MyParkTeam

Friday, 2/22/08 @ Home
Jr. Varsity vs. Spring Lake Park

So many stars, so little space. Park beat a tough Spring Lake Park team, 83-73, with clutch performances from everybody.

First, Alex Koch. Have you ever had one of those games when you’re just feeling it? You’re in a zone, and can’t seem to miss? Me neither, but Friday night Koch was in one of those zones, as usual.

Since Koch was scheduled to play only the first half so that he could play in the Varsity game, he didn’t waste much time in making his presence felt. In the first half, Koch hit a three, then another, made a nice fake in the air on a drive and made the layup, scored on another drive, grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the putback, hit another three, hit another putback off an offensive board, made one of two free throws (why the miss, Alex?), hit another three, then another, and ended his scoring with two of two free throws (that’s more like it).

In all, Koch scored 26 points on 9/13 from the field, 6/9 from three-point land, and 3/4 from the line. Throw in 4 rebounds, and it’s not a bad half (I called it a career when I was playing).

Harry Ullman also had a nice first half, scoring 8 points; Marcus Edwards, Zach Finn, and Tony Keller each added two each.

Leading 40-37 at the half, without their hot shooter, Alex Koch, coach Bol needed a player to step up. They all did.

Spring Lake Park scored the first six points of the second half to take a 41-40 lead, but Mick Sawinski was fouled driving to the basket and hit both free throws to give Park the lead back. Spring Lake Park hit a three, but Sawinski found Keller curling to the basket for a layup to tie the game at 44-44.

Ullman stayed hot with a long three, Isaac Ziman hit two free throws and a left-handed layup, Finn scored on a nice reverse layup, and Sawinski nailed a three to give Park a five point lead, 56-51, and slowly Park started pulling away.

After a Panther basket, Keller hit a three, took a charge, and when the Panther bench complained Ziman one of two free throws on a technical foul.

Ziman scored again on a nice drive to a six point Park lead, Marquealis Edwards hit a three, Ullman scored on a hard drive to the basket and Park lead 67-59 with 6:20 remaining in the game.

Spring Lake Park had one good run in them, and they pulled within four, 67-63, but Jarrod Berven made a slick pass to Ullman for a layup, Keller hit a layup “and one,” Ullman hit another layup, followed by a Marquealis Edwards layup to push the lead back up to 11 with under four minutes left.

Over the last four minutes, Park was sent to the line several times, and they were up to the task with Ullman hitting 3 of 4, and Keller hitting 4 of 4 to put the finishing touches on an 83-73 Park win.

One interesting feature of the game was the rebounding by Park’s sub-six foot players: Ullman grabbed 6, Finn and Marcus Edwards grabbed 5 each, Ziman 4, and Sawinski 1. Sawinski led Park with 2 assists.

Stats:
Alex Koch—26 points, 4 rebounds

Harry Ullmann—20 points, 6 rebounds

Tony Keller—14 points, 5 rebounds

Isaac Ziman—7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Marquealis Edwards—5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Mick Sawinski—5 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal

Zach Finn—4 points, 5 rebounds

Marcus Edwards—2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Jarrod Berven—1 assist
_____

Tuesday, 2/12/08
JV vs. St. Francis

Alex Koch had his best all-around game of the season, scoring 30 points (10/16 from field, 4/9 from 3-pt, 6/8 from line), with 12 rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal, leading Park over St. Francis, 56-48.

“[Alex] was good, but his grandfather once scored 36!” remarked one fan (Alex’s grandmother).

Koch scored Park’s first 11 points on three 3-pointers, and a layup, to give the home team an early 11-2 lead. Isaac Ziman, who also had a fine game, had a three point play on a made drive and free throw to extend the lead to 14-2.

St. Francis battle back to cut the lead to 14-10 before Koch hit a lefthanded layup. Koch hit Ziman with a pass for a layup, and a moment later grabbed an offensive board and hit the putback for a 20-12 lead. At this point in the game, Koch had 15 points on 6 for 6 shooting!

Ziman hit two of two from the line, followed by a 5-0 St. Francis run to make the score 22-17. St. Francis had a chance to trim the lead even more, but they missed an outside jumper, Ziman grabbed the rebound, and went coast-to-coast for a layup and 24-17 lead. After a St. Francis three-pointer, Mick Sawinski and Koch each hit one of two from the line and the Park lead at the half was 26-20.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Koch hit one of two free throws and another three-pointer to push the lead to eight, 30-22. Tony Keller hit two free throws, Koch hit a putback off an offensive board, but St. Francis kept answering, and the Park lead kept hovering around 10 for quite a while.

