ANDOVER WENT UP AGAINST EASTVIEW IN THE GIRLS STATE 4A QUARTERFINAL BASKETBALL GAME

Andover and Eastview squared off in the girls state 4A quarterfinal basketball game.

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

Andover had a difficult time making shots. Eastview was quicker than Andover.

Eastview did a good job of sharing the ball as everyone was able to touch the ball and was able to get their shots going.

In a one sided half Eastview had a 29-8 lead at halftime.

As the second half got underway Eastview continued to get the ball down the floor and come up with layups. On the defensive end they were able to slow the Andover offense down.

As the second half got underway Eastview looked to get the ball into the hands of Rachel Ranke.

Ranke came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. Her teammates did a good job of getting her the ball in spots where she could shoot it.

Eastview’s Rachel Ranke and Madison Guebert both came up with mid-range jump shots and layups throughout the game. They were not afraid to push the ball down the floor.

Andover’s Jolene Daninger and Arial Aarness were able to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Eastview was too quick for Andover. Eastview took a lot of time off the clock in the second half.

Andover tried many different defenses in the second half but they were not able to turn Eastview over.

Eastview came away with the 62-28 victory over Andover.

The leading scorer for Andover was Daninger with 12 points.

The leading scorers for Eastview were Ranke with 23 points and Guebert with 13 points.

SHAKOPEE WENT UP AGAINST WHITE BEAR LAKE IN A GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL GAME

Shakopee and White Bear Lake squared off at the Target Center in a girls’ state basketball game.

Shakopee move the ball down the court well. They were able to get everyone involved in the offense.

Shakopee came up with steals and layups. White Bear Lake had a difficult time scoring in the first half. They couldn’t get their shots to fall.

White Bear Lake’s Brianna Karg and Alison Hinck both came up with mid-range jump shots and layups in the first half. Their teammates did a good job of getting them the ball where they could shoot it. On the defensive end they were able to slow down the person that they were guarding.

Shakopee switched up between man-to-man and zone defense. They wanted to confuse White Bear Lake on offense.

Both teams looked to score on fast breaks.

At halftime the score was Shakopee 29, White Bear Lake 20.

As second half got underway Shakopee looked to get the ball into the hands of Taylor Koenen.

Koenen was able to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups. Her teammates did job of getting them the ball in spots where they could shoot it.

White Bear Lake went to a pressing defense. They looked to turn Shakopee over.

Shakopee kept on feeding Koenen the ball. Koenen was able to get to the basket and make mid-range jump shots and layups. The White Bear Lake defense had a hard time slowing her down.

Shakopee continued to make layups late in the game. On the defensive end they were able to slow down the White Bear Lake’s offense.

Koenen, Mateya Hutton and Haley Zerr all stepped up and were able to knock down mid-range jump shots and layups in the second half.

Shakopee came up with the 62-56 victory over White Bear Lake.

The leading scorers for White Bear Lake were Hinck with 19 points, Karg with 13 points.

The leading scorers for Shakopee were Koenen with 26 points, Rodning with 11 points, and Hutton with 10 points.

ROCHESTER MAYO WENT UP AGAINST HOPKINS IN THE CLASS 4A STATE GIRLS QUARTERFINAL GAME

On March 17, Rochester Mayo and Hopkins squared off in the Class 4A state girls’ basketball tournament at the Target Center.

It took a while for each team to get used to the bigger court of the Target Center.

Mayo looked to push the ball down the floor as they looked to score baskets in transition.

Hopkins players Ashley Bates and Viria Livingston both came up with mid-range jump shots and layups in the first half.

Mayo used a zone defense. They looked to spread the Hopkins defense out.

Mayo called a timeout with 11:50 in the first half. The score was Hopkins 15, Mayo 9.

Mayo swung the ball around the 3-point line. They wanted to make Hopkins come out and guard them.

Hopkins defensive pressure flustered Mayo late in the first half. Mayo had a difficult time making shots late. Hopkins was able to turn Mayo over and come up with layups off the steals.

Mayo called a timeout with 5:07 left in the first half. The score was Hopkins 32, Mayo 15.

Hopkins continued to come up with layups and mid-range jump shots. Hopkins was also able to take a lot of time off the clock late in the first half.

At halftime the score was Hopkins 45, Mayo 20.

Hopkins Nia Hollie and teammate Ashley Bates came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Their teammates did a good job of getting them the ball in spots where they could shoot it.

