Opportunity – for a price | Minnesota Hockey Hub | MN Boys High School Hockey

By Jason Gonzalez, Star Tribune

 

Behind the walls of an old grocery store in Lakeville is Reed Smith's playground. For at least two hours, four times a week, the 13-year-old bounces around the warehouse with purpose.

The food aisles have been replaced with athletic equipment and ice, and the store clerks with certified trainers, transforming this building into Total Hockey Minnesota training academy.

Along with the couple hundred other hockey players of all ages from all areas of the Twin Cities and beyond, Smith and his older sister Annabeth spend considerable time and family resources for a chance at becoming the sport's elite.

"It's very competitive," Smith said about the training environment. "I do believe it's good for me. It helps me excel in my hockey career to be like the pros. It's necessary."

Check out the link below for the rest of the report.

Opportunity – for a price | Minnesota Hockey Hub | MN Boys High School Hockey

PAT MADISON MAGIC TOOK ON INFORMATION INVESTORS GROUP IN THE HOWARD PULLEY PRO CITY SUMMER LEAGUE

The Pat Madison Magic went up against the Information Investors Group in a Howard Pulley Pro City Summer League game.

It took a while for each team to get used to each other as neither team was able to get into a shooting rhythm.

Walley James Ellenson came out gunning as he shot the ball from anywhere on the court that he wanted to. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where they knew that on the floor.

Anthony Tucker for Information Investors did a good job of getting to the basket where he was able to hit shots that he put up. He took shots mostly inside of the three-point circle.

At the end of the first quarter the score was Pat Madison 27 and Information Investors 22.

Both teams continued to hustle and go after rebounds and loose balls in the second quarter.

PJ Hill for Pat Madison was all over the floor. He brought the ball down the court and was able to set his men up and get them into spots where they knew that they could hit shots from.

Pat Madison did a good job of using the shot clock to their advantage. They let the clock wide down and started looking for shots with about 15 seconds left to go.

At halftime the score was Pat Madison 53 and Information Investors 35.

As the third quarter got underway both teams came out with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. 

Charles Buggs looked good on the floor for Pat Madison. He had good court awareness. On the defensive end he always knew where his man and the ball was at all times.

Pat Madison continued to hit shots in the third quarter. Investors didn't give up at all. They fought hard the whole quarter.

At the end of the third quarter the score was Pat Madison 76.

The fourth quarter started out on a tear as each team wanted to show quickness as they blew by the other team.

Pat Madison hit shots down the stretch. They were a little quicker the Information Investors and they used that to their advantage. Pat Madison came away with the 102-96 hard fought victory over Information Group.

MILLER TIME TOOK ON PAT MADISON MAGIC AT THE HOWARD PULLEY PRO CITY SUMMER LEAGUE

Miller Time squared off against Pat Madison Magic in a basketball game in the Howard Pulley Pro Summer League.

The game got off to a quick start as each team raced up and down the court looking to get into their shooting groove.

Austin Hollins had some nice plays around the basket. He was able to come up with some nice rebounds and get the ball into the hands of his teammates.

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

Miller Time got the ball into the hands of guard Troy Bell. Bell was all over the floor. He did a good job of setting his players up and if he thought that he had a good shot he would fired it up.

Kwadzo Ahelegbe for Miller Time did a good job of running the floor and getting everyone involved in the offense.

PJ Hill the guard for Pat Madison held his teammates together when they were on the floor. He instructed his teammates on where they were supposed to be on the floor and shouted out instructions to his teammates.

At the end of the first quarter the score was Pat Madison 27 and Miller Time 23.

Pat Madison attacked the basket as they looked to score baskets in transition.

Miller Time continued to attack the basket as they looked for their shots to fall.

Pat Madison kept on attacking the glass in the third quarter. Miller Time didn't back down as they were able to keep pace with Pat Madison.

Hill continued to take the ball hard to the basket.

At halftime the score was Pat Madison 59 and Miller Time 55.

As the second half got underway both teams seamed to still have energy. Bell continued to shine as he was able to get to the basket and hit shots down the stretch.

Pat Madison went on a scoring spree in the third quarter. Miller Time had a tough time getting any shots to fall.

At the end of the third quarter the score was Pat Madison 90 and Miller Time 77.

The fourth quarter started off with a bang as each team zipped up and down the floor shooting shots from everywhere. Lay-ups, jump shots you name it someone was trying to jack something up.

Miller Time made a frantic run late in the contest as but Pat Madison came away with the 116-112 victory over Miller Time.

The leading scorers for Miller Time were Akeeme Cubie with 34 points, Bobby Fong with 21 points and Michael Campbell with 24 points.

The leading scorers for Pat Madison were PJ Hill with 30 points and Ike Udanoh with 22 points.

EL-AMIN FISH HOUSE TOOK ON PAT MADISON IN THE HOWARD PULLEY PRO CITY LEAGUE

El-Amin Fish House and Pad Madison squared off in a basketball game. It took awhile for each team to get into a shooting flow.

Bruce Price for El-Amin Fish House was all over the floor. He was able to get his teammates involved in the offense.

Kevin Thompson for El-Amin Fish House also got his shot going. Both players fed off each other, set screens and looked for the open man while taking shots when they were available.

