MyParkTeam

Saturday, 3/15/08 @ Wayzata H.S.
State Tournament, First Round
Park 8th Grade Boys vs. Forest Lake

I don’t want to sound whiny, but Park was probably put in the wrong level for the State Tournament, so are playing teams that are a little stronger than they’re used to. In their first tournament game, Park fell to a strong Forest Lake club, 45-27. There weren’t a lot of highlights–Park’s shooting was off, and Forest Lake’s shooting was excellent.

Jimmy Heck led Park with 8 points, Matt Cichoski added 6, Marcus Bland 5, Desmon Martin 4, Johnny Burnett 3, and Denys Stepanov 2.
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Saturday, 3/15/08 @ Wayzata H.S.
State Tournament, Second Round
Park 8th Grade Boys vs. Farview

Park fell to Farview, an impressive team from North Minneapolis, 64-40.

Actually, Coach Foster convinced our boys that we could win, and for more than a half it was a heck of a game! Trailing 3-0, Matt Cichoski hit a 10-foot jumper, and Johnny Burnett hit a three-pointer to give Park a 5-3 lead. Cichoski hit a banker for a 9-5 lead, before Farview tied the game at 9-9.

Denys Stepanov grabbed an offensive board and scored to give Park an 11-9 lead, but Farview rallied to go ahead 23-11 and everyone in the gym, except the Park players and coach, thought the game was over. It wasn’t.

Marcus Bland hit a floater to cut the lead to 10, Farview scored, then Desmon Martin hit a three to cut the lead to 9. Cichoski put in a basket off an offensive rebound, Stepanov hit a free throw, and Cichoski hit another put-back off an offensive board to pull Park within four, 25-21, with 1:58 left in the half. Martin, who had many incredible passes during the game, hit Cichoski with a no-look for an easy layup and the score was 27-23 as the half ended!

After a Farview free throw in the opening seconds of the second half, Burnett hit an outside jumper, Bland hit a three, then stole the inbounds pass and hit a layup for a 30-30 tie!

Farview went up 32-30, but Burnett hit a three to give Park its first lead of the game, 33-32! Farview took the lead back, but Stepanov hit a free throw to tie the game at 34-34 with 10:55 left in the game. Unfortunately, Park spent so much energy hanging with the fast-paced Farview team that they started to run out of gas, and Farview scored the next 12 points to take a 46-34 lead.

Martin again made a great pass to Cichoski for a layup, but Farview went on another run, and led 52-36 with under five minutes left.

Jimmy Heck and Bland both hit jumpers in the closing minutes, and the game ended, 64-40. Despite the loss, it was a heck of a game, and the Park boys had plenty to be proud of!

Stats:
Matt Cichoski–12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Marcus Bland–11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Johnny Burnett–8 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Denys Stepanov–4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block
Desmon Martin–3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Jimmy Heck–2 points, 3 rebounds
Michael Cork–1 rebound, 1 steal
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8th Grade
Sunday, January 6, 2008 @ SLP SH
Park Boys 8A vs. Chaska

The Orioles dug themselves a hole again, and again couldn’t dig out in time, falling to a fine Chaska team, 42-38.

The first half was a tight one. Marcus Bland scored off a fast-break to go up, 2-0, but Chaska did a nice job breaking the Park press, and went up 6-2.

Jimmy scored on a put-back, Desmon Martin hit one of two from the line, Johnny Burnett hit a long jumper, and Marcus hit two of two from the line to put Park on top 9-6 midway through the half.

Burnett took a charge to fire up his team, then grabbed on offensive rebound and scored on a put-back to put Park up 11-6. Matt Cichoski followed with a nice assist to Denys Stepanov for a lay-up, and Park was up 13-6 and seemingly in control.

After a Chaska hoop, Burnett hit again from outside to go up 15-8, but Chaska went on a 10-0 run to go up 18-15, while Park went five minutes without a basket.

With 40 seconds left, Bland was fouled going to the basket and hit both free throws, and Chaska hit one free throw before the half ended, and the score at the break was Chaska 19, Park 17.

Jimmy Heck tied the game in the opening seconds of the second half one a neat up and under move, and Bland was fouled driving to the basket, and made one of two free throws to give Park their first lead since midway through the first half.

