MINEAPOLIS NORTH TOOK ON ST. PAUL CENTRAL IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME THAT TURNED INTO A TRACK MEET

Minneapolis North and St. Paul Central went up against each other in a boys’ basketball game. Both teams seemed like they were ready to play and showed a lot of intensity early.  

 

Tyler Johnson for North was able to bring the ball down the floor without any problems. He was able to get by his defenders.

 

It took a while for each of these teams to get into an offensive rhythm.

 

North looked to get the ball into the hands of DJ Hunter. Hunter was all over the floor. On the offensive end Hunter was able to get past his defenders and get layups.

 

North took a timeout with 15:40 left in the first half. The score was tied at 2.

 

The score went back and forth early. Neither team went on a run.  

 

Central switched between man-to-man and zone defense throughout the first half.

 

The game was a defensive battle. Neither team got a lot of shots off because of the defensive pressure the other team was playing.  

 

Central struggled for a period of time in the first half. They had multiple possessions where they turned the ball over.  North took advantage of as they were able to score on the fast break.

 

The defensive pressure gave the Central offense fits. Central was not able to get their offense going at all as they had difficulty hitting shots.

 

The Central offense hit three straight shots with just under 4:00 left in the half.

 

North called a timeout with 3:03 left with the score Central 20, North 19.

 

The score went back and forth late in the half.  The pace of the game really picked up speed again as both teams scored baskets in the fast break.

 

At halftime the score was Central 29, North 25.

 

Central looked to get the ball down the court quickly to start the second half as they looked to push the ball in transition.

 

North came out flat to start the second half. They did however kept on looking to push the ball down the court.

 

Central’s Rayeon Williams shot the ball well as he was able to step up and knock down jump-shots.

 

Adbi Muse was all over the court. He was able to make layups and he was able to get past his defenders.

 

The score continued to go back and forth midway through the second half.  The North defensive pressure stepped up big as they didn’t want to give up any easy shots.

 

Central shot a lot of three-point shots but they were unsuccessful at making shots. They kept on shooting shots that they thought that they could make.

 

The game came down to the wire. Both teams traded baskets late in the contest.

 

The game was tied with 1:00 to go. Williams fouled Johnson and Johnson hit two free throws to give North a two point lead.

 

Central’s Kadeem Turner knocked down shots late in the game to keep his team in the game.  Sam Gubbrud hit a free throw with 11.5 seconds left that gave Central a 1 point lead.

 

North called a timeout with 6.0 seconds left in regulation. The score was Central 52, North 51 which would be the final score.

 

North was lead in scoring by Tyler Johnson with 12 points, Isaac Johnson and Jamil Jackson each had 10 points and Hunter had 9 points.

 

The leading scorers for Central were Williams with 17 points and Kalu Abosi with 10 points and Gubbrud with 9 points.  

 

CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL WENT UP AGAINST LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

Cristo Rey Jesuit went up against Legacy Christian Academy in a boys’ basketball game on Nov. 25.

 

Both teams looked to push the ball down the floor in transition. Cristo Rey swung the ball around the three-point line as they looked to get into an offensive groove.

 

The score went back and forth early. It took a while for each of these teams to get used to what the other team was doing.

 

Cristo Rey used different defenses in the first half. That made it difficult for Legacy Christian to see open looks at the basket.

 

Legacy Christian was able to make shots from behind the three-point line as well as layups.

 

Luke Johnson for Legacy Christian was able to make layups. If he was close to the basket he was not afraid to take a good shot at the basket. If Johnson was not able to get a good shot he would feed teammate Luke Anderson the ball as Anderson came up with some jump shots.

 

There were many loose balls in the first half. Both teams dove on the floor for the ball.

 

Cristo Rey strung some baskets together midway through the first half.  Legacy Christian wasn’t able to counter.

 

Jordan McKinney for Cristo Rey rebounded well on both ends and was able to make his layups. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball on the low block.

 

The score went back and forth with 7:00 left in the first half. Neither team went on a run.

 

Cristo Rey got a lot of baskets in transition. Johnny Obaski for Cristo Rey got their offense going. He knew where his teammates were on the floor and knew what plays he wanted run.

 

Devonte Smith for Cristo Rey came up with some key layups late in the first half to keep his team in the game.

 

The score remained close late in the half. Both teams found hard for every shot that they took.

 

At halftime the score was Cristo Rey 30, Legacy Christian 28.

 

As the second half got underway Smith continued to get to the basket and made some nice shots.

 

Both teams played with a lot of intensity and both coaches had a lot of intensity throughout the game.

 

The players did a good job managing their emotions. You could tell it was early in the season as the players for Cristo Rey were getting used to playing as a team. They communicated well on both ends of the floor.

 

Luke Johnson kept shooting the ball as his teammates kept on feeding the ball. He was able to hit shots that he was putting up.

 

The pace of the game quickened midway through the second half. Legacy Christian didn’t let a frantic pace bother them at all as they looked to control the tempo of the game.

 

Both teams didn’t let the pace of the game bother them. Cole Bertsch for Legacy Christian shot some mid-range jump shots that kept the game close.

