HIGH FIVE D1

Only one team in action on Saturday.

Regan Juenemann, Omaha, Crosby-Ironton 27-W

This was Juenemann’s high for the year. She was a AA player and made the state title game last year.

D2 & D3—Not in action

MN GBB RESULTS

AAAA

#1 Hopkins 83, Lakeville North 51

#2 Minnetonka 94, Fargo Shanley ND 69

#4 Maple Grove 61, #9AAA Bryon 51

#7 Wayzata 93, DeLaSalle 41

#9 Waconia 80, Rogers 47

AAA

#2 Orono 88, St. Michael-Albertville 61

#3 Hill-Murray 84, #10AAAA Forest Lake 55

#10 Richfield 83, Holy Family 57

AA

#3 Duluth Marshall  80, Goodhue 47

LaCrosse Aquinas WI 57, #4 Caledonia 41

#6 New London-Spicer 63, Willmar 37

A

#1 Mountain Iron-Buhl 81, Underwood 53

#3 Hillcrest Lutheran Royalton

Albany 72, #5 Central MN Christian 56

FRIDAY RANKED RESULTS

Winner High 87 New Life

Winner Low 46 Lakeville North

Loser High 67 Spring Lake Park

Loser Low 14 Sauk Rapids-Rice

Biggest Margin 61 Orono v Anoka

Smallest Margin 2 Farmington v Totino-Grace; Chatfield v Arcadia, WI

Most Combined: 146 Waconia v Spring Lake Park

Least combined: 60 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa v Sauk Rapids-Rice

Margins 30 or more 7 (25.0%)

Margins 5 or less 4 (14.29%)

Average 55.00

Winner Average 65.50

Loser Average 44.50

Ranked Average 68.71

Nonranked Average 53.04

Average margin 21.00

Average combined: 110.0

Ranked losses: one

AAAA Ave 56.875

AAA Ave 55.688

AA Ave 53.833

A Ave 49.667

SATURDAY RANKED RESULTS

Winner High 94 Minnetonka

Winner Low 43 Cass Lake-Bena 43

Loser High 70 Chanhassen

Loser Low 22 Sauk Rapids-Rice

Biggest Margin 59 Bloomington Kennedy v Sauk Rapids-Rice

Smallest Margin 1 Lewiston-Altura v Lake City

Most Combined: 163 Minnetonka v Fargo Shanley ND

Least combined: 77 Rockford v St. Cloud

Margins 30 or more 10 (23.26%)

Margins 5 or less 6 (13.95%)

Average 57.00

Winner Average 67.44

Loser Average 46.56

Ranked Average 72.40

Nonranked Average 53.50

Average margin 20.88

Average combined: 114.0

Ranked losses: four

AAAA Ave 62.20

AAA Ave 52.90

AA Ave 54.00

A Ave 60.70

ABOUT LAST NIGHT …..GRANITE CITY CLASSIC TRIO OF GAMES

I spent Saturday back at the Granite City Classic with two venues. The first site was back to St. Ben’s where #2AAA Orono ran roughshod over St. Michael-Albertville forcing 31 turnovers on the way to an 88-61 win. It didn’t start off that way however. The Knights were looking at a good day jumping out to an 11-2 lead. Part of that was due to STMA knowing where the 3 point line was on the floor. They knocked down three over the course of four possessions in building that lead. Orono was using the collegiate line to toe up their 3s. But the active hands and understanding the floor markings eventually shifted the game. The Moore sisters, specifically Mya, spearheaded the defense. The Spartans were like the Hindu God Vishnu with many arms knocking down passes or stripping away balls being dribbled by STMA. That D led to easy lay ups. The Knights saw a twenty point swing by half with Orono up 46-36. That defense didn’t slow down in the second half. Orono led with nine minutes left 69-48. The game never did get to running time, but you could smell it when the Spartans led 83-53 with about three to go.

Then it was off to Apollo for two games with teams on my to do list. Both of these contests were competitive and involved crunch time action (games within four points with four minutes to go.)

In the first game Anoka dodged Bloomington Jefferson, a Metro West member (a chain in the link with Orono) 50-44. The Tornadoes needed to rally for the victory. They trailed 37-33 with eleven minutes to go. This indicated the competitive nature of the game throughout with neither team getting that far ahead of the other. Anoka did lead in the first half by as many as six, but the Jaguars finished the first half on a 14-2 run to lead at the break 30-28. Anoka regained that lead in the second half after a 3 by Ja’Mya Viney to make it 38-37. That was the start of a strong second half finish by Anoka to the tune of 15-7. Six of those points came on second chance opportunities with Ruby Lakenen notching all six.