Mayo continued to struggle shooting the ball throughout the second half.

Both teams took a lot of time off the clock in the second half. Neither team shot the ball well early in the second half.

Bates, Livingston and Hollie continued to come up with layups and mid-range jump shots in the second half. Their teammates did a good job of getting them the ball in spots where they could shoot it.

Mayo went into a long scoring drought in the second half. They were not able to hit shots.

Hopkins came away with the 62-35 victory over Rochester Mayo.

The leading scorer for Mayo was Anna Winter with 12 points.

The leading scorers for Hopkins were Hollie and Livingston each with 13 points, Bates and Knox each had 11 points.

DENNIS AUSTIN III LIFE AND BASKETBALL

Dennis Austin III was born in Gary, Ind. on May 24, 1995. I met Austin when he played basketball for Apple Valley High School. I was able to email him to ask him a few questions about himself and his basketball background.

Austin grew up in Indiana and moved to Minnesota when he was 14 years old. He attended Apple Valley Middle School before transferring to Hidden Oaks Middle School in Prior Lake and then he transferred to Nicollet Middle School in Burnsville, Minn.

He has two older brothers Richard and Emmanuel Riley and two younger siblings John McGill and Jazmyne Seymoure.

Austin graduated in 2014 from Apple Valley High School.  

He played football through his junior year of high school and has also played basketball. Austin started playing basketball when he was in the fifth grade.

I asked him what basketball means to him he said: “To me basketball means, a way out. It’s a way to separate me from all the negative things around, growing up not having anything and borrowing and begging people for rides because of not having transportation or seeing my mother so hungry but making sure her five kids are full. That's what drives me. It’s more than just basketball to me. It’s my life, it’s all I have, and basketball is what keeps my family close besides our love for each other. Seeing my mother in the front row of every games that she could make it to, felt so good. I love my mother we haven't always seen eye to eye and we've had our fallouts. But even though she's tough she's also cares about what best for her family.”

Austin is currently redshirting the 2014-2015 season at Upper Iowa University which is a NCAA DII basketball program which is located in Fayette, Iowa.

Austin had a hard time growing up. He didn’t have a father that was around. He looks up to his older brothers. His mother takes care of all 5 of the children.   

He is close to his family. Austin is continually working on his game. Austin and his brothers hit the gym every time he gets home from school for about three hours. Austin said: “I have a lot of people to thank for pushing me through high school and getting me prepared for school so many people”.  He is very thankful for all the help that he received throughout his life for pushing him through basketball and school.

While at Apple Valley High School Austin had a chance to play with Tyus Jones. Jones was one of Minnesota’s top basketball recruits coming out of Minnesota in the class of 2014. Jones plays for Duke University where in 2014-2015 was his freshman season.

Austin said that Playing with Jones was, “Man. Speechless. Tyus is my brother… Playing with him helped me become a better player on and off the court. Watching him handle himself in pressure situations and how he respects the game of basketball is incredible. Everyone knows he’s talented, but no one really knows how much work he puts in. I started working out with him probably my sophomore year , we were friends already but I didn’t start working out with him until then, now my game has completely changed, I play guard in college now I’m 6-foot-3 200 lbs. and it’s because of Tyus and his older brother Jadee . They treated me like family since day one and even though I missed a lot of lay ups in games that probably cost him some double doubles, they both still welcomed me. The whole Jones family is incredible. We still work out every time were home early in the morning or late at night Tyus, Tre and Jadee we all in there working. Seeing how badly that want it and what level he's already on, makes me wanted even more. Coming to Apple Valley as a freshman and playing with my brother Tyus, was probably the best thing to happen to me for basketball. He makes his teammates better and we are always going to be family.”

I was able to email Apple Valley’s head coach Zach Goring and asked him about Austin. Goring said, “Dennis is a great kid. Both on and off the court Dennis has come a long way. Dennis would be the first to tell you that academically Dennis didn't put in the amount of time necessary his 9th and 10th grade years.  He refocused his junior and senior year in the classroom and graduated and was eligible to play his freshman year at Upper Iowa but he redshirted. On the court he has changed into more of a perimeter player this year at Upper Iowa.  When he is back from school he usually stops by the gym. As a coach, you know that they had a good experience if they want to come back and say hi.”

I was able to catch up with Austin at the 2015 Minnesota State High School state basketball tournament and we were able to talk about basketball and the state tournament.

