Monday, 3/3/08 @ SLP H.S.
Varsity vs. Benilde
Park played an incredible first half, but the Red Knights pulled away in the second half and beat our boys, 80-56, Monday night.
The first few minutes belonged to Park! Pat Leppink-Shands found Max Miller for an easy basket inside, Adyn Clausen hit a three-pointer and a two-pointer, Dahlke hit two threes, three free throws, and a short jumper, and Miles Silbert scored on a strong drive to give the Orioles a 20-9 early lead!
Clausen hit again, Silbert nailed a three, Dahlke hit a free throw, and Leppink-Shands hit two of two from the line to end the half, but Benilde’s three superstars (Jordan Taylor, Armond Battle, and Matt Thomas) started hitting their shots, and took a one-point lead, 29-28, going into half-time.
Park played a fine second half. In fact, they matched their first half performance with 28 points, but Benilde put on a clinic of why their one of the top teams in the state.
Silbert scored 11 second-half points, Clausen stayed hot with another five points, but the rest of the team struggled. Park’s bench gave Park a boost with Alex Koch and Nick Anderson hitting three-pointers, and Ben Bursaw, just back after an injury, scored on a 15-foot jumper.
Miller scored four in the second half, and Dahlke one, but once Benilde took a double-digit lead midway through the half, Park just couldn’t seem to make a sustained run.
The crowd, one of the biggest and loudest of the year for Park, honored the seniors before the game, which consisted of Nick Anderson, Max Miller, Steven Dahlke, Miles Silbert, Zach Finn, Adyn Clausen, and Peter Nulsen. It’s been a lot of fun watching these classy kids represent Park for the last few seasons.
Stats:
Miles Silbert—16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assist, 1 steal
Steven Dahlke—15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Adyn Clausen—10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals
Max Miller—6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Alex Koch—3 points, 1 steal
Nick Anderson—3 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist
Ben Bursaw—2 points, 1 rebound
Pat Leppink-Shands—2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Peter Nulsen—1 assist
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Friday, 2/29/08 @ SLP H.S.
Boys Varsity vs. Chisago Lakes Wildcats
Chisago Lakes put a scare into the Orioles, but Park held on to win, 61-57. Pat Leppink-Shands got Park on the board with a putback off an offensive rebound, then did the same a moment later for a 4-4 tie.
Miles Silbert grabbed an offensive board and went coast-to-coast to pull Park within a point, 9-8, Steven Dahlke hit a three-pointer, Max Miller hit a putback, Dahlke hit two free throws and Silbert scored off a nice Aaron Ziman assist to give Park a 17-12 lead.
After a Chisago Lakes three-pointer, Alex Koch grabbed an offensive board and hit the putback for a 19-15 lead, but the Wildcats scored the next 7 points to take a 22-19 lead.† Miller scored inside off a nice Koch assist, but the Wildcatís 6-8” center, Josh Figini, threw down a dunk (one of three in the game), followed by two Chisago Lake free throws, and Park trailed 26-21 at the half.
Park’s Adyn Clausen, scoreless in the first half, exploded for 11 in the second half, most in the opening minutes, to keep Park in the game. Clausen hit a putback, Silbert scored on a drive, Cluassen hit a jumper, tipped in a teammateís miss, then nailed a three to put Park up 32-28.
The Wildcats tied the score at 32-each, before Silbert hit two free throws, Ziman scored on a nice scoop shot, Silbert scored on a drive, and Daklker hit two free throws to give Park a 40-32 lead. Again, the Wildcats fought back, and when their center scored on a nice move in the paint the lead was whittled to three, 40-37.
Silbert hit a bank shot, but the Wildcats hit a three to cut the lead to two. Park responded when Ziman used a slick touch pass to hit a wide-open Dahlke in the corner for a three of his own. Dahlke then scored Park’s next 7 points to give Park and eight-point lead, 52-44 with about six minutes left.
Chisago scored on two straight possession, one on another dunk by Figini, to cut the lead to four.† Silbert hit a free throw, but Chisago Lakes scored to cut the lead to three. Leppink-Shands hit the front end of a one-and-one to give Park a four point lead, 54-50, with four minutes in the game. Silbert hit Dahlke with a nice pass and he nailed a clutch three-pointer, and the Wildcats took a timeout with 2:18 left, trailing 57-51.