Jarrod Berven hit one of two free throws, Marcus Edwards had an offensive rebound and putback, Ziman grabbed a defensive board and threw a baseball pass to a releasing Koch for a layup, and Berven hit Ziman on a fast break, he was fouled, and made both to give Park a 41-25 lead with 10:00 left in the game.

Edwards hit a nice bank shot, Koch tipped in a miss, Harry Ullman hit Phil Gauthier inside for an easy basket, but St. Francis went on another run, and cut the lead to nine, 47-38, with 5:00 left.

St. Francis was over the foul limit, so Park took the ball hard to the basket on every possession, and their last 9 points all came from the line—two from Gauthier, two from Keller, four from Koch, and one from Ziman.

Though St. Francis finished strong, they simply ran out of time, and Park held on for a 56-48 win.

Stats:
Alex Koch—30 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Isaac Ziman—12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Phil Gauthier—4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
Tony Keller—4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Marcus Edwards—4 points, 6 rebounds
Mick Sawinski—1 point, 2 rebounds
Jarrod Berven—1 point, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal
Harry Ullman—2 assists, 1 rebound
_____

Saturday, 1/26/08 @ Benilde H.S.
JV vs. Benilde

Park kept the game close, but ran out of gas late, and came up seven points short, falling 66-59.

Marcus Edwards put Park on top 2-0 with a layup, and Phil Gauthier hit a three-pointer a moment later to go up 5-2. Tony Keller scored on a nice drive, and Aaron Ziman hit a bank-shot to go up 9-4. Gauthier hit a layup, was fouled, and made the free throw to put Park up 12-4, but Benilde went on a 10-2 run (Park’s points came on a jumper by Keller) to tie the game at 14-14.

Ziman hit a three-pointer and a left-handed lay-up, Keller hit two free throws, and Marcus Edwards scored on a nice drive midway through the half, but Benilde kept answering back, and took the lead 24-23.

Harry Ullmann hit two free throws and a three-pointer, and Gauthier scored inside, but Benilde was up 35-30 before Alex Koch hit a layup that cut the lead to three, 35-32. Benilde scored the last four points of the half, and led 39-32 at the intermission.

Koch grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a put-back to make the score 39-34 in the opening seconds of the second half, then hit a three-pointer a minute later to cut the Benilde lead to five, 42-37.

Benilde scored seven straight points before Koch hit another three to make the score 49-40. Keller and Marcus Edwards each hit two of two free throws, and Koch made one of two, and Benilde led 53-45 with 4:30 left.

Ullmann hit one of two free throws, then made a great pass to Isaac Ziman for a layup, to cut the lead to six, 54-48 with 3:30 left.

Keller hit a three-pointer and a left-handed hook shot to pull Park within five, 58-53, and after a Benilde basket Koch scored on a nice spin move to the basket to pull the Orioles within five again, 60-55.

After a Benilde basket, Koch hit a three-pointer from an almost impossible angle deep in the corner to cut the lead to four with 38 seconds left, but Keller’s one free throw was the only point Park could score over the last half-minute, and Benilde hit their free throws down the stretch, and the game ended 66-59.

Stats:
Alex Koch—16 pts, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Phil Gauthier—6 pts, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Tony Keller—14 pts, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Aaron Ziman—7 pts, 2 steals
Marcus Edwards—6 pts, 2 rebounds
Harry Ullmann—6 pts, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Isaac Ziman—2 pts, 1 steal
Mick Sawinski—1 rebound
_____

Tuesday, 2/19/08
Jr. Varsity vs. Irondale

Park’s JVs won a thrilling overtime game, 57-52, with Zach Finn leading the way.
Alex Koch, who only played in the first half because he played with the Varsity team, scored on a spin move inside to put Park up 2-0, and Finn and Harry Ullman hit threes to give Park an early 8-4 lead.

Marcus Edwards and Isaac Ziman each hit jumpers, and Koch hit two free throws, before Irondale went on a run to tie the score at 14-14.

