MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST WENT UP AGAINST EDEN PRAIRIE IN A BOYS’ SECTION BASKETBALL GAME

Minneapolis Southwest and Eden Prairie squared off in a boys’ Section 6 Class 4A basketball game on Feb. 25.

Eden Prairie started the game in a zone defense. Southwest struggled to get good shots against the zone.

Eden Prairie was a lot quicker than Southwest. Eden Prairie looked to get Grantham Gillard the ball. Gillard was able to get to the basket and make layups.

Southwest called a timeout with 9:31 left in the first half. The score was Eden Prairie 22, Southwest 8.

Southwest’s Johnny Skyes brought the ball down the floor and was able to make shots. Teammates Brennan Hawkins and Keion Alexander also came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Southwest struggled to shoot the ball in the first half. They couldn’t make shot. Eden Prairie was able to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups throughout the game.

At halftime the score was Eden Prairie 48, Southwest 19.

Eden Prairie’s Colton Simmer and Blake Cashman came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Eden Prairie continued to make layups and jump shots throughout the second half. They were able to turn Southwest over came up with the layups.

Eden Prairie was too much for Southwest to handle. Eden Prairie came away with the 88-41 victory over Southwest.

Southwest was lead in scoring by Hawkins with 10 points and Alexander with 9 points.

Eden Prairie was lead in scoring by Simmer with 16 points, Jake Ruppert with 11 points and Cashman with 10 points.

STILLWATER WENT UP AGAINST EDEN PRAIRIE IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

Stillwater and Eden Prairie went up against each other in a boys’ basketball game. Eden Prairie jumped out to an early 17-8 lead with 14 minutes left in the first half.

Eden Prairie moved the ball down the floor well in the first half. They were able to get past the Stillwater defense.

Stillwater was able to move the ball down the floor well. They got everyone involved in the offense.

Eden Prairie’s Grantham Gillard came up with some huge shots in the first half.  

The score was close late in the first half. The defense that Stillwater applied on Eden Prairie made them take more time on the offensive end.

The score remained close late in the first half.

Stillwater’s Connor Gamble was all over the floor. He came up with some huge shots in the first half.

At halftime the score was Eden Prairie 38, Stillwater 33.

As the second half got underway Eden Prairie’s Owen Chose came up with some huge mid-range jump shots midway through the second half.

The score went back and forth late in regulation.

Stillwater went to a zone defense they wanted to make Eden Prairie shoot deep 3-point shots.

Neither team went on a run in the second half. Both teams were very competitive throughout the game.

Gillard continued to take the ball hard to the basket. He was able to come up with some huge layups late in the game.

Eden Prairie came away with the 71-68 victory over Stillwater.

The leading scorer for Eden Prairie was Gillard with 32 points.

The leading scorer for Stillwater was Gamble with 27 points.

EDEN PRAIRIE WENT UP AGAINST MAPLE GROVE IN THE CLASS 6A SEMIFINALS OF THE STATE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Eden Prairie kicked an onside kick and they recovered it. Eden Prairie took over on the Maple Grove’s 39-yard line. Eden Prairie quarterback Grantham Gillard looked to get the ball into the hands of his receivers. On 4th-and-5 Eden Prairie punted the ball.

Maple Grove’s Brad Davison came up with a huge reception for a first down. Isaac Collins came up
with some nice runs down the field. On 4th-and-10 they went for it. Sam Franta came up with a huge catch for a first down. Kyle Anderson came up with a 1-yard run for a touchdown. The extra-point attempt was good.

With 5:19 left in the first quarter the score was Maple Grove 7, Eden Prairie 0.

Eden Prairie took over on their own 20-yard line. Gillard was able to come up with some big plays as he was able to fend off defenders and pick up rushing first downs. J.D. Spielman came up with a big run for a first down.

Eden Prairie called a timeout with 1:34 left in the first quarter. The score was Maple Grove 7, Eden Prairie 0.

Eden Prairie kept the ball on the ground. They were not able to come up with a first down. On 4th-and-long they punted the ball.

Maple Grove took over on their own 17-yard line.

After one quarter of play the score was Maple Grove 7, Eden Prairie 0.

Maple Grove’s Clark Wieneke came up with some huge runs. Davison came up with some nice passes to his receivers. If Wieneke thought that he had room to run he would blow by the defense.

On 4th-and-6 Maple Grove punted the ball.

Eden Prairie took over on their own 45-yard line. Spielman was slippery on offense as the defense had a hard time tackling him. Will Rains came up with big runs for short yards that kept the offense on the field.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 6:41 left in the second quarter. The score was Maple Grove 7, Eden Prairie 0.