After each team failed to scored over the next minute and a half, Chisago Lakes hit two three-pointers in 10 seconds to tie the game with 35 seconds left! Dahlke was fouled and made both free throws, and with under 10 seconds on the clock, the Wildcats moved the ball around, and accidentally left a clear path to the basket for a Chisago Lakes guard who drove, untouched, to the hole and missed the uncontested layup!
The Wilcats were forced to foul, and Clausen hit both free throws for a 61-57 win. Special mention should be made to Miller, Leppink-Shands, and Koch, who made the Wildcatís center work hard for every basket!
Stats:
Steven Dahlke–24 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals
Miles Silbert–13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals
Adyn Clausen–11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Pat Leppink-Shands–5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block
Max Miller–4 points, 4 rebounds
Alex Koch–2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Aaron Ziman–2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal
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February, 2/19/08 Varsity vs. Irondale
In a back-and-forth battle, Park made its free throws, and held on to beat Irondale, 71-63.
Park began that game with a slightly different starting lineup than usual. Freshman Aaron Ziman started at point guard, and though he didnít know exactly where to stand during introductions, once the game started he knew what to do, scoring two points, with three assists and two rebounds in the first half.
In the opening minutes, Max Miller was the key man on offense, scoring Park’s first seven points before Steven Dahlke broke the string when he hit a three-pointer off a nice Ziman pass.
Miller found Ziman inside for an easy two, Dahlke hit another three, Miller hit a layup and a deep three, but Park still trailed by one, 21-20, with 5:40 left in the half.
Irondale scored the next two baskets to go up five, but Adyn Clausen scored, assisted by Ziman, and Miller found a cutting Dahlke with a back-door pass for an ìand one, and when he hit the free throw Park, trailed by two.
On Park’s next possession, Clausen grabbed an offensive board and hit the putback to tie the game, and two Dahlke free throws and a Peter Nulsen basket, assisted by Clausen, gave Park a 31-27 lead with seconds in the half.
An Irondale player hit a three in the closing seconds, and Park led by a single point, 31-30, at the half.
Dahlke, Miller, and Clausen continued their fine play in the second half, but it was Miles Silbert, who spent the entire first half on the bench, who was the biggest star of the final 18 minutes, scoring 21 points. Silbert opened the half with two free throws, then hit a shot off the glass to give Park a 35-32 lead.
Dahlke and Miller hit threes to push the lead to six, but Irondale battled back to take a 43-41 lead.
A Silbert free throw and Miller putback grabbed the lead back, 44-43, but Irondale took the lead back again, 45-44.
Dahlke drove the lane, was fouled, made the shot and free throw to put Park up by two, followed by a Silbert steal and layup, and a Clausen jumper for a six point Park lead, 51-45.
Again, Irondale battled back, thanks to one of their stars, 5’-8” junior guard Rayveen Banks, cutting the lead to 51-50 before Nullsen found Miller inside for an easy hoop and three point lead.
Silbert hit a 15-foot jumper from the free throw line, hit a three-pointer from the corner, then was fouled on the next possession. In the one-and-one bonus, Silbert hit the first, missed the second, but grabbed the rebound and hit a putback while being fouled again, made the free throw, and the lead was 62-53 with 2:45 left in the game.
Silbert was fouled again in the one-and-one, made both, and when Irondale’s Banks fouled out, the Irondale offensive punch went with him.
Over the final minute and a half, Park scored all its point on free throws: Clausen hit 3/4, Miller 3/4, and Silbert 1/2 to make the final 71-63.
Click here to see Miles hit a fadeaway
or
here for a Miles three!
Stats:
Miles Silbert–21 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Max Miller–20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block Steven Dahlke–17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists
Adyn Clausen–9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist
Peter Nulsen–2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Aaron Ziman–2 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
Pat Leppink-Shands–2 rebounds, 1 assist
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Friday, 2/15/08 @ Cooper Varsity vs. Cooper
Park lost a physical battle against Cooper, 63-60, Friday night. If you walked into the Cooper gym Friday night, saw several police officers, and thought the game might be rough, well, you would have been right.
In the first half, Nick Anderson hit three three-pointers, Miles Silbert scored three points, Adyn Clausen scored four points, Aaron Ziman scored two points, Steven Dahlke had two points and two nice assists, and Max Miller scored six points while battling Cooper’s star, Rodney Williams, Jr. Cooper led by a single point, 27-26, at the half.