Ullman made a three-point play on a driving layup and free throw, then Koch and Finn hit three-pointers to put Park up by three, 25-22. Ziman found Koch inside for a layup, and Koch scored on a drive for a five point Park lead. In the closing seconds, Tony Keller had a monster block, and Park went into the half with a four point lead, 27-23.
Ziman opened the second half with a layup and free throw to push Park’s lead to seven, 30-23. Park did a nice job of moving the ball around the perimeter to find open looks, but the Oriole shooters went cold and Irondale went on a 6-1 run to cut the lead to two points, 31-29.

Keller broke Park’s shooting slump with a jumper off a Mick Sawinski pass; he was fouled and made the freebie and Park led 34-29. Ullman hit two threes and a free throw, and Ziman hit a 15-foot jumper, and Park lead by seven, 43-36, with five minutes left in the game.

Irondale cut the lead to two, 43-41, before Keller hit four free throws on two possessions, to put Park up three, 47-44.

Irondale cut the lead to one with 2:19 to play, and had the ball before the ball ended up on the ground, Jarrod Berven dove on it and called a time out. When play resumed, Ziman was fouled and hit two clutch free throws in the one-and-one to put Park up three.

Finn was fouled with under a minute to play and hit one of two to put Park up by four, but Irondale hit two tough outside shots in the closing seconds to tie the game at 50-50, and force overtime!

In overtime, Finn made the biggest shot of the game, a three-pointer with a hand in his face, and Park would outscore Irondale, 7-2, in the extra session.

Berven made a steal, was fouled, and hit one of two free throws to put Park up four, then Keller made two free throws, and Berven hit one of two to end the scoring.

Berven had a block and huge rebound with seconds left to preserve Park’s lead, and the game ended 57-52.

Stats:
Harry Ullman—13 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
Alex Koch—11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Zach Finn—11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Isaac Ziman—9 points, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 rebound
Tony Keller—9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist, 1 block
Marcus Edwards—2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Jarrod Berven—2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Mick Sawinski—1 steal, 1 assist
_____

Wednesday, 2/7/08 @ SLP HS
Park JV vs. Fridley

Park lost a tough over-time game, 54-53, despite tons of incredible action.

Tony Keller got Park on the board with a layup, and Alex Koch hit a driving layup in the opening minutes, but Fridley was hot from the start and jumped to an early 9-4 lead. Marcus Edwards hit a short jumper, Isaac Ziman scored on a drive, and Harry Ullmann nailed a three (precursor to things to come) to cut the Fridley lead to one, 13-12.

Fridley jumped out to another lead, but again Park battled back. Keller hit a free throw and jumper to tied the game 15-15, tied the game 17-17 with another jumper, Koch hit two free throws to give Park it first lead since the score was 2-0, and Edwards scored off a nice Gauthier pass to put Park up 21-17. Fridley went on a 7-4 run to end the half with Park leading 25-24—Parks last four points came on two Keller free throws, and a nice drive by Koch.

Keller’s hustle led to a rebound and basket to open the second half, Fridley nailed a three to tie the game 27-27, but Ullmann nailed another three to put Park up 30-27.
Over the next few minutes, Koch took over, hitting a left-handed banker, two three-pointers, and a layup off a nice Ullmann pass to give Park a 41-37 lead with 5:00 left in the game.

After Fridley rallied to take a 45-41 lead, Ullmann nailed another three to pull within one. Fridley missed the front end of a one-and-one, but hustled to grab the rebound, and with 1:30 left Fridley looked to be in control.

Park trapped a Fridley guard and forced a turnover but couldn’t convert, and when Fridley hit two free throws with 18.6 second left, Park trailed 47-44.

After a time out, Park found Koch in the corner, but his shot rimmed out. Ziman got the rebound and passed to Ullmann who was 10 feet beyond the three point line, and he nailed the shot with two seconds left to tie game, and after a 30 foot Hail Mary by Fridley that just missed, the game went to a three minute overtime.

After a Fridley basket, Koch tied the game on a nice up-and-under move. Fridley missed two of two free throws, but Park couldn’t scored on their next possession and Park was forced to foul again. This time Fridley hit one of two to take the lead 50-49 with 1:40 left. Again Park couldn’t score, again they fouled Fridley, and the visitors hit two of two to take a three point lead. Two more free throws ran the lead to five with 42.4 seconds left.

Ziman scored a quick basket, and when Park got the ball back off a tie-up, the stage was set for another possible overtime.

