ST. PAUL HIGHLAND PARK WENT UP AGAINST MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST IN A BOYS BASKETBALL GAME

St. Paul Highland Park and Minneapolis Southwest squared off in a non-conference boys basketball game on Feb. 1.

 

Highland Park looked to set the tempo of the game early.

 

Highland Park started the game off in a zone defense. They looked to force Southwest to take long deep three-point shots. It took Southwest awhile to get into a shooting rhythm.  

 

Southwest’s Akeem Smith did a good job of getting the ball down the floor and calling out plays that he wanted his team to run. Even though Southwest had difficulty shooting jump shots from within the paint they kept attacking the basket.

 

Southwest called a timeout with 13:43 left in the first half. The score was Highland Park 9, Southwest 3.

 

Highland Park did a good job of getting everyone involved in the offense. They passed the ball around the three-point line and did a good job of communicating.

 

Southwest’s AJ Ray ran the floor well and was able to get the ball to his teammates. He knew where his teammates were supposed to be on the floor and was able to get them the ball where they could shoot it.

 

Highland Park was not afraid to shoot the ball from behind the three-point line. Highland Park’s D’Anthony McAdory-Beckman came up with some deep three-point baskets in the first half.

Highland Park was able to bring the ball down the floor and make layups throughout the first half.

 

Southwest’s Lanick Knight did a good job on the defensive end. He was able to slow down the guy he was guarding and was able to make him take contested shots. Knight also wasn’t afraid to shoot his three-point shot from the top of the key.

 

McAdory-Beckman came up with some nice steals and was able to turn them into layups in the first half.

 

The game was close throughout the first half. Neither team went on a run.

 

At halftime the score was Highland Park tied at 24.

 

As the second half got underway Southwest seemed to come out with a lot of energy. They were able to get their offense going by attacking the basket and looking for layups.

 

Highland Park called a timeout with 16:21 left in regulation. The score was Southwest 30, Highland Park 24.

 

Ray stepped up big in the second half as he was able to come up with some teals and came up with some nice three-point shots.

 

Highland Park continued to spread the ball around the floor as they attacked the basket. They were able to come up with some lay-ups midway through the second half.

 

The pace of the game slowed down in the second half. Both teams took a lot of time off the clock.

 

Southwest called a timeout with 8:53 left in regulation. The score was Southwest 41, Highland Park 38.

 

Highland Park tied the game at 41 on a three-point shot by Emanuel Murphy with just under 8:00 left in regulation. From that point on the score went back and forth. There were many ties and lead changes in the second half.

 

Highland Park came up with some steals and they were able to get layups on the offensive end.

 

Highland Park called a timeout with 4:34 left in regulation. The score was Highland Park 53, Southwest 49.

 

Highland Parks Adrian Miller came up with some nice mid-range jump shots late in the game that kept his team in the game.

 

McAdory-Beckman was fouled with 1.3 seconds left and the score was tied at 57 when he went to the line and he made his first free throw. Southwest then called a timeout and then McAdory-Beckman made the next free throw and Southwest again called a timeout.

Highland Park came away with the 59-57 victory over Southwest.

 

The leading scorers for Highland Park were Collins-Westlund, Murphy and Miller each with 11.

 

The leading scorers for Southwest were Edwards with 15 and Smith with 8 points.