The second half was full of drama and physical play. Williams, Jr. had a chip on his shoulder the size of a Buick, and he seemed to have a problem with every Park player. After jawing with Dahlke, Williams, Jr. hit Miller in the chops with an elbow; neither resulted in a technical or reprimand, and the Park team knew they weren’t going to many breaks.
Dahlke nailed a three early in the second half to give Park the lead, 29-27, and when Pat Leppink-Shands blocked a shot the Park crowd was fired up.
Silbert was the hot shooter in the half, scoring 16 points on 6/8 shooting from the field and 4/4 from the line.
Freshmen Ziman also played a great game, scoring six points it the half, with 4/4 from the line.
Leppink-Shands only scored two points in the half, but he had to work very hard to get them! After missing inside, Leppink-Shands got the rebound, missed again, got the rebound, missed again, got the rebound, and finally put it in! Was he trying to pad his rebounds?
Miller, had two big assists in the second half, the second of which tied the game at 57-57 with about two minutes left. A moment later, Park took the lead on a Silbert free throw, but Cooper responded with a field goal and two free throws to take a 61-58 lead. Ziman hit two free throws to pull Park within one, 61-60, and Park nearly stole the game a moment later!
Cooper inbounded the ball, and Clausen stole the ball near midcourt. The ball was knocked out of his hand and ended up on the ground where everyone went after it–in the scrum, a phantom foul was called on Park and Cooper hit both free throw to go up three. Park got off a final three at the buzzer that would have tied the game, but it just missed.
Stats:
Miles Silbert—19 points
Max Miller—11 points
Nick Anderson—9 points
Aaron Ziman—8 points
Steven Dahlke—7 points
Adyn Clausen—4 points
Pat Leppink-Shands—2 points
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Tuesday, 2/12/08 Varsity vs. St. Francis
Park out-played St. Francis for the second time this season, beating them Tuesday night, 64-42.
There were many stars in the game, with Steven Dahlke hitting four three-pointers in the first half, and Miles Silbert scoring nine first half point, leading Park to a 29-21 halftime lead. Opening the second half, Silbert hit a three, Dahlke hit a 12-foot jumper, and Adyn Clausen hit a three to push Parkís lead to 37-21.
Silbert hit two free throws, followed by a baseline jumper by Clausen to give Park a 20 point bulge, 41-21, midway through the half.
Max Miller, who had a quiet first half with five points, exploded for 13 in the second half, including two three-pointers. He also was the recipient of two basket-scoring passes, one from Aaron Ziman, the other from Silbert.
The game got physical in the last seven minutes of the game, with both teams in bonus, and a lot of free throws being shot. Park was excellent from the line in the closing minutes, with Miller hitting 3 of 4, Silbert hitting 3 of 4, and Tony Keller hitting 1 of 2.
The Park bench did a great job during the game, with Nick Anderson, Keller, Brad Finn, Isaac and Aaron Ziman, Peter Nulsen, and Alex Koch supplying great energy, great defense, 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist.
Stats:
Miles Silbert–19 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal
Max Miller–18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block Steven Dahlke–16 points, 3 steals, 2 assists
Adyn Clausen–5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Nick Anderson–3 points, 2 rebounds
Aaron Ziman–2 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound
Tony Keller–1 point
Pat Leppink-Shands–4 rebounds
Peter Nulsen–2 rebounds
Zach Finn–1 rebound
Isaac Ziman–1 rebound
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Tuesday, 1/29/08 @ SLP H.S.
Varsity vs. North Branch
Max Miller had a rare scoring slump, but Park’s other players picked him up, and Park won 56-45 over North Branch.
Miller, averaging more than a dozen points a game, missed several shots early and ended up contributing more as a playmaker, and ended with only two points.
Park trailed 24-19 at the half, and got down as much as 12 before staging a comeback.† Trailing 39-31 with nine minutes left in the game, Miles Silbert scored on a drive, then Nick Anderson, the unsung hero of the game, nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead to four, 40-36.
Anderson made a steal on North Branch’s next possession, which led to a Silber three-pointer and the North Branch lead was cut to one point.
Steven Dahlke was head-butted (accidentally) by a North Branch player and left the game for a few minutes with a bloody lip, and Aaron Ziman replaced him and ran the point.
