WASHBURN TOOK ON JOHNSON IN THE TWIN CITIES CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Minneapolis Washburn took on St. Paul Johnson in the boys' basketball varsity Twin Cities Championship game. Johnson won the St. Paul City conference and Washburn won the Minneapolis City conference title.

The game got off to a quick start as each team hit quick jump shots. Both teams looked to score baskets in transition. Johnson was able to score easy lay-ups. Washburn didn't give up as they were in the game throughout the first half.

Washburn was not able to hit shots at the beginning of the game, nothing seem to fall for them.

Johnson looked to get easy jump shots in their offense. They are a quick team and they looked to get past the Washburn defenders Johnson looked to get the ball into to the hands of Marshall their top scorer who was all over the floor. On the offensive end he was able to get by his defenders and was able to get some easy lay-ups.

The score went back and forth in the first half. Neither team got easy shots as the defensive pressure was hard to handle for each team. Johnson was able to keep the pressure up on Washburn.

At halftime the score was Johnson 49 and Washburn 48.

Washburn started out in a half court zone defense to start the second half. Johnson went to a half court man-to-man defense. Johnson called a timeout with 15:05 left in regulation. The score was Washburn 56 and Johnson 50.

Both teams continued to look to push the ball and get shots in transition. They were both successful at doing that. The game was well played and the athleticism of both teams was truly on display. The guards for both teams controlled the tempo and pushed the ball when the opportunity presented itself.

Quashingm Smith-Pugh was all over the court on the offensive end. Johnson went on a 17-2 run to and they came back from being 12 points down. The score was Johnson 69 and Washburn 66 with 10:00 left in regulation. Washburn continued to take the ball hard to the basket.

Washburn didn't like what they saw on the court. Washburn called a timeout with 8:30 left in regulation. The score was Johnson 74 and Washburn 68. Marshall tripped and slipped in front of the Johnson bench. Johnson called a timeout with 6:58 left to go in regulation. The score was Johnson 76 and Washburn 70.

Neither team quit down the stretch. I thought that both teams put it all on the line. These were truly the two best teams in the twin cities area. The game came down to the wire. Neither team gave up easy shots in late in the game.

Washburns' Jerry Pratt hits a shot at the buzzer to give Washburn a 90-89 victory over Johnson

The leading scorer for Johnson was Marcus Marteze Marshall with 30 points.

The leading scorer for Washburn was Jerry Pratt with 25 points. 

BATTLE OF THE TWN CITIES IN CLASS AAA SEMI FINAL ACTION

It’s Minneapolis vs. St Paul in the second semi final where it is Minneapolis Washburn taking on St Paul Johnson. These teams both like to push the ball up the court.

Washburn played a zone defense to start the game off with. They wanted to try to extend out on the shooters.
St Paul Johnson started the game playing tough zone defense. They wanted to extend out on the shooters. Both teams played a tight up tempo style in the first half.

St Paul Johnson Dion Suggs Young had a good start to this game, he was able to make some quick shots in the first half.

Each of these teams went up and down the court in the first half. Neither team was able to get a comfortable lead in the first half.

Johnson tried to trap Washburn midway through the first half. Johnson also used multiple different defenses against Washburn in the first half.

Both teams have gone on multiple runs throughout the course of the game. Both teams have gone on runs in the first half. This game has been a dog fight from the start.

At half time the score is Minneapolis Washburn 40 and St Paul Johnson 37.

As the second half got underway St Paul Johnson continued to play zone defense. Both teams continued to fight hard throughout the second half.

Washburn was able to find holes in Johnson’s defense. Even through Johnson played aggressively on the defensive end they had trouble finding the shooters.

Nick Smith really stepped up in the second half. He made some really nice plays down the stretch.

After a quick first few minutes in the first half this game has really dragged. The teams are still fighting hard but the tempo has slowed way down.

Washburn pulled away in the second half. They were able to play tough defense. Minneapolis Washburn was able to come away with the victory in the second half.

The final of the game was Minneapolis Washburn 91 and St Paul Johnson 66. Minneapolis Washburn will play Mankato West in the championship game on Saturday night.

The leading scorers for Washburn were Dylan Hale with 25 points and Cedric Martin with 13 points.

The leading scorers for St Paul Johnson were Dion Suggs Young with 12 and Mike Talley with 10 points.

The Czar from Twin Cities Boys Hoops was also here and here are his thoughts on this game.

My post game interviews are -
Washburn players Dylan Hale, De Aaron Hearn, Cedric Martin
Washburn Head Coach Reggie Perkins

TWO INERCITY SCHOOLS COLIDE IN A RIVALRY MATCH UP

Minneapolis Washburn and Minneapolis Southwest are one of the Minneapolis City Conference’s biggest rivalries. When these two schools face each other either on the grid-iron or on the hard wood it is always a battle. The latest battle played out on a chilly late February evening at Washburn High School. Washburn was ranked #4 in class AAA the week of the game.

Southwest started playing zone defense. They wanted to try to slow this Washburn team down. Tom Weko thought that it was important for Southwest to communicate on the defensive end.

Washburn will look to push the ball up in transition. Southwest was able to get a 12-7 lead over Washburn in the early goings. Both teams look to go hard after each other in the early goings of the game.

Both teams traded baskets in the first half. Cedric Martin played well in the first half for Washburn he made some nice mores to the basket. He also had some nice defensive stops.

Southwest stayed in there zone for most of the first half. That really didn’t sit well with Washburn. Washburn wanted to push the ball out and run.

Washburn was in a zone defense for most of the first half also. Both teams launched their fair share of three point shots in the first half.

Washburn scored in spurts in the first half. Each team competed in the first half. Neither team gave up playing hard in the first half.

At have time the score was Washburn 35 and Southwest 32.

Washburn was able to go on a run to open the second half. Southwest fought back throughout the second half. Antonio Wigfall played extremely well for Southwest in the second half.

Washburn put the full court press on Southwest in the second half.

One of the highlights for Southwest came midway through the second half, when Dominique Dawson dunked over Washburn’s Ra’Shede Hageman, the crowd exploded in cheers.

Southwest went on a run late in the game to make it interesting. This game got very physical toward the end. Both teams had to control their tempers.

This game was a hard fought game throughout the game but in the end Washburn was able to hang on for the 84-68 victory.

FORMER MINNEAPOLIS WASHBURN WRESTLER DIES OF HEART ATTACK

Christian Dana Devine passed away of a heart attack. Christian Devine was a Minneapolis Washburn high school Graduate. When Christian was in high school he was one of the top wrestlers. He was a die hard wrestling fan.

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