NORTHSTAR HOOPS CLASH OF THE CLASSES BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

Si Melby Hall, on the campus of Augsburg College, was abuzz Friday night as the top boys basketball players from Minnesota went up against each other. Northstar Hoops Report put on the “Clash Of The Classes” event for fans. In all, 44 of the top basketball players from across the state were broken up into recruiting classes. The first game was the class of 2016 taking on the class of 2017. In the second game 2014 took on 2015.

2016 TOOK ON 2017 IN THE FIRST GAME OF THE EVENING

The first game of the evening was the class of 2016 versus 2017. It took awhile for both teams to get into an offensive rhythm.

Both teams looked to run and get baskets on the fast break. Neither team went on a run early in the game.

The 2016 squad switched between man-to-man and zone defense they wanted to get 2017 off guard. They were not able to do that. Team 2016 did a good job of talking on both ends of the floor and letting everyone know what defense they were playing.

The score was close throughout the first half. There were many ties and lead changes throughout the half.

Bryce Irsfeld for 2017 did a good job of yelling out picks. He knew where his teammates were supposed to be on the floor and he instructed his players on where they were supposed to be on the floor.

Team 2017 went on a run midway through the first half. They were able to slow down the 2016 offense.

Brock Bertram for 2016 called for the ball around the low block and was able to make consistent lay-ups near the basket. He did a good job of calling for the ball on offense and his teammates got him the ball where he was able to get good looks at the basket.

Both squads were evenly matched. Neither team went on a run in the first half and neither team gave up any easy baskets.

Amar Miller from the 2016 class came up with some nice baskets that kept his team in the game. He had a quick first step to the basket and a good crossover and he used that to blow by his defenders and get to the basket. If he didn't think that he had a good shot he was not afraid to pass it to one of his teammates.

Team 2016 went on a run late in first half. They built a 10-point lead with 4:14 left in the first half.

Team 2017 continued to get the ball down the floor and as they looked to get easy baskets in transition.

The score at halftime was 40-29 with 2016 leading.

In the first half the class of 2017 shot 27.0% from the field while the class of 2016 shot 48.6%.

As the second half got underway the class of 2017 looked to pass the ball around the three-point line to take time off the 35 second shot clock and to get into an offensive rhythm.

The defensive pressure seemed to loosen up a little bit as each team was able to score on wide open lay ups. Neither team wanted to foul the other if they had a good wide open lay-up.

 

When 2017 looked to go on a run 2016 was able to counter that with slowing them down but extending the defense and switching up what defensive fronts they played.

Miller was able to get fouled and get to the free throw line and was able to step up and knock down his free throws.

The game was close throughout the second half. Both teams were very competitive throughout the contest.

The Class of 2017 strung some baskets together with just under 8:00 to go as they led 67-59 with 7:00 left in regulation.

2016 didn't quit shooting how ever, they continued to swing the ball around the three-point line and looked to create an open shot.

2016 went into a full court press late in the contest. They wanted to make it hard on the 2017 guards to get the ball down the floor. 2016 was successful at doing that.

The game came down to the wire. 2017 had a 69-67 lead with 4:18 left in regulation.

2016 made some nice baskets late down the stretch. They were able to get within two points with 1:17 left in regulation.

Patrick Dembley for class of 2016 knocked down a deep three-point shot with 10 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 76.

The game was tied at 76 at the end of regulation.

In the overtime period both teams continued their same tactics as they continued to push the ball down the floor and get baskets in transition.

The game came down to the wire as both teams played really loose and were able to play to each other’s styles.

The score went back and forth throughout the overtime period. In a fun game that was fun to watch and had a lot of good action the class of 2017 came away with the 84-82 overtime victory over the class of 2016.

 

The leading scorers for the class of 2017 were Joevon Walker and Theo John each with 11 points, and Irsfeld with 10 points. As a team class of 2017 shot 32-89 from the field. That included going 7-25 from behind the three-point line. They were 13-22 from the free throw line. They brought down a total of 53 rebounds including 32 of them on the defensive end.

The leading scorers for the class of 2016 were Brock Bertram with 18 points, and Miller and Amir Coffee each with 11 points. As a team the class of 2016 was 29-79 from the field that included going 5-29 from behind the three-point line. They were 19-25 from the free throw line. They brought down a total of 62 rebounds 41 on the defensive end.

2015 TOOK ON THE CLASS OF 2014 IN THE SECOND GAME OF THE NORTHSTAR HOOP REPORT “CLASH OF THE CLASSES” BASKETBALL GAME

In the second game of the Northstar Hoops Report “Clash of the Classes” basketball game the classes of 2015 and 2014 went up against each other.

It took a while to get used to playing with each other. I thought that both teams came out a little tight at first but within the first five minutes of the game I thought everyone settled down.

Team 2015 called a timeout with 16:58 left in the first half. The score was 12-5, with 2014 leading.

The top three prospects for the class of 2014, Tyus Jones, Rashad Vaughn and Reid Travis all wanted to show their skills and play off of their teammates.

Jones and Vaughn hooked up with some nice alley-oops on wide open looks at the basket early in the contest.

Team 2015 had a hard time scoring baskets for a period of time in the first half. They looked to be a little bit overmatched by the class of 2014.

Team 2014 went to a zone defense as they tried to slow down the scoring of the players from 2015.

Donnell Gresham for the class of 2015 had a nice dribble game. He was able to beat his defender off the dribble and get the basket. He knew where his teammates were on the floor and was able to get them involved in the offense.

 

Jones was able to get open shots that he wanted to take and was not afraid to pull up and get other people to get shots if he thought that they were more open.

Ian Theisen of 2014 was around the basket. He called for the ball and when he got the ball in the low post he had a good drop step and he was able to take the ball strong to the basket.

Vaughn came up with some nasty two-handed slam dunks in the first half that brought the crowd to their feet in applause.

Both teams looked for fast break opportunities and got them in the first half.

At halftime in a very fast pace good game the score at half time was class of 60-43, with team 2014 leading.

As the second half got underway 2014 continued to roll through the class of 2015. Team 2015 didn't back down however. They continued to look to get to the basket and get into an offensive rhythm.

Team 2015 didn't back down. Even though they were not able to get their shots to fall they still had fun and didn't give up.

Class of 2015 tried to come back late in the contest but was not able to take the lead. The class of 2015 got with in 10 points with five minutes to play in regulation.

Team 2014 didn't let 2015 get the lead late in the game. Team 2014 came away with the 109-100 victory over the class of 2015.

I thought that the play of Jones, Travis and Vaughn was really good. Vaughn came up with some nice plays and had some really nice dunks. I thought that they all felt comfortable playing with each other on the floor. All three complemented each other on the floor.

The leading scorers for the class of 2015 were Sacar Anim with 25 points, and Donell Gresham and Marshawn Wilson each with 13 points. Team 2015 shot 37-100 from the field that included going 9-41 from behind the three-point line. They shot 17-23 from free throw line. The class of 2015 came away with 56 total rebounds, 32 of them on the defensive end.

The leading scorers for 2014 were Travis with 26 points, Vaughn 19 points, John Sobaski 11 points and Tyus Jones with 9 points. 2014 shot 43-88 from the field that included going 7-32 from the three-point line. They shot 16-22 from the free throw line. The class of 2014 came away with 56 rebounds 41 of them on the defensive end.

I thought that this was a very good event. I thought that all of the players had fun playing against each other and I also thought that the fans also enjoyed themselves as well.