Team	Pt	PP100	OR/DR	FTM/a	2M/A	3M/A	TO/TOTO
Orono	88	111.4	16/20	8/10	28/48	8/29	9/40.56
STMA	61	75.9	10/28	9/14	12/32	9/19	31/10.45
Anoka	50	71.4	15/23	9/15	13/32	5/22	21/17.33
Bloomington Jefferson	44	63.8	17/25	5/12	12/39	5/16	25/13.20
Pequot Lakes	49	65.3	17/21	13/19	9/24	6/38	18/22.94
Spring Lake Park	46	63.0	20/31	13/22	12/35	3/17	25/23.32

Only two players were able to make the exclusive and one doubled up on 31. Mya Moore was dominant with the best performance of the year so far. She ended up in the 61 Club with a 65. Her defense, with 14 d stops, eight of which were steals, led to eight transition opportunities. She also had six disruptions with Orono knocking away 20 as a team. She shot a sizzling 71.42% from the 2s and 4/9 from 3s to go along with perfection at the free throw line at 4/4.

The other member Saturday was Ruby Lakanen taking over as the focal point in the paint for the Tornadoes with Deborah Ayeni out of action. Ayeni made the 31 Club in November with the win over Mahtomedi at White Bear Lake. Lakanen was coming off the bench in that contest. She had six of the last twelve Anoka points.

The final game was my second straight week with a double overtime game. The link here was the NW Suburban conference with Anoka to SLP the linchpin. The Panthers entered the week with seven straight wins. SLP ended the week with three straight losses. Pequot Lakes also had to rally in the second half to overcome Spring Lake Park. But they had to survive their own meltdown. At the half PL led 24-13. That increased to 34-21 with a dozen minutes to go on the clock. Part of that lead was built on the 3s by Chelby Wothe. Then the Patriots offense took some time off and SLP roared back to life outscoring PL 18-4 and grabbing a 39-38 lead with three minutes left in regulation. Neither side seized advantage of the opportunities in front of them. In fact SLP ended up with their last five possessions empty. Wothe did tie the game at 39 with 1:05 left, but PL was also coming up blank on five of their last six chances. In OT one SLP had the early jump out to 43-39 scoring on two of their first three chances including two free throws when Wothe committed her fifth for PL. The Patriots countered with a pair of free throws on their next possession, then tied it at 43 on a shot from the right block by Alexa Pietig with 1:05 left. The finish here was three straight turnovers followed by a desperation 3 and we were headed off to another four minutes of action. This time it was PL that struck first with Anne Wright picking up fifth foul Pietig made both tosses for a lead they would not relinquish. It was 48-46 with 55.9 ticks left and SLP with the ball. They had two cracks at scoring on that possession. PL finally got the rebound corralled and was fouled with 7.9 left in which Pietig converted the second for the final margin. SLP did not get a shot off and instead turned it over sealing their fate.

NAME	SCHOOL	31 CLUB	PP100
Mya Moore	Orono	65	153.3
Ruby Lakanen	Anoka	32	140.0

ON A FRIVOLOUS NOTE

Players seem to love to play untucked—their uniforms that is. Prior to the jump the performers reluctantly attempt to stuff their jerseys in their shorts….kind of… with no enthusiasm. I have a solution that will  make players content: opt for the Marquette jerseys back in the 1970s.

BACK TO FREE THROWS

I am wondering now about the amount of free throws attempted in the olden days and now. Specifically the touches per free throws. It seems to me that players are striving to avoid contact at all costs these days. That means the free throws per touch should be increasing. Picture the basket with concentric circles  going forth. The most aggressive to the rim, or teams that post up should have the lower totals. But too often I see players drifting, fading, twisting their bodies to avoid contact. I would advocate “to & through” the defense….right through their nose. Strong teams do this. Another factor in the increase is the popularity and rise of the 3 point shot. That is featured more than the old style back to the rim post up game from days of yore.

Here is a look at the GCC teams this week on this score and the player with the lowest touch total per free throw:

Team	Touches per FT
Byron	13.22
New Prague	14.04
DeLaSalle	19.17
Becker	19.80
Minnetonka	20.94
Pequot Lakes	21.74
STMA	23.14
Anoka	24.27
Duluth Marshall	25.42
Hopkins	25.64
Spring Lake Park	26.50
Bloomington Jefferson	27.50
Fargo Davies	29.50
Alexandria	35.00
Orono	36.50
Lakeville North	74.50

PLAYERS

Kaidyn Roisum, STMA 2.86

Alyse Ayen, Byron 4.60

Zoe Coleman, Byron 5.00

Claire Meyer, NP 5.17

Tess Brown, Becker 5.20

To be honest most of these players were off the bench. And if you look at the roster here two of the five were from Byron, the rest from teams that did not win.

