball player when they have to compete at the high school level.

Hello how are you doing today? As you know I have my own sports web site, Steven’s Sports Report. Will you take a couple of minutes out of your day to let people know a little bit about yourself and how you became so involved in basketball?

Aaron’s birthday is October 23rd 1991. He started playing basketball when he was he was very young. When he was in the sixth grade he attended a five star basketball camp and he has also been to numerous other camps since. He also plays for Howard Pulley Basketball in the summer.

Aaron has started receiving interest from different college coaches. Some of the colleges that are interested in him are Bucknell, Lehigh, and University of Portland. He has not taken his ACT yet but plans on taking it in the near future.

His Osseo team has gotten off to a great start. He said “This basketball season has been fun and at this point we are 6-1. We lost our season opener to a very tough Henry Sibley. But since then we have been on a six game winning streak. We took home the Granite City Classic Championship in St. Cloud. My teammate Sam Dower and I were named to the all-tournament team. We also just defeated Sioux Roosevelt in the Gatorade Shootout at the Target Center on Saturday, so it’s been a pretty fun season so far.”

He said his team is “very hard-working and we love to go out and get better every day. We also like to play defense and shut our opponent down.” He really enjoys his teammates. “All my teammates are funny and they all like to tell jokes when were on the bus or in the locker room.” When asked who he thought the team clown was, he said, “I would say we have two, Jerrod Bervon and D.J. Phillips.”

Different players come into different games with different mind sets. When I asked Aaron how he gets up for each game he responded, “First I take a hot shower, then I make sure I eat something two hours before the game, then I listen to my music until the game starts.” His favorite music is Hip-Hop and R &B and his favorite artist is Lil Wayne.

When he has free time he said he is always practicing on his game, but if he’s not playing basketball I like to relax, hang with friends, or lift weights.”

As you can see Aaron Ernest Anderson is committed to his teammates and his school work. He wants to be the best player he knows he can be.