Looking just quickly through the SCTimes this morning.
SCC 55-Foley 54 Four straight losses for the Falcons after opening with 9 straight wins. Everyone knew the schedule would toughen, but this is 3 losses at home in a row. Blowing a ten point half time lead, and once again struggling to get off a solid shot at the end of the game(per st times, I wasn't there) means they have some work still left to do.
Mora 68- Albany 55- Albany had won 7 in a row, Mora is a very talented team, that put 6 kids in double figures last night. Weird that Mora went 1:40 minutes west and played so well. Oslin is proving to be one of the best shooters in the conference.
Girls
SCC 93 Zimmerman 65- Both Cathedral boys and girls were down at the half last night before rallying to win. Cathedral didn't just rally they smoked. Forcing 25 second half turnovers. Coach Travis Brown and I argue all the time that his press allows too many easy baskets and let's marginal teams hang around, but in games like this, Travis is right, sounds like they just wore them down.
Mora 42 Foley 36- No Katie Kotsmith in the box score, I hope she isn't hurt, I will be attending the Foley/NLS girls game tonight. Looking for a great effort from the falcons.
predictiond for tonight. All 3 St. Cloud boys teams @ home tonight, and all three win. I will take the NL-S girls in a close one.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Weekly notes
MN Comets teams and tryouts are starting to take shape. I think our 17's will all be very good, and play deep into tournaments, and be very recruitable to college coaches at all levels. I am also extremely excited about my 16's, who I think will also be very good.
There is already trash talk from some 17's that my 16's won't win the "Comet Clash" again, but I have to say I like my chances. The trophy is still at my house.
Say Foley/NL-S saturday night, and it was a great game, tied with under 4 minutes to go. I get the feeling Foley could have won that one, as that wasn't NL-S best game. Now Foley goes on the road to Braham. You would think Braham is a small favorite, but I will stay with the falcons. Although should they lose this one, it would be 3 in a row.
It's monday and I have no games scheduled to attend yet this week after watching 6 last week. Deep breath night tonight. Probably be back with a blog later in the week.
There is already trash talk from some 17's that my 16's won't win the "Comet Clash" again, but I have to say I like my chances. The trophy is still at my house.
Say Foley/NL-S saturday night, and it was a great game, tied with under 4 minutes to go. I get the feeling Foley could have won that one, as that wasn't NL-S best game. Now Foley goes on the road to Braham. You would think Braham is a small favorite, but I will stay with the falcons. Although should they lose this one, it would be 3 in a row.
It's monday and I have no games scheduled to attend yet this week after watching 6 last week. Deep breath night tonight. Probably be back with a blog later in the week.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I have seen a couple of games
I have been to two Foley games 1 boys and 1 girls in the past 3 days. I left feeling disapointed both times.
The Falcon boys have started this season right where we left off last year. Cruising and beating a lot of teams they are supposed to. They ran into an EV-W team the other night that isn't as talented, so I expected a 15 point win. Saying Eden Valley's guards aren't very good is like saying the Minnesota Timberwolves aren't very good. So I expected some run and jump, and full court play. The one thing EV-W has is big Dave Stommes who is a house down low.
Game starts off slow, no ball pressure from the falcons, allowing EV-W to run their sets like they woul din their shoot arounds. EV-W leads the whole 1st half. Bright spot for the falcons this year has been the play of Eric Oiness who has increased confidence and range on his jump shot. Oiness and Sr Matt Feuling keep it close.
Second half EV-W opens up by 10 midway through the half, but that's when the Falcons come with their pressure against EV-W bad guards, layups by Laine Nelson, and Nick Jansen cut the Eagles lead to 2. We go back and forth from there, until 27 seconds remain, falcons down 2, they dribble the clock down disorganized until the 11 second mark, and then call a TO. Mercifully putting Feuling back in the game at the TO(two coaches asked me after the game how Feuling wasn't on the floor for the crucial last few possesions, I couldn't honestly answer the question). Sr Laine Nelson who has been on fire, attacks the lane out of a TO off a brush screen from Feuling, finds Feuling on the roll, and as the shot goes up, big Stommes goes for the block. Maybe there was contact maybe not, but no call is made(as it should be at the end of games) and the Falcons lose their 1st game if the year.
My thoughts were that I hope that game doesn't affect the falcons seed for playoffs, and also that it might have been the best thing for the kids, staff, etc...Foley up until now hasn't really played anyone, and only one team with a winning record, and they were class 1A. Almost all of their games have been at home, and now the kids will listen better at practice, and be prepared for what will be a stiff test Friday night versus NL-S. They are a very dangerous team, who like I predicted will challenge for the conference and section titles.
I saw Foley/Albany girls last night and for a half it was a good game. if not for A couple ill advised possesions late in the first half including a 17 footer from Katie Kotsmith with 15 seconds left in the half, which led to a 3 pt play the other way, and a 13 point defecit and possibly not an 8 point defecit, and we really could of had a battle. Katie had a great scoring half, as did Hannah Hylla of Albany who had 15 at the break. 40-27 Huskies at the half.