Chaska went on an 8-0 run to go up 28-20, and Chioski broke the string when he powered in a basket in the paint to trim the lead to six. Chaska went on a 6-0 run, before Heck hit a baseline jumper off a pass from Cichoski, making the score 34-24.

Cichoski hit a bank-shot with 7:30 left, followed by a Chaska basket to keep the lead at 10. Bland hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to 9, then had a great offensive rebound and put-back to cut the lead to 7 with 3:30 left.

Chaska hit a basket inside to push the lead back to 9, then Bland nailed a three-pointer to cut it to 6 with 2:00 in the game. Park stopped Chaska on two straight possessions, and each time Burnett followed with three-pointers, and the game was tied at 38-38 with under a minute to play.

Chaska turned the ball over, and Park had a chance to take the lead, but they missed their last three shots, while Chaska added four points in the closing seconds for a 42-38 final.

Stats:
Marcus Bland: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist.

Johnny Burnett: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals

Jimmy Heck: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist

Matt Cichoski: 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Denys Stepanov: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block

Desmon Martin: 2 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 assist

Mohamad Sakr: 2 rebounds

Michael Cork: 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Kyle Aterburn: 1 rebound, 1 steal
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Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 @ SLP H.S.
Boys 8A vs. Minnetonka
2nd Round

Park beat up on Minnetonka in second round action, 50-36 Saturday.

Park outscored their opponents 25-11 in the first half. Marcus Bland, who was hot all game, led Park at the half with 11 points. Johnny Burnett added 7, Jimmy Heck 6, and Matt Cichoski 3.

Minnetonka nevery really threatened Park in the second half, and they cruised to victory.

Bland had an amazing game and led Park with 23 points, Heck added 12, Cichoski 9, and Denys Stepanov 1.
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Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 @ SLP H.S.
Boys 8A vs. Kenny Spartans
1st Round

Park lost a disappointing game in their lid-lifter, falling 50-44.

Park trailed at the half, 22-17, and seemed to be in good shape.

Unfortunately, Park went cold for a long stretch early in the second half, and got down by 18 with about nine minutes left.

With about three minutes left, Park’s defense intensified, which led to several Kenny turnovers, and Park whittled the lead down to 6 with few seconds left, but couldn’t get any closer.

Marcus Bland led Park with 19 points, Matt Cichoski added 8, Denys Stepanov 6, Johnny Burnett 5, Jimmy Heck and Mohamad Sakr 4.
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Edina Tournament, February 8-10, 2008
Game 1
8th grade vs. Moundsview

Park fell in their first tournament game to Moundsview, 40-35.

Desmon Martin and Marcus Bland led Park with 10 points each, Jimmy Heck added 7, Matt Cichoski 6, and Johnny Burnett 2.
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Game 2
8th grade vs. Park Center

Park avenged their first game loss, beating Park Center in second round action, 37-30.

Marcus Bland continued his hot shooting and led Park with 13 points, Desmon Martin added 9, Matt Cichoski 8, Michael Cork, Johnny Burnett and Rabie Muhamed 4 each, Jimmy Heck 3, and Kyle Arterburn 2.
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Game 3
8th grade vs. Waconia

Park played their way into the consolation championship game, beating Waconia, 54-44

Marcus Bland again was the high scorer, with 16, Jimmy Heck added 10, Desmon Martin 9, Matt Cichoski8, Johnny Burnett 5, Rabie Mahamed 3, Mohamed Sakr 2, and Michael Cork 1.
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Game 4
Consolation Game
8th grade vs. Eden Prairie

Park committed way too many turnovers, and fell to Eden Prairie, 42-33.

Jimmy Heck opened the scoring with a free throw, then scored inside off a nice pass from Michael Cork to pull Park within a point, 4-3. Matt Cichoski hit a jumper, followed by two free throws, and another free throw by Heck gave Park an 8-4 lead.

Desmon Martin hit Heck with a give-and-go for an easy basket, and Marcus Bland nailed a deep three to give Park a 13-8 lead. After an Eden Praire basket, Cichoski hit again from outside for a 15-10 lead. Eden Prairie scored six unanswered points to lead 17-15 before Martin and Heck each hit free throws, followed by a Cichoski fadeaway that tied the game at 19-19.

Over the last two minutes of the half, Bland scored on a nice drive, and Martin hit one free throw, and the half ended with Park clinging to a 22-21 lead.

Park struggled in the second half, with only 11 points and a dozen turnovers. Cork scored off a nice pass from Martin, Martin hit two free throws, Cichoski hit Burnett on the break for a layup, Bland nailed a three, and Martin hit a jumper from the baseline…that was it!

Besides the Park turnovers, Eden Prairie shot the lights out, and did deserve to win.

Stats:
Matt Cichoski—8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks, 1 assist
Marcus Bland—8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Jimmy Heck—7 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Desmon Martin—6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists
Michael Cork—2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Johnny Burnett—2 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Denys Stepanov—4 rebounds, 1 assist
Rabie Mohamed—2 rebounds
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Sunday, December 16, 2007 @ St. Francis Middle School
St. Louis Park Boys 8A vs. Champlin Rebels
Championship Game

Another Championship Game. Another squeaker. Another near-heart attack by Coach Foster. Another win!

Park went up early, building up a 9-2 lead highlighted by a Matt Cichoski 12-footer and a Marcus Bland steal and lay-up, before Champlin went to work. After a Rebel free throw, Champlin forced the ball inside where their center had about three inches and 20 pounds on Cichoski and he hit a couple shots deep in the paint and Champlin led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter.

Park and Champlin played dead-even in the second quarter, each scoring eight points. For Park, Jimmy Heck hit one of two free throws, Kyle Arterburn hit two of two free throws, Desmon Martin hit Bland with a great pass for a lay-up, then Cichoski scored Park’s last three points on a free throw and drive right through the heart of the paint.

Rabie Mohmoud gave Park a shot in the arm with two big rebounds toward the end of the quarter to deny Champlin second shots, and the half ended with Park trailing 18-17.

The third quarter was more like a soccer match, with Park only scoring 8 and Champlin 7. Park employed a full-court press, and forced many turnovers, but gave the ball away almost as often. Cichoski was the offensive leader of the quarter with a long jumper and a put-back off his own miss as the clock ran out.

Tie game, 25-25. One quarter to go for the championship. Coach Foster’s orange shirt soaking wet. This is what it’s all about!

Champlin took a 27-25 lead before Cichoski followed his own miss again and tied the game at 27. Champlin scored two baskets inside to take a four-point lead, then Bland was fouled going to the basket on a steal, and he made one of two free-throws. Martin, taking a page from Cichoski’s book, rebounded his own miss and scored to pull within one, 31-30.

With 3:44 left, the Rebels hit two free throws to go up by three, but Denys Stepanov hit a reverse lay-up, and scored a second later after a Park steal to give Park it’s first lead of the quarter, 34-33.

Park fouled Champlin again, the Rebel center hit the first, missed the second, but rebounded his miss and tossed it in for essentially a three-point play, and Park trailed 36-34 with 1:45 to play. Martin hit a baseline jumper, then Park threw a full-court press at Champlin and forced a 10-second call and turnover. Park couldn’t score, and fouled Champlin on the other end, with the opponents making one of two to pull within a single point with a minute and a half to play.

Bland beat his defender and drove to the hoop, was fouled, and made one of two to tie the game with 1:20 left.

On Champlin’s next possession, their big man drove the lane, but Cichoski, risking life and limb, took a charge, and when he was revived (not really!), Park had the ball back with 55 seconds left. Park worked the ball around and found a wide-open Heck on the base-line and he nailed it to give Park the lead 39-37.

Martin stole the ball off a bad Champlin pass and hit Bland who drove the lane, made the hoop, and was fouled. Bland hit the free-throw for a five-point Park lead. Champlin missed a shot with 30 seconds left, Cichoski followed a miss (not his own this time) and tossed it in for a seven point lead, Heck stole the inbounds pass, was fouled and made one of two, and Champlin scored a basket at the buzzer for a final score of Park 45, Champlin 39.

Cichoski led Park with 13 points, Martin 11, Bland 9, Heck 6, Stepanov 4 and Arterburn 2.
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Friday, November 16, 2007
@ Coon Rapids High School
St. Louis Park 8th Grade vs. Marantha

The boys from Marantha Christian School in Brooklyn Park should have prayed a bit harder, because they came up five points short in their game against Park Friday night.

The first half went back and forth in the first quarter, with Jimmy Heck having the early hot hand, hitting a couple 15-footers from the corner. Marantha scored the last three baskets of the quarter, all from the paint, and took a 10-8 lead as the first quarter ended.

In the second quarter, Park came alive. Desmond Martin tied the game at 10-apiece on a jumper, then tied the game again, moments later, on a driving lay-up on which he was fouled. After missing the free throw, Desmond scored two more baskets, giving him 8 points in a row for Park, and also giving his team a 16-12 lead.

Marcus Bland stole an errant Marantha pass with two minutes left in the quarter, and went coast-to-coast for a lay-up. After a Marantha free throw, the second free throw missed, and Desmond grabbed the rebound and threw a football pass downcourt for another Bland lay-up. Heck and Matt Cichoski each hit jumpers in the last 30 seconds, and the half-time horn sounded with Park up, 24-15.

”It’s never easy,” said Coach Jason Foster after the game. He was right.

Heck caught fire again in the second half, hitting a free throw and two straight jumpers from the corner. Marantha wouldn’t go away, though, and they continued to pound the ball inside where their big men, each 20 pounds heavier than our biggest player, scored almost at will.

Bland stole the ball and fed Desmond for a basket midway through the third quarter, giving Park a 31-24 lead. Marantha made one free throw, Desmond followed with a lay-up, followed by a Marantha five-footer, and the quarter ended with Park clinging to a 33-29 lead.

Marantha hit one free throw to whittle the lead to three, then Bland, Cichoski and Michael Cork each scored to go up 41-30. Now, it looked like it was in the bag!

“It’s never easy.”

Marantha scored the next six points, all from short range, and again Park was fighting for its life, up 41-36 with 2:22 remaining. Cichoski drove the lane the next possession, missed, but followed his shot and put it back in to make the score 43-36, then Rabie and Bland scored back to back field goals to put Park up 47-36 with under a minute to play.

“It’s never easy.”

Down by 9, Marantha scored inside, then Park hurried a shot that missed, and Marantha hurried down, missed a lay-up, grabbed the rebound, missed again, grabbed the rebound, but put in the third try to make it a five point game with 20 second left. Park threw away their inbounds pass, and Marantha had a chance to cut the lead to two with a three-pointer. The three missed, Park grabbed the rebound, and Johnny Burnett scored a basket at the buzzer to make the final 49-42.

Martin led Park with 14 points, Cichoski 12, Heck 9, Bland 8, Burnett 2, Rabie 2 and Cork 2.

Park’s rebounding was impressive throughout, with Dennis Stepanov leading the way with 12, Cichoski 7, and Desmond 6.

”We’re a good team,” said Heck. “It’s wa different than last year.”
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8th Grade vs. Totino Grace @ Coon Rapid H.S.

Park’s 8th grade team lost its first game, 40-11, to Totino Grace. The score at half was 25-2, and it didn’t get much better in the second half. Park’s offense laid an egg, but it were those darn turnovers that really cost them dearly, with errant passes turning into dozens of easy Totino points.

In the 8th grade’s second game of the season, after coming off a 40-11 loss to Totino, they played an inspired game against the Minnesota Heat, and won, 53-50. All the shots that missed in their first game now seemed to drop. Point guard Marcus Bland played under control for Park, and distributed the ball well. Jimmy Heck, Desmon Martin and Matt Cichoski all had fine offensive games, and Johnny Burnett and Michael Cork played tough defense on the Heat’s best scorers.

The 8th graders’ last game was against the Kings from Minneapolis, known for their Iowa-style full-court press. After keeping the game close, 30-18 at the half, Park ended up running out of gas as it lost 58-33.

For the first few minutes of the game, Park beat the Kings’ press, leading to some easy baskets, but the Kings didn’t seem to be able to miss if they tried, and they jumped out to an early 10-point lead. About 7 minutes in, Park rallied and after Marcus Bland nailed a jumper Park pulled to within 5, the closest they would get all day. The Kings’ press led to two quick lay-ups, extending the lead to 9, and three free throws made the scored 30-18 at half.

At the half, Desmond led all scorers with 5, with Johnny Burnett, Matt Chioski, and Bland with 3. Jimmy Heck and Michael Cork each had 2.

In the second half, the Kings, having a size advantage on the boards, started releasing players down court on Park shots, assuming they would grab the rebounds (which they did), which led to tons of uncontested lay-ups. Park had a scoring drought of 4 minutes just into the second half, and just couldn’t get back into the game.

“We have some ballplayers. We’re going to be all right,” said Park coach Jayson Foster. “But we have to play under control better because most teams are going to press us. We need to take care of the ball. And we always have to rebound. Always!”
Matt Cichoski was Park’s leading scorer with 9. Desmon Martin and Johnny Burnett added 5.

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Sunday, November 18, 2007 @ Coon Rapids H.S.
Second Round Game
St. Louis Park 8th Grade A vs. Wayzata

Coach Jason Foster had a plan against Wayzata: press hard and use Park’s speed to force turnovers that lead to lay-ups. The only problem was that Wayzata didn’t cooperate!

Wayzata, who had been hurt by the press in their previous game, suddenly started making good passes, and they jumped out to a 10-3 lead. Jimmy Heck nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead, Matt Cichoski hit a driving lay-up, and Denys Stepanov hit a three-footer to tie the game.

Wayzata jumped ahead again, and in the last 1:30 Park could only score on Marcus Bland’s three-pointer and a free throw by Heck, and Wayzata led 22-16 at the half. The scoring was evenly distributed for Park, with Heck tallying five, Bland and Cichoski four, Johnny Burnett and Stepanov two, and Desmon Martin one.

The second half opened slowly, with neither team scoring in the first three minutes. Bland broke the slump with a 15-foot jumper, making it 22-18, Wayzata scored an easy bucket when Park’s defense fell asleep under the basket, then Michael Cork hit Cichoski with a pass and he laid it in to make the score 24-20. Stepanov grabbed an offensive rebound moment later and put it back in for two point, and Bland nailed another three to put Park up for the first time since it was 10-10.

As the third quarter ran out, Wayzata hit two medium-range jumpers, and Bland scored on a nifty drive and the stanza ended, 28-27 Wayzata.

Wayzata scored the first hoop of the final quarter, but then both teams fell asleep again, neither scoring for three minutes. Wayzata scored with three minutes remaining, giving the Skippers a 32-27 lead.

Cichoski grabbed a rebound off a Heck miss,, and put it up and in to cut the lead to three, then Heck sunk two free throws and a 15-footer to put Park ahead by one, 33-32 with 1:16 left. Wayzata called a time-out, attempting to provide damage control, but Wayzata couldn’t throw the ball into the ocean when play resumed.

Bland was fouled on a drive, and sunk both free throws to give Park a three-point lead. Wayzata lost the ball before they could attempt a three-pointer to tie, and Heck was fouled with :08 left. He hit one of two and Park won by four, 36-32.

Bland was the offensive star of the game, coming up with one clutch shot after another, and Cichoski owned the boards with 15 rebounds.

When asked for a quote after the game, Coach Foster responded, “Defeat is temporary, but quitting is permanent. We don’t quit!”
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Sunday, November 18, 2007 @ Coon Rapids H.S.
Championship Game
St. Louis Park 8th Grade A vs. Forest Lake

Ahhh, Forest Lake. My sister and her family live in Forest Lake. I like Forest Lake. It’s a nice town. Pretty this time of year. Having said that, I wanted Park to destroy Forest Lake…and they did.

Oddly, the Championship game was easier than the semi-final for Park, and they beat Forest Lake, 44-27, pulling away at the end.

In the first few minutes, Park jumped ahead when Matt Cichoski connected for six points, Jimmy Heck four, and Johnny Burnett three, but Forest Lake battled back and drew to within one, 13-12. Heck continued his hot shooting by hitting two free throws, Desmon Martin hit back to back jumpers, and Marcus Bland hit Denys Stepanov with a nifty pass for a lay-up to make it 21-12 Park. As the half ran out, Bland nailed a three and Park had a 10-point lead.

In the second half, Forest Lake scored the first eight points, cutting the lead to 24-20. Burnett and Bland hit mid-range jumpers, and Heck nailed a shot just inside the arc and the lead was back up to nine. Kyle Arterburn fed Cichoski for a basket with a minute left in the third quarter, then nailed a shot of his own a moment later.

Rabie started collecting rebounds like baseball cards, and the heart went out of the Lakers. Heck, Desmon Martin, and Rabie made shots down the stretch, and Park started looking for the guy carrying the trophies.

Nine Park players scored in the game, with Cichoski and Heck collecting 10 points each, Martin 6, Bland 5, Burnett 3, and Rabie, Stepanov, Michael Cork and Arterburn each scoring two points.
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