GREAT PLAINS ALLIANCE 17 U CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Minnesota Fury Davis and Minnesota Fury Anderson faced off in the 17U boys basketball championship game of the Great Plains Alliance tournament hosted by the Minnesota Comets.

 

Davis  came out in a zone defense. They looked to slow Anderson down from the start of the contest.

 

Both teams raced up and down the floor looking for fast break opportunities.

 

Davis jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead with 14:00 left in the first half. Anderson kept on looking to score easy baskets in transition.  

 

Davis looked to get the ball into the hands of Wheeler Baker. Baker was a shifty guard who knew where his teammates were on the floor and was able to get them the ball in spots where they could make easy baskets.

 

Anderson looked to get the ball into the hands of Robinson TC. TC was all over, making good plays on both ends of the floor. On the offensive end he was quick enough that he could get by his defenders and get to the basket. Defensively, he was able to dictate where the player he was guarding was able to go. TC also played very good help side defense.

 

The score went back and forth throughout the first half. Neither team went on a major run in the first half.

 

The score went back and forth throughout the first half, as neither team went on a sustained run.

 

Baker was crafty with the ball, and knew how to make plays on the offensive end. He made it a rough day for those assigned to defend him.

 

Anderson looked to get the ball in the open court and looked for the fast break.

 

For Anderson, Fahnbulleh Nobel did a good job of getting to the basket. He was able to call for the ball when he was at the top of the key and was able to turn around and make a short jump shot consistently.

 

Robinson came up with a few nice steals and was able to turn steals into layups.

 

Anderson went on a run late in the first half. They were able to slow down the Davis scoring. Davis went into a scoring funk the last 4:00 minutes of the first half.

 

At halftime the score was Anderson 32, Davis 24.

 

The second half got off to a good start as each team really looked like they stepped up the intensity on the defensive end.  Both teams dove on the floor after loose balls, and there were many tie ups on both ends of court.

 

Davis switched up between man-to-man and zone defense as they were able to throw Anderson off guard.

 

Davis strung some baskets together midway through the second half. Anderson didn’t back down however as they were able to attack the basket and looked for shots that they thought that they could make.

 

Davis went to a zone defense and that caused a lot of problem for Anderson.

 

There were several ties and lead changes late in the contest.

 

Anderson was always able to string some key baskets together at critical times in the contest. Davis always fought back and looked to attack the basket as they were able to weather the storm.

 

Anderson looked to trap the ball on defense, but Davis did a good job of swinging the ball around the three-point line and taking time off the clock. Davis did a good job of attacking the gaps in the Anderson defense.

 

This was a very hard fought game by both teams. Neither team gave up on either ends of the floor.

 

They also dove on the floor after loose balls and rebounds. It was a very good hard fought game by both teams.

 

Baker stepped up to the free throw line and was able to knock down some big free throws for his team.

 

The game came down to the wire. At the end of regulation the score was tied at 53.

 

In the overtime period both teams continued to attack the basket. Anderson wasn’t able to hit a shot in the overtime period.  Davis was able to come away with the 58-53 overtime victory over Anderson.

 

I thought that Baker played well throughout the game. He was into the game mentally and emotionally.

GET TO KNOW JEFFERY LEONARD BONDS

Jeffery Leonard Bonds was born in Minneapolis, MN on January 18, 1995. He has two older sisters. Bonds will graduate from Minneapolis DeLaSalle High School in 2013.

He plays both football and basketball. Bonds says that he wants to focus on basketball. This summer he plans on working out 5-6 hours a day on his basketball game.

Bonds will be playing basketball this summer with the Minnesota Fury AAU program.

In his free time he plays basketball and hangs out with his friends. He also likes to listen to a variety of hip hop music. He likes Big Sean and Mac Miller.

He would like to play basketball in college some day. He knows that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make it to the next level.

MINNESOTA GRASSROOTS TOOK ON MINNESOTA FURY IN A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

Minnesota Grassroots took on Minnesota Fury in the championship game in the 17u division.

Both teams started out trading baskets. It took a while for each team to get a feel for each other. Minnesota Fury used a man-to-man defense. They looked to apply tough defense.

The score went back and forth throughout most of the first part of the game. Neither team was able to go on a run.

Both teams dove on the ground after loose balls. There were many jump balls in the first half.

Minnesota Fury's Ty Moore took the ball hard to the basket. He was able to blow past his defenders and make easy shots. Moore was also able to hit a nice three-point jumper just outside of the three-point line.

The score with 6:16 left in the first half was Minnesota Fury 21 and Minnesota Grassroots 18.

Minnesota Grassroots looked to score easy baskets in transition. They got the ball out of the net and got it quickly down to the other end of the court where they were able to score baskets.

Minnesota Grassroots had a hard time finding their shots midway through the half. They didn't get down on themselves.

At halftime the score was Minnesota Fury 34 and Minnesota Grassroots 27.

Minnesota Grassroots came out on the attack to start the second half. They continued to attack the basket as they looked for their shots.

