Saturday, 2/23/08 @ Roseville Tournament
SLP 5A vs. Anoka
Park lost to a strong Anoka team, with a strong center, 33-22, Saturday afternoon.
Anoka’s center was Nicholas Kjos’s height, but with 50 additional pounds, and he was hard to stop when he got the ball near the basket! Kjos and Nierengarten both worked hard to contain him, but with Wes Johnson and Kyle Nordstrom absent, Park had only six players and ran out of gas in the second half.
Justin Nierengarten and Tommy Burnett each scored early in the first quarter, but trailed 10-4 before the fans got comfy in their seats.
Joe Burnley hit Kjos with a nice pass for a layup, Nierengarted scored on a fast break, and Burnley found Nierengarten for a nice open 10-foot jumper to tie the game at 10-10.
Burnett went from New York to L.A. (coast-to-coast) for a layup and the score at the half was 12-12.
Nierengarten got Park fired up when he took a charge early in the second half, but Anoka’s mini-Shaq hit a leaner to take a 14-12 lead. Nierengarten hit a floater to tie the game, then made a steal and layup for Park’s first lead of the game!
Anoka went on a 3-0 run to go ahead 17-16, but Burnett hit a layup to five Park back the lead. Anoka’s mini-Charles Barkley (same guy!) hit two baskets in a row to end the third quarter, and Anoka held a 21-18 lead.
Park’s Iron 6 was exhausted by the fourth quarter. Burnett hit a short jumper, then hit a layup assisted by Kjos who made the pass while lying on the floor! Those were the only points Park could muster and they lost by 11.
Stats:
Tommy Burnett—10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Justin Nierengarten—10 points, 2 rebounds
Nicholas Kjos—2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Jordan Ewings—2 rebounds, 3 steals
Eli Brimacomb—1 rebound, 1 steal
Joe Burnley—3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
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St. Louis Park Tournament
Jan. 26-27, 2008
Boys 5A vs. Westside Boosters
1st Game
In a thrilling game, Park beat Westside by one point, 31-30.
Tommy Burnett and Joe Burnley led Park with 6 points each, Wes Johnson added 5, Kyle Nordstrom 4, Nicholas Kjos 4, Justin Nierengarten and Jordan Ewings 2 each.
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St. Louis Park Tournament
Jan. 26-27, 2008
Boys 5A vs. Fridley
2nd Game
Park got up early, but ran out of gas at the end of the game, falling to Fridley, 28-20.
Wes Johnson scored off the opening tap, and Park got on top right away. Fridley used a full-court press, but Park’s passing was excellent, and its defensive intensity through the roof, which led to some easy baskets.
Jordan Ewing’s block led to a Nicholas Kjos bank-shot, then Tommy Burnett scored off a break to go up 6-1. Johnson stole an errant Fridley pass, then dished to Justin Nierengarten for a lay-up and a 8-1 lead. Burnett hit a free throw, then hit a 10-foot jumper, followed by an Eli Brimacomb free throw and the lead was up to 12-1!
Fridley finally got their act together, their shots started to fall, and Park’s lead started to shrink. Fridley pulled to 12-6 on a hoop inside, then Ewings hit a free throw to push the lead back to seven, 13-6. Fridley hit two free throws in the last minute of the half, and the score was 13-8 at the intermission.
After a Fridley basket to open the second half, Kjos made one of two free throws for a 14-10 lead. Fridley scored to make it 14-12, then Burnett stole the ball, did a shake ‘n’ bake down court for a layup, and a 16-12 lead. Fridley hit a layup, then Ewings hit Nierengarten for a basket inside and an 18-14 lead, but Fridley scored the next six points and led 20-18 with 9:20 left.
Brimacomb hit a Magic Johnson baby hook off the glass to tie the game, 20-20, with 6:00 left, but after Fridley dropped their press down deep in the paint, forcing Park to shoot from outside, the home team’s shots stopped dropping, and Park went scoreless over the last four minutes. Fridley scored the last eight points of the game, and the game ended 28-20.
Burnett was the offensive star of the game with 7 points, and Johnson (5 steals) and Kjos (4 blocks) were the defensive standouts.
Stats:
Tommy Burnett—7 pts, 3 rbounds, 3 steals
Justin Nierengarten—4 pts, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Nicholas Kjos—3 pts, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 4 blocks
Eli Brimacomb—3 pts, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Wes Johnson—2 pts, 5 steals, 2 rebounds
Jordan Ewings—1 pt., 2 steals, 1 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist
Kyle Nordstrom—2 rebounds, 1 steal
Joe Burnley—2 steals, 1 rebound
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St. Louis Park Tournament
Jan. 26-27, 2008
Boys 5A vs. Urban Stars
3rd Game
Park beat the Urban Stars in a basketball game with a softball score, 14-13, and took third place honors.
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Park Boys 5A vs. Chaska
3rd Place Game
Park thumped Chaska, 36-16, to take 3rd place honors Sunday.
