JULY BREAKDOWN STATE TOURNAMENT

The Breakdown held their State Tournament in July. This originally started off as a showcase for the top teams in each section to show up for what could be a preview of March . It has since morphed into a showcase for supposedly top eight teams without regards to pure “sections.” Not one class had representation across all eight sections this year. In fact, in AA section 6 had a whopping four teams. It should have been called the section 6AA invitational.

One reason the high school coaches like this event is they can do hands on coaching of their own players and don’t have to turn the keys over to a driver that might crash and burn a carefully crafted squad. The reason this tournament is held this weekend is it falls neatly into the closed D1 window so all the players are theoretically available.

How clairvoyant is the Breakdown State? The 2017 version of the event correctly pointed to state champs for A (Lyle-Pacelli); AA (Sauk Centre). Eastview finished as runner up to Lakeville North (both of which made the state). The AAA champ Grand Rapids did make the state, but did not get to the finals in March. The runners up in three of the classes didn’t get to state, but they would not have anyway in two of the cases with Rush City in Sauk Centre’s section and Hayfield in LPs. Hutchinson did not make state falling to Mankato West in the 2AAA finals. So looking at the July 2018 results MIB and Rush City are more than happy. STMA could be hoisting hardware in March if past is prologue.

Two years ago (2016) none of the four winners were called correctly. In fact St. Michael-Albertville, Hutchinson did not make State in March of 2017. Hopkins was runner up in both, and Sauk Centre won the summer event, but finished second to Roseau in the March 2017 AA Tournament. Cromwell-Wright won the summer and made the state A. Wheaton-Herman-Norcross ad Plainview-Elgin-Millville, finished second in the summer, but did not make State in either A or AA. Alexandria, the runner up in summer, did make the AAA state.

This event also put the AAAA game first and A last which flips the March order. Half of the teams in the title games on Sunday were in the March 2018 state tournament. Half were on the outside looking in. Three fell in section finals. One stubbed their toe in the section semis—–and they have something to prove, and we lead off with them.

GAME 1: AAAA TITLE

WAYZATA 67, ST. MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLE 53

If you have been paying attention this summer the Wayzata Trojans have had quite a few players on display in championship games. They again showcased why they will be a force this year with convincing wins over three of the teams in the AAAA division capped by a 14 point win over STMA. The Trojans were able to get that lead up to 20 late with the Knights knocking down two late 3s to make the deficit tighter. Looking at the Wayzata line up three of the starters won state titles (Stewart, Smiley with NT 2020) and (Theisen with NT 2019); throw in a couple that finished second (Johnson, Braun with NT 2021); and Schrader who starts with MN Suns Kietzer and you have some firepower. No other team today featured that kind of hardware. Besides the experience Wayzata has the length to make life difficult for others. The taller Trojans took over the battle of the boards 43-23. Their shadows pushed STMA to the arc, where they are more comfortable. The Trojans also displayed balance with seven players reaching the century mark in pp100. All nine players scored for Wayzata and they did it quickly getting a point every 4.01 touches the best on the day by far. Wayzata shot 54% inside. The Trojans also made use of the free throw line making eleven. STMA only attempted ten. The Knights stayed in the game with nine 3s as five different players connected. And they didn’t have all their long distance shooters as Tessa Johnson was with her club team at AAU nationals. She delivered eight 3s there. Kaelyn Christian topped STMA with four 3s. The Knights were careful with the ball with a best 34.89 touches per turnover rate. On top of that STMA had the second best pp100 of any team Sunday.

After eight possessions Wayzata led 12-5. STMA was able to get it to 17-16 near the nine minute mark, but Wayzata went on a tear before half to lead 42-25. Any chance of a STMA comeback left at the 10:27 mark when Jadyn Hanson left the game not to return after a collision with Kallie Theisen.

There was one twist in this game—–Wayzata was the only team not coached by the varsity coach. Ken Theisen was at the helm for the win.

GAME 2: AA TITLE

RUSH CITY 35, EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS 29

Last year Rush City finished second to Sauk Centre at MGJH. Sunday there was redemption as the Tigers shot 52% from 2s in the lowest scoring title game of the bunch.

After four minutes RC led 8-2. The Eagles did close the gap by half to make it a one point game (20-19). A basket by Olivia Kuechle gave EVW their only lead at 24-22. RC closed out the last 13:30 of the game with a 13-5 run. Scoring was even harder to come by in the last eight minutes (6-2 RC). This was a very deliberate, very controlled game. EVW had the most seven touch possessions of the day with 26. They also had 12.4 touches per point the highest of the day.

GAME 3: AAA TITLE

ALEXANDRIA 43, WILLMAR 36

Two state tournament entrants from the Central Lakes with the same mascot met for the AAA title. Everyone knew going in the Cardinals were going to walk out with the title. Both CL rivals were without a key player: Alex missed out on guard Kaye Praschka, Willmar missed a bigger piece in 6-1 post Carly Wedel. During the contest Alex’s Jaya Hatlestad left with what looked like an ankle injury. That impacted the shooting percentages for Alex as they delivered 59% inside. Indeed Emily Jones did not miss one shot all day—-free throws, 2s or 3s—on her way to 17 points.

After eight minutes Alex raced to a 19-6 lead. Willmar was forced to play catch up the rest of the way. At the break Alex led 25-18.

GAME 4: A TITLE

MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL 44, ADA-BORUP 23

This was another game featuring two state tournament entrants from 2018. Indeed, both perennial powers are led by Hall of Fame coaches. The proverbial wall was hit as the MIB defense held AB to the lowest shooting and pp100 (and points) of any title game.

Even though this game devolved into a running time game the start had no indication it would turn out this way. In fact it looked like the Cougars might be the beneficiaries of running time. After five possessions AB led 8-2. The next 29 minutes AB could only muster 15 points. MIB harassing defense forced 22 turnovers. Taking the top two scorers off for AB the rest of the squad only contributed eight points. MIB had eight different players able to contribute. One source of frustration to the MIB was their lack of production at the free throw line connecting on an anemic 38% (5/13).

TEAM	Points	PP100	Leading Scorer
Wayzata	67	111.7	Jenna Johnson 19
STMA	53	88.3	Kaelyn Christian 14
Rush City	35	76.1	Shawna Mell 11
Eden Valley-Watkins	29	62.2	Olivia Kuechle 10
Alexandria	43	78.8	Emily Jones 17
Willmar	36	69.2	Madison Linbo 9
Mountain Iron-Buhl	44	82.7	Allie Negen 13
Ada-Borup	23	44.2	Mariah McKeever 8

 

TRENCH PLAYER

GAME 1: Jenna Johnson, Wayzata with 19 points, 126.7 pp100, 8/13 2fg; 28 in the 31 Club

GAME 2: Jamie Guptil, Rush City with 6 points, 150 pp100, 13 d stops and 21 in the 31 Club

GAME 3: Emily Jones, Alexandria with 17 points, 212.5 pp100, perfect shooting: 4/4 ft, 5/5 2fg, 1/1 3fg; 23 in the 31 Club

GAME 4: Allie Negen, Mountain Iron-Buhl with 13 points, 100 pp100, and 22 in the 31 Club

PLAYER OF THE DAY: EMILY JONES