EDEN PRAIRIE WENT UP AGAINST CHAMPLIN PARK IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Feb. 10 Eden Prairie squared off against Champlin Park in a boys’ basketball game. Eden Prairie started the game in a zone defense.

 

Champlin Park’s Aaron Kloeppner scored his team’s first six points. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

 

Champlin Park’s Theo John picked up two quick fouls. He was replaced by Chris Davis.

 

Eden Prairie pushed the ball down the floor and looked to score baskets in transition.

 

Both teams look a lot of time off the clock in the first half as they swung the ball around the 3-point line.

 

Champlin Park’s Kloeppner and McKinley Wright IV both continued to come up with big mid-range jump shots and layups in the first half. Their teammates did a good job of getting them the ball in spots where they could shoot it.

 

Eden Prairie was able to move the ball down the floor well throughout the first half. They were able to get everyone involved in the offense.

 

Champlin Park looked to get the ball into the hands of Theo John. John took the ball hard to the basket and was able to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

 

Champlin Park was a little quicker then Eden Prairie was. Champlin Park was able to come up with open looks at the basket.

 

Champlin Park’s D.J. Hunter came up with mid-range jump shots and layups late in the first half.  

 

At halftime the score was Champlin Park 37, Eden Prairie 35.

 

As the second half got underway the score went back and forth. There were multiple ties and lead changes early.

 

Eden Prairie’s Owen Chose came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. The defense had a difficult time slowing him down.

 

Champlin Park went into a scoring drought for a period of time. They had a difficult time coming up with baskets.

 

Champlin Park wasn’t afraid to shoot deep 3-point shots in the second half. If anyone thought that they had an open, look at the basket they wouldn’t be afraid to shoot it.

 

Eden Prairie’s Ryan Jacobus came up with huge baskets throughout the night. He was able to step up and make shots late in the game.

 

Eden Prairie came away with the 82-74 victory over Champlin Park.

 

The leading scorer for Eden Prairie was Jacobus with 26 points.

 

The leading scorer for Champlin Park was Wright with 29 points.

 

BROOKLYN CENTER WENT UP AGAINST FRIDLEY IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Feb. 9, Brooklyn Center and Fridley squared off in a boys’ basketball game.

 

Brooklyn Center called a timeout with 15:14 left in the first half. The score was Fridley 9, Brooklyn Center 3.

 

Fridley pushed the ball down the floor and was able to score baskets in transition.

 

It took Brooklyn Center awhile for them to get into a shooting rhythm. They struggled to shoot the ball early.

 

Fridley was able to score baskets in transition. Fridley did a good job of getting everyone involved in the offense.

 

The score went back and forth midway through the first half.

 

Brooklyn Center’s Devonta Prince came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

 

There were many ties and lead changes in the first half. Neither team went on a run.  

 

Fridley’s Shyheem Murray came up with deep 3-point baskets to keep Fridley in the game.

 

At halftime the score was Fridley 33, Brooklyn Center 22.

 

As the second half got underway Fridley continued to push the ball down the floor and looked to score baskets in transition.

 

Both teams traded baskets for a period of time in the second half.

 

Brooklyn Center’s James Beard came up with layups and mid-range jump shots. His teammates got him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

 

Brooklyn Center went on a 16-4 run in the second half. They did a good job of getting everyone the ball and they were able to take the ball hard to the basket.

 

Brooklyn Center came up with steals on the defensive end and was able to convert on the offensive end.

 

Murray came up with deep 3-point baskets. The defense had a difficult time slowing him down.

 

The game came down to the wire. The game was tied at 49 with a minute left to go.

 

Brooklyn Center’s Rudwan Tahir scored a 3-point shot with 3.6 seconds left in regulation.

 

Brooklyn Center came away with the 52-49 victory over Fridley.

OSSEO TOOK ON SPRING LAKE PARK IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Feb. 8, Osseo and Spring Lake Park squared off against each other in a boys’ basketball game.

 

Osseo looked to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition. Spring Lake Park also did a good job of moving the ball down the floor as they looked to push the ball down the floor in transition.

 

Osseo called a timeout with 16:00 left in the first half. The score was Spring Lake Park 4, Osseo 2.

 

The score went back and forth for a period of time in the first half. Neither team went on a huge run.

 

Osseo looked to get the ball into the hands of Allen Anderson. Anderson looked to make mid-range jump shots and layups. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

 

Spring Lake Park called a timeout with 12:22 left in the first half. The score was Osseo 14, Spring Lake Park 7.

 

Osseo was able to get everyone involved in the offense.