Koch just missed a three pointer to tie the game, Ullmann got the ball off the rebound and missed another three pointer, Koch grabbed the rebound and raced back to the three point line where he threw up a desperation shot as time ran out, and Gauthier hit a somewhat meaningless two-point field goal at the buzzer to make the final 54-53.

Stats:
Alex Koch—18 points, 6 rebounds
Harry Ullmann—12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Tony Keller—11 points, 6 rebounds
Isaac Ziman—6 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Marcus Edwards—4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Phil Gauthier—2 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Jarrod Berven—2 rebounds
_____

Tuesday, 1/29/08 @ SLP H.S.
JV vs. North Branch

Park’s excellent free throw shooting in the second half helped them beat a strong North Branch team, 71-62.

Alex Koch nailed a three to open the scoring, Tony Keller hit two free throws, Koch nailed another three, Marcus Edwards hit a lay-up, and Phil Gauthier hit two free throws to put Park up early, 12-3.

North Branch went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to four, 12-8, before Isaac Ziman hit a driving runner and Marcus Edwards hit another lay-up. North Branch cut the lead to 16-12, then Harry Ullmann nailed back-to-back three-pointers, Ziman hit another free throw, and Koch nailed one from behind the arc to push Park’s lead to 26-19.
Gauthier hit the shot of the game on a behind the back prayer to make the score 28-19, then North Branch’s twin towers (both players were about 6’-5”) started scoring inside, and they came back to tie the score at 28-28.

Keller hit two free throws, North Branch scored again inside, then Ullmann hit a 12-foot jumper to put Park up 32-30. Over the last minute of the half, Keller and Ullmann each hit two free throws, and the score at the break was Park 36, North Branch 34.
Park went on a 10-2 run to open the second half—Keller hit a lay-up off a nice Ullmann pass, Marcus Edwards had two steals and lay-ups, Ullman hit a bank-shot, and Gauthier had a steal and lay-up.

Gauthier hit two of two from the line, but North Branch fought back and cut the lead to four, 48-44, with eight minutes left.

Marquealis Edwards came off the bench and hit a big three-pointer to push the lead back to seven, but North Branch hit two straight baskets to cut the lead to three, 51-48, before Koch nailed another three with 7:17 left.

North Branch tied the game at 54-54, but Koch and Gauthier scored the next 10 Park points, the highlight coming on a George “Iceman” Gervin finger-roll by Gauthier.
After Keller hit a free throw to make the scored 65-58 with 2:37 left, Koch hit back to back jumpers to push the lead to 11, 69-58. Ullmann finished Park’s scoring with two free throws, and North Branch hit a shot at the buzzer to make the final 71-62.

Park hit 5 of 6 free throws over the last four minutes of the game, and 18 of 20 in the game (90%).

Stats:
Alex Koch—22 points, 4 rebounds
Harry Ullmann—13 points, 2 assists, 1 steal
Phil Gauthier—12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Tony Keller—9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Marcus Edwards—8 points, 1 steal
Marquealis Edwards—3 points
Isaac Ziman—2 points
_____

Friday, December 14, 2007 @ SLP High School
St. Louis Park Boys Jr. Varsity vs. Totino Grace Eagles

Thanks goodness Park can shoot free throws! Park started out like a house on fire, but had to rely on freebies to put the game away in the closing seconds.

Alex Koch started (and stayed) red hot, scoring Park’s first 10 points on two 3-pointers, a leaner and two free throws. When Aaron Ziman was fouled on a layup and made the free throw to complete the three-point play, Park was up 17-11, and Park cruised to a 25-14 lead at the half. Phil Gauthier and Koch grabbed four rebounds each, and Mick Sawinski came off the bench to grab two rebounds and make one steal.

Koch opened the second half with a three-point bomb, and a moment later nailed another to give Park a 31-16 lead. Harry Ullmann hit a jumper from inside the arc with seven minutes left in the game to give Park a 36-18 lead, and the game looked like it might be a laugher. But….

Totino Grace, who shot less than 40% from the field in the first half, suddenly started hitting shots in bunches. The Eagles battled back to within six point, 40-34, with under four minutes to play. Ullmann hit Koch with a back-door pass for a lay-up to go back up by eight, but Totino Grace hit two free throws to pull back to within six. Then, the fouling began. Aaron Ziman hit two of two, Koch hit two of two, but after a few threes by the Eagles it was a 46-44 game with a minute and a half to play! Koch got the ball in the corner, his sweet spot, and was hacked while throwing up a three-pointer. Of course he made all three free throws, then hit one of two when he was fouled on Park’s next possession. Aaron Ziman hit two of two again to put Park up 52-44, and Koch put the cherry on top of the win by grabbing the rebound on Totino’s final shot as the clock ran out.

