What follows is two games from Thursday and Saturday plus the weekly Seeding the state.
Due to transportation issues that have not been resolved yet my normal patterns have been disrupted. That means I have not been able to get to some of the games I usually get out to. It also means the next week, maybe two, are still going to be up in the air. It also means I can’t get the stories out as quickly as in the past. Finally, Thursday’s game is digested.
GAME 1: ROGERS 75, CENTENNIAL 64
The determining factor in this Northwest Suburban contest came down to shooting as most games usually do. In all three measurements the Royals ruled: 2pt 48% to 34%; 3pt 32% to 27%; and 100% to 65% at the line. Rogers was perfect at the line making all 15. This game really was not as tight as the final score would indicate. As has been the case this season, the team with the quick jump out of the gate usually prevails. After four minutes Rogers led 12-2 and Centennial was forced to call time and play catch up the rest of the way. The hosts extended their led to 43-26 at the break. Rogers continued to hold sway up 60-40 with 10 minutes left. With six minutes remaining Rogers was on cruise control at 68-43. Substitutions narrowed the margin. It is true that Rogers did not sub out all players, but the deeper bench did get in. Centennial’s starters had more touches than the Rogers five. Rogers did make the coveted 100+ mark in pp100 at 101.4, the only team in the two game series to climb that summit.
Centennial last year made the state tournament out of section 5. They have been now placed in section 7. The conventional wisdom had them headed to state, but the path (after watching this game) will not be an easy street.
Ellie Buzzelle of Rogers led all scorers with 25 points and she had a game high score of 38 in the 31 Club. The D1 Grand Canyon signee, and Clara Glad, a 2023 Montana State commit who had a game high 130 pp100, have help in Katelyn Maciej, a 6-2 2023 post. She led Rogers with distributions out of the high post with 8/15 with Buzzelle scoring five of those times.
GAME 2: WAYZATA 61, PRIOR LAKE 47
The Trojans are now living life without Mara Braun, future Gopher. As a result they are establishing a new identity with new coach Julie Stewart. Wayzata got off to rousing starts in the first few minutes of each half. How rousing? To the tune of 31-8 over the course of a combined 14 minutes of action. That means the other 24 minutes of action belonged to the Lakers 39-30. PL had issues initially with the full court pressure with four turnovers in their first five possessions of the game, later six of eight. In the second half the same pattern emerged with four of the first seven possessions ending in gifts for the hosts. For the game the Lakers coughed up the ball 33 times—-every 10.24 touches. Wayzata had over 20 touches per turnover—with only 20 turnovers. Of the four PL starters only one was above 42pp100. As a contrast, four reserves were over 100 pp100 for the Lakers. Starters vs starters was not even a contest with Wayzata prevailing 55-28. Still for all the problems offensively, PL managed to pull in front 22-20 with 3:22 left in the first half. The Trojans led 25-24 at the break. On the shooting scene Wayzata was much more effective in 2 point range going 54% (19/35) while PL struggled at 31% (10/32).
Wayzata’s Shannon Fornshell led the way defensively for the Trojans with 16 d stops including six forced turnovers. Coincidentally Fornshell also scored 16 points.
This concludes my Lake Conference checklist. I believe section 2AAAA is the next closest conference and/or section to near completion. Two teams are awaiting their check off there.
SEEDING THE STATE
The foggiest class at the moment is AA. Many possibilities exist there. The two private powerhouses continue to rule the roost. But most sections are not slam dunks by any means.
AAAA
- Hopkins (6)
- Minnetonka (2)
- Roseville (5)
- Michael-Albertville (8)
- Stillwater (4)
- Lakeville North (1)
- Rosemount (3)
- Blaine (7)
AAA
- Becker (5)
- Austin (1)
- Holy Angels (6)
- Paul Como Park (3)
- Grand Rapids (7)
- Totino-Grace (4)
- Peter (2)
- Alexandria (8)
AA
- Minnehaha (4)
- Providence (5)
- Goodhue (1)
- Proctor (7)
- Montevideo (3)
- Sauk Centre (6)
- Perham (8)
- Belle Plaine (2)
A
- Mountain Iron-Buhl (7)
- Minneota (3)
- Cass Lake-Bena (8)
- Mayer Lutheran (2)
- Hancock (6)
- Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (5)
- Hayfield (1)
- West Lutheran (4)