MINNEAPOLIS DE LASALLE TOOK ON GRAND RAPIDS

The Minneapolis De LaSalle Islanders took on Grand Rapids in the boys’ basketball state class AAA semi final game. Both teams looked to get out early and push the ball up the court.

Both teams played very good defense to start the game. Both teams took a while before they found their shots. Neither team was able to make shots that they were taking.

De LaSalle is known for their defense. They really pride themselves on playing tough aggressive defense.

With 9:30 left in the first half the score was De LaSalle 10 and Grand Rapids 7.

Grand Rapids looked to Michael Johnson to score. Johnson was able to knock down shots from anywhere on the court.

The score remained close throughout the first half. Neither team was able to go on a run in the first half.

At halftime the score was De LaSalle 24 and Grand Rapids 20.

Grand Rapids came out and played a tough man-to-man defense to begin the second half.

Both teams again started off the half slowly. Both teams were not able to get their shots going at the beginning of the game or at the start of the start of the second half.

The score went back and forth through the game. Both teams went on mini runs.

Grand Rapids Kevin Rabbers found the basket in the second half. He took the ball really strong to the basket.

Neither team was able to get out and run in the open court. This game was all about the grind on the defensive end.

The game came down to the wire. The score was tied at 40 with 1.4-seconds left to go.

At the end of regulation the score was tied at 40.

Jalen Jaspers scored the first points of the overtime for De LaSalle. Grand Rapids wanted to take as much time off the clock as they could.

Each team continued to go after each other in the overtime period. Eric Stark found his shot in the overtime period. They kept on going to Stark in the overtime period.

At the end of the first over time the score was tied at 47.

The defensive pressure was on display throughout the game. Grand Rapids came away with the 57-53 victory over De LaSalle. The leading scorers for De LaSalle were Jonah Travis with 15 points and Jalen Jaspers with 14 points.

For Grand Rapids they were lead in scoring by Eric Stark with 20 points. Michael Johnson scored 14 points and Kevin Rabbers scored 9 points.

After the game I was able to talk to Grand Rapids Michael Johnson, Dan Wilder, and Eric Stark. I was also able to talk to Grand Rapids head coach Dan Elhard about the victory over De LaSalle.