I personally know Austin. He is a good person to be around and he is a good guy on and off the court. He puts in a lot of work on and off the basketball court. To me I think that Austin will keep growing as a player and his hard work on and off the court will play off big time.

CHAMPLIN PARK WENT UP AGAINST APPLE VALLEY IN THE CLASS 4A STATE BOYS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Champlin Park and Apple Valley squared off in the Class 4A state basketball championship game.

Champlin Park looked to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition. They were able to get the ball into the ball into the hands of McKinley Wright. Wright came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

There was a media timeout with 10:44 left in the first half the score was Champlin Park 14 Apple Valley 11.

Apple Valley spread the ball around to everyone they looked to spread the Champlin Park defense out.

Apple Valley’s Trey Jones came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. Teammate Gary Trent Jr also came up with layups.

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

There was a media timeout with 5:56 left in the first half. The score was Champlin Park 22, Apple Valley 19.

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

Apple Valley continued to push the ball down the floor. They looked to come up with rebounds on both ends of the floor and get layups.

Apple Valley’s Cameron Kirksey came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. The defense had a difficult time slowing him down.

At halftime the score was Apple Valley 31, Champlin Park 27.

As the second half got underway both teams continued to push the ball down the floor.

Apple Valley’s Gary Trent Jr., Brock Bertram all stepped up and knocked down mid-range jump shots and layups in the second half

They were able to slow down the Champlin Park offense.

Apple Valley did a good job of passing the ball around the 3-point line and was able to spread the ball around as they got everyone involved in the offense.

Champlin Park had a difficult time finding their shooting rhythm late in the game.

Apple Valley came away with 64-61 victory over Champlin Park.

The leading scorers for Camplin Park were Hill with 19 points, Wright with 17 points, and Johnson with 15 points and Gibson finished with 6 points.

The leading scorers for Apple Valley were Trent Jr with 15 points, and Jones, Kirksey and Bertram all with 12 points.

DELaSALLE WENT UP AGIANST ST. PAUL JOHNSON IN THE CLASS 3A STATE BOYS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Minneapolis DeLaSalle and St. Paul Johnson squared off in the Class 3A state boys’ basketball finals.

There was a media timeout with 14:45 left in the first half. The score was tied at 4.

The score went back and forth early. There were many ties and lead changes.

There was a media timeout with 10:52 left in the first half. The score was Johnson 12, DeLaSalle 9.

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

The DeLaSalle defense didn’t let Johnson get easy looks at the basket.

There was a media timeout with 6:32 left in the first half. The score was DeLaSalle 19, Johnson 17.

DeLaSalle was able to come up with defensive stops. They were able to slow Johnson down on the offensive end.

At halftime the score was DeLaSalle 32, Johnson 22.

As the second half got underway DeLaSalle continued to make baskets as they were able to get everyone involved in the offense.

DeLaSalle’s Scar Anim and Joshua Collins came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.  

DeLaSalle’s defense was too much for Johnson. They frustrated Johnson.

Johnson got the ball into the hands of Jalen Mobley and Andre Smith. They kept on looking for their shot.

DeLaSalle came away with the 82-64 victory over Johnson.

The leading scorers for Johnson were Mobley with 19 points and Clarke with 11 points.   

The leading scorers for DeLaSalle were Anim with 32 points, Collins with 17 points, and Mar with 14 points. 

MELROSE WENT UP AGAINST CALEDONIA IN THE CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Melrose and Caledonia squared off in the Class 2A state boys’ basketball championship game.

Melrose moved the ball down the floor well early.

There was a media timeout with 14:04 left in the first half. The score was Melrose 8, Caledonia 5.

Melrose got the ball into the hands of Cesar Cervantes and Drake Meyer. Both of them came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

There was a media timeout with 10:53 left in the first half. The score was Melrose 14, Caledonia 8.

Caledonia used a man-to-man defense in the first half. They wanted to make Melrose take contested basket.

Melrose did a good job of getting everyone involved in the offense. They passed the ball around the 3-point line as they looked inside for the post player for the layup.

There was a media timeout with 4:39 left in the first half. The score was Melrose 23, Caledonia 14.

Both teams dove on the floor after loose balls and went after rebounds.

There was a media timeout with 3:46 left in the first half. The score was Melrose 23, Caledonia 14.

Caledonia got everyone involved in the offense as everyone attacked the basket and came up with layups and mid-range jump shots.

At halftime the score was Melrose 31, Caledonia 24.