Alex Koch led Park with 28 points, Aaron Ziman added 9, Isaac Ziman 6, Marcus Edwards 4, Tony Keller 3, and Harry Ullmann 2. Phil Gauthier led Park with 7 rebounds, Koch added 5. Aaron Ziman dished out 4 assists. The key stat for the game was Park’s free throw shooting, which was 20 for 26 (77%) for the game, but 9 for 10 in the last five minutes (90%)!

Monday, 3/3/08 @ SLP H.S.
Sophomores vs. Benilde

Park exploded in the second half, and beat Benilde, 65-50.

Park led by a single point at the half, 31-30, but out-scored the Red Knights 34 to 20 in the second, and won going away.

John Alston led Park with 20 points and Jarrod Berven scored 18.

The defensive highlight of the game was a monster block by Edwards, who swatted a shot from near the basket into the third row of the bleachers!

Stats:
John Alston 20 points
Jarrod Berven 18 points
Travis Gohman 10 points
Marquealis Edwards 10 points
Alex Piper 6 points
Dan Cain 4 points
_____

Friday, 2/22/08 @ Home
Sophomores vs. Spring Lake Park

Park won a great game, 64-55. At the half, Park lead 36-30, and didn’t look back.

John Alston and Marquealis Edwards led Park with 17 points apiece, Jarrod Berven added 12, Travis Gohman added 9, Cain 5, McKnight 2, and Harrison McClean 2.
_____

February, 2/19/08
Sophomores vs. Irondale

Park fell to strong Irondale club, 54-33. Freshman Marquealis Edwards had a fantastic game, with 17 points.

Stats:
Marqueallis Edwards—17 points
Dan Cain—6 points
Jarrod Berven—5 points
Travis Gohman—3 points
Alex Piper—2 points
_____

Tuesday, 2/12/08
Sophomores vs. St. Francis

The Park Sophomores beat St. Francis, 40-33, in a conference battle Tuesday afternoon.

Park led 21-18 at the half, and was never in trouble in the second half, consistently holding a comfortable lead.

John Alston led all Park scorers with 14, and Jarrod Berven added 12. Alex Piper scored 8, Travis Gohman 4, and Harrison Maclean 2.
_____
Tuesday, 1/29/08 @ SLP H.S.
Sophomores vs. North Branch

Park’s Sophomores started off a bit slow, but caught fire in the second half and held on to beat North Branch, 54-50.

Park led 25-20 at the half, despite Jarrod Berven, Park’s biggest scorer, having only two points. Travis Gohman picked up the slack with two first half three pointers.

Berven exploded in the second half, scoring 15 points, and, though the last few minutes were tense, Park hung on to win.

Berven led Park scorers with 17 points, Marquealis Edwards added 15, John Alston 11, Travis Gohman 6, Dan Cain 4, and Alex Piper 1.

_____
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008 @ SLP H.S.
Park Sophomore Boys vs. Cooper

Park played Cooper close for most of the game, trailing by three at the half, 28-25, but Cooper caught fire in the second half and won 65-50.

Freshmen Jarrod Berven worked inside and out and led Park with 24 points, Freshmen Marquealis Edwards added 13, Sophomore Travis Gohman tallied 7, and John Alston 6.
_______
Friday, December 21, 2007 @ St. Louis Park Sr. High
St. Louis Park Sophomore Boys vs. Columbia Heights
Reported by Ryne McNary

I’ll be honest. I didn’t think Park had much of a chance to win this game. Columbia Heights had several big, strong low-post players, all with nice touches. It’s a testament to the great play of the Orioles that it took a late Heights’ spurt to pull the game out, 61-56.

Heights grabbed a 5-0 lead before Jarrod Berven found Marquealis Edwards inside for an easy hoop, and Alex Koch hit a long jumper, just inside the arc, to cut the lead to one. After two quick Heights’ baskets, Aaron Ziman hit a jumper for two, then Berven hit a fade-away to make the score 11-8 Heights.