Park dominated in every facet of the game, rebounding well, and beating Chaska up the court for easy baskets, and led at the half 20-8. Kyle and Eli both had 6 points at the half, Wes Johnson 2, Justin 2, Jordan 2, and Joe Burnley 2.
The second half was more of the same, and about half-way through the half the Chaska team’s heart just wasn’t in it, and seemed to be waiting for the clock to run out.
Kyle, who had a terrific tournament, led Park with 10 points, Eli added 9, Justin 7, Wes Johnson 5, Joe 3, and Jordan 2. Tommy Burnett, though not in the scoring column, had a fine game with 5 rebounds and 2 fine assists.
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Saturday, January 5, 2008 @ SLP JR. High
Boys 5A vs. Woodbury
Park was beaten by an excellent team Saturday night, falling to Woodbury, 41-22.
Park’s shots weren’t dropping in the first half, as they could only muster eight total points. Kyle, playing like a man possessed, scored six of the eight (along with 7 rebounds), and Wes Johnson scored the other two.
In the second half, Woodbury went up 33-8 before Kyle hit a long jumper to make it 33-10. Johnson followed with a jumper of his own, and Joe hit one of two free throws to pull Park to within 22, and there would be no historic comeback on this night.
Tommy “Never Say Die” Burnett took a charge to fire up Park, and then scored on a nice drive on Park’s possession. Kyle, Eli, and Joe hit jumpers down the stretch to make the final 41-22.
Now, I don’t work for Chevrolet, but if I could choose a “Chevy Player of the Game,” and give him a new Corvette, the keys would go to Kyle, and not just because he has the same name as I do!
How does he grab so many rebounds?
“I don’t know,” said Kyle. “I just get ‘em.”
Kyle led park with 10 points, and, though he’s one of the shorter players on the team, grabbed 13 rebounds. Burnett (4 pts), Johnson (4 pts), Burnley (3 pts), Eli (2 pts), Justin (3 rebounds), and Jordan (2 steals) played great ball, too!
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Saturday, January 5, 2008 @ SLP JR. High
Boys 5A vs. St. Anthony
I’m not sure what Saint Anthony is the patron saint of, but it might be comebacks, because they almost pulled out a huge one!
Park dominated—I mean DOMINATED—the first half, outscoring St. Anthony 23-6. Park pushed the ball up, hit most of their layups, while St. Anthony couldn’t throw the ball into Lake Harriet.
Justin led at the half with 8, Wesley 5, Eli 5, Kyle 3, Tommy 1, and Joe 1. The defensive highlight of the half was a block—yes, a block—by four foot-something Tommy Burnett!
Joe hit a jumper, and Burnett hit a layup to put Park up 27-6, and Park seemed to relax, thinking, like everyone in the stands, that the game was over. Unfortunately, St. Anthony didn’t know the meaning of the word “quit” (my gosh, every computer has a dictionary on it!).
All of a sudden, everything St. Anthony shot went it, and the lead started to shrink, and shrink, and shrink. With two minutes left, Park’s lead had been cut from 21 to 6! Joe hit one of two free-throws for a 29-22 lead, then Johnson hit a 15-foot jumper to put Park up 31-22, and St. Anthony hit a three-pointer as time ran out for a 31-25 final.
In the second half, Park scored only 8 points, (Joe 3, Wes 2, Burnett 2, Justin 1), but their strong first half was enough to win!
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Friday, November 16, 2007 @
Coon Rapids High School
St. Louis Park 5th Grade A vs. Elk River Black
Plain and simple, Park got beat by a better team Friday night, falling, 52-20.
Park trailed 30-6 at the half, and it didn’t seem that Elk River could miss a shot, though most of them were lay-ups! In the second half, Park played better. Trailing 48-14, Wes Johnson hit a nice driving runner, but Elk River answered with a 15-footer. Eli Brimacomb hit a 12-footer, and, of course, Elk River scored on another long jumper. Tommy Burnett hit a lay-up to make the score 52-20, and the game, mercifully, came to an end a moment later.
“[Elk River] was bigger, faster, stronger and more athletic,” said coach Curtis Olufson. “We couldn’t handle their press, which hurt us. I’d grade our defense a ‘C’ because sometimes we helped out, and sometimes we didn’t.”
Johnson was injured during the last two minutes of the game, but should be able to shake it off for the next game. “One of their guys was setting a pick, and he stepped on my foot,” said Johnson.
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Saturday, November 17, 2007
@ Coon Rapids H.S.
Second round game
St. Louis Park 5th Grade A vs. Elk River White
Park nipped a fine Elk River team, 24-23, to make it to the consolation game on Sunday afternoon.
“Burnley had a breakout game. His best game ever,” said coach Curtis Olafsun
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Saturday, December 1, 2007 @ St. Louis Park Jr. High
St. Louis Park 5th Grade A vs. Woodbury
First Tournament Game
It seems that all of the 5th grade team’s games are close ones, doesn’t it? In a squeaker, Park won their first round game, over Woodbury, 21-20.