Miller hit his only basket of the game from just inside the arc to give Park their first lead of the half, and Anderson nailed a three a moment later to put Park up 44-40.
With 4:13 left, Pat Leppink-Shands was fouled and made both ends of a one-and-one to push the lead to six.
North Branch cut the lead to four, 46-42, with 3:49 left, but could only scored three more points down the stretch.
Meanwhile, Park was sent to the line several times. Silbert made the first end of a one-and-one, and missed the second but got the rebound and passed to Dahlke who was fouled. Dahlke made one of two, was fouled on Park’s next possession and made one of two, Aaron Ziman made two of two, and Silbert made two of two.
In the closing seconds of the game, Park was passing the ball around, running the clock out, but, when Dahlke was wide open under the basket, Miller hit him with a pass for a lay-up, he was fouled, and made the free throw to end the scoring.
Anderson played a great all-around game, scoring 12 points, and made many other contributions, causing several North Branch turnovers, and leading by example with his all-out defensive intensity.
Stats:
Miles Silbert 14 pts, Nick Anderson 12 pts, Pat Leppink-Shands 12 pts, Steven Dahlke 12 pts, Aaron Ziman 2 pts, Max Miller 2 pts, Adyn Clausen 2 pts.
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Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008 @ SLP H.S.
Park Varsity Boys vs. Cooper
It took a late Cooper rally to come from behind and beat Park on Tuesday night in conference play.
Cooper, led by 6’-6” Junior center Rodney Williams Jr., was favored to beat Park, but Park Senior center Max Miller rose to the occasion, and played Williams as tough as any center this season.
Off the opening tip, Cooper threw an ally-oop to Williams, who grabbed the ball with one hand and dunked so hard it shook the gym, but Park wasnít intimidated, and they played a solid first half. Miller got Park on the board with a steal and assist, then blocked a shot that led to another Park basket, and Park took an early 10-6 lead.
Freshman Aaron Ziman and Sophomore Alex Koch got plenty of playing time in the first half, and each contributed. Ziman had 4 first-half points, and Koch had 5 points, with one basket coming off a nice assist from Ziman.
Miller did a little of everything in the first half, scoring 11, and bringing the crowd to its feet with a blocked shot. Nick Anderson was Park’s leading rebounder in the first half with 4, Steve Dahlke grabbed 2, and Park clung to a one-point lead at the half, 31-30.
Miles Silbert scored off a nice pass from Adyn Clausen to start the second half, and after a Miller score and another basket by Silbert from Clausen, Park led 39-31.
Cooper’s star, Williams, had his third dunk of the game to break Park’s run, and bring Cooper within three, 42-39.
Another Williams dunk a few minutes later tied the game at 53-53, and the game see-sawed back and forth the rest of the half.
Down by two, 62-60, with seconds left, Pat Leppink-Shands was fouled, and made one of two. Park fouled Cooper, and their guard also hit one of two to make the scored 63-61. Off the missed free throw, Cooper got the ball back, and Park was forced to foul again.
Cooper hit the first free throw to push the lead to three, 64-61, and Park called a time-out. The time-out iced the Cooper shooter who missed his second free-throw, Clausen got the rebound and fired the ball up-court to Miller who spotted up for a game-tying three-pointer, which was just short as time ran out!
Miller led Park with 19, Bursaw added 8, Leppink-Shands 7, Silbert and Koch 5. Leppink-Shands led Park with 6 rebounds, Miller, Dahlker and Anderson 4. Clausen and Ziman each had a pair of assists.
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Friday, December 21, 2007 @ SLP High School
Park Varsity Boys vs. Columbia Heights
Park played well, but too many turnovers led to a 65-58 loss to Columbia Heights.
In the first half, Adyn Clausen and Steven Dahlke got into early foul trouble, and Park committed too many turnovers, and trailed by 10, 36-26 at the buzzer.
Max Miller led Park with 12 points in the half, hitting 5/6 from the field and 2/2 from the line.
Miles Silbert also was red-hot, scoring seven points on 2/2 from the field and æ from the line.
Late in the half, Pat Leppink-Sands had a great tip-in, then Silbert forced a Heights’ five-second violation with his tough defense.
In the closing seconds, a Heights player nailed an NBA-distance three-pointer to give the visitors a 10-point lead and momentum.