Gillard came up with a 4-yard run after being chased in the back field. Gillard switched up between passing and running plays. He was able to get everyone involved in the offense. On 4th-and-1 Rains came up with a 1-yard run for a first down.

Eden Prairie called a timeout with 2:01 left in the second quarter. The score was Maple Grove 7, Eden Prairie 0.

Spielman came up with huge reception that got Eden Prairie into the red zone. On 4th-and-4 Eden
Prairie went for it. Gillard fumbled the ball and that caused a turnover on downs.


Maple Grove was intercepted. Eden Prairie took over on the Maple Grove’s 45-yard line.

At halftime the score was Maple Grove 7, Eden Prairie 0.

Maple Grove kicked off to start the third quarter. Eden Prairie got the ball into the hands of Rains on the first series. Rains did a good job of getting past defenders. Spielman came up with a 14-yard touchdown run. The extra-point attempt by Brandon Gould was good.

With 9:30 left in the third quarter the score was tied at 7.

Maple Grove took over on their own 44-yard line. Spielman almost incepted a pass. On 4th _and-8 Maple Grove punted the ball.

Eden Prairie took over their 23-yard line. Rains continued to get the ball as he looked to get first down. Gillard also came up with some big plays.

Spielman came out with an injury. He was attended to by medical personnel. Rains got past defenders. On 4th-and-13 Eden Prairie punted the ball.

Maple Grove took over on their own 24-yard line. Davison was able to escape defensive pressure and come up with reception. Wieneke came up with a huge run for a first down. On 4th-and-7 Maple Grove punted the ball.


After three quarters of play the score was tied at 7.

Gillard continued to get the ball into the hands of Rains. Rains continued to pick up huge yards. Alec Hetherington came up with a huge run for a first down.

Eden Prairie called a timeout with 8:18 left in the fourth quarter. The score remained tied at 7.

Eden Prairie continued to try to move the ball down the field. Rains came up with a 5-yard run for a first down. On 4th-and-1 Eden Prairie went for it. Rains came up with it for a first down. Gillard ran 13 yards for a touchdown.


The extra-point attempt was no good.

With 4:22 left in the fourth quarter the score was Eden Prairie 13. Maple Grove 7.

Maple Grove started on their own 39-yard line. Eden Prairie came up with an interception.


Eden Prairie came away with the 13-7 victory over Maple Grove.

After the game I was able to talk to Gillard and Eden Prairie head coach Mike Grant about the game.

I was also able to talk to Maple Grove head coach Matt Lombardi about the game.

EDEN PRAIRIE TOOK ON HOPKINS IN A BOYS BASKETBALL GAME

Eden Prairie and Hopkins squared off in boys basketball region game on March 5. University of North Carolina head mens basketball coach Roy Williams was on hand watching the game.

 

Hopkins looked to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition. Hopkins raced out to a 10-4 lead with 14:05 left in the first half. That is when Eden Prairie called a timeout.

 

After a slow start Eden Prairie started hitting mid-range jump shots with just under seven minutes to go.

 

Hopkins controlled the tempo for the first half. They were able to frustrate Eden Prairie on the offensive end.

 

Wallace tied the game with just over three minutes to go at 29 on a three-point shot.

 

The score continued to go back and forth late in the first half.

 

At halftime the score was tied at 35.

 

As the second half got underway Eden Prairie looked to pass the ball around the three-point line to take time off the clock.

 

Hopkins came up with some big steals and was able to turn them into points.  

 

Hopkins was able to slow down the Eden Prairie offense in the second half.

 

Hopkins Amir Coffey came up with some mid-range jump shots that gave his team energy.

 

Eden Prairie didn’t have any real answers to the Hopkins shooters. Hopkins took over the game behind Coffey’s shooting with just under ten minutes left in regulation.

 

Hopkins’ Noble Fahnbulleh came up with some layups and jump shots in the second half. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it. If he wasn’t open he would pass it to John Warren or Jake Wright who also came up with big shots throughout the game.

 

Hopkins swung the ball around the three-point line with just under 7:00 to go as they were up 20 by that point and they looked to take as much time as they could off the clock.

 

There was a timeout of the floor with 5:50 left in regulation. The score was Hopkins 68, Eden Prairie 51.

 

Hopkins turned on the offensive jets in the second half. They were able to create turnovers and come up with baskets.

 

Hopkins called a timeout with 3:38 left in regulation. The score was Hopkins 70, Eden Prairie 57.

 

Eden Prairie never seemed in a hurry on the offensive end.

