THE PRIOR LAKE LAKERS TOOK ON THE CHANHASSEN STORM IN A REGION BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

In the first meeting of the year Prior Lake Lakers took on the Chanhassen Storm in a boys' region basketball game. Prior Lake came into the game with a record of 15-12 while Chanhassen came into the game with a record of 22-5.

The game got off to a quick start as each team traded baskets. Both teams traded baskets early in the contest. The teams were exploring weaknesses and strengths during the first 10 minutes of the game.

Chanhassen did a good job of getting the ball down the floor. They were able to score fast break lay-ups. Prior Lake tried many different defenses against them early. Chanhassen did a good job of taking care of the ball and they were very methodical in their offense.

The score went back and forth throughout the first half. Neither team went on a run. It was closely fought defensive struggle and both teams handled the pressure well.

The coaches shouted instructions to their respected teams. I thought that each team did a good job of responding to the instructions that they were given. Neither team gave up easy shots in the first half.

Chanhassen's Joey Witthus came off the bench and was able to step up and hit a few long three-point shots. Chanhassen was not able to slow him down. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball.

At halftime the score was Chanhassen 32 and Prior Lake 31.

Each team brought a lot of students. The students cheered for their respective teams. They went back and forth in chanting and got involved in the game.

Both teams started exchanging three-point shots at the start of the second half. That got the crowd back into the game. Kevin Jensen found his shot in the second half. He was able to drain long three-point shots to keep which spark a second half surge.

Steve Gitzen got the Chanhassen offense going as he stepped up and was able to drain a few deep three pointers. The game came down to the wire. I liked the fact that neither of these teams gave up. Both of these teams played with a lot of passion.

Both teams dove on the floor for loose balls and all 10 guys went after rebounds.

Evan Kotchevar for Prior Lake tied the game at 63 with a deep three-point shot with 8.8 seconds.

The score was tied at 63 at the end of regulation.

Overtime started out with both teams maintaining their intensity on offense and defense. Chanhassen managed to score 8 more points while Prior Lake only managed to score 4 more points. Chanhassen played keep away in the final 30 seconds which forced Prior Lake to send them to the free throw line.

Chanhassen came away with the 71-67 over time victory over Prior Lake.

The leading scorers for Prior Lake were Evan Kotchevar 20, and Jon Sobaski with 19 points. The leading scorers for Chanhassen were Kevin Jensen with 18 points, Cole Otto and Joey Witthus with 12 points each.

BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY EAGLES TOOK ON THE EDEN PRAIRIE EAGLES IN A REGION BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

In a battle of the birds the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles matched up against the Eden Prairie Eagles in a region semifinal boys' basketball game at Chaska.

Eden Prairie jumped out to an early 6-2 lead with 16:00 left in the first half. Kennedy called its first timeout with 15:26 left in the first half. The score was 9-2 advantage Eden Prairie.

Eden Prairie was able to hit shots from everywhere on the floor. Both teams looked fresh and played with a lot of swagger. They dove on the floor after loose balls and went after rebounds. Eden Prairie looked to get the ball in the hands of guard Abrian Carpenter. Carpenter was able to drive to the basket hard and make layups. His teammates did a good job of finding him when he was open on the floor.

Kennedy maintained their poise and kept running their offense. They did a good job of moving the ball around to find their shots outside the arch, while Eden Prairie did a good job of getting into the lanes and deflecting passes.

Both teams moved the ball well on the offensive end in the first half. Eden Prairie played mostly man-to-man on the defensive end. Kennedy switched between man-to-man and zone defense.

At halftime the score was Eden Prairie 34 and Kennedy 26.

Eden Prairie started the second half in the zone. They took an 11 point lead at 40-29 lead with 15:39 left in the second half. This prompted Kennedy to call a timeout.

Despite being down by eleven points, Kennedy tried to work their way back into the game. However the lead was insurmountable.

Andre Wallace was all over the floor for Eden Prairie. He found his shot early. Most of his shots were from inside the paint. Tonight Andre did not see a shot he did not like. His motto seemed to be ‘have ball will shoot.’

