KEENAN SHELTON NAMED NEW BOYS’ BASKETBALL COACH AT MINNEAPOLIS NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

According to a Minneapolis North High official, Keenan Shelton has been named the boys’ basketball coach at Minneapolis North. Shelton has been an assistant at Washburn and North.

He replaces Bo Powell who is now the new coach at Park Center.

MATT MCCOLLISTER NEW BOYS’ BASKETBALL COACH AT BRECK HIGH SCHOOL

Matt McCollister has been named the boys’ head basketball coach at Breck High School. He was an assistant under Larry McKenzie for eight years, spent six at Patrick Henry where he earned four state titles, and for the past two years was at the Academy of Holy Angels. He also coached one year of college basketball at Eastern Arizona College.

His top assistant will be Ross Forman, who was an All State performer at Patrick Henry before playing DI basketball at Wyoming and Loyola-Chicago. Ross finished his playing career at Steven’s Point last season where he was a key contributor on their National Title Team.

PARK OF COTTAGE GROVE HOSTED ST PAUL ARLINGTON

Park of Cottage Grove took on St Paul Arlington in a non conference game. Arlington looked to pass the ball round the perimeter in the early goings of this one. They also looked to get the ball inside.

Park started in a zone defense. They did send a guy out to defend the shooter in the early goings. Each team had to battle their way through the zone defenses in the first half. Park started there zone defense at the mid court line. They usually put some of at the top of the half court circle then they would have two guys at the top of the key and then three guys in the middle of the lane. Each guy would be responsible for the guy that would come into his zone.

Arlington did try to pick up a little full court. Both teams went at it and battled in the first half. Park switched to a man to man defense out of a time out around the 9:00 mark in the first half.

Arlington pushed the ball up the court every chance that they could. They wanted to get the Wolf Pack out of there rhythm.

For Arlington Charles Langhorne did a nice job of directing his players where he wanted to go on the court. He had some nice passes and he knew where his players were on the court. He also had some nice jump shots throughout the night.

Both teams kept the score close throughout the first half. Neither team went on a run in the first half. It was a very intense and close first half.

At half time the score was Park 24 and St Paul Arlington 22.

Both of these teams continued to play strong aggressive defense in the second half. Neither team let up on either end of the court.

Ricky Hernandez continued to woo the crowd with his amazing tough hard noise defense. He really put on a show the whole entire game.

Both teams continued to play aggressively and neither team backed down. Park was able to keep the baskets coming in the second half.

Park went cold toward the end of the game and that is when Arlington was able to go on a run in the final minutes of the game. Park was not able to with handle the scoring frenzy and this did come down to the end but Arlington was able to come away with the 51-45 victory.

The leading scorers for Park were Rickey Hernandez with 16 and Andy Voigt with 8 total points. The leading scorers for Arlington were Deandre White with 16 and Travon McKee with 13 points.

I was joined at the game by the Czar from Twin Cities Boys Hoops. You can read about his thoughts about the Arlington against Park here.

TWO UNDEFEATED TEAMS DO BATTLE

Hopkins comes to Robbinsdale Cooper for a non-conference battle of unbeaten teams. Hopkins is ranked number 1 and Robbinsdale Cooper is ranked number 3 in the latest Star Tribune poll. This game is an announced sell out. This game features two of the state’s top boys basketball players in Rodney Maurice Williams from Cooper and Royce Alexander White from Hopkins. Both will attend the University of Minnesota next season.

Both of these teams got out to a quick start. Both of these teams play with a lot of emotion they have to keep the intensity up to come away with the victory. Cooper had a hard time finding the basket in the early goings, as they came out a little flat to open the game up. They used their first time out at the 13:30 mark down 8-2.

With 11:45 in the half, Cooper went on a run and they gave Hopkins a little scare. But Hopkins was not scared as they also kept on grinding it out. Joe Bright was able to hit a couple of mid range jumpers to keep Cooper close in the middle of the first half.