 

Spring Lake Park had a difficult time scoring for a period of time in the first half.  Osseo took advantage of this as they were able to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups themselves.

 

Spring Lake Park called a timeout with 7:32 left in the first half. The score was Osseo 28, Spring Lake Park 14.

 

Anderson stepped up and was able to knock down mid-range jump shots and layups.

 

Osseo continued to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition.

 

Spring Lake Park came up with mid-range jump shots and layups late in the first half. They were able to get past the Osseo defense.

 

At halftime the score was Osseo 52, Spring Lake Park 30.

 

Osseo continued to push the ball down the floor and looked to score baskets in transition.

 

Spring Lake Park called a timeout with 17:17 left in regulation. The score was Osseo 54, Spring Lake Park 30.

 

Osseo continued to push the ball down the floor and looked to score layups in transition.

 

Spring Lake Park continued to struggle to come up with shots in the second half.

 

Osseo came away with the 102-67 victory over Spring Lake Park.

 

The leading scorer for Spring Lake Park was Aaron Fink with 12 points.

 

The leading scores for Osseo were Anderson and Jones each with 17 points, John Bezdicek scored 15 points, and Matt Bezdicek with 13 points.

 

AUSTIN WENT UP AGAINST RED WING IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

Fans packed The Cage at Red Wing High School as Austin and Red Wing squared off in a boys’ basketball game on Feb. 6. 

Red Wing started the game in a zone defense. Austin took their time on the offensive end. They passed the ball around the 3-point line as they looked to get into their offense.

Austin also started the game out in a zone defense. They looked to trap the ball when it went to the corners. 

The score went back and forth early. It took each team awhile to figure out what the other team was doing.

Red Wing’s Ben Munson looked to make mid-range jump shots and layups. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it. 

Red Wing looked to trap Austin and create turn overs.

The defensive pressure each team applied to the other team made it difficult for open shots. 

Austin’s Mark Manyuon made hard cuts to the basket and was able to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups. He also was able to get teammate Both Gach the ball as Both Gach also was able to come up with shots.

Austin looked to come up with steals on the defensive end and turn them into layups on offense. 

Red Wing did a good job of moving the ball down the floor and swinging the ball around the 3-point line.

Red Wing called a timeout with 7:52 left in the first half. The score was Red Wing 12, Austin 9.

Red Wing did a good job of attacking the Austin zone defense. They were able to get the ball inside. Red Wing’s Joe Sevile and Travis Toivonen looked for layups on the low block. 

Austin did a good job of clogging up the middle of the floor. 

Austin called a timeout with 4:17 left in the first half. The score was Red Wing 18, Austin 9. 

Austin’s offense struggled late in the first half. They were not able to make a shot for a period of time. Even though their shots were not falling they still shot the ball. 

Red Wing passed the ball around the 3-point line late in the first half. They were able to get everyone involved in the offense. 

At halftime the score was Red Wing 25, Austin 13. 

As the second half got underway Red Wing stayed in their match up zone defense. They didn’t want Austin to get open looks at the basket.

Austin continued to struggle to make shots in the second half. 

Red Wing’s Kipp Adams came up with 3-point baskets and layups. He was also able to get the ball into teammates Toivonen and Munson’s hands, both of whom came up with layups and jump shots.

Red Wing called a timeout with 14:16 left in regulation. The score was Red Wing 33, Austin 17. 

Red Wing took a lot of time off the clock in the second half, by passing the ball around. They set a lot of picks for each other.

Austin’s Zach Coffey came up with layups and jump shots as well. On the defensive end he was able to slow the guy down that he was guarding.

Red Wing called a timeout with 10:33 left in regulation. The score was Red Wing 34, Austin 27. 

Austin was deliberate on the offensive end. They knew what plays that they wanted to run. 

Toivonen kept on coming up with steals and layups. 

Austin called a timeout with 6:35 left in regulation. The score was Red Wing 41, Austin 29.

Dauoth Gach stepped up and knocked down 3-point shots with just under 6:00 left in regulation. 

Red Wing was able to slow Austin down on the offensive end in the second half. Austin went for a period of time without scoring a basket. 

Red Wing came away with the 56-47 victory over Austin. 

The leading scorer for Red Wing was Sevile with 14 points. 

The leading scorers for Austin were Both Gach with 18 points and Duoth Gach with 12 points. 

DELANO WENT UP AGAINST BLAKE IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Feb. 6, Delano went up against Blake in a boys’ basketball game. Blake started the game in a zone defense. Delano also started the game in a zone defense.

