OSSEO WENT UP AGAINST PARK CENTER IN A BOYS’ SECTION SEMIFINAL BASKETBALL GAME

On March 14, Osseo and Park Center squared off in a boys’ basketball game. This game was a semifinal of the Section 5 Class 4A tournament. The game was played at Maple Grove High School. Osseo was the number 3 seed in the section and Park Center was the number 2 seed in the section.

Osseo pushed the ball down the floor and came up with a layup and a 3-point shot by John Bezdicek.

Park Center called a timeout with 17:06 left in the first half. The score was Osseo 5, Park Center 0.

Osseo got everyone involved in the offense. They passed the ball around the 3-point line and looked for their shots.

Park Center took a lot of time off the clock also by passing the ball around the 3-point line. 

On the defensive end, Park Center played a zone defense. They didn’t want Osseo to penetrate the middle and get to the lane. 

Osseo came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. They were also able to hit 3-point shots. Osseo used their quickness to get past the Park Center defense. 

Park Center’s Derrick Ogechi scored his team’s first five points. His teammates got him the ball in the paint in which he could made shots. 

After a slow start, offensively for Park Center they came up with layups and jump-shots. They got everyone involved in the offense.

Osseo’s Zach Theisen came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. Theisen called for the ball in the paint. That’s where he made most of his baskets. Theisen also stepped up and attempted 3-point shots.

Neither team took a lot of time off the clock on the offensive end mid-way through the first half.

Park Center did a good job of feeding Ogechi the ball in spots where he could shoot it. Ogechi was also able to slow down the guy he was guarding on the defensive end. 

Osseo wasn’t afraid to take deep 3-point shots. Everyone on the floor rebounded when the shot went up. 

Park Center called a timeout with 4:31 left in the first half. The score was Osseo 26, Park Center 19. 

Park Center’s Dainja took the ball hard to the basket. He wasn’t bothered by the Osseo defensive pressure.

The very physical throughout the first half. The officials let both teams play. 

Osseo’s Marice Nelson came up with 3-point baskets late in the first half. Park Center had a difficult time slowing Nelson down from behind the 3-point line. 

At halftime, the score was Osseo 37, Park Center 24. 

As the second half got underway Osseo took a lot of time off the clock by dribbling the ball around out-side of the 3-point line. That made Park Center come out and guard them from behind the 3-point line. 

Park Center struggled shooting early in the second half. Their shots were not falling for them. Park Center continued to get the ball into the hands of Losini Kamara, Derrick Ogechi and Dainja. All of whom looked to score by taking mid-range jump shots and layups. 

Osseo called a timeout with 11:44 left to go in regulation. The score was Osseo 47, Park Center 36.

Theisen continued to come up with layups. He could beat his guy off the dribble and got to the basket for layups. There were multiple guys guarding him. 

Osseo took as much time as they could on the offensive end by dribbling and passing the ball around the 3-point line. 

Park Center came up with steals and layups. Their offense started to click with just under 7:45 left in regulation. Osseo didn’t give up however they kept on attacking the basket and kept on coming up with shots. 

Park Center was active on both ends of the floor. On the offensive end, they passed and cut a lot and on the defensive end they could get Osseo frustrated by their pressure. 

Park Center called a timeout with 6:17 left in regulation. The score was Osseo 54, Park Center 48.

Osseo took a lot of time off the clock late in the game. 

Park Center went to a full court man-to-man defense as they wanted to slow the Osseo defense down.

Osseo called a timeout with 2:26 left in regulation. The score was Osseo 58, Park Center 52. 

Osseo called another timeout with 2:16 left in regulation. The score remained 58-52 Osseo. 

Park Center trapped Osseo and could force them to turn the ball over. 

The Park Center offense came up with some huge shots late in the game. 

Osseo called a timeout with 40.2 seconds left in regulation. The score was Osseo 61, Park Center 57.

Park Center looked to take quick shots late in the game. 

Both teams played well throughout the game. Osseo got up big early and Park Center clawed their way back. 

Osseo came away with the 62-61 victory over Park Center. 

The leading scorers for Osseo were Theisen and Nelson each with 18 points and Bezdicek with 13 points. 

The leading scorers for Park Center were Broadway with 17 points, Kamara with 14 points and Dainja with 12 points.