FIVE SATURDAY BREAKDOWN

The Breakdown Tip Off event took place on Saturday at Hopkins

and I was able to sandwich five games this year (with a trip to River Falls smack dab in the middle). At no point was there a nail-biter that I charted. There were games where motivation was not an issue. Let’s take a brief look as the ball spins:

PARK CENTER 78, PRIOR LAKE 56

The #9AAAA Pirates moved to 2-0 on the year under new coach Barb Metcalfe. The Pirates three headed guards (Blakemore, DuBois, Frost) had more depth than the Lakers. McKenna Hofschild kept the Lakers within shouting distance with 31 points, but did not have a lot of help.

EASTVIEW 60, ST. MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLE 43

The #2AAAA Lightning’s height made life rough for the smaller #8AAAA Knights. Eastview pounded the boards for 52-31 advantage. The Lightning also struck for 50% shooting in 2s.

MAHTOMEDI 51, DELASALLE 38

This was the most compelling game on the schedule for a couple of reasons: Last year the #1AAA currently ranked Islanders prevented the #6AAA ranked Zephyrs from moving on to the state tournament: hence the revenge motive; number two: DLS was tagged for two forfeits due to an ineligible player. The loss of that player meant DLS’s guard play would be thin. After getting out to a 10-2 lead, the Islanders’ offense ground to a halt. Mahtomedi played the grinder game and 6-3 Emma Grothaus topped all scorers on the day with 32 points. One had no other place to look other than the free throw line for an explanation on this game. Mahtomedi cashed in 28 free throws on 42 attempts. DLS had a meager two out of ten attempts. Even on the boards Mahtomedi prevailed over a category DLS was supposed to shine in 51-32. DLS launched from behind the arc frequently without much satisfaction. The only DLS player to step up today was Nurjei Weems with 16 points.

MARANATHA 78, SLEEPY EYE 46

#8AA Maranatha used to be in A. #10A Sleepy Eye is glad they are no longer in the small class as the Mustangs rolled to a 78-46 victory. In every stat category Maranatha had an advantage. Shooting 52 percent in 2s was a big factor. The Maranatha starters helped the Mustangs reach the top pp100 for the day with 105.4. With just the starters Maranatha checked in with a 122 pp100.

NORWOOD-YOUNG AMERICA 71, CHISAGO LAKES 53

#2AA Norwood-Young America dispatched #9AAA Chisago Lakes thanks to better depth. As was often the case today with the winners, the Raiders went to the line more often than the foul prone Wildcats. In fact NYA scored more times (24) than CL had attempts (23).

Team	PP100	scorer	Distributor	D stops
Park Center	101.3	Sommer Blakemore 20	Three with 6	T’Naye Griffin 10
Prior Lake	73.7	McKenna Hofschild 31	Haidynn Pitsch 5	Emily Kulstad 10
Eastview	93.8	Mariah Alipate 17	Two with 5	Megan Walstad 14
St. Michael-Albertville	66.2	Jadyn Hanson 13	Two with 4	Jadyn Hanson 9
Mahtomedi	83.6	Emma Grothaus 32	Annika Sougstad 7	Emma Grothaus 12
DeLaSalle	63.6	Nurjei Weems 16	Alexis Cochran-Star 7	Ayanna Gardner 9
Maranatha	105.4	Jaclyn Jarnot 25	Jaclyn Jarnot 10	Jaclyn Jarnot 13
Sleepy Eye	61.3	Madi Heiderscheidt 21	Two with 3	Two with 5
Norwood-Young America	94.7	Kali Grim 19	Abby Mackenthun 9	Abby Mackenthun 8
Chisago Lakes	69.7	Carmen Backes 17	Two with 5	Sophia Wood 7

TODAY’S TRENCH PLAYERS

Sommer, Blakemore, Park Center

Megan Walstad, Eastview

Emma Grothaus, Mahtomedi 32
Jaclyn Jarnot, Maranatha (a kjasr triple double)

Abby Mackenthun, Norwood-Young America