MyParkTeam

Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 @ SLP H.S.
Park Boys 7A vs. Edina
Championship Game

If you’re from St. Louis Park, there’s no team you like to beat more than Edina, so it really hurt when the Hornets beat our club in the championship game, 48-30.

In the first half, Edina outscored Park 27-15. DJ Pollard led Park with 7 first-half points, Andrew Johnson added 3, Charlie Bahnson 2, and Sam Brimacomb 2.

Pollard, who out-played and out-scored the Edina center in the first half, seemed worn out in the second half from defending the Edina post player who was four inches taller and 15 pounds heavier. Pollard, who usually scores in the 15-point range, was held to three points in the second half, and 10 in the game.

Who stepped up to supply more scoring for Park? Charlie Bahnson. Trailing 35-20, Bahnson scored inside off a pass from Charlie Koch, hit a jumper from the baseline, and made a wild tear-drop banker in traffic, all in a two-minute stretch. Unfortunately, Park could only trim two points off the Edina lead during Bahnson’s streak.

With 5:15 left in the game, Sam Brimacomb was fouled hard and knocked to the ground. After clearing the cobwebs from his head, he hit both free throws to make the scored 44-28. Park’s only points over the last two minutes were on two more free throws, these from Charlie Koch, and the game ended 48-30.

This was one of those games where you just tip your cap to the better team, and try to learn some lessons. The next time Park plays Edina—and they will—they will have to come up with a plan to stop the Edina center, who’s one of the best post players in Minnesota 7th grade basketball.

Pollard led Park’s scorers with 10 points, Bahnson added 8, Koch 4, Brimacomb 4, Johnson 3, and Peyton Bretl 1.
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Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 @ SLP H.S.
Boys 7A vs. Orono
Second Round

In the most thrilling ending of the year, Park beat Orono by a single point in dramatic fashion.

After scoring 11 points in the opening minutes of the game, Park went the last 10 minutes of the half without scoring, and were happy to be trailing at the half by only three, 14-11.

DJ Pollard led Park at the half with 8 points, Andrew Johnson had 2 points, and Sam Brimacomb 1.

Park went the first few minutes of the second half without scoring, and, in total, went almost 15 minutes without putting a ball in the basket!

Johnson finally broke the drought with a jumper that pulled Park to withing five, 18-13. Over the next few minutes, the lead swung back and forth.

Park hit two free throws with time running down to go up by one, 31-32, then Orono hit a clutch shot to take the lead back with 8.6 seconds left.

Park called a timeout, and coach O’Clary drew up a play for Johnson to hit either Pollard or Koch for a last second shot.

When play resumed, the Orono defense had both Pollard and Koch covered, and, in desperation, Johnson passed to Brimacomb on the wing.

Brimacomb got a shot off and, while the ball was in the air, the buzzer sounded. The shot hung in the air while the crowd stood on their feet, and hit nothing but net to win the game, 33-32!

Pollard led Park with 12 points, Brimacomb 7, Johnson 6, Charlie Bahnson 6, and Peyton Bretl 2.
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Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 @ SLP H.S.
Boys 7A vs. Woodbury
First Round

Park beat Woodbury in first round action.  Need details.
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Sunday, 2/24/08 @ Roseville Tournament
Championship Game
Boys 7B vs. Anoka

Park finished their championship run with a resounding 38-27 win over Anoka Sunday! (continued below)

Park led 21-12 at the half, helped by many key steals, and never let Anoka back into the game.  In all, Park’s tenacious defense led to 12 steals, most of which led to easy baskets.

Marshall Cullen had the hot hand, leading Park with 12 points, Trey Shultz and Denzell Oats added 7 each, Grant Donald 4, Alec Chamberlain and Willy Morrow 2 each.
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Saturday, 2/23/08 @ Roseville Tournament
Park 7B vs. Rochester
2nd Game

Park ran rough-shod over Rochester, winning 39-20 Saturday morning.

Marshall Cullen nailed a 12-foot jumper, then fed Grant Donald for a layup and a 4-0 Park lead. Alec Chamberlain scored inside, then Denzell Oats, who ended the game with 15 huge rebounds, grabbed a defensive board and passed to Cullen down court for a layup and an 8-0 lead.

After a Rochester basket, Donald and Cullen each hit a free throw. Rochester scored again, and Byron Moss nailed a jumper just before the buzzer, and Park led 12-4 after one quarter.

In the second quarter, Oats grabbed a defensive rebound and sprinted coast-to-coast for a layup, Cullen hit a jumper, Donald hit a jumper, and Park led 18-4. Cullen hit a layup, then hit Moss with a nice pass for a layup, and a Trey Shultz steal resulted in a Donald layup, and Park led 24-7 at the half.

The third quarter belonged to Donald, who scored 8 of Park’s 10. Donald had two jumpers from the exact same spot on the baseline, made a steal and layup, and two of two from the line. Park’s other basket was scored by Oats off a nice assist from Cullen. Park led 34-14 after three quarters.

In the fourth, Oats hit a putback off an offensive board, Tommy Barrett scored off a nice pass from Cullen, and Oats hit a free throw to end the scoring.

The game featured several stars, with both Oats and Chamberlain grabbing more than 10 rebounds, Cullen dishing out 5 assists and making 6 steals, and Donald leading all scorers with 15 points.

Stats:
Grant Donald—15 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals
Marshall Cullen—9 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 6 steals, 1 block
Denzell Oats—7 points, 15 rebounds
Byron Moss—4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Tommy Barrett—2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Alec Chamberlain—2 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals
Tre Shultz—2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Willy Morrow—1 rebound
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Saturday, 2/23/08 @ Roseville Tournament
Park 7B vs. Centennial
1st Game

Park won the tournament lid-lifter by beating Centennial in a nail-biting thriller.

Late in the first half, Park led 24-8, and when the half ended and Park led 24-11, the game looked like it might become a laugher. It almost was…for Centennial.

Park’s shooting went cold, and Centennial was scoring in bunches, and when the final buzzer sounded, Park had won by a single point, 34-33!

Denzell Oats led Park with 12 points, Grant Donald added 9, Trey Schultz 7, Marshall Cullen 5, and Willy Morrow 1.
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