PARK CENTER 80, OSSEO 58
Didn’t I just see PC on Wednesday? Yes, I did. It was not about PC tonight. It was not about Osseo either. It was about the 2000 Orioles state championship reunion/celebration of which I was one of the assistant coaches. It seems like last week that championship was hoisted, but, like Sargent Pepper and Rip Van Winkle, 20 years have come and gone. Luckily the schedule was open for me to attend this reunion with Stillwater playing on Thursday night. This was a chance to walk down memory lane with the players and families of the heroes of 2000. There was plenty of catching up, remembrances of the “good ol’ days,” introductions to new future players (and current players—one of my players now has a daughter on the Oriole varsity squad) and of course photo ops galore. All five starters and a big portion of the bench returned for the event. Missing in action was Coach Thorpe who resides in Florida now. There were video highlights at half time and at the end of the night a re-enactment of the cutting down the nets. The one thing the players kept emphasizing throughout the day was the feeling/chemistry/culture that they cared about each other. That was the difference maker.
As for the action on the court tonight it was PC again adding to their unbeaten season. The Pirates, playing without starter Lauren Frost, utilized their pressure to jump out to a 16-1 lead in the first three and a half minutes of action. Osseo then outscored PC 14-11 seven minutes (27-15). What a difference two days makes. PC was unable to dial long distance today cashing in once behind the arc. That contrasted with a ten on Wednesday. One thing that did not change from Wednesday was the play of Adalia McKenzie. The 5-10 junior erupted for 40 points and more than doubled her total in the 31 Club with a 64 score. She was in at the end. Partly because Osseo made a game of it. The Orioles narrowed the gap to 55-45 about twelve minutes remaining.
PC feasted in two distinct areas: rebounding and turnovers. The Pirates had 34 offensive rebounds alone, one less than the total Osseo rebounds. PC had one sequence with five chances to score on one possession. That toll adds up quickly. The offensive sprinkles on top were the turnovers translating to layup points. PC had a plus 13 turnover differential advantage with a 9/12 conversion rate on lay ups.
Last year I missed out on charting the Orioles thanks to the weather whammy that messed up my carefully laid plans.
| PARK CENTER | OSSEO | |
| POINTS | 80 | 58 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 61/34 | 35/13 |
| TURNOVERS | 15 | 28 |
| 2FGA/% | 58/43.10 | 29/34.48 |
| 3FGA/% | 25/8.00 | 17/29.41 |
| FTA/% | 30/80.00 | 30/76.67 |
| PP100 | 102.6 | 76.3 |
| TOP SCORER | Adalia McKenzie 40 | Jaiden Kline 20 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Adalia McKenzie with 40 points, 125.0 pp100; and a 64 in the 31 Club.