COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TOOK ON BENILDE-ST. MARGARET’S IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL CONTEST

Columbia Heights took on Benilde-St. Margaret's in a boys’ basketball contest. The game drew fans from across the metro. Columbia Heights came into the game with a record of 6-1. Benilde-St. Margaret’s came into the game with a record of 4-2. 

Coming into the game Columbia Heights was led in scoring by Zach Lofton who averaged 31.7 points per game.  

Both teams started out the game looking to push the ball down the court. Columbia Heights looked to get the ball into the hands of Lofton. Lofton was very good with the ball. He knew where his teammates were on the court and if he didn’t have an open shot he would pass it to one of them so they could take an open shot.  

When Benilde- St. Margaret’s had the ball on the offensive end they looked to take their time with it. They passed the ball around the three-point line. Benilde was able to knock down shots in the first half. 

Lofton was not afraid to shoot the three-point shot. He was right on from all over the court. 

The score was close throughout the half. Both teams played tough on the defensive end.

 

Columbia Heights looked to trap Benilde-St. Margaret’s when they got the ball over the half court line. Benilde-St. Margaret’s did a good job of not getting trapped.

The score was tied at 20 with 9:00 left to go in the first half.

Ben Glover also found his three-point shot for Columbia Heights. He was right on from about a foot behind the three-point line.

With 7:21 left to go in the first half the score was Columbia Heights 24 and Benilde-St. Margaret’s 23.

Isaiah Zierden found his shot in the first half. He was successful and making some nice two-point shots. His teammates felt comfortable feeding him the ball. Zierdan was comfortable shooting the ball from just about anywhere on the court.

Both teams dove on the ground for loose balls in the first half. Neither team game up.

Rodrick Carljames Logan for Columbia Heights was all over the court in the first half.

For Columbia Heights Trevon Money was aggressive on the defensive end. He went up and got the rebounds.

After a very good first half the score at halftime was Benilde-St. Margaret’s 37 and Columbia Heights 35.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s came out in a zone defense. They looked to spread Columbia Heights on the offensive end. 

Benilde-St. Margaret’s didn’t want to give up the lead. Columbia Heights on the other hand wanted to get the lead.

With 14:12 left in the second half the score was Benilde St. Margaret’s 45 and Columbia Heights 42.

Columbia Heights continued to trap the ball in the full court press for a period of time. They were successful in that as that made Benilde-St. Margaret’s turn it over.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s was able to go on a run with 8:00 left to go in the half. With 7:32 left Columbia Heights took a timeout with the score being Benilde-St. Margaret’s 56 and Columbia Heights 53.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s went on a run late in the game. Then Columbia Heights made a run with 3:00 left in regulation. That was not enough to catch Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s was able to come away with the 78-67 hard fought victory over Columbia Heights.

I thought that both teams played well and very competitive throughout the game. I thought that Sanjay Lumpkin, Isaiah Zierden and Kyle Washington all played well. Both teams played well but those players stuck out in my mind for Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

I thought that Ben Glover and Zach Lofton played well for Columbia Heights.

Lofton fished the game with 12 points. The other leading scorers for Columbia Heights were Ben Glover with 17 points and Keanue Glover with 13 points.

The leading scorers for Benilde-St. Margaret’s were Isaiah Zierden with 29 points and Sanjay Lumpkin with 21 points.

I was joined by the Czar of Twin Cities Boys Hoops. Check out his thoughts on the Columbia Heights VS Benilde-St. Margaret’s boys’ game.