Park came out strong in the second half. Silbert was fouled going to the hoop, made the shot and free throw, and a few moments later Ben Bursaw scored on an in-bounds pass to put Park up 39-38 with 13:51 to play!
Heights scored the next seven points to go ahead six, then Dahlke found Miller for a layup on a great pass.
With 7:28 remaining, Leppink-Shands scored to pull Park to within four, 56-52. Silbert twisted his ankle as he was fouled, and Miller took his free throws, making both, and moments later Bursaw hit a jumper to make the score 61-58 with 1:39 left.
Miller fouled out when play got very physical under the basket, and,Silbert fouled out moments later, and without their leaders, the Orioles didn’t score another point down the stretch.
Heights scored the last four point of the game, all on free throws, for a 65-58 final.
Miller was the indisputable star of the game, with 22 points, and Silbert dropped in 13, Bursaw 7, Clausen 7, Leppink-Shands 4, Dahlke 3, Nick Anderson 2.
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Wednesday, 2/7/08 @ SLP HS
Varsity vs. Fridley
Park lost to a talented Fridley team, 61-57, Wednesday night.
After trailing 2-0 to start the game, Max Miller nailed a three-pointer, and Andrew Dahlke had a steal and lay-in to take a 5-2 lead. Fridley went on a 7-0 run to lead 13-6, Miller hit a free throw, then Fridley went on a 6-0 run to lead 19-7.
Park went scoreless for more than four minutes before Miles Silbert hit a three-pointer. Pat Leppink-Shands hit a short hook inside, and a moment later grabbed an offensive board and hit the put-back to cut the lead to five, 21-16.
Park’s next five points were on free throws (two each by Miller and Leppink-Shands, one by Silbert) to make the score 26-21, in favor of Fridley, with a minute left in the half. Nick Anderson, one of Park’s best clutch players of late, nailed a three pointer off the bench, and two Dahlke three throws with 3.3 seconds left made the score 30-26 at the half.
Fridley scored the first six points of the second half to lead by 10, before Silbert scored inside and hit Dahlke with a pass for a backdoor layup. Adyn Claussen found Leppink-Shands for another inside basket to pull Park with four, and Miller hit a fadeaway to cut the Fridley lead to two, 36-34.
Silbert had a three-point play and a moment later scored inside to give Park their first lead since the opening minutes of the game!
After a Fridley three-pointer, Miller scored isnde to tie the game at 41-apiece with 10-55 left.
With 9:46 Park committed its seventh foul of the half, putting Fridley in the bonus for the remainder of the game.
After four Fridley free throws, Clausen hit a three-pointer, and Silbert hit two three-pointers to cut the Fridley lead to three, 53-50, with 3:50 left. After another Fridley basket, Miller hit two free throws, and an Anderson three-pointer cut the Fridley lead to two, 57-55, with 1:24 left.
Park fouled Fridley, they made both free throws, and Miller hit two free throws of his own with 17 seconds left to cut the lead to two, 59-57. On the ensuing inbounds pass, Fridley hit a releasing player for a layup, and Park missed their final shot to end the game, 61-57.
Stats:
Miles Silbert—20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Max Miller—14 points 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Pat Leppink-Shands—8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Nick Anderson—6 points, 4 rebounds
Steven Dahlke—6 points, 1 steal, 1 assist
Adyn Clausen—3 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Aaron Ziman—1 rebound, 1 steal
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Saturday, 1/26/07 @ Benilde High School
Varsity vs. Benilde
While Park’s game plan might have stressed stopping Benilde’s two most publicized stars, Jordan Taylor and Armond Battle, both Division-1 signees, 5′-9″ Matt Thomas was the best player on the court on this day, hitting six three-pointers on his way to scoring 21 points;
Taylor and Battle were no slouches, either, scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Park got down 5-0 before Miles Silbert hit a free throw, and a Miller three pointer pulled them to within a point, 5-4.
After a Benilde basket, Miller hit a floater to make it 7-6, but the Red Knights scored the next 12 points to take a 19-6 lead. Steven Dalke hit a free throw, and Nick Anderson hit a three-pointer to make it 22-10 game, but Miller got in early foul trouble holding Battle at bay, both players were given technicals when things got heated, and Park’s leader spent a lot of time on the bench so he wouldn’t pick up a third first-half foul.