 

Delano looked to push the ball down the floor in transition. Delano looked to get the ball into the low post where Nick Cayler or Matt Kreklow looked to make layups.

 

Blake called a timeout with 16:10 left in the first half. The score was Delano 4, Blake 3.

 

Delano looked to score jump shots and layups in the paint.

 

Blake did a good job of getting the ball out of the Delano basket and pushed the ball down the floor, as they looked to score layups in transition.

 

Kreklow also was able to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in the lane where he could make shots.

 

Delano's Dylan Gilmer and Calvin Wishart also came up with layups and mid-range jumpers. They did a good job of making their offense run.

 

Delano went to a zone defense. That made Blake have to pass the ball around the 3-point line and take a lot of time off the clock.

 

Blake called a timeout with 10:07 left in the first half. The score was Delano 16, Blake 6.

 

Delano came up with steals on the defensive end and were to come up with layups off of the steals.

 

Blake went for a period of time where they couldn’t make shots. Delano took advantage of that and were able to come up with fast break layups.

 

Delano was able to get everyone involved in the offense. They did a good job of communicating with each other on the floor on both ends of the court.

 

Blake called a timeout with 4:42 left in the first half. The score was Delano 36, Blake 16.

 

Blake kept on attacking the basket as they looked to make layups. Blake was able to get everyone involved in the offense late in the first half.

 

At halftime the score was Delano 47, Blake 27.

 

As the second half got underway Delano continued to come up with layups. Delano was quicker than Blake. Blake struggled to shoot the ball. They took good shots but they were not able to make them fall.

 

Delano called a timeout with 16:06 left in regulation. The score was Delano 54, Blake 27.

 

Delano continued to attack the basket and looked to take time off the clock and go into a motion offense. They did a good job of passing and cutting and coming off of cuts.

 

Blake called a timeout with 9:52 left in regulation. The score was Delano 65, Blake 33.

 

Delano’s Keegan O’Neill made mid-range jump shots and layups.

 

Blake’s Tenzin Choezin came up with deep 3-point shots. He wasn’t afraid to shoot the ball from anywhere on the court.

 

Blake shot a lot of 3-point shots late in the game.  

 

Delano came away with the 89-44 victory over Blake.

 

The leading scorers for Blake were Choezin with 10 points and Moe with 9 points.

 

The leading scorers for Delano were Kreklow with 24 points, Gilmer with 13 points and Wishart with 10 points.

MAPLE GROVE WENT UP AGAINST CHAMPLIN PARK IN A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

On Feb. 5 Maple Grove and Champlin Park squared off in a boys' basketball game. Champlin Park started in a zone defense.

 

Champlin Park Pushed the ball down the floor and scored baskets in transition.

 

Champlin Park’s McKinley Wright came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. The defense had a difficult time slowing him down.  

 

Maple Grove struggled to score early in the first half. They kept on attacking the basket.

 

Champlin Park’s Theo John and Maple Grove’s Reed Nikko battled after loose balls and layups.  

 

Neither team went on a run in the first half.  

 

Champlin Park’s Josiah Strong came up with mid-range jump shots and layups in the first half. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

 

Champlin Park struggled to shoot the ball late in the first half.

 

At halftime the score was Maple Grove 38, Champlin Park 31.

 

As the second half got underway Maple Grove continued to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition.

 

Maple Grove started the second half in a zone defense. They wanted to make Champlin Park take deep 3-point shots.

 

Maple Grove’s Brad Davison came up with huge 3-point baskets. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball where he could shoot it.

 

Champlin Park played man-to-man defense. They made it difficult for Maple Grove to come up with uncontested shots.

 

Champlin Park called a timeout with 10:47 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 47, Champlin Park 42.

 

Maple Grove got everyone involved in the offense. They did a good job of passing the ball the 3-point line.  

 

Davison did a good job of moving the ball down the floor. They passed the ball with confidence.

 

Champlin Park continued to push the ball down the floor.

 

The defense couldn’t slow down Davison in the second half. Davison came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

 

Maple Grove came up with the 65-58 victory over Champlin Park.

 

The leading scorers for Champlin Park were Wright IV with 20 points and John with 13 points.

 

The leading scorers for Maple Grove were Davison with 26 points and Nikko 12 points.

 

I was joined by the Twin Cities Hoop Czar. Check out his thoughts of the Maple Grove vs. Champlin Park game.

 

MINNEAPOLIS NORTH WENT UP AGAINST ST. PAUL CENTRAL IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Feb. 4, Minneapolis North and St. Paul Central went up against each other in a boys’ basketball game.