Neither team got into a rhythm of the game. Everyone seemed to be out of it. Tonight the crowd was sparse no doubt due to the NBA finals. Looks like the the fans wanted to see KING JAMES win his first NBA championship.

In spite of the fact the crowd was light, both teams gave a great effort. Both teams looked to score baskets in transition and Bruce Price was especially successful and finding his way to rim.

At the end of the first quarter the score was Pat Madison 44 and El-Amin Fish House 25. Pat Madison shot a torrid percentage to reach 44 points.

As the second quarter got underway PJ Hill found his range for Pat Madison. He drove to the lane and was able to get his shot going. Defenders had a hard time defending Hill when he had the ball and drove it to the lane. He was unstoppable.

Price was all over the floor. He also got his teammates involved in the offense. Even though they were a more tepid then their opponent they continued to fire the rock.

Each team looked for fast break opportunities. They were able to get those as each team played lax defense for portions of the game.

Both teams were very vocal on the court as they shouted instructions to each other. But Pat Madison was able to build a 14 point lead heading into the locker room.

At halftime the score was Pat Madison 67 and El-Amin Fish House 53.

As the third quarter got underway both teams stepped up there urgency. It looked like both teams rushed shots and were scrambling on the court.

As the fans took off the game became more like street ball than regulation basketball. Even though all of the fans left there was still a game to be played. Pat Madison simply played heady basketball. They were the better team.

Lamont Mack for Pat Madison was all over the floor. He went after loose balls and rebounds on both ends of the floor. Mack was the spark plug for his team.

Both teams tried to force long passes down the court in hopes of getting easy transition baskets. Sometimes these passes were sloppy and the ball would go out of bounds.

At the end of the third quarter the score was Pat Madison 105 and El-Amin Fish House 87.

The fourth quarter was more of the same lackadaisical passes and miscues all over the floor. There were no fans in the stands for support. Despite that the players played hard and it was obvious Pat Madison was trying to put a whoopin’ on El-Amin Fish House.

Price was all over the court. I thought he played hard though out the game.

Pat Madison came away with the 140-121 victory over El-Amin Fish House. By any standards that is a lot of points and each team put up a lot of shots.

ERROL CARLSTROM PLAYAZ TOOK ON PAT MADISON MAGIC IN THE 2012 HOWARD PULEY PROCITY SUMMER LEAGUE

Errol Carlstrom Playaz took on the Pat Madison Magic in a basketball match-up in the 2012 Howard Pulley Procity Summer League.

The game got off to a quick start as both teams hit lay-ups from inside the lane. Errol Carlstrom Playaz spread the floor out and passed the ball around the three-point line.

PJ Hill for Pat Madison ran the offense. He would tell his players where they were supposed to be on the floor. It was the first game for each of these teams so players were getting used to each other.

At the end of the first quarter the score was Pat Madison 29 and Errol Carlstrom Playaz 19.

Errol Carlstrom Playaz didn't force shots. They passed the ball and chewed up the 24 second shot clock. Isaac Rosefelt found his shooting touch as he was dead on from inside the three-point line.

Both teams looked to score lay-ups in transition. Pat Madison played tight man-to-man defense. They were able to slow down the Errol Carlstrom Playaz on the offensive end.

Marcus Alipate for Errol Carlstrom came off the bench and his teammates looked to get him the ball. When Alipate got the ball he looked to shoot a midrange jump shot.

Errol Carlstrom looked to score baskets in transition. Pat Madison kept up with Carlstrom in transition.

Romain Martin came off the bench for Pat Madison and his teammates did a good job of getting him the ball. Martin knew that he was consistent in shooting within the three-point line. That is where his teammates looked for him to get the ball.

The score went back and forth midway through the second half. That is when both teams figured out the style that the other team was playing and each team played to each others strengths.

At halftime the score was Errol Calrstrom Playaz 56 and Pat Madison 49.

As the third quarter got underway Errol Carlstrom Playaz came out shooting the ball from everywhere inside the lane. They didn't want to force shots that they put up.

Pat Madison didn't give up in the second half. They kept on attacking the basket as they looked for easy lay-ups and open jump shots to stay in the game. Errol Carlstrom Playaz were a little quicker on the offensive end .

Pat Madison's had attempted many long distance three-point shot attempts in the third quarter but they did not drop. The old adage “you live by the three or die by the three”, came into play during this contest.

At the end of the third quarter the score was Errol Carlstrom Playaz 86 and Pat Madison 72.

Pat Madison continued to penetrate the lane as they were successful in getting baskets in the lane throughout the game.

PJ Hill continued to shoot the ball well. Hill was dead on from inside the three-point line.

The game got to within six points with 4:00 left in regulation. The score was 99-93 Errol Calrstrom Payaz up.

As the clock continued to wind down neither team panicked. They were both came out and played under control.

The game came down to the wire but in the end Errol Carlstrom Playaz held on for the 105-100 victory over Pat Madison.

The leading scorers for the Errol Carlsrom Playaz were Isacc Rosefelt with 24 points, Jefferson Mason with 20 points, Cameron Rundles with 19 points and Jamar Diggs with 12 points.

The leading scorers for Pat Madison were Kawadzo with 22 points, and PJ Hill with 28 points.