With 5:40 left in the first half Rodney Maurice Williams picked up his 2nd personal foul. He was then taken out of the game. He doesn’t want to be in foul trouble at the end of this game. Cooper continued to play hard and kept after the Royals. With 2:30 left to go in the first half Rodney Williams reentered the game. He picked up his third foul with 1:36 in the half and spent the rest of the half on the bench.

In the first half both teams fought hard and they played with a lot of emotion and energy. Hopkins had a 48-40 lead at the half time break.

The second half got out to a quick start as both teams looked to push the ball up the court. Hopkins began to pull away in the first four minutes of the second half. They were able to get a 56-44 lead with just under 14:00 to go in the second half.

Cooper stuck with zone on the defensive end. They have used both man and zone here very effectively tonight. Cooper was able to battle back and they went on a run mid way through the second half. Cooper was gone cold mid way through the second half. They have not been able to capitalize on the shots that they have been putting up. Hopkins was able to put the hammer down.

Hopkins was able to hold on for the victory in the game. They were able to wear down the Cooper Hawks in this game. Royce Alexander White played well tonight he showed his ability and I thought that he did prove why he will be playing for the University of Minnesota next season. I also thought that Rodney Maurice Williams played well in this game despite getting into foul trouble.

The final of the game was Hopkins 100 and Cooper 78.

Cooper coach Dave Johnson was clearly disappointed after this game. He knows that he has a good team but what hurt them in this game was their size. They also got hurt in their 2-3 zone when Rodney was in foul trouble he was on the weak side to help prevent them scoring.

Ken Novak thought that they played sloppy defense at times and then really turned it on in some points of the game. They need to play the solid defense the whole game to be successful. He thought that Royce Alexander White played well in this environment tonight. Both teams came out a little jumpy and after every one settled they were better off.

Royce Alexander White said that he likes playing in this type of environment. Most of the games at Hopkins are packed out so the noise and the big crowd don’t affect him that much.

The Twin Cities Hoops Czar was also here tonight . Read his story about this game here.

SEBEKA TAKES OUT NASHWAUK-KEEWATIN

We have had a fast paced start to this game. Both teams are really getting in each other’s faces and pushing down the court at the start of this game. Cody Pulju, of Sebeka, has just come down and put-in a layup even though he fell afterwards.

Sebeka has started out shooting well and has made most of the shots that they have taken so far tonight and have jumped to a 13-4 lead early in the first half. Both of these teams are getting up and down the court here tonight.

John Clark has really gotten into it tonight, and he has made most of the shots that he has taken.

Wes Lorence for Nashwauk-Keewatin has just scored his 1,000 point. He has received a standing ovation and the game ball.

This game has been a rout; Sebeka played spectacularly this evening, and has came away with the victory. The final score is: Sebeka 63, and Nashwauk-Keewatin 36.

BROOKLYN CENTER TAKES OUT MINNEAPOLIS ROOSEVELT IN A THRASHING

Brooklyn Center is taking on Minneapolis Roosevelt here on a Monday night match up in Brooklyn Center. As this game started there was a technical foul that was called on Brooklyn Center because a player dunked the ball in warm ups.

As this game gets underway here both teams look to be pushing the ball up the court. Roosevelt is looking to push the ball up the court here tonight in the early goings. Roosevelt is looking to have the pace back in their favor as Brooklyn Center has gotten out to an early lead. Both of these teams have been able to get up and down the court as both of these teams have been trading baskets.

Brooklyn Center offense is based on a lot of passing and cutting. They are making a lot of good passes here so far in the first half. Roosevelt has been able to switch screens here and they have been able not to get screened here so far tonight. Both of these teams have done a good job of taking care of the ball.

Both of these teams are rotating a lot of different guys here in the first half. Each team will be using their whole bench here in this game tonight.

Brooklyn Center has been able to cause some difficulty here so far tonight. Freddie young has played well here for Brooklyn Center tonight. He has been able to find his shot here tonight and has been able to hit it with some consistency.