Kennedy simply could not find the range in the second half. Eden Prairie was too quick for them. Kennedy tried to make a run late in the half however, Eden Prairie was not having it. They clamped down on the defensive end and closed out the game.

I thought that both teams played well and left everything that they had on the court. Eden Prairie came away with a 17 point victory with the score the 74-57 victory over Kennedy.

The leading scorers for Kennedy were Jumah'ri Turner with 14 points, and Darrian Pitman and Rico Gunn with 10 points. Kennedy shot 22-52 from the field that included going 5-14 from behind the three-point line. They were 8-12 from the free throw line. The Kennedy bench scored a total of 10 points.

The leading scorers for Eden Prairie were Sander Mohn with 22 points, Andre Wallace with 18 points and Grant Shaeffer with 16 points. They shot 25-52 from the field and that included going 6-9 from behind the three-point line. They were 18-26 from the free throw line. The Eden Prairie bench didn't score any points.

THE ST. LOUIS PARK ORIOLES WENT UP AGAINST THE WAYZATA TROJANS IN A BOYS' BASKETBALL REGION GAME

St. Louis Park Orioles traveled to Wayzata to take on the Trojans in a boys' region basketball game. The winner of the game will play in the semifinals of the tournament. This was the first time the teams faced each other this season. Going into the contest St. Louis Park had a record of 14-12 and was the number 5 seed in the region. Wayzata had a record of 18-7 going into the contest and they were the number 4 seed in the region.

Both of these teams looked relaxed and focused when they were in they were going through warm ups. That was also the case when they took to the floor. The coaches for each team were also intense.

St. Louis Park moved the ball around the three-point line as they looked for their shots. Wayzata started out in a zone defense. St. Louis Park was able to confuse Wayzata on the defensive end.

Wayzata's Kyle Kalivoda who started the game took the ball hard to the basket. He was able to score off some contested lay-ups. St. Louis Park had multiple players guarding him. Kalivoda was able to what he wanted to do on the offensive end.

There was blood on the floor with after playing only 7:07. As a result the call was made to clean up the floor the score was St. Louis Park 12 and Wayzata 6.

St. Louis Park got the ball into the hands of Makhi Taylor Moore. Moore was quick on his feet and was able to get to the basket from the paint. Moore got the ball from point guard Kashif Hayes near the top of the key. Moore usually drove to the basket as he looked to get a lay-up from the free throw line. Hayes also went coast-to-coast on a couple of plays. He played with a lot of emotion and energy and his teammates played off that.

Wayzata did a lot of switching on the defensive end. They didn't want Hayes or Moore to get easy baskets. St. Louis Park took quick shots and maintained a frenetic pace throughout the game.

St. Louis Park was able to step up big and drained consecutive shots. Wayzata wanted to slow down the momentum so they called a timeout with 6:07 left in regulation. The score was St. Louis Park 26 and Wayzata 18.

Out of the timeout Wayzata went to a zone defense. St. Louis Park looked to trap the ball out of the timeout. Hayes did a good job. St. Louis Park called a 30 second timeout with 4:27 left in the first half. The score was St. Louis Park 27 and Wayzata 20.

Wayzata went on a run after they called a timeout at the 4:27 timeout. St. Louis Park called a timeout with 3:35 left in the half; the score St. Louis Park 27 and Wayzata 26. Wayzata's Kyle Kalivoda scored a basket at the three minute mark to give Wayzata the lead. That was the Wayzata's first lead of the game.

Colin Nugent played well in the first half. He started the game and shot the ball well in the first half. He knew where he was on the floor and he got his teammates involved in the offense by passing them the ball when they were open by the basket.

Zach Robertson came up big in the first half. He found his shot early and often.

At halftime the score was Wayzata 34 and St. Louis Park 27.

Both teams brought back their starter to begin the second half. Wayzata came out in zone defense which provide to be helpful in slowing St. Louis Parks offensive threat

Both coaches stood for most of the second half. I thought that they did a good job of shouting out instructions to their players. They really let the kids dictate the outcome of the game.

St. Louis Park ran plays to get lay-ups. They set screens in their motion offense and they looked for guys to come off the screens in the paint as they were looking for their shots. Most of their points came from in the paint.