 

The score went back and forth late in the contest. There were many ties and lead changes throughout the second half.   

 

Cristo Rey went to a full court press. They looked to turn Legacy Christian over. They were able to do that and they were able to score baskets off the turnovers.  

 

Cristo Rey called a timeout with 3:29 left in regulation, the score was Cristo Rey 59, Legacy Christian 57.

 

Legacy Christian’s guard Nate Bertsch received a technical foul with 2:03 left in regulation. That was his fifth foul.

 

The score with 2:03 left was Cristo Rey 64, Legacy Christian 59.

 

Both teams went to a full-court press as they wanted to make it hard for the other team to get their shot off late in the contest.

 

Both teams score a lot of points in the last two minutes of the game. Legacy Christian came up with some big baskets as everyone touched the ball and shot the ball well late in the contest.

 

Cristo Rey came away with the 71-68 victory over Legacy Christian

 

I thought that this was a very well-played game. Neither team was able to go on a run at any point of the game. I thought that Legacy Christian battled hard throughout the game. Both teams were prepared to play this game.  

 

The leading scorers for Legacy Christian were Anderson with 24 points, Bertsch with 23 points and Johnson with 17 points.

 

The leading scorers for Cristo Rey were Smith with 28 and Jeffery Hudson with 11 points.

 

I was joined by the Twin Cities Hoop Czar. Check out his thoughts of the Cristo Rey vs. Legacy Christian game.

MINNETONKA TOOK ON MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Nov. 23, Minnetonka and Minneapolis Southwest went up against each other in a boys’ basketball game.

 

Minnetonka looked to set the tempo of the game early. They looked to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition.

 

Akeem Smith brought the ball down the floor for Southwest. He looked to get his teammates the ball in spots where they could make easy baskets.

 

Minnetonka’s Careino Gurley got his teammates involved in the offense. He did a good job of passing the ball to his teammates. He was able to get the ball into the hands of guard Amar Miller. Miller was able to step up and knock down some good shots.

 

Smith kept his team in the game. He was not afraid to shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor. If he thought that that he had a good shot he was not afraid to shoot it.

 

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

 

Camron Ross for Southwest was able to hit layups in the fast break. He was also able to beat his defender off the dribble.

 

Minnetonka called a timeout with 11:12 left in the first half. The score was Southwest 20, Minnetonka 18.

 

Smith did a good job of slowing down the guy that he has guarding. He guarded different players throughout the game.

 

Both teams dove on the floor after loose balls. These teams played with a lot of emotion and intensity.

 

Southwest’s Lanick Knight was all over the floor. He stepped up and was able to knock down some shots. His teammates did a good job of finding him in spots where he could shoot it.

 

The score continued to go back and forth throughout the first half. Neither team was able to go on a run.

 

Ross was not afraid to shoot the ball from wherever on the floor. He took it hard to the basket and was not afraid to attack the basket.

 

Both teams were a little sloppy late in the first half.  They each rushed their shots.

 

At halftime the score was Minnetonka 45, Southwest 35.

 

Southwest continued to push the ball down the floor to start the second half. Minnetonka came out firing on all cylinders. They were able to move the ball well and strung together some baskets and were able to slow down Southwest.

 

Southwest didn’t give up. They attacked the basket and they swung the ball around the three-point line and they looked for shots that they thought that they could make.

 

Minnetonka called a timeout with 12:13 left in regulation. The score was Minnetonka 62, Southwest 49.

 

Minnetonka kept the intensity up as they defended well.

 

Peter Weiss for Minnetonka came off the bench and played well.

 

Southwest was not able to hit shots down the stretch. Minnetonka was a little quicker than Southwest.

 

 Moses really played well for Minnetonka. He knew where he was supposed to be on the floor and he was not afraid to shoot the ball. He played with a lot of heart and passion. The defense had a hard time stopping him.

 

The game got off to a good start. Minnetonka started to pull away late in the first half and they were able to keep the energy going throughout the second half.

 

Minnetonka came away with the 91-70 victory over Southwest.  

 

The leading scores for Minnetonka were Moses with 33 points, Grant Steele with 12, Careino Gurley with 11 points, and Amar Miller with 9 points.

 

The leading scorer for Southwest was Knight with 21. 

 

TARTAN HIGH SCHOOL 12 TEAM BOYS’ BASKETBALL SCRIMMAGE NOTES

Tartan high school held a 12-team scrimmage at the High Performance Academy in Eagan on Nov. 23. Everyone played a 20 minute running clock game type of scrimmage with officials.

 

DELASALLE vs. BUFFALO

 

In the first scrimmage DeLaSalle took on Buffalo.  Buffalo started out in man-to-man on the defensive end. DeLaSalle took their time on the offensive end.

 

Buffalo switched between man-to-man and zone defense. They wanted to confuse the DeLaSalle offense.

 

PRIOR LAKE VS. BUFFALO

 

In the second scrimmage Prior Lake went up against Buffalo. Prior Lake started in a man-to-man defense. Buffalo wanted to get out and score baskets in transition.

 

Buffalo switched up between zone and man-to-man defense.

 

Prior Lake’s Keaton Greene brought the ball down the floor and was able to get his team set up in an offensive rhythm. He knew where his teammates were supposed to be on the floor.