Again Heights fought ahead, leading 16-8, then after a call went Park’s way, the Heights’ bench drew a double technical, and Koch hit three of four free throws to make the score 16-11. A Ziman three pulled Park within three, 17-14, and after another Heights’ basket, Berven grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the put-back for a 19-16 score. After two Heights’ free throws, Edwards hit one of two free throws, then made a steal and lay-up to pull within two with 1:30 left. Down the stretch, Dan Cain hit a free throw, and Koch tapped in a miss as the clock ran out, with Park within five, 27-22, at the half.

Park went on an 8-3 run to start the second half to tie the game, highlighted by a Koch jumper, a drive and hoop by Edwards, and two hoops by John Alston, one on a nice assist from Berven.

After a 4-0 Heights’ run, Ziman was fouled while shooting, hit both free throws, then stole the ball and hit Edwards for a lay-up. On the next Park possession, “Q” Edwards hit a wild shot on a drive to the hoop and was fouled! “Q” hit the freebie, and Park was up a single point with 7:50 left. Koch nailed a three from the corner (where else?), and Park was up four!

After a Heights three-point play, Berven put Park up with a wild scoop shot in the paint and was fouled. The free throw missed, but Alston grabbed the rebound on the miss and fed Marcus Edwards for a three that gave Park a 45-39 lead with under four minutes to play! Marcus Edwards was Park’s leader in their big come-back, making several clutch plays.

After a Heights miss, “Q” Edwards scored on a Berven-like scoop shot, and a few seconds later Alston grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the put-back for a 10-point lead, 49-39. Just when the game looked to be in the bag, Heights scored the next 16 points to take a 55-49 lead with a minute remaining.

Koch was fouled and made one free throw to cut the lead to five, then Ziman made a steal and fed Alson for a lay-up, and the lead was down to three with 45 seconds left. When Park pressured the in-bounds pass, a Heights’ forward released up-court and was hit with a pass and a break-away. Much to the Heights’ coach’s horror, instead of laying the ball in, the player tried to dunk the ball and hit the back of the rim. Heights grabbed the rebound, missed, rebounded again, missed, and Park finally grabbed the rebound. With the score 55-52 with under :30 seconds on the clock, Park and Heights exchanged free-throws, with Ziman hitting four of four, and Heights hitting six of seven to make the final 61-56.

Park’s scoring was well-balanced, with Koch, Marquealis Edwards, Ziman, Berven, Marcus Edwards, and Dan Cain all in the scoring column.

Berven led Park with 3 blocks, Alston led with 8 rebounds, Ziman and Berven dished out three assists, and Koch had 3 steals.

_______
Wednesday, 2/7/08 @ SLP HS
Park Sophomores vs. Fridley

The Sophomores played a fine all-around game, and held on to beat Fridley, 60-58, Wednesday afternoon.

After a close first half, the second half was more of the same, and with 11:27 left in the game, Park clung to a one-point lead, 39-28. After a Fridley basket, Travis Gohman nailed a long three-pointer to put Park up by two, 42-40.

Fridley tied the game, but Park took back the lead on a nice pass from Tony Keller to Jarrod Berven for a layup. Again Fridley tied the game, but John Alton hit a fadeaway from the blcock to put Park up, then put them up again a minute later on a putback off an offensive board to give Park a two point lead with 5:30 left.

Fridley nailed a three to take a their first lead in more than six minutes, but Berven, who had left the game briefly with a bloody nose, hit a turn-around jumper in the paint to take a one-point lead, then hit Alston with a pass for a layup, had a steal and his own layup, and Park had a five point lead, 54-49, with two minutes left.

Alston scored off a nice pass from Marqeuallis Edwards, then “Q” scored himself off a nice pass from Berven, and the lead was again five, 58-52, with 1:11 in the game.

Down the stretch, Fridley was forced to make Park sew up the game from the line….and they did. Gohman hit two of two to five Park a seven-point lead, and Fridley hit two late baskets to make the game look slightly closer than it was, 60-58. Berven also had two big blocks in the last minute of play to thwart a pair of easy Fridley baskets.

Stats:
John Alston —18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal
Travis Gohman—12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Jarrod Berven—11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, 3 blocks
Marqueallis Edwards—10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
Tony Keller—9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal
_____
Friday, 1/25/08 @ Benilde High School
Sophomores vs. Benilde

The Sophomores won a nail-biter Friday, beating Benilde by a basket, 48-46.