Second half was as hard of a half to watch as I have seen in awhile. Albany comes out in their stapled 1-3-1 zone and promptly scores the next 21 points. Now we are in blowout mode, and to be honest I checked out. Foley has a nice team, and more talent this year then they project to have in awhile. I root for them to get better in practice and give Albany a better game at home.
The Falcon boys have started this season right where we left off last year. Cruising and beating a lot of teams they are supposed to. They ran into an EV-W team the other night that isn't as talented, so I expected a 15 point win. Saying Eden Valley's guards aren't very good is like saying the Minnesota Timberwolves aren't very good. So I expected some run and jump, and full court play. The one thing EV-W has is big Dave Stommes who is a house down low.
Game starts off slow, no ball pressure from the falcons, allowing EV-W to run their sets like they woul din their shoot arounds. EV-W leads the whole 1st half. Bright spot for the falcons this year has been the play of Eric Oiness who has increased confidence and range on his jump shot. Oiness and Sr Matt Feuling keep it close.
Second half EV-W opens up by 10 midway through the half, but that's when the Falcons come with their pressure against EV-W bad guards, layups by Laine Nelson, and Nick Jansen cut the Eagles lead to 2. We go back and forth from there, until 27 seconds remain, falcons down 2, they dribble the clock down disorganized until the 11 second mark, and then call a TO. Mercifully putting Feuling back in the game at the TO(two coaches asked me after the game how Feuling wasn't on the floor for the crucial last few possesions, I couldn't honestly answer the question). Sr Laine Nelson who has been on fire, attacks the lane out of a TO off a brush screen from Feuling, finds Feuling on the roll, and as the shot goes up, big Stommes goes for the block. Maybe there was contact maybe not, but no call is made(as it should be at the end of games) and the Falcons lose their 1st game if the year.
My thoughts were that I hope that game doesn't affect the falcons seed for playoffs, and also that it might have been the best thing for the kids, staff, etc...Foley up until now hasn't really played anyone, and only one team with a winning record, and they were class 1A. Almost all of their games have been at home, and now the kids will listen better at practice, and be prepared for what will be a stiff test Friday night versus NL-S. They are a very dangerous team, who like I predicted will challenge for the conference and section titles.
I saw Foley/Albany girls last night and for a half it was a good game. if not for A couple ill advised possesions late in the first half including a 17 footer from Katie Kotsmith with 15 seconds left in the half, which led to a 3 pt play the other way, and a 13 point defecit and possibly not an 8 point defecit, and we really could of had a battle. Katie had a great scoring half, as did Hannah Hylla of Albany who had 15 at the break. 40-27 Huskies at the half.
Second half was as hard of a half to watch as I have seen in awhile. Albany comes out in their stapled 1-3-1 zone and promptly scores the next 21 points. Now we are in blowout mode, and to be honest I checked out. Foley has a nice team, and more talent this year then they project to have in awhile. I root for them to get better in practice and give Albany a better game at home.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Apollo vs. Willmar
An interesting night in St. Cloud last night as coaches Dick Lewis, Josh Hanson and I headed off to Apollo to watch them take on Willmar. In what in my estimation was the "second place" game for the conference.
First half all Willmar, Taylor Filipek had a 6 or 7 possesion stretch where he either got a dunk, hit a 3, or got an assist, as Willmar blew open a close game. Apollo down 15 at the break, and Willmar looking like the better team.
Second half goes much the same way as Apollo turns it over, Willmar goes zone with a big lead and they stretch it to 19. I called my wife at the 10:36 mark and Willmar was up 46-31. From then on it was all Apollo. Coach Kesler puts Andre Garth on Taylor Filipek, and they start to press. Turnovers, and layups Apollo creates, and soon it's down to 9, TO Willmar. Apollo steadily closes the gap and takes the lead at 59-58. Hassan Adukar hit a couple of big 3's down the stretch for Apollo and Andre Garth had 21 too. Fun game, awful crowd, and in the end Apollo won by 3.
Loved Filipek, both of them last night, and thought the 5 sophomores who saw the floor for both teams last night are all very nice players.
First half all Willmar, Taylor Filipek had a 6 or 7 possesion stretch where he either got a dunk, hit a 3, or got an assist, as Willmar blew open a close game. Apollo down 15 at the break, and Willmar looking like the better team.
Second half goes much the same way as Apollo turns it over, Willmar goes zone with a big lead and they stretch it to 19. I called my wife at the 10:36 mark and Willmar was up 46-31. From then on it was all Apollo. Coach Kesler puts Andre Garth on Taylor Filipek, and they start to press. Turnovers, and layups Apollo creates, and soon it's down to 9, TO Willmar. Apollo steadily closes the gap and takes the lead at 59-58. Hassan Adukar hit a couple of big 3's down the stretch for Apollo and Andre Garth had 21 too. Fun game, awful crowd, and in the end Apollo won by 3.