 

Buffalo did a good job of rebounding the ball on both ends of the court. They also did a good job of pushing the ball down the floor and getting open looks at the basket. No scoring was kept.

 

PRIOR LAKE VS. DeLaSALLE

 

Prior Lake went up against DeLaSalle in the third scrimmage. DeLaSalle looked to get the ball out of the net and push the ball down the floor as they wanted to make layups in transition.

 

Jarvis Johnson for DeLaSalle came up with some steals and was able to make lay-ups. DeLaSalle played tough man-to-man defense. They didn’t let Prior Lake make any easy shots.

 

Prior Lake’s Tevin Grant made some nice mid-range jump shots. If he thought that he could hit a 15-foot jumper he was not afraid to shoot it.

 

Goanar Mar for DeLaSalle got the ball on the low block and was able to get easy layups. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could make his shots.

 

OSSEO VS. JOHN MARSHALL

 

Osseo went up against Rochester John Marshall.  Osseo played man-to-man defense, and they made it hard for John Marshall to hit open jump shots.  

 

John Marshall swung the ball around the three-point line as they took time off the clock.

 

On the defensive end Osseo was able to create turnovers.

 

Both teams played hard. Osseo looked like they knew what they were doing on both ends of the floor.

 

John Marshall was quick on their feet and was able to slow down the Osseo offense.

 

BRAHAM VS. PRIOR LAKE

 

Braham and Prior Lake went up against each other. Braham was not afraid to shoot the deep three-point shot. Prior Lake did a good job of getting a hand in the shooter’s face and making it hard for Braham to hit shots.

 

Both teams scrambled to the ball on both ends of the floor.

 

Prior Lake was able to get fast break baskets.

 

COOPER VS. PRIOR LAKE

 

Cooper started out in man-to-man defense. They forced Prior Lake to think about the shots that they were shooting. They didn’t let Prior Lake take uncontested shots.

 

Both teams were able to get the ball out of the basket and were able to score baskets in transition.

 

Cooper did a good job of pushing the ball down the floor as they looked to get baskets in transition.

 

Prior Lake was able to swing the ball around the three-point line as they were able to run their offensive sets.  They set a lot of picks for each other and they did a good job of talking on both sides of the ball.

 

TARTAN VS. PRIOR LAKE

 

In the final scrimmage of the day Prior Lake went up against Tartan. Prior Lake communicated well on both ends of the floor.

 

Tartan went to a full court press. They made it difficult for Prior Lake to get the ball down the floor.

 

Prior Lake looked well on the defensive end. They knew who they were guarding as they were able to slow them down on the defensive end.

 

Overall thoughts

 

I thought that this scrimmage was very well run. It gave different teams a chance to go up against some different competition. It also gave me a chance to see teams that I wouldn’t see on a given night.

PRIOR LAKE TOOK ON HENRY SIBLEY IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

In the first game of the 2013-’14 season Prior Lake went up against Henry Sibley in a boys’ basketball game.

 

Prior Lake started in a man-to-man defense. They wanted to make it hard for Henry Sibley to get shots up.

 

Jon Sobaski for Prior Lake brought the ball down the floor. He got his teammates involved in the offense. Connor Bair looked to get the ball in the block for Prior Lake. If Bair thought that he had a good shot from the low post he was not afraid to shoot it.  

 

Prior Lake was able to score baskets from anywhere on the court. Kevin McKiernan knocked down some deep three-point shots.  

 

Javon Daniels for Henry Sibley attacked the basket well and was able to beat his guy off the dribble and hit contested shots.

 

Henry Sibley called a timeout with 10:48 left in the first half. The score was Prior Lake 19, Henry Sibley 12.

 

Bair and Daniels fought for rebounds on both ends of the floor. Daniels was not afraid to shoot an outside shot.

 

The score went back and forth throughout the first half.

 

At halftime the score was Prior Lake 38, Henry Sibley 30.

 

As the second half got underway Prior Lake continued to push the ball down the floor.

 

The game was physical as both teams dove on the floor after loose balls. There were many jump balls in the second half.

 

Henry Sibley strung some baskets together midway through the second half. The Prior Lake offense went stagnant

 

Sobaski came up with some steals and was able to convert on the offensive end.

 

Henry Sibley went to a full court press as they looked to confuse the Prior Lake defense.

 

Neither team went on a run in the second half. The game was close throughout the contest.

 

Prior Lake stepped up their defensive intensity late in the contest.

 

Henry Sibley didn’t back down they clawed throughout the contest. The game was tied at 66 with 44 seconds left in regulation.

 

Tevin Jerome Grant scored a basket with 4.7 seconds left in regulation to give Prior Lake a 68-66 lead. That was the final.

 

The leading scorers for Henry Sibley were Daniels with 21 points and Kolstad with 14 points.

 

The leading scorers for Prior Lake were Sobaski with 19 points, Bair with 15 points, and Austin Heidecker with 14 points.

 

With this victory this was the first victory for head coach Dan Rubischko. Rubischko is in his first year coaching as the head varsity boys’ basketball coach at Prior Lake High School.