Big Monday – Braaten Scores 45 for Byron

Big Monday is now a thing in Minnesota high school basketball like it was for college basketball in the 90s. Byron leads off our coverage of Big Monday. Braaten for 45! In the Bears 87-68 victory over Triton, Byron senior Jake Braaten exploded for a 45 point game. Braaten – who is now a muscular 195 pounds at 6-foot-1 – is shooting 40 percent from the arc this season and has scored on 62 percent of his attempts going at the rim. After last night’s 45, Jake is averaging 21.2 points, four assists, five rebounds, and two steals per game with a 5 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. Braaten wasn’t the only player making highlights. Nationally ranked junior big Ahjany LeeAhjanyLee6'9" | PFByron | 2022StateMN had 18 points, ten boards, and five blocks shooting off that 9 foot, 6 inch reach. Byron improved to 5-0. Henry Shannon IIIHenryShannon III6'6" | SFEastview | 2021StateMN Having a Big Year. Eastview is ranked 5th in the state at 8-0 and they are coming off of an impressive 84-61 win over Prior Lake. Leading the way this season has been 6-foot-6 forward Henry Shannon IIIHenryShannon III6'6" | SFEastview | 2021StateMN. Henry is the team leader in scoring at 16 points a game and last night he had another one of those scoring surges he’s starting to become famous for. The lefty attacked Prior Lake for 25 second half points on his way to a 27 point game. Snell Leads the Way. Likely the biggest game of Big Monday was 4th Shakopee beating Lakeville North in overtime 67-63. Quinten SnellQuintenSnell6'1" | SGShakopee | 2022StateMN scored a team high 18 points and it was his four threes that made the biggest impact. That said, Snell handled the ball very well against a quality North defensive team as well. Soren Richardson, Know the Name! A sophomore that has had a great year so far Soren Richardson of Northfield. Soren had scored in double figures six of the seven games so far this year but he saved his biggest game of the year for the Big Nine leading Mankato East Cougars. East, who had won 36 straight league games, lost 71-62 and Richardson led the way scoring 22 points. Richardson has also led his team over Austin this season guiding the Raiders to a 5-3 record. Sophomore to Know Part 2. Six-foot-2 lightning quick guard Waziri Lawal made a strong impact on the Breck football team and last night he led Breck to an 87-69 win over Cristo Rey. Lawal scored 20 for Breck which was a career high. He also led Breck to an eight point win at New Life Academy on Friday. Waziri is scoring 15 points a game. Do it All Tey! One of the best all around athletes in the state of Minnesota is Teyghan HovlandTeyghanHovland6'3" | SFAustin | 2021StateMN from Austin. He’s a football and basketball standout who will play college baseball for St. Cloud State. Last night Tey led the Packers to an important win over Owatonna 52-49 by hitting a three with three seconds left. Hovland scored 15 points with three boards and three assists.