 

In a game that was close throughout the first half. Hopkins was able to pull away midway through the second half.

 

Hopkins came away with the 77-64 victory over Eden Prairie.

 

The leading scorers for Eden Prairie were Gillard with 26 points and Wallace with 18 points.

 

The leading scorers for Hopkins were Coffey with 20 points, Wright with 19 points, Warren with 15 points and Fahnbulleh with 12 points.

 

EDEN PRAIRIE WENT UP AGAINST OWATONNA IN A BOYS BASKETBALL GAME

Eden Prairie and Owatonna squared up in a boys’ basketball game. Eden Prairie got the ball into the hands of Grantham Gillard and Andre Wallace.

 

It took a while for each team to get into an offensive shooting rhythm.

 

There were many ties and lead changes in the early going.

 

Owatonna looked to push the ball down the court and score baskets in transition. If they couldn’t score baskets in transition they would pull it out and swing the ball around the three-point line and look for a good shot.

 

Gillard was able to get to the basket and looked to make layups.  He was successful.

 

Owatonna called a timeout with 12:04 left in the first half. The score was Eden Prairie 10, Owatonna 7.  

 

Owatonna played a zone defense. They wanted to force Eden Prairie to take long shots. Eden Prairie however was able to get the ball inside and get layups.

 

Owatonna’s Zach Shaver came up with some nice baskets that kept his team in the game.  

 

Eden Prairie called a timeout with 5:08 left in the first half. The score was Eden Prairie 22, Owatonna 21.

 

The score continued to go back and forth late in the first half.  

 

Both teams looked to score on fast breaks and three-pointers. Neither team was afraid to shoot the ball.

 

Owatonna’s Sam Fenske came up with some nice baskets. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

 

Gillard came up with a few steals and was able to convert on the defensive end.

 

Owatonna looked to turn Eden Prairie over when they trapped the ball.

 

At halftime the score was Eden Prairie 37, Owatonna 26.

 

As the second half got underway Wallace continued to drive to the basket and look for his shot. He was continued to make his shot.

 

Owatonna called a timeout with 15:18 left in regulation. The score was Eden Prairie 41, Owatonna 28.

 

Wallace continued to take the ball to the basket and he also did a good job of getting his teammates involved in the offense as well.

 

Owatonna kept on shooting the ball and was able to stay in the game.

 

Eden Prairie called a timeout with 8:58 left in regulation. The score was Eden Prairie 56, Owatonna 46.

 

Owatonna kept chipping away at the deficit. They were able to hit shots that they made.

 

Owatonna got within 3 points at 58-55 with just over 6:00 left in regulation.

 

The score went back and forth after that point. There were many ties and lead changes in the final minutes of the game.

 

Wallace continued to make his shots late in the contest.

 

Eden Prairie came away with the 67-62 victory over Owatonna.

 

The leading scorer for Owatonna was Fenske with 17 points.

 

The leading scorers for Eden Prairie were Gillard with 25 points and Wallace with 20 points.

 

EDEN PRAIRIE TOOK ON PRIOR LAKE IN A BASKETBALL GAME

Eden Prairie went up against Prior Lake in a boys basketball game. The game got off to a quick start as each team raced up and down the floor looking to get into an offensive shooting rhythm.

 

Eden Prairie’s Andre Wallace took the ball hard to the basket. He was able to get his shot going early.

 

Wallace scored Eden Prairie’s first six of his team’s eight points.

 

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

 

Jason Faul for Prior Lake came up with some nice baskets midway through the first half.

 

Wallace continued to shoot the ball well in the first half. He had good court awareness and knew where his teammates were on the floor at all times.

 

The Prior Lake defense went cold late in the first half. They were not able to hit a shot for a period of time.

 

Eden Prairie continued to shoot the ball well late in the first half.

 

The score went back and forth late in the first half.

 

At halftime the score was tied at 24.

 

As the second half got underway the score continued to go back and forth.

 

Connor Bair for Prior Lake came up and made some nice plays in the second half. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

 

Wallace took the ball hard to the basket and was able to step up and hit his free throws.

 

Bair and Wallace guarded each other tightly throughout the game. Neither gave the other an open look at the basket.

 

Grantham Gillard for Eden Prairie came up with some nice shots late in the contest. Gillard was fouled with 0.9 seconds left with the score tied at 62.

 

Gillard hit a free throw to win the game.

 

Both teams played hard but Eden Prairie came away with the 63-62 victory over Prior Lake.  

 

Wallace ended up with 24 points and Gillard ended up with 20 points.

 

For Prior Lake Jon Sobaski with 20 points and Bair with 18 points.