The Target Center Top Performances
The top Performances from the six games at the Target Center are ran through from every single angle. Enjoy!
Top Player Performances
- McKinley Wright had 30 points on 13 of 25 shooting and simply would not let his team lose. His five score run was special.
- Tre Jones putting up 34 points and 12 rebounds plus making the big plays late in the game to push Apple Valley past CDH.
- Gavin Baumgartner scored on 19 on nine shots, made key foul shots, moved off the ball to score brilliantly, had eight boards, five assists, played great defense, and simply made game winning plays to beat Lakeville North.
- Brad Davison put together a cool 22 points on 11 shots, ten assists, nine rebounds, and he took the game over with six quick scores and nearly put together a triple with his ten assists and nine rebounds.
- Theo John had a fantastic second half dominating the glass with 16 boards plus 11 points. Nine of those boards were offensive.
- Daniel Oturu had 17 points, 18 rebounds, and six blocks but hit the ground hard in the second half and wasn’t able to play the same. He controlled the defensive paint for much of the game and his one dribble face-up stuff looks great.
- Jacob Christopher of JCC put together a 33 point game making 10 of 17 shots and he did it in showmen style celebrating some of his scores with his teammates before fouling out with four minutes left.
- Nathan Reuvers finished his career with 19 points on 7 of 14 shooting with eight boards. Played a solid game but not what he wanted to end on.
- Apple Valley senior post Kevin Totusek. Yes sir, the best game of his season. Made all seven foul shots, scored twice in the paint, grabbed six boards, and most importantly kept Oturu from getting touches in the second half. A great game.
- Jalen Suggs knocked out 10 of 16 shot attempts for 27 points including the late game flush that put the game away for good. Jalen made 7 of 9 foul shots and had a dozen rebounds. The Lake City kids played tough but even on a day Jalen had seven turnovers he was physically able to control the game.
Top Plays
- The Sam Dubois miracle make that allowed Champlin Park to get past the upset big of Chaska
- The Gavin Baumgartner backdoor cut for an And1 late that became a lead and his 1,000th point.
- Tre Jones with a steal into a full court pass to Mohamed Kone for a basket then a rebound, a defensive split, and a pass to Ely Hendrickson for a three. These back to back scores changed the game.
- McKinley Wright’s five straight baskets in the second half putting his team on his back
- Moments later Baumgartner flashed elbow to catch, spin over left shoulder, and get points for what was the game winning score. The first score was a lay-up, second came on foul shots.
- The Myles Hanson attack and leap from the foul line all the way to the front of the rim for a lay-up early in the Chaska/CP game.
- Lakeville North’s four point possession getting a three from Jalen Lucas plus a foul shot from Nate Reuvers on a foul away from the play. That almost put them in control.
- I always watch Tywon Pickford to see how his pull-up jumper and face-up attacks look. Today they looked great as he made two one-dribble pull-up and one baseline attack score. He put up 14 points.
- Unfortunately a key point was the clock always having problems breaking momentum during the CDH/AV game which is too bad.
- The Jacob Christopher three make followed by his arms out wide celebrating with the bench won’t be soon forgotten.
Top Shooters
- Andrew Kallman knocking down four threes and scoring his 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting
- Drew Galinson scored two threes and another late basket as he got free in half two. The junior shoots near 47 percent from the arc.
- Ryan Larson hit a couple open shots and then another group of attempts inside the arc scoring 21 points on the floor he won a state title on with Braham last year. Made half of his 14 attempts plus got six boards and five assists.
- Ely with the The Golden Touch Hendrickson. When his feet are set in space you can count it. Made a very important triple late in the game when AV pushed ahead plus scored ten points including making all his foul shots. But his three make was crucial.
- Four threes each were made by Lake City players Nathan Heise and Marc Kjos who both scored 18 poitns. Kjos also scored in crafty ways to get his 18.
- Nick Bieniek of Annandale knocked out four treys on his way to 14 points for Annandale.
- Free throws count. Jarod Wilken made nine of them late on his way to 18 points and ten boards. And a win.
Behind the Stars – Top Performers
- Kevin Totusek of Apple Valley. See above.
- Ethan Igbanugo is one of the best players in the state that is not quiet appreciated as much as I think he should be. Hard working kid who had 18 for the Panthers in the loss.
- Jack Hutchison and Ryan Bredensteiner had strong games in support of Davison and Pickford as both seniors hit 5 of 7 shots for 13 points and 12 points respectively. Ryan attacked for his where as Hutchison showed off his floater and corner trey.
- The perimeter skills of Javonni Bickham impressed. He hit a great stepback jumper, a face-up out of the post, handled well on the arc and scored 19 points on just nine shots.
- Sophomore Cole Nicholson of Chaska was solid at ten points and he has a nice career ahead of him.
- Drew Galinson made some big contributions on both ends for Lakeville North.
- In the loss to Maple Grove, Andover scorer Logan Rezac put up18 points including all six or his foul shots.
- AJ Hinz had a supporting 15 boards and six scores for Annandale playing the physical tough guy role.
- Sy Chatman showed us a couple threes, a one hand attack score, a beautiful swat, and scored ten points in support. The potential is there. Consistency play by play will come next and then, the sky is the limit for the CDH junior.
- Mohamed Kone. His second half And1 rebound was one of the biggest parts of the Apple Valley win. He grabbed ten boards and played harder than anyone. Scored two huge second half baskets.
Top Defenders
- Wayzata. All of them. Loved how the bigs kept Reuvers high off the block, loved their hard working but consistent defensive position, and mostly love their communication and discipline in working to the spot. They were fantastic as a unit on defense.
- McKinley Wright switched over on to Myles Hanson in the first half and did a great job on him limiting Myles to 5 of 17 shooting.
- Marcus Hill had a key charge take and passing lane jump that helped the Rebels turn the corner in the second half.
- Tre Jones and Kevin Totusek. Kevin was outstanding defending in the post in the second half limiting Oturu touches and Jones had a couple huge steals and D-boards pushed the other way for scores.
- Daniel Oturu blocked six shots and controlled the defensive paint for much of the first half. A dozen defensive boards with most in half two.
- Trenton Peterson of Annandale. He’s so consistent he always gets to be on my list.
Top Young Guys
- Jalen Suggs. See Above. A freshman I will say again.
- Lakeville North Tyler Wahl went for 14 and seven including a late game spin move for an And1 that was close to being the biggest bucket of the contest for North. Tyler is agile, works hard, is comfortable away from the rim, but can also play with his back to the basket. Scored 14 and has great potential.
- Sophomore Jacob Beeninga kept Wayzata in the game the first half with three scores. Those three scores had the team within seven. He finished with 17 including some huge late foul shots.
- Terry Lockett of Minnehaha Academy was strong in support scoring much of his dozen in transition. There is a lot of scrappiness to him on the glass too as he grabbed six boards.
- Cole Nicholson scored ten in support of Chaska. He’s a sophomore. Had a couple key plays late in the game.
- Love the perimeter touch of Nathan Heise who knocked out four treys for Lake City leading to his 18 points per game. Heise made nearly 47 percent of his four treys taken a contest this year as his touch is beautiful.
- CDH sophomore Jaeden King showed us his perimeter touch a couple times. He didn’t get many shots but we got a small look at what he can do.