Minnesota Playoff Central: Saturday
Today Playoff Central wraps up the Friday games and takes a look at what we think the Saturday schedule is (the weather has forced the rescheduling of many games). The Big Stage. St. Michael-Albertville. Many of the scheduled games for…
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Continue ReadingToday Playoff Central wraps up the Friday games and takes a look at what we think the Saturday schedule is (the weather has forced the rescheduling of many games).
The Big Stage. St. Michael-Albertville. Many of the scheduled games for today were played last night or were moved to early next week. But the four games to be played at STMA were spread out between the high school gym and middle school (both facilities have a lot of room for fans) and all the contests will start before noon. With the snow about to hit hard around at the top of the hour the hope is that each of the four games will be played and everyone can get back home safe before it gets truly messy. Rockford vs Breck and Minneapolis North vs The Blake School will tip off at 10am followed by the Maranatha Christian vs Providence Academy and Litchfield vs Watertown-Mayer at about 11:30am.
Upset City! The biggest eye opener of Friday night was Big Lake (13-15) knocking off defending Class AAA champion Delano who had earned the one seed in 5AAA. The Hornets leaned on three players for 55 of their 56 points and those three players produced on the offensive end while the entire line-up locked up Delano defensively. U of Mary bound Logan Nagorski scored a game high 19 while flanked by future Wyoming football player D’Vonne Harris (18) and senior guard Spencer Hinrichs (18 also). Big Lake will now play Monticello for the section championship. Monticello (who also has 13 wins) defeated 14-win Willmar 66-59 (no I don’t consider that an upset).
Right on Schedule. Waseca and Mankato East both won last night meaning the dream section game of the Jays and Cougars will happen on Thursday…. Hopkins and Wayzata breezed through their section semi-finals so the much anticipated third game between these programs will occur Wednesday. Wayzata has defeated Hopkins to go to state each of the last two seasons….St. Thomas and Holy Angels both won meaning STA will face their toughest section opponent in three years next Thursday in hopes of a third straight trip to state… It was a big night for Reilly O’Neil of Princeton. The Tiger wing scored 25 to lead the Tigers over Cloquet 88-70 plus Riley scored the 1,000th point of his career. Princeton plays Hibbing on Thursday to go to state… Buffalo and Maple Grove will meet Thursday for their expected 8AAAA title contest…
Where’s the Czar? TC Hoops Czar joined Jared Martinson at the Maple Grove vs STMA contest. The Hoops Czar twitter summary went as follows: “Top seed Maple Grove advances to 8AAAA final with 65-48 win over St Michael-Albertville. Kyle Dreyer 16, Jared Rainey 15, Nate Adams 17. Evan Wieker and Peyton McLean 11 each for Knights”
Tip of the Hat to the Career. The three names that really grab your attention who saw things end last night would be Maleeck Harden of Moorhead, Derek Techam of Delano, and Charlie Gorres of Park of Cottage Grove. Harden is a top ten prospect in the senior class and the best available prospect not name Matthew Hurt in this state. He will spend his spring figuring out which school he wants to play for as he moves towards his certain division one future (NDSU and SDSU the latest offers). Techam is a sharp-shooter who scored 24.8 points per game as a senior. The future Gustavus player earned a state title as a junior. Finally Charlie Gorres used his explosive athletic ability to produce 16 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks, and 2.5 steals per game as a senior. Gorres has signed with UMD.