MINNETONKA TOOK ON TOTINO-GRACE IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Dec. 22, Minnetonka went up against Totino-Grace in a boys’ basketball game.

Both teams looked to push the ball down the floor and make layups in transition.

Minnetonka looked to make layups in transition. Minnetonka was a little quicker than Totino-Grace.

Totino-Grace called a timeout with 14:19 left in the first half. The score was Minnetonka 16, Totino-Grace 6.

Minnetonka’s Amar Miller came up with deep 3-point baskets in the first half. The Totino-Grace defense had a hard time slowing down Miller.

Minnetonka’s Cedric Boone attempted deep 3-point baskets. He was able to hit a few 3-point baskets midway through the first half.

Totino-Grace looked to get everyone involved in the offense. They passed the ball around the 3-point line.

Minnetonka turned the ball over late in the first half that lead to Totino-Grace field goals.

At halftime the score was Minnetonka 54, Totino-Grace 25.

As the second half got underway Minnetonka continued to attack the basket and was able to come up with layups.

Miller was all over the floor. He continued to come up with huge shots.

Totino-Grace looked to get the ball into the hands of Nathan Kavolak who came up with huge baskets.

Totino-Grace called a timeout with 11:39 left in regulation. The score was Minnetonka 81, Totino-Grace 31.

Minnetonka wasn’t afraid to knock down 3-point baskets. Miller also came up with layups throughout the second half.

Minnetonka was too much for Totino-Grace. Totino-Grace had a difficult time hitting shots throughout the game.

Minnetonka came away with the 98-44 victory over Totino-Grace.

The leading scorer for Minnetonka was Miller with 27 points.

The leading scorer for Totino-Grace was Kavolak with 10 points.

After the game I was able to talk to Minnetonka head coach Tom Dasovich and Miller about the game.

CHANHASSEN WENT UP AGAINST MINNETONKA IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

Chanhassen and Minnetonka squared off in a boys’ basketball game. Minnetonka got out to a quick 8-0 lead with 15:55 left in the first half. 


Minnetonka looked to get the ball into the hands of Amar Miller. Miller did a good job of getting to the basket and making layups. 


Chanhassen had trouble making shots midway through the first half. 


Minnetonka used their quickness to their advantage as they were able to beat Chanhassen down the court and were able to make layups. 


At halftime the score was Minnetonka 37, Chanhassen 29.


As the second half got underway Minnetonka continued to move the ball down the floor and get everyone involved in the offense. 


Chanhassen’s Chad Mapes was all over the floor. He came up with some huge baskets throughout the game. 


Minnetonka’s Cedric Boone came up with some nice mid-range jump shots throughout the game. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot the ball. 


The Minnetonka defense was able to slow the Chanhassen offense down in the second half. 


Minnetonka came away with the 79-67 victory over Chanhassen. 

The leading scorer for Minnetonka was Miller with 25 points.

The leading scorer for Chanhassen was Mapes with 22 points.

MINNETONKA TOOK ON ROCHESTER MAYO IN A BOYS BASKETBALL GAME

Minnetonka and Rochester Mayo went up against each other in a boys basketball game. It took Minnetonka awhile to get into an offensive shooting rhythm. Mayo raced out to a quick 10-2 lead with 14:00 left in the first half.

 

Mayo did a good job of getting the ball down the floor and scoring baskets in transition.

 

Minnetonka’s Amar Miller was all over the floor on the offensive end. Miller took the ball hard to the basket.

 

Mayo attacked the basket and was able to make baskets in transition. Dan Jech for Mayo knocked down a mid-range jump shots as his teammates fed him the ball while he was in the paint.

 

Minnetonka trapped the ball on the defensive end as they looked to turn Mayo over. Minnetonka was able to score baskets on turnovers.

 

At halftime the score was Minnetonka 42, Mayo 29.

 

As the second half got underway Mayo kept on attacking the basket.  

 

Mayo continued to look to score baskets in transition. They got the ball into the hands of Jay Alston.

 

Alston lead the fast break down the floor and was able to make layups.

 

Dan Jech came out firing on all on cylinders in the second half. He was able to hit shots from within the three-point line and from behind the three-point line.