 

North looked to control the tempo of the game. They pushed the ball down the floor and scored baskets in transition.

 

North’s Tyler Johnson knew where his teammates were on the floor and was able to get them the ball in spots where they could shoot it.

 

Central called a timeout with 15:51 left in the first half. The score was North 8, Central 0.

 

North came up with steals on the defensive end and was able to make them into layups on the offensive end.

 

Both teams battled over rebounds and loose balls throughout the first half.

 

Central’s Sam Gubbrud came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. His teammates got him the ball in spots where he got looks at the basket.

 

Central swung the ball around the 3-point line to take time off the clock as they looked to get into their offense.

 

North used their quickness to get past the central’s defense.  

 

Central struggled to shoot in the first half. They kept on shooting the ball even though they had a difficult time shooting the ball.

 

Central stepped up their intensity on the defensive end.

 

North called a timeout with 4:53 left in the first half. The score was North 32, Central 21.

 

North’s Patrick Dembley came up with 3-point baskets. He knew where his teammates were on the floor. If Dembley thought his teammate had a better shot, he wasn’t afraid to pass it to them.

 

At halftime the score was North 51, Central 29.

 

As the second half got underway North continued to attack the basket and looked to make mid-range jump shots and layups.

 

North called a timeout with 15:32 left in regulation. The score was North 51, Central 33.

 

Central’s Jack Beckman came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. Central continued to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition.

 

Central called a timeout with 7:21 left in regulation. The score was North 68, Central 50.

 

North was able to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups late in regulation.

 

Central wasn’t able to go on a run late in regulation.   

 

North came away with the 83-71 victory over Central.

 

The leading scorer for Central was Sam Gubbrud with 25 points.

 

The leading scorers for North were Tyler Johnson and Patrick Dembley each with 17 points and Jamil Jackson with 16 points.

CRETIN-DERHAM HALL WENT UP AGAINST HOPKINS IN A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

On Feb. 3, Cretin-Derham Hall and Hopkins squared off in a boys' basketball game. Hopkins was without guard Amir Coffey who was out due to rest. 

The score went back and forth early.

Cretin-Derham Hall started the game out in a zone defense. They wanted to force Hopkins to take deep shots.

Hopkins called a timeout with 11:51 left in the first half. The score was Cretin-Derham Hall 13, Hopkins 6.

Hopkins also started the game in a zone defense. They wanted to make Cretin-Derham Hall make 3-point shots. They didn’t want the ball in the paint.

Cretin-Derham Hall got everyone involved in the offense. Everyone knew where they were supposed to be on the floor. 

Hopkins switched between man-to-man and zone defense in the second half. They wanted to keep Cretin-Derham Hall guessing on what they were going to do on the defensive end.

There were multiple ties and lead changes throughout the first half. Neither team went on a huge run. 

Cretin-Derham Hall called a timeout with 7:13 left in the first half. The score was Hopkins 22, Cretin-Derham Hall 21.

Cretin-Derham Hall’s Chris Perry and Daniel Oturu came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. They knew where their teammates were on the floor and were able to get them the ball in spots where they could shoot it.

Hopkins did a good job of pushing the ball down the floor and scoring layups in transition.

Cretin-Derham Hall’s Deland Phillips came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. He used his quickness to get past the defenders.

Hopkins did a good job of moving the ball on the offensive end.

At halftime the score was Hopkins 37. Cretin-Derham Hall 31.

As the second half got underway Hopkins looked to move the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition.

Johnson kept coming up with layups in the second half. He really called for the ball and knew where he was on the floor at all times.

Cretin-Derham Hall called a timeout with 13:50 left in regulation. The score was Hopkins 43, Cretin-Derham Hall 38.

Hopkins struggled to shoot the ball midway through the second half. Cretin-Derham Hall took advantage of that as they came up with steals and layups on the defensive end.

Hopkins called a timeout with 10:15 left in regulation. The score was Cretin-Derham Hall 50, Hopkins 48.

Hopkins stayed in a zone defense. They made Cretin-Derham Hall take deep 3-point shots which they were able to make.

Johnson continued to come up with huge baskets in the second half. The defense had a difficult time slowing him down.

Cretin-Derham Hall looked to attack the basket and come up with layups.

There were several lead changes late in the contest.

The game was tied at 64 at the end of regulation.

As the overtime period got underway, the score continued to go back and forth.

Hopkins came away with the 72-68 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall. 

The leading scorer for Hopkins was Johnson with 27 points.

The leading scorers for Cretin-Derham Hall was Oturu with 24 points.