As the second half got underway Melrose kept pushing the ball down the floor as they were able to come up with layups and mid-range jump shots.

Caledonia had a difficult time hitting shots that they put up in the second half. The defense that Melrose applied made it difficult for Caledonia to make shots.

Caledonia strung some baskets together late in the contest. Melrose kept attacking the basket and they came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Melrose came away with the 63-51 victory over Caledonia.

The leading scorers from Melrose were Meyer with 24 points, Braeglmann with 15 points and Haider with 14 points.

The leading scorers for Caledonia were Lambert, Burg and Bauer all with 9 points.

RUSHFORD PETERSON WENT UP AGAINST MARANATHA IN THE CLASS A STATE BOYS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Rushford Peterson and Maranatha squared off on March 14 in the Minnesota State High School League’s state Class A championship game.

Maranatha’s Damario Armstrong came up with mid-range jump shots and layups early. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball where he could shoot it.

There was a media timeout with 14:40 left in the first half. The score was tied at 5.

Rusford’s Alex Vix came up with mid-range jump shots and layups throughout the first half. The defense had a hard time slowing him down on defense.

There was a media timeout with 10:44 left in the first half. The score was Rushford 12, Maranatha 6.

Rushford did a good job of passing the ball around to each other. They talked on both ends of the floor.

Armstrong wasn’t afraid to pass the ball to his teammates if he didn’t think that he had a good look at the basket.

There was a media timeout with 6:45 left in the first half. The score was Maranatha 13, Rushford 12.

The score went back and forth late in the first half. There were several ties and lead changes throughout.

Alex Vix came up with steals and came up with layups and mid-range jump shots.

There was a media timeout with 2:39 left in the first half. The score was Rushford 20, Maranatha 15.

Maranatha was able to come up layups late in the first half.

At halftime the score was Rushford 23, Maranatha 18.

As the second half got underway Rushford continued to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Armstrong attacked the basket and came up with layups and mid-range jump shots.

There was a media timeout with 14:38 left in regulation. The score was Rushford 25, Maranatha 23.

Rushford’s Charlie Krambeer came up with deep 3-point baskets.

Maranatha called a timeout with 12:41 left in regulation. The score was Rushford 31, Maranatha 23.

Rushford continued to attack the basket as they passed the ball around the 3-point line. They were able to take time off the clock.

Rushford was able to get their offense going late in the second half. They did a good job of passing the ball around to each other.

There was a media timeout with 6:20 left in regulation. The score was Rushford 40, Maranatha 27.

Maranatha kept on working for their shots late in the contest. Both teams buckled down on defense.

Rushford came up with layups down the stretch.

Rushford came up with the 51-44 victory over Maranatha.

The leading scorers for Maranatha were Hanson with 21 points, and Armstrong with 11 points.

The leading scorers for Rushford were Vix with 23 points, and Krambeer with 17 points.

BASKETBALLER FOR LIFE RENARD ALEXANDER SUGGS STRAIGHT OUT OF ST. PAUL MINNESOTA

Renard Alexander Suggs was born in St. Paul, Minn. He grew up in the Midway area of St. Paul until he was in the 10th grade when he moved to Woodbury. He has 2 older brothers and two sisters.

He graduated from Woodbury High School in 2013, Suggs said, “Basketball means everything to me.” He has put in the time and the effort.” After his freshman year in high school Suggs had offers from TCU, Virginia Tech, North Texas, Long Beach St, Washington St, Iona, and Southern Miss.

After high school he attended Gillette College which is a Juco in Wyoming.

Starting with the 2015-2016 season he will be attending Washington St to play basketball and get an education.

In his free time Suggs likes to go work on his game at the gym or just chill out with his friends and family.

I met Suggs while he played in high school. He is a good person to be around and has a really good personality.

He will bring leadership and a hard work tactics on and off the court.

MARANATHA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY WENT UP AGAINST BATTLE LAKE IN A STATE CLASS A SEMIFINAL GAME

Maranatha and Battle Lake squared off in a boys’ basketball state semifinal game.

The score went back and forth early in the game.

There was a media timeout with 14:22 left in the first half. The score was Battle Lake 9, Maranatha 6.

Maranatha started out in zone defense. That made Battle Lake have to take deep shots.

Battle Lake got off to a quick start. They did a good job of getting everyone involved in the offense. They passed the ball around the 3-point line.

