NHR Scout: St. Croix Lutheran vs DeLaSalle
St. Croix Lutheran defeated DeLaSalle for the first time in the history of their basketball program last night. DeLaSalle lost their first game in Tri-Metro action in five seasons of play. It was all-apart of a Thursday night appetizer that…
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Continue ReadingSt. Croix Lutheran defeated DeLaSalle for the first time in the history of their basketball program last night. DeLaSalle lost their first game in Tri-Metro action in five seasons of play. It was all-apart of a Thursday night appetizer that grabbed the attention of the entire Minnesota basketball community.
The game had just about everything. All of the local media that cares about high school basketball in Minnesota was in attendance. There were reporters, bloggers, video guys, local television producers, and everybody in between plus a packed house of fans. And what do they see?
• Crusader sophomore Garrett Maag worked DeLaSalle senior Samm Jones towards the basket and tipped in the game winner with 0.7 seconds to go leading to a floor rush from the Crusaders students, and maybe a few parents and teachers too.
• DeLaSalle junior Goanar Mar knocked out three treys and scored 19 points which included a late pull-up jumper that many thought was the key play to give the Islanders a quality victory.
• Trenton Krueger and Ade Murkey combined for 55 of the 67 points as Ade Murkey continued a big past week (had 37 points defeating St. Anthony in a blowout victory). Murkey scored his 29 hitting a couple mid-range jumpers, knocked out several foul shots, attacked baseline for an And1 finish, and continued his Mr. Basketball final five push. Krueger produced 26 scoring face-up baskets in the post, hitting with his back to the basket, and scoring on the backside with hard cuts and put-backs.
• Islander sophomore Gabe Kalscheur led DeLaSalle with 20 including a late pull-up jumper on the left side started with one of the sharpest dribble separation moves you will see followed by a pull-up make before the defense even got on balance from the attack move.
• Aage Rovney scored six points but went to the bench groggy after bouncing his head off the floor in one of the uglier head injuries I’ve recently seen and it obviously left him a bit injured.
• Islander freshman Tyrell Terry played his second game of the season and despite playing in a top program in a big moment he was not phased at all. Showed off his beautiful touch with a baseline jumper and a college trey plus handled the ball well as the Crusader defense didn’t bother his approach or first pass in the offense.
• Questionable calls? The Islander fans were definitely ready to riot but on the last play of the game when Sage Booker was called for a foul on Ade Murphy’s last second shot as the play didn’t look like a foul at first. But then the replay showed that there was contact from Booker on Murkey’s arm although the contact did not look that hard.
The Islanders were on a nine game winning streak before falling to the Crusaders. They play against at the Breakdown Border Battle Saturday against La Crosse Central. Kalscheur leads the team with 20.5 points per game while Mar is scoring 19 a night. Supporting cast Samm Jones, CJ Dickson, and Sage Booker each are scoring three or four baskets a game on average.
The Crusaders improved to 17-2 on the year and based on their upcoming schedule it’s doubtful that they will another game in the regular season. Murkey is scoring 22 a night, Rovney 15.6 a game, Krueger gives 14.5 a contest, and lead guard Venkat Valluri is averaging seven a night.