Jarrod Berven got Park on the board with an offensive rebound and putback, and John Alston hit a layup to put Park up 4-0. Alston scored Park’s next two baskets, one on a power move to the hole, the other on a put-back off an offensive board.

Benilde’s shooting was also hot early, and they took an early 10-8 lead. Berven hit Alex Piper with a nice pass and he nailed a jumper to tie the game at 10-10.

Over the last seven minutes of the half, Berven took over. He hit a fadeaway from the block, put in a basket off an offensive rebound, hit another fadeaway, scored on a drive, and hit a three-pointer. Marquealis Edwards had a key steal and layup, Travis Gohman nailed a long jumper from just inside the arc, and then hit a three with time running out in the half. With all that offensive action, you might think Park would have a huge lead at the half. In fact, their lead was one point, 28-27.

The second half was more of the same back and forth action, with the lead changing several times.

Alston scored Park’s first second half points on a jumper off a Berven pass, then Berven hit a jumper to make the scored 32-29. Berven got hit on the elbow going for a rebound, and had to come out of the game for several minutes, but Gohman picked up the slack and nailed another three to put Park up 35-31. After Benilde cut the lead to one, Berven, back in the game, made a steal and layup to make the score 37-34.

Benilde went on a mini-run, and went up 39-37 before Berven hit another fadeaway from the post to tie the game. Benilde went up 43-39, then Berven hit a fadeaway off the glass to pull Park within two point with five minutes left in the game.

Dan Cain hit Alston with a nice pass for a hoop-and-one, and when he made the free throw Park was up a point with 3:37 left, 44-43.

Berven hit one of two free throws to put Park up two, but Benilde tied the scored with 2:09 left. Marquealis Edwards scored on a nice drive to put Park up 45-43, and, after Benilde miss, Gohman was fouled—he made one of two for a 48-45 lead with 1:07 left.

Benilde made one of two free throws to pull within two, and when they got the ball back with 15 seconds left it looked like the game was headed for overtime…but…Benilde actually ran the clock out! Down two, Benilde passed the ball around until the clock was down under five seconds, then couldn’t even get a shot off, and Park won 48-46.

Stats
Jarrod Berven—22 pts, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, 1 block
John Alston—11 pts, 6 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
Travis Gohman—9 pts, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Marquealis Edwards—4 pts, 3 rebound, 4 steals
Alex Piper—2 pts, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Dan Cain—4 reb, 2 assist, 1 steal
_____
Friday, December 14, 2007 @ SLP High School
St. Louis Park Boys Sophomore Basketball vs. Totino Grace Eagles

All eight Park players contributed in a big way, and the Orioles beat the Eagles in the battle of the birds, 55-44.

Park jumped to a 6-0 lead with Jerrod Berven leading the way with a basket, a steal and a give-and-go to Travis Gohman for a lay-up.

Totino’s center had a few inches on Berven, and scored a few points early, but Berven eventually ate his lunch, beating him up-court on fast breaks, and beating him off the dribble in the half-court game.

Park led 32-17 at the half: Berven had 12 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists, and John Alston was also hot with seven points and seven rebounds.

The highlight of the half was a great behind-the-back pass by Berven, on the fast-break, to Alston for a lay-up.

The second half was more of the same, and Park took a 35-17 lead early when Dan Cain made a great steal falling out of bounds, threw a blind pass to a streaking Berven, who threw down a dunk to complete the play!

The closest Totino got to Park in the half was on their final basket of the game, to make it 55-44.

Berven ended the game with 21 points, seven rebounds three assists, four steals and a blocked shot. Alston added 15 points and 10 rebounds, Marquealis Edwards had a great all-around game with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block, Travis Gohman had 8 points, and Alex Piper tossed in 2. Eric McKnight had a fine game, with two steals and an assist, and Harrison McLean grabbed two boards. The unsung hero of the game was Dan Cain, who, despite not denting the scoring column, did a bit of everything, with 5 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
_____

Monday, 3/3/08 @ SLP H.S.
Freshmen vs. Benilde

Park came from behind Monday to beat a strong Benilde team in thrilling fashion.

Park trailed 30-21 at the half, with TJ Gist leading Park with 10 points, Shai Hillman tossed in 4, Chris Ederer 3, Andrew Dahlke 2, and Dominique Hodgkins 2. Bobby Otto’