REED NIKKO HAS VERBALLY COMMITTED TO MISSOURI

On Oct. 5, 2015 Maple Grove’s Reed Nikko verbally committed to Missouri via Twitter. “Couldn't be happier to announce that I'm committing to The University of Missouri for basketball #MizzouMade ”

MAPLE GROVE WENT UP AGAINST OSSEO IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Feb. 19 Maple Grove and Osseo squared off in a boys’ basketball game at Osseo Senior High School. Both of these teams are huge rivals. Both teams’ fanbases showed up to cheer their team on.

Both teams took their time on the offensive end early. Osseo started off in a zone defense. Maple Grove started in a match-up zone defense.

Maple Grove looked to get the ball into the hands of Brad Davison and Tywhon Pickford. Davison attacked the basket and looked to make layups.

Both teams took a lot of time off the clock as they passed the ball around the 3-point line.

Osseo switched between multiple defenses in the first half. They were able to confuse Maple Grove on offense.

Maple Grove did a good job of attacking the basket. Davison and Pickford both looked to take mid-range jump shots and layups.

Both teams played with a lot of intensity and passion. Both teams dove on the floor after loose balls and went after rebounds.

Maple Grove’s Mitchell Rekstad came up with steals and made layups. Davison was able to find teammate Reed Nikko for alley-oops and layups. That game his team energy.

Osseo’s J.J. Svac attempted 3-point shots. His teammates got him the ball in spots where he could hit them. If Svac didn’t think that he had a good shot he would pass it to his teammate. Ossseo’s Marmar Hughes took the ball hard to the basket as well as he looked to make layups.

Maple Grove was able to get to the basket and hit their shots. They did a good job of getting the ball into the hands of Davison, Pickford and Nikko. All three of those players were able to hit their shots consistently.

Osseo passed the ball around the 3-point and as they looked to attack Maple Zone’s zone defense.

Maple Grove’s Kayode Awosika came up with steals and got the ball down the floor quickly. He was able to score on layups.

Osseo struggled to shoot the ball late in the first half. They were not able to get their offense going.

At halftime the score was Maple Grove 25, Osseo 19.

Maple Grove continued to get the ball into the hands of Pickford to start the second half. Pickford attacked the basket and was able to get to the basket and make mid-range jump shots.

Osseo took a lot of time off the clock as Maple Grove played in a zone defense.

Osseo called a timeout with 13:59 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 34, Osseo 24.

Maple Grove came out with a lot of intensity and purpose in the second half. They passed the ball around the 3-point line and was able to get their offense set up and kept feeding Nikko and Pickford the ball.

Hughes got hot in the second half. He was able to hit mid-range jump shots and layups consistently.

Osseo went into a scoring lull in the second half. They were not able to hit shots that they put up.

Maple Grove did a good job of getting rebounds and hitting their shots.

Both teams took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game. They would pass the ball around the 3-point line or just stand at the top of the key and the defense would have to come out and guard the ball in man-to-man.

Osseo kept on attacking the basket late in the game. They did get to the basket and make shots. Anderson and Elliot Kane both came up with shots.

In a defensive battle Maple Grove came away with the 63-53 victory over Osseo.

The leading scorers for Osseo were Kane with 14 points and Anderson with 12 points.

The leading scorers for Maple Grove were Pickford with 18 points and Davison and Nikko each had 15 points.

I was joined by the Twin Cities Hoops Czar. Check out his thoughts of the Maple Grove vs. Osseo boys’ basketball game. 
 

WAYZATA WENT UP AGAINST MAPLE GROVE IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Jan. 24 Wayzata took on Maple Grove in a boys’ basketball contest. Both teams brought a lot of students who stood at the ends of the court cheering for their teams.

As the game got going Maple Grove looked to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition early.

Wayzata started out in a zone defense. They wanted to make Maple Grove take deep 3-point shots.

Maple Grove’s Tywhon Pickford came up with 3-point shots. He knew where his teammates were on the floor and they got him the ball where he felt comfortable shooting the ball.

Wayzta’s Johnny Beeninga did a good job coming off screens and getting to the basket. He was able to make mid-range jump shots and layups.

Wayzata looked to score baskets in transition. Beeninga got hot from in the paint. He made his jump shots.

Maple Grove looked to get the ball inside to Reed Nikko. Nikko looked to shoot layups inside the paint. Mitchell Rekstad also came up with huge baskets throughout the first half.

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

Wayzata got hot late in the first half. They passed the ball around the 3-point line and were able to come up with jump shots.

At halftime the score was Wayzata 34, Maple Grove 33.

As the second half got underway Maple Grove continued push the ball down the floor and looked to get the ball into the hands of Mitchell Rekstad, Pickford and Kayode Awosika who all were able to come up with jump shots.

Wayzata’s Jack Sowada and Ty Gelinske also came up with 3-point baskets and layups.  

Wayzata called a timeout with 10:18 left in regulation. The score was Wayzata 44, Maple Grove 40.

Wayzata took their time on the offensive end. They wanted to take time off the clock so they passed the ball around the 3-point line.

Wayzata’s Austin Slater came up with huge 3-point shots in the second half.

The score went back and forth throughout the second half.

Wayzata called a timeout with 3:30 left in regulation. The score was Wayzata 56, Maple Grove 55.

Maple Grove attacked the Wayzata defense. Wayzata didn’t want Maple Grove to get near the basket.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 1:31 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 58, Wayzata 56.  

Davison came up with huge shots late in regulation.

Maple Grove came up with shots down the stretch.

Maple Grove came away with the 67-59 victory over Wayzata.

The leading scorers for Wayzata were Beeninga with 24 points and Sowada with 11 points.

The leading scorers for Maple Grove were Davison with 16 points, Nikko and Pickford with 11 points each and Awosika with 9 points.