In the Wayzata offense they ran a lot of motion. Everyone on the floor was moving and they were calling out screens. Their motion offense gave them options to drive first or pass it back out to an open shooter. St. Louis Park tried to play zone in the second half but Wayzata was able to attack the gaps in the zone and get to the basket.

Wayzata pulled away with 8:00 left in the second half. St. Louis Park maintained their composure and looked to score from the arc. Robertson drained a three-point shot and St. Louis Park called a timeout with 7:36 left in regulation. The score was Wayzata 53 and St. Louis Park 39.

With 6:00 left in regulation Wayzata looked to burn time off the clock. They passed the ball around the three-point line as they burned time off the clock.

Wayzata went to a trapping defense and which forced St. Louis Park to turn the ball over. Nugent came up with some good lay-ups off of the steals. St. Louis Park called a full timeout with 4:15 left in regulation. The score was Wayzata 61 and St. Louis Park 45.

St. Louis Park went to a full court press after the timeout. They wanted to trap the ball and looked to get easy steals. St. Louis Park was able to pick up a few easy points off the steals. But it was not enough to get them back into the game.

Both teams brought a good student fan base and both supported their teams with good team spirit. Both student sections stood the whole entire game.

In a hard fought game Wayzata came away with the 71-56 victory over St. Louis Park. The leading scorers for Wayzata were Zach Robertson with 24 points, Colin Nugent with 21 points and Kyle Kalvoda with 9 points. The leading scorers for St. Louis Park were Kashif Hayes with 17 points and Dj Pollard with 18 points.

I was joined by the Twin Cities Hoop Czar. Check out his thoughts of the St. Louis Park vs. Wayzata boys' region basketball game.

TOTINO-GRACE TRAVELED TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FOR A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

Totino-Grace went up against Columbia Heights in a boys' basketball game. Going into the game Tonino-Grace had a record of 14-11. Columbia Heights record was 12-11.

It was parent night at the game. Before the game got underway all of the parents were honored for their contributions over the past season. Heights also unveiled the banner it won for making it to the state boys' basketball tournament in the 2010-2011 season. It was the last regular home game for Columbia Heights.

Totino-Grace won the tip and they looked to get set up in their offense. This boded well for them during the game. Columbia Heights also started out shooting well. They got everyone into the offense. Heights was not afraid to shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor. Gabe Kastenmeier made a deep three-point shot early in the half.

Both teams traded baskets. Neither team really went on a run in the first half as both teams played good defense. Columbia Heights picked up their defensive pressure at half court with the intent to slowing down their opponent and trying to prevent them from getting into their offensive sets.

Kalante RobertWesley Logan came off the bench for Columbia Heights and proved to be a defensive force.

At halftime the score was Totino-Grace 33 and Columbia Heights 28.

Columbia Heights push the ball down the court and scored easy baskets in transition to start the second half. They were also able to get steals and turn them into points.

Heights played methodically, running their offense and looking for good scoring opportunities. The score went back and forth throughout the second half. Deon Sanstad got his shot going midway through the half. He stepped up and knocked down a few deep three-point shots.

I enjoyed watching these two teams play because neither one of them gave up easy shots and they both played hard throughout the entire game. Neither team dominated the other one.

Columbia Heights called a timeout with 5:46 left in regulation the score was Totino-Grace 54 and Columbia Heights 52.

Sam Meyer took some good shots for Totino-Grace. He put up a nice fade away jump shot that he knocked down late in the contest.

In a game that went back and forth all night Totino-Grace came away with the 62-59 victory over Columbia Heights.

The leading scorers for Columbia Heights were Jordan Mills with 20 points, Deon Sanstad with 14 points, Matt Kourouma with 10 points and Taylor Renberg with 9 points.

The leading scorers for Totino-Grace were Nick Carr with 32 points, and Sam Meyer with 17 points.

These two teams will meet again in the quarterfinals of the region tournament.

I was joined by the Twin Cities Hoops Czar. Check out his thoughts of the Totino-Grace vs. Columbia Heights basketball game.