Minnesota Fury was able to slow down Minnesota Grassroots on the offensive end. Minnesota Grassroots was not able to get easy baskets. The Minnesota Fury's defense got to the Minnesota Grassroots players.

Minnesota Grassroots was not able to slow Minnesota Fury down on the offensive end. The Minnesota Fury had control of the tempo throughout the game.

Minnesota Fury was able to take Minnesota Grassroots out of the game emotionally. Minnesota Grassroots was not able to make shots that they made throughout the tournament. Minnesota Fury was able to pick them apart on both ends of the floor throughout the game. Minnesota Grassroots didn't go down without a fight though. They were able to keep the game respectable and didn’t let their emotions get to them.

Minnesota Fury came away with the 78-68 victory over Minnesota Grassroots. 

MINNESOTA GRASSROOTS TOOK ON MINNESOTA HEAT IN A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

Minnesota Grassroots took on Minnesota Heat in a boys' basketball contest. Minnesota Heat started the game off in a zone defense. They didn't want Grassroots to get any easy open shots at the basket.

Grassroots came out on fire. They were able to get a 7-4 lead with 13:57 left in the first half.

Grassroots used a strong man-to-man pressing defense and they were able to slow down the Heat's offense.

Minnesota Heat didn't get frustrated. They kept attacking the basket. On the offensive end the Heat looked for quick shots and didn't take a lot of time off of the clock.

Grassroots looked to trap the ball at half court. They looked to create turnovers and score easy baskets off of the turnovers.

Minnesota Heat passed the ball around the three-point line as they looked to get the best shot that they could, even though they had a difficult time shooting the ball.

The score was close throughout the first half. Grassroots kept shooting the ball from all over the court. They were not afraid to shoot it.

The Heat went on a run and they were able to get within one point of Grassroots with 5:30 left in the first half.

Both teams played with a lot of emotion and intensity. They dove on the floor after loose balls and rebounds. There were many jump balls.

The game was close as the score went back and forth late in the half. Just as one team was going on a little run the other team stepped up the defense as they played cat and mouse late in the first half.

The first half went back and forth with neither team pulling away. At halftime the score was Minnesota Grassroots 33 and Minnesota Heat 28.

Minnesota Heat started the second half in a zone defense. They switched between zone and man-to-man in the first half.

Minnesota Grassroots got a couple of easy baskets on steals. The Heat had many possessions in a row where they turned it over.

With 13:00 left in regulation the score was Minnesota Grassroots 46 and Minnesota Heat 30.

Ty Moore for Minnesota Grassroots took the ball strong to the basket. He was all over the court. He was able to find his teammate Darrien Strong under the basket for easy assists.

Minnesota Grassroots spread the ball around and they looked to take time off the clock. They were able to do that. Minnesota Heat didn't have a response for them.

Minnesota Grassroots was too much for Minnesota Heat to handle. Grassroots fought off a late comeback by the Minnesota Heat but in the end Minnesota Grassroots came away with the 73-54 victory.

MINNESOTA GRASSROOTS TOOK ON WAYZATA IN A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

In a 17U contest the Minnesota Grassroots took on the Wayzata Trojans in a boys' basketball game. Wayzata started the game in zone defense. They looked to slow down Grassroots. Grassroots looked to push the ball down the court in transition as they looked to score easy baskets.

Wayzata found the basket early in the game as they were able to sink a few shots and open the game on a run. Grassroots was not able to find the basket at the start of the contest.

Grassroots used a full court press and that made it hard for Wayzata to make shots. Grassroots did a good job of getting a hand up in the faces of the Wayzata players.

With 11:00 left in the first half the score was Wayzata 19 and Minnesota Grassroots 10.

Grassroots continued to look to shoot the ball when they felt that they had a good open shot. They didn't get down on themselves when their shots were not falling.

With 7:00 to go in the first half Grassroots went on a run. They were down by one with 6:26 to go when Wayzata called a timeout.

Both teams dove on the floor after loose balls. They were very aggressive on both ends of the floor.

The score went back and forth late in first half. The game got a little chippy as each team thought that they were supposed to get calls that they didn't get.

Grassroots took their time on the offensive end as they looked to take as much time off the clock as they could late in the half.

Grassroots switched between man-to-man and zone defense as they looked to confuse the Wayzata players. Wayzata was not able to figure that out at first and Grassroots took advantage of that by scoring easy baskets off of the mismatch defense.

Wayzata was forced to take long three-point shots because Grassroots was defending the three-point line very well. Wayzata had a hard time hitting their shots from behind the three-point line.

Wayzata had an easy time scoring on the back door cuts. Grassroots got beat on several plays where the Wayzata player would cut to the basket using the backdoor. That is how Wayzata scored most of their points late in the half.

At halftime the score was Wayzata 37 and Grassroots 34.

Grassroots came out of the halftime break in a man-to-man defense. They looked to tighten up the pressure on Wayzata.

Grassroots kept on attacking the basket on the offensive end. They were successful doing that throughout the first half.