Loved Filipek, both of them last night, and thought the 5 sophomores who saw the floor for both teams last night are all very nice players.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Tech vs. Apollo boys and girls
I saw both the boys play last night and the girls play on tuesday. Here are my thoughts on both games.
Tuesday Night- Lady Tigers travel to visit the Lady Eagles. Apollo comes out in a press, but doesn't trap out of it. Freshman guard Anessa Roesch slices through it and drops off a lot of nice passes or take the layups herself. Apollo hangs around with some nice play from Alison Gray. It's 28 all before Tech goes on a 6-0 run to end the half. Second half is Zweiner time as both sisters hit early shots and Apollo goes down 13. Apollo still in the press with no traps, and Roesch still slicing it, lead gets to 18 with 4 minutes to play when Maddox Lewis tosses his popcorn bag under the bleachers and we decide it's time to leave. Gray with 20, Courtney Lynch with 18. For the Tigers Roesch had 17, Zweiners both in double figures.
Thursday Night- What a game, fantastic crowd, Mike Much from MN Preps in the stands and by my count 9 college coaches as well. Neither student section got as rowdy as they have in the past but they cheered loudly throughout the night, sometimes you forget what a great crowd can do for the atmosphere at a HS game.
Starting the game Tigers are all over the Eagles, Wolters is getting wherever he wants, and Apollo seems content to settle for a lot of jumpers. A Banked 3 by Alex Hanks puts them up 11 at 24-13. Apollo battles back as Bergstrasser get's an and 1, and Garth steals the missed Ft and lays it back in. Back and forth we go and it's 40-33 at the half. The second half is where one of the best shootout's between two players, I have ever seen happened. 4 minutes into the half, Andre Garth and Nate Wolters go bananas, Each of them scoring at will, on the other defense. It's 52-51 Tech when Apollo commits a turnover, and on the fast break back Ibrahim Abukar get's called for an intentional foul as he and a Tech kid collided and on their way to the floor, Abukar grabs his jersey. He did grab a jersey but no intent to injure at all, it was a very soft call. Down the stretch Apollo is gassed and Wolters goes for the throat, getting to the rack at will. The game comes too easy for Nate, he is really good. I posted alot of my thoughts on mnpreps already, so I will keep this brief. Mark Kaczor was Co MVP for Tech. Great game by him.
Wolters 39 Eurhle 17 Hanks 15 for Tech
Garth 39 Maslonkowski 15 Bergstrasser 14 Abukar 12 for Apollo
Tuesday Night- Lady Tigers travel to visit the Lady Eagles. Apollo comes out in a press, but doesn't trap out of it. Freshman guard Anessa Roesch slices through it and drops off a lot of nice passes or take the layups herself. Apollo hangs around with some nice play from Alison Gray. It's 28 all before Tech goes on a 6-0 run to end the half. Second half is Zweiner time as both sisters hit early shots and Apollo goes down 13. Apollo still in the press with no traps, and Roesch still slicing it, lead gets to 18 with 4 minutes to play when Maddox Lewis tosses his popcorn bag under the bleachers and we decide it's time to leave. Gray with 20, Courtney Lynch with 18. For the Tigers Roesch had 17, Zweiners both in double figures.
Thursday Night- What a game, fantastic crowd, Mike Much from MN Preps in the stands and by my count 9 college coaches as well. Neither student section got as rowdy as they have in the past but they cheered loudly throughout the night, sometimes you forget what a great crowd can do for the atmosphere at a HS game.
Starting the game Tigers are all over the Eagles, Wolters is getting wherever he wants, and Apollo seems content to settle for a lot of jumpers. A Banked 3 by Alex Hanks puts them up 11 at 24-13. Apollo battles back as Bergstrasser get's an and 1, and Garth steals the missed Ft and lays it back in. Back and forth we go and it's 40-33 at the half. The second half is where one of the best shootout's between two players, I have ever seen happened. 4 minutes into the half, Andre Garth and Nate Wolters go bananas, Each of them scoring at will, on the other defense. It's 52-51 Tech when Apollo commits a turnover, and on the fast break back Ibrahim Abukar get's called for an intentional foul as he and a Tech kid collided and on their way to the floor, Abukar grabs his jersey. He did grab a jersey but no intent to injure at all, it was a very soft call. Down the stretch Apollo is gassed and Wolters goes for the throat, getting to the rack at will. The game comes too easy for Nate, he is really good. I posted alot of my thoughts on mnpreps already, so I will keep this brief. Mark Kaczor was Co MVP for Tech. Great game by him.
Wolters 39 Eurhle 17 Hanks 15 for Tech
Garth 39 Maslonkowski 15 Bergstrasser 14 Abukar 12 for Apollo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)