WEEK THAT WAS

UNBEATEN

That didn’t last long….Richfield was eliminated from the unbeaten ranks with a loss at home on Monday to Coon Rapids. That guarantees that AAA will have a state champion with at least one loss.

I saw two AAAA teams that fell earlier in the week: Alex fell twice before picking up a win on Saturday at Granite City. It wasn’t in the Cards when they faced Maple Grove Monday or Minnetonka Friday. SLP started with seven straight wins. Now the Panthers are on a three game losing streak. I saw loss number three, a double overtime loss to Pequot Lakes on Saturday at Granite City. Blaine knocked them off their unbeaten perch on Tuesday, and then Waconia bumped them off Friday.

AA has the most survivors with five. Two of those (Menahga and Roseau) live in section 8. Another section with two undefeated: 7A with Mountain Iron-Buhl and Chisholm.

Total undefeated left: 11

AAAA: 2  Minnetonka, Rosemount

Leaving the list Alexandria and Spring Lake Park.

AAA: 0

Leaving the list Richfield

AA: 5 Fairmont; Menahga; New London-Spicer; Plainview-Elgin-Millville; Roseau

Leaving the list Maranatha

A: 4 Chisholm; Mountain Iron-Buhl; Pine River-Backus; Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s

Leaving the list: Central MN Christian

STREAKING

Another week, another leader at AAA. With Richfield’s loss on Monday to Coon Rapids that opened the door for Hill-Murray. The Pioneers have the lowest streak going with five. Minnetonka is the only school at double digits with ten wins. AA also has a new leader with New London-Spicer going to nine with two wins in the Wild-Card Tournament.

AAAA: 10 Minnetonka

AAA: 5 Hill-Murray

AA: 9 New London-Spicer

A: 9 Mountain Iron-Buhl; Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s

QUEST FOR…

It was a busy week with eleven top 100 teams charted. Crossed off the QRF listing this week: #16 Orono; #19 New Prague; #27 Spring Lake Park; #28 Alexandria; #37 Mounds View; #41 Pequot Lakes; #54 Bloomington Jefferson; #68 Byron; #68 (tied) Duluth Marshall; #82 Rogers; #91 Caledonia

It might be hard to duplicate that feat this week.

Biggest fish not seen? Still #7 Cretin-Derham Hall.

10: 9/10—-.900

25: 21/25—.840

50: 33/50—.660

75: 43/75—.573

100: 50/100—.500

TOP 10S

AAA saw the biggest improvements with #2 Orono, and #9 Byron both charted. AA improved as well with #3 Duluth Marshall and #4 (then) Caledonia checked off.

AAAA: 10/10-1.000

AAA: 8/10-.800

AA: 5/12 (thanks to ties in the polls)-.417

A: 4/10-.400

Overall, it is 27/42 .643. up 0.048.

#1S IN EACH SECTION

Oddly enough I moved backwards in this category this week losing ground in AAA.

AAAA: 8/8-1.000

AAA: 3/8-.375

AA: 2/9-.222

A: 3/10-.300

Grand totals: 18/35-.514.

SEEDING THE STATE

1AA has replaced 7AA as the killer-diller section in AA. With Rochester Lourdes, Caledonia, Goodhue, and AAA import Red Wing that shifted the balance of power south.

Injuries are starting to mount. Starters are exiting or have exited at Minnetonka, Hopkins, Maple Grove, Elk River….and that is only AAAA.

New additions in AA with Perham and St. Clair.

AAAA

1. Minnetonka (2)
2. Hopkins (6)
3. Rosemount (3)
4. Maple Grove (5)
5. Rochester Mayo (1)
6. East Ridge (4)
7. Elk River (8)
8. Forest Lake (7)

AAA

1. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (6)
2. Cretin-Derham Hall (3)
3. Hill-Murray (4)
4. Stewartville (1)
5. Marshall (2)
6. Rock Ridge (7)
7. Little Falls (8)
8. Totino-Grace (5)

AA

1. Providence (5)
2. Crosby-Ironton (7)
3. New London-Spicer (3)
4. Rochester Lourdes (1)
5. Minnehaha (4)
6. Milaca (6)
7. Perham (8)
8. Saint Clair (2)

A

1. Mountain Iron-Buhl (7)
2. Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s (2)
3. Kelliher-Northome (8)
4. Hillcrest Lutheran (6)
5. Central MN Christian (3)
6. Mayer Lutheran (4)
7. NRHEG (1)
8. Pine River-Backus (5)

WEEK AHEAD

Holiday tournaments (or “events”) are not done yet. The weather may impact Monday’s slate. Venues are open even on December 31 with games however.