“We win a lot of those close games,” observed a philosophical Tommy Burnett.
The game was tied 8-8 at the half, with Ely the leading scorer with 4, Jordan Ewings 2, Nick Kjos and Justin Nieregarten 1.
Wes Johnson put Park ahead as the second half opened, going coast-to-coast like a knife through butter and hitting a layup. After a Woodbury basket, Tommy “Don’t call me Johnny” Burnett nailed a jumper from just inside the arc to make the score 12-10.
Both teams went cold for almost five minutes, with Park’s highlights during the drought being impressive rebounds by Ewings, Kjos, and a great steal by Kyle.
Woodbury hit two free throws to tie the game, then went ahead, 14-12, with a nice pass and layup.
With 6:46 remaining, Johnson nailed a runner inside to tie the game at 14, then Nieregarten grabbed a big rebound and fed Johnson for a layup to put Park back in front, 16-14.
“We kept constant pressure on Woodbury,” said Coach Olafson. “And that led to a lot of turnovers and easy baskets.”
Woodbury’s center scored inside to tie the game, but Ely was fouled and hit both ends of a one-and-one for a two point Park lead.
With 1:54 in the game, Woodbury was fouled and also made both free throws, but Ely was fouled again and hit one of two to give Park the slimmest of leads, 19-18.
After a Woodbury turnover, Johnson found Justin for a layup and a three point cushion. Park wouldn’t let Woodbury get off a three-pointer, so Woodbury fed the ball inside for two and, again, Park clung to a one-point lead, 21-20. Woodbury fouled Park with 15.9 seconds left, and Park missed the front end of the one-and-one, but Jordan gobbled up the rebound, and Park ran out the clock on a great game.
“We were a little bit nervous until Jordan got the rebound at the end,” said Wes Johnson.
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Saturday, December 1, 2007 @ St. Louis Park Jr. High
St. Louis Park 5th Grade A vs. Orono Spartans
Second Tournament Game
Park’s fifth grade A’s finally lost a close game, this one a 40-31 thriller versus Orono.
Joe Burnley scored Park’s first basket on a short jumper, and Wes Johnson hit a runner to tie the game at 4-apiece, then Orono hit a layup and both team started a scoring slump that lasted almost seven minutes.
Burnley hit a basket to tied the game at six, but Orono went on a 10-6 run to end the half, with Park’s baskets coming from Justin Nierengarten (two jumpers), Eli Brimacomb, and another Johnson runner. The score at the half was 16-14 Orono.
Park came out like gangbusters in the second half, with Nierengarten nailing a bomb from just inside the arc, then hitting a driving layup to tie the game at 18.
Orono scored the next seven point before Tommy Burnett hit a nice runner to pull within 5, 25-20. We had a game!
Both teams started heating up on offense, with Wes hitting from outside, Nicholas Kjos hitting from the paint, Justin nailing a runner, and Burnett hitting from 15 feet to make the score 31-28 with 2:45 left in the game. Park fouled Orono on two straight possessions, and Orono made 3 of 4 free throws to expand their lead to 34-28, then Orono made a steal and layup to go up by 8 with under a minute left.
Burnett was left open beyond the arc, and he nailed a three to pull within five, but Orono score the last two baskets and the game ended 40-31.
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Sunday, November 18, 2007 @ Coon Rapids H.S.
Consolation Championship Game
St. Louis Park 5th Grade A Boys vs. Elk River Red
Question: When does a two-point lead seem almost insurmountable?
Answer: In a 5th grade basketball game.
I’ll get to that later. Park trailed to Elk River, 25-12, early in the third quarter, but Park put a lid on their basket, and Elk River didn’t score again! Park chipped away at Elk River’s lead, and with seven minutes left in the game trailed by two, 25-23. Then Park missed, and Elk River missed. Wash, rinse and repeat for six minutes and 50 seconds!
With 10.5 second left, Wesley Johnson was fouled, and he went to the free throw line, with a chance to tie the score. For those of you who have never watched a fifth grade basketball game, hitting two free throws is the equivalent of me hitting a hole in one, or me running a 4.3 forty, or me taking a good picture (you get the idea). Well, Johnson calmly hit both shots, and when the clock ran out, much to the chagrine of the refs, we went to overtime!
Elk River’s drought continued in overtime, and Park’s shooting amazed everyone. Johnson hit a runner to put Park up two, then Justin Nieregarten nailed a freebie to give Park a three-point cushion. Joe Burnley hit a lay-up with a minute left, then hit two free-throws a few seconds later (I’m telling you, that never happens!). Ely Brimacomb was fouled and hit both of his free throws (seriously, this doesn’t happen), and Tommy Burnett hit a free throw (seriously!) to make the final score 36-35.
Burnley and Johnson led Park in scoring with 10 each, Brimacomb and Justin Nierengarten tallied five, Burnett four, and Nicholas Kjos two.
Great Game!
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