The Midweek Rundown: The Full Court Press
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What has happened in Minnesota high school basketball this week? We put on The Full Court Press by providing a midweek rundown. The Full Court Press. The Minnesota high school basketball newspaper that was the catalyst to me wanting to…
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Continue ReadingWhat has happened in Minnesota high school basketball this week? We put on The Full Court Press by providing a midweek rundown.
The Full Court Press. The Minnesota high school basketball newspaper that was the catalyst to me wanting to share my basketball thoughts and get paid for it. Had a subscription from the time I was in 7th grade until they changed the name and later shut it down. Have to always honor that newspaper. It was awesome.
So, what has happened in Minnesota high school basketball so far this week? We break it into four categories:
Surprising Upsets
- The sophomore class might have a new name to know! The athletic Mason Carrier of Detroit Lakes is 6’3 and very explosive! He made headlines with a nasty dunk on his way to a game high 25 point helping DL get their 7th win of the season at the expense of a really good Crosby-Ironton team 94-77. Chris Breeden hit five threes for DL as well.
- Irondale improved to 14-6 on the season with their second win over CDH this year. The first time it was a one point win, tonight it was an Irondale win. Is it an upset? To those paying attention not really as Irondale is 14-6 and has done this twice now. That said, many will think it is based on program traditions. Either way, huge night for the Knights!
- A true upset is Eden Prairie being beaten by STMA! The Eagles were on the verge of a top ten ranking but another group of Knights stopped those ideas. Colton Demarias had another big game scoring 21 for STMA.
- Prior Lake earned a nice win beating Lakeville South 46-43.
Surprising Beatdowns
- I had my eyes on the Minnehaha Academy vs Hiawatha game to see if the Redhawks are truly a force or if Hiawatha has what it takes to be in that contender spot. The Redhawks won 78-52 and truly look like a Class AA force for March Madness. Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN is playing the best basketball of his life.
- Having lost 12 of their last 13 I did not expect Spring Lake Park to beat Maple Grove 69-51. Payton Thomsen Payton Thomsen 6'2" | PG Spring Lake Park | 2022 State MN had 26, Logan Kinsey Logan Kinsey 6'6" | PF Spring Lake Park | 2022 State MN 24.
- Fertile-Beltrami improved to 18-3 with a 83-64 win over Sacred Heart who came into the game 17-2. In a monster Class A clash the game was controlled by the Falcons.
- Orono crushed Waconia 78-54 by a barrage of threes.
- Maple River over LCWM 79-49? Did not expect that at all in terms of total Eagle control.
Big Game Success
- Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN scored 35 as Minnehaha Academy earned a really nice win against Buffalo 67-62. The Redhawks are coming, 10-8 now.
- Mankato Loyola junior Simon Morgan Simon Morgan 6'3" | SF Mankato Loyola | 2023 State MN just missed a double-double (25 points and 9 boards) as Loyola knocked off top ten ranked Martin County West 63-60 on Monday. Loyola is ready for a bump!
- Elvis Nnaji Elvis Nnaji 6'8" | C Hopkins | 2022 State #215 Nation MN had a monster 31 points in the middle against the small Tonka frontline BUT Hopkins couldn’t defend the many Tonka guard/wing options as Jalen Cain Jalen Cain 6'3" | SF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN and Ibrahim El-Amin Ibrahim El-Amin 5'10" | PG Minnetonka | 2023 State MN combined for 54 with El-Amin scoring 28 points and five threes according to The Czar.
Top Performances
- Buay Koak Buay Koak 6'4" | SG Lyle-Pacelli | 2023 State MN scored 34 points with eight rebounds despite taking an early seat during running time as his Lyle/Austin Pacelli squad beat Alden-Conger 106-41.
- Junior standout Owen Leach Owen Leach 6'6" | SF Dillworth Glyndon-Felton | 2023 State MN took two dribbles into a game winning three at the buzzer allowing DGF to beat Thief River Falls 74-71.
- Justin Wohlers Justin Wohlers 6'6" | PF Lake City | 2022 State MN had 27 points on five threes and multiple dunks last night as Lake City continues their AA run with a 30 point win over Lourdes
- Ja’Sean Glover lead Madelia to a win over WEM with 41 of his team’s 77 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, and five steals. One of the top unsigned players in the state.
- The Islanders are short handed so Nasir Whitlock Nasir Whitlock 6'2" | PG Delasalle | 2023 State MN exploded for 40 points and 8 assists in the DeLaSalle 78-60 win over Richfield.