 

Mayo struggled to hit shots in the second half. Minnetonka continued to hit baskets in the second half.

 

After a slow start by Minnetonka they turned on the offensive jets late in the first half. Minnetonka came away with the 86-60 victory over Mayo.

 

The leading scorer for Mayo was Jech with 24 points. The leading scorer for Minnetonka was Seth Coatta with 24 points.

MINNETONKA TOOK ON PRIOR LAKE IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Dec. 10 Minnetonka and Prior Lake went up against each other in a boys’ basketball game. Prior Lake looked to push the ball down the floor.

 

Prior Lake started the game in a man-to-man defense. They looked to set the tempo early.

 

Neither team took many shots in the open 4:00 of the game.

 

Amar Miller was all over the floor for Minnetonka. He was able to knock down a mid-range jump shot.

 

Minnetonka called a timeout with 12:42 left in the first half. The score was Prior Lake 12, Minnetonka 5.

 

Prior Lake was able to push the ball down the floor and was able to hit layups.

 

Minnetonka’s Miller had a difficult time running the offense.

 

Prior Lake called a timeout with 10:11 left in the first half. The score was Prior Lake 19, Minnetonka 8.

 

Delshon Strickland had good court awareness as he was able to get his teammates the ball in spots where they thought that they could make baskets. Strickland was able to knock down some deep three-point shots.

 

The Prior Lake offense went cold for about 4:00 in the first half. Minnetonka was able to hit shots but was not able to take the lead.

 

Minnetonka came up with some steals on turnover and they were able to convert them on the offensive end.  

 

At halftime the score was Prior Lake 36, Minnetonka 27

 

As the second half got underway Prior Lake continued to attack the basket as they looked to get easy shots.

 

Tevin Grant for Prior Lake was able to play tough lock down defense. He didn’t let anyone get past him. Grant came up with some nice steals.

 

Prior Lake called a timeout with 15:00 left in regulation, the score was Prior Lake 40, Minnetonka 37.

 

The score went back and forth midway through the second half.

 

Minnetonka got the lead around 14:00 left. There were many ties and lead changes in the second half.

 

Prior Lake called a timeout with 13:18 left in regulation. The score was Minnetonka 48, Prior Lake 43.

 

Prior Lake’s Nick Sobaski stepped up and knocked down some nice shots. He knew where his teammates were on the floor.

 

Minnetonka caught fire midway through the second half. Prior Lake didn’t have answer as they were not able to slow down the Minnetonka offense.

 

Minnetonka called a timeout with 5:46 the score was Minnetonka 69, Prior Lake 56.

 

Minnetonka continued to make shots down the stretch.

 

Prior Lake went cold for a period of time. Minnetonka took the lead and never gave it back. In the end Minnetonka came away with the 76-64 win over Prior Lake.

GET TO KNOW AMAR MILLER

Amar Miller is an African American and Native American basketball player who was born in Minneapolis, Minn. on Octo. 11, 1998. He has three brothers and one sister.

 

Miller is a sophomore, and will graduate in 2016. He will be attending Minnetonka High School after transferring from Metro Tech high in Minneapolis.

 

Miller has played football in the past but he thinks that he will just focus on basketball.

 

Most of his family is from Iowa but he grew up in Minneapolis. He travels back and forth from Minnesota to Iowa regularly.

 

I asked what basketball meant to him and he said,“Basketball means a lot to me. It takes up most of my day, week, year and life. There is barely a social life for me because of how much basketball means to me. Basketball is going to get me to where I wanna go in life.”

 

Miller said of his summer that he“ plans on going to elite camps and getting a little bit more exposure.”

 

“I started getting in to basketball at a very young age,” Miller said. “I started playing AAU for the Minneapolis Hustlers. Every AAU summer I choose to play for multiple teams because more games equals more exposure. That's how I see it. My dad started a team for me in sixth grade called Minneapolis Reign. We started off as a very small organization but over the years we got bigger and bigger. The team was basically my best friends for a long time.”

 

I was able to ask him about what he likes to do in his free time and Miller said, “I don't really have free time but for the time i do have I hang out with my friends. Just like any other teenager would, I want to have fun. So I attend carnivals, go to the movies and things like that. “

 

I have seen Miller play several times. He is a good person on and off the floor.