In a game that has been up and down the court we have reached half time. The score at half time is Brooklyn Center 29 and Minneapolis Roosevelt 20. We will see what is in store for us in the second half.

Brooklyn Center has come out playing a zone defense here. They are trying to get their hands up and in the passing lanes as they are trying to swat shots away. Brooklyn Center has done a good job of making that extra pass tonight. Both of these teams are playing aggressivly tonight Brooklyn Center has been able to make their shots. Brooklyn Center has been in a zone most of the evening. They have been effective in blocking out the shooters.

Minneapolis Roosevelt has been in a battle here tonight and they are not backing down. They are now playing a zone defense Dennis Stockmo wanted to change it up here.

Brooklyn Center has just put on a run here mid way through the second half with 9:45 left to go in regulation. The score is Brooklyn Center 51 and Minneapolis Roosevelt 30.

The Roosevelt players are still playing hard here tonight. They are not going to let down for a second. They have always played tough and tonight is no exception; these kids have really hustled down the court and they have played hard tonight. It is just that this Brooklyn Center team is just so aggressivly and they have been able to hit a lot of their shots that they have put up tonight.

In a tight fought battle tonight Brooklyn Center has come away with the 65-46 victory tonight. I was also joined by The Twin Cities Hoops Czar tonight. You can read his article of tonight's game here.

THE SABERS OF SHAKOPEE COME INTO BURNSVILLE BLAZE TERRITORY

Shakopee is going up against Burnsville at Burnsville. We are about to get this game underway this evening. Both teams have started to play zone defense. Both teams are looking to get into the flow of this game. Burnsville gets the ball out of the net and they are looking to push the ball up the court.

Shakopee is also looking to get the ball up the court. They are really playing good tight defense. This has been a close game so far. With 14:00 left to go in the first half, the score is Burnsville 8 and Shakopee 10.

Both of these teams are really going after each other here. They are making tough passes, and they have each been able to make their shots that they have put up. They have gone back and forth.

Burnsville has put on their press. They want to try to bother the Sabers, in the first half. Shakopee has been able to break the press that Burnsville has put on them. Even though it is sometimes hard to break, they have managed to break it. Not only that, they have been able to score on it also.

Ethan Petrill for Shakopee has played well tonight. He has been able to come down and make a nice couple of shots.

Shakopee has looked good. They have played well in the first half so far. They have been able to challenge this Burnsville team, and they have the steam in the latter part of the first half. With 6:00 left to go in the half, the score is Burnsville 19 and Shakopee 25.

Burnsville's Devon Knopke has made some nice moves to the basket. He has a nice short jump shot. He is a tough kid and he can really guard. He has taken it down the lane and really gotten after it. Landon Burge has also played well in this game tonight, hitting a couple of nice jump shots.

This game has been a close game all throughout. Both teams have played very well and hard.

At half time, the score is Burnsville 29 and Shakopee 27.

As this second half gets underway, both teams come out firing on all cylinders. Both teams have come out and traded baskets on both ends of the court.

Both teams are playing well here. They are continuing to go after each other here. Alex Wheeler has picked up his fourth foul, early in this second half.

Burnsville is still playing in a zone defense. The score is tied up at 43 with 12:06 left to go.

Shakopee is looking to get the ball around the three point lane. They have been able to do that effectively tonight. Ethan Petrill continues to play well. He has been able to create a lot of different things on the offensive end and he also has been able to get his teammates into the game.

The flow of this game has been good. Both teams have been able to get the ball up the court. Shakopee is looking to be aggressive here late in this game. They have been able to get back into this game. Matt Korthour has been able to step up and hit some three point shots here late in this game for Shakopee.

In a game that came down to the end, in a very close battle, the final score was Burnsville 64 and Shakopee 59.
The leading scorer for Burnsville was Devon Knope, who had 17 points playing very well.

I would like to thank the Czar from Twin Cities Hoops for coming down to the game tonight. He will post his thoughts on this game as well.