There was a media timeout with 10:47 left in the first half. The score was Battle Lake 14, Maranatha 10.

The score went back and forth for a good portion of the first half. Neither team went on a huge run.

Maranatha did a good job of running their offense. They took their time on the offensive end and got everyone involved in the offense.

There was a media timeout with 6:02 left in the first half. The score was Battle Lake 20, Maranatha 18.

Maranatha’s Jeremiah Hanson and Cameron Monson both came up with huge mid-range jump shots and layups in the first half. The defense had a hard time slowing them down on offense.

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

At halftime the score was tied at 34.

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

Maranatha continued to look to get the ball into the hands of Jeremiah Hanson and Cameron Monson, both of whom came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Battle Lake got the ball into the hands of Andrew and Patrick VanErp and Micah Rogness. They all three came up with huge shots that kept Battle Lake in the game.

There was a media timeout with 10:49 left in regulation. The score was Maranatha 52, Battle Lake 48.

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

Hanson came up big with mid-range jump shots and 3-point baskets in the second half. Teammate Jake Meyen also came up with layups. Maranatha kept on getting Meyen the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

Maranatha came away with the 74-69 victory over Battle Lake.

The leading scorer for Maranatha Hanson with 30 points.

The leading scorer for Battle Lake was VanErp with 29 points.

RUSHFORD-PETERSON WENT UP AGAINST CENTRAL MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN IN THE STATE CLASS A SEMIFINALS

On March 13 Rushford-Peterson and Central Minnesota Christian (CMC) played  in the Class A state boys' basketball state semifinals.  The game was played at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.

Rushford started out in a zone defense. They looked to control the tempo of the game early.

CMC started in a zone defense. Rushford picked up there defense at the half court line.

There was a media timeout with 15 minutes left in the first half. The score was Rushford 4, CMC 2.

Both teams took a lot of time off the clock as they swung the ball around the 3-point line.

Rushford did a good job of attacking the zone. They came up with steals on defense. Rushford was able to come up with layups off the steals.

Rushford’s Matt Culhane came up with rebounds and layups in the paint. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

CMC had a difficult time shooting the ball in the first half. They were not able to get their shots to drop.

There was a media timeout with 10:50 left in the first half. The score was Rushford 8, CMC 2.

Both teams struggled to shoot the ball midway through the first half. Rushford did a good job of attacking the basket. They were able to get into the lane and past the CMC defenders.

Rushford’s Noah Carlson attacked the basket and came up with layups. He was able to make free throws.

The Rushford’s zone defense caused CMC problems throughout the first half. CMC was not able to get good looks at the basket.

There was a media timeout with 6:47 left in the first half. The score was Rushford 17, CMC 4.

Rushford did a good job of getting the ball down the floor. They did a good job of getting everyone involved in the offense.

Rushford continued to get the ball into the hands of Culhane. He came up with layups from the paint.

Culhane also came up with huge rebounds for his team.

There was a media timeout with 3:43 left in the first half. The score was Rushford 22, CMC 9.

CMC’s Austin Bulthuis and Matthew Van Eps scored off of mid-range jump shots and layups in the first half. There teammates got the ball to them where they felt comfortable shooting the ball.

Rushford’s Charlie Krambeer came up with deep 3-point shots.

Rushford called a timeout with 48.5 seconds left in the first half. The score was Rushford 28, CMC 13.

Rushford looked to take a lot of time off the clock after the timeout. CMC went to a man-to-man defense.

At halftime the score was Rushford 28, CMC 15.

As the second half got underway Rushford continued to move the ball well down the floor.

There was a media timeout with 14:55 left in regulation. The score was Rushford 35, CMC 19.

Rushford started out the second half in a zone defense. They really made it difficult for CMC to come up with baskets.

Rushford took a lot of time off the clock as they swung the ball around the 3-point line.

There was a media timeout with 10:53 left in regulation. The score was Rushford 42, CMC 25.

Rushford continued to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups throughout the second half.

CMC struggled to shoot throughout the second half.

I thought that CMC didn’t back down from the Rushford’s defense. They attacked the defense. CMC had a difficult time scoring throughout the game.

Rushford came away with the 62-39 Victory over CMC.

The leading scorer for CMC was Bulthuis with 19 points.

The leading scorers for Rushford were Carlson with 16 points, Paulson with 13 points and Krambeer with 11 points.

After the game I was able to talk to Rushford’s head coach Thomas Vix and Noah Carlson and Culhane about the game.