Grassroots used a full court press and that created turnovers for Wayzata. Wayzata had a hard time bringing the ball down the court.

Grassroots kept the full court press on throughout the second half. They really were able to cause turnovers for the Wayzata team.

Grassroots was all the rebounds on both ends of the court. They were also able to score easy baskets by getting rebounds and putting the ball right back into the basket.

With 11:04 left in regulation the score was Grassroots 56 and Wayzata 44.

Wayzata didn't give up they kept on attacking the Grassroots defense. They were not afraid to take the ball hard to the basket.

Grassroots did a good job of attacking the basket throughout the game. Wayzata didn't back down. I thought that Grassroots was a little quicker than Wayzata. The pace of the game was in Grassroots favor throughout.

Grassroots took their time on the offensive end late in the game. They looked to take as much time off the clock as they could. They played keep away by dribbling around the three-point line and that made Wayzata have to go out and guard or foul them.

Wayzata tried to make a run late in the game but that was to no avail.

Grassroots came away with the 87-71 victory over Wayzata.

MINNESOTA UNITED TOOK ON MINNESOTA LOCKDOWN IN A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

Minnesota United took on Minnesota Lockdown in a boys' basketball game. Both teams started out on an even playing field. The game was close at the beginning. Each team went hard to the basket.

Minnesota Lockdown used a zone defense. They were able to spread United out and made them take bad shots.

Lockdown looked to control the tempo of the game as they controlled the boards on both ends of the floor.

In a first half that was very close and the score went back and forth for a good majority of it. The score was Minnesota United 28 and Minnesota Lockdown 18.

Minnesota Lockdown continued to put pressure on Minnesota United. Minnesota Lockdown went on a run midway through the second half.

When ever Minnesota Lockdown went on a run Minnesota United seemed to step up their defensive pressure and was able to slow the tempo.

Minnesota Lockdown put up a fight throughout the whole game. They didn't back down at all. Minnesota United was just too much for them to handle.

In the end Minnesota United came away with the 55-44 victory over Minnesota Lockdown.

MINNESOTA HEAT TOOK ON MINNESOTA MAGIC IN A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

In a 17u boys' basketball game the Minnesota Heat took on the Minnesota Magic. Minnesota Heat used a full court press early on to try to get Magic out of the game and set the tempo.

The Heat caught fire midway through the first half as they were able to hit shots with ease.

The Magic players didn't get down on themselves as they kept on shooting the ball and taking it hard to the basket.

The pace of the game got quicker as the half progressed.

Minnesota Magic guard Joey Curtis Sonneyfield was all over the court. On the offensive end he called for the ball on the low block. He was able to hit a little jump shot from the low block.

At halftime the score was Minnesota Heat 34 and Minnesota Magic 25.

Minnesota Heat came out in a zone defense to start the second half. They really wanted to spread the Magic offense out as they could and make it hard for them to shoot the ball. The Magic also came out in a zone defense.

Minnesota Magic made a run to start the second half. They were able to get to within three points of the Heat.

The score went back and forth for a good portion of the second half. Neither team gave up easy shots.

Minnesota Magic went to a motion offense. They used a lot of passing and cutting to get their players open. That made them use a lot of time off of the clock. Magic was able to get shots out of the offense.

Minnesota Magic went on a run with just under 9:00 left in regulation. The Heat still were in the game though as they didn't back down. Magic did miss a few shots and the Heat took advantage as they were able to make a few baskets in a row.

The Heat went to a full court press with just 3:00 left in the game. The Minnesota Magic was able to break the press and still score baskets.

The Minnesota Magic was able to hold on and come away with the 76-63 victory over the Minnesota Heat in a hard fought game.

MINNESOTA FURY TOOK ON ECI PROPSPECTS IN A BOYS’ BASKETBAL GAME

Minnesota Fury took on ECI prospects in a boys’ basketball game. ECI got off to a quick start as they

gained a 6-3 advantage with 12:28 in the first half.

Minnesota Fury looked to get the ball into the hands of Andre Travaris McDonald. McDonald was all

over the court. On the offensive end he took the ball hard to the basket. He was able to find his shot and

shoot the ball in transition.

Minnesota Fury switched between man-to-man and zone defenses. That gave ECI some problem trying

to figure out how to guard them.

ECI looked to get the ball into the hands of Kelvin Mackey. Mackey did a good job of getting the ball

out of the net and getting it up the court. He knew where his teammates were on the court and was able

to direct them to where they were supposed to be.

ECI got everyone involved in the plays. They moved the ball around the three-point line well as they

tried to take as much time off the clock as they could.

Will Johnson for Fury got his teammates involved in the play. Fury used a lot of motion offense.

At halftime the score was Fury 36 and ECI 32.

McDonald lead the pack in the second half. He took a good charge and went after the ball.

The score went back and forth throughout as neither team was able to go on a run.

Tyler Moore for Fury knocked down some deep three-point shots.

Minnesota Fury came away with the 67-60 victory over ECI.