Coach Ronglien tried every combination he could think of to slow Benilde down, going with a small but quick lineup at one point with Aaron Ziman, Alex Koch, Phil Gauthier and Anderson getting plenty of minutes. Unfortunately, Benilde’s players were both big and fast, and they roared to a 40-21 lead at the half.
Opening the second half, Miller hit Silbert with a pass for an easy basket to make it 40-23, and Silbert grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the putback to make it 42-25, but the game started slipping away soon after. Every time Park made a mini-run, Benilde seemed to answer back with either a three pointer, or a nice drive by Taylor, probably the most explosive player on the court, and Benilde prevailed, 76-51.
Though Park lost, several players got quality playing time they might not otherwise have received, and several made nice impressions. Backup guard, Nick Anderson, played with tons of intensity, and had a nice all-around game, grabbing 3 second half steals, 2 rebounds, and a basket.
Pat Leppink-Shands grabbed five rebounds and had a block, Zach Finn injected some life into Park with 3 rebounds and a steal in the closing minutes of the game, and Marcus Edwards grabbed 5 rebounds and scored 2 points off the bench.
Stats:
Max Miller—12 pts, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Aaron Ziman—10 pts, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Miles Silbert—8 pts, 2 rbounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
Steven Dalke—6 pts, 2 rebounds
Nick Anderson-5 pts, 3 steals, 2 rebounds
Pat Leppink-Shands—3 pts, 5 rebounds, 1 block
Marcus Edwards—2 pts, 5 rebounds
Tony Keller—2 pts
Peter Nulsen—2 pts
Zach Finn—3 rebounds, 1 steal
Adyn Clausen—2 rebounds
Ben Bursaw—1 rebound
Alex Koch—1 rebound
Phil Gauthier—1 rebound
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Friday, December 7, 2007 @ St. Louis Park High School
St. Louis Park Boys Varsity vs. White Bear Lake Bears
Senior Max Miller, St. Louis Park’s captain and emotional leader, scored Park’s first two baskets Friday night, and did his best to calm down the Orioles, who seemed to be suffering from “First Game Jitters.”
Miles Silbert hit a free throw to put Park up 5-4, then gave Park the lead a second later on a nifty drive and layup. Steve Dahlke and Adyn Clausen each hit baskets during a mini-run, and Park led early 13-9.
Miller got his team and the fans pumped up when he was fouled under the basket, and hit both free-throws to put Park up 16-11. A few moments later, Miller was fouled again, and, after pumping his hands to the roof, again made both ends at the line.
A three pointer by Clausen gave Park an 11 point lead, and two Clausen free throws extended the lead to 13, 24-11.
Ben Bursaw and Miller both brought the crowd to its feet on awesome blocks, but White Bear Lake rallied to pull within 10. Park responded when Miller cleaned up a Silbert miss and scored, and when Silbert found Miller for a backdoor hoop, Park had a 28-21 lead.
White Bear Lake struggle right before half-time when, on one possession, they missed two three pointers, were fouled, and missed both free throws.
With two minutes left in the half, White Bear Lake put on a full-court press, and Park struggled, throwing the ball away, but the Bears were having their own troubles, and the half ended with Park up, 33-24.
The Bears came out of hibernation as the second half opened, and went on a 9-5 run to pull within five points. When Silbert found Miller again sneaking through the back door for a layup, Park was up 40-36, but the Lakers hit one of two free throws after Miller’s third personal foul, and cut the lead to three.
With eleven minutes left in the game, Park went on a 12-1 run sparked by a big basket by Zach Finn, and the game appeared to be in the bag. Can it ever be that easy? With eight minutes remaining, White Bear Lake went for broke and put their press back on and it paid off.
Park called a time-out to compose themselves, and, after breaking the press, Bursaw found Pat Leppink-Shands for an easy basket, making the score 59-48. Miller nailed a three to go up by 14, but the Bears’ press started to wear down the Orioles, and they went on a 15-7 run, capped by a three-pointer, to pull within three with under a minute left.
Silbert made a huge steal with 39 seconds left, and went coast-to-coast for a layup to put Park up by four, 68-63. When the Bears turned the ball over on their next possession, they fouled Park’s Dahlke, who made one of two free throws. After another White Bear Lake miss, they put Leppink-Shands on the line, and he missed both free throws.
White Bear Lake missed the mark again, and fouled Silbert, who hit both free-throws to make the final score 71-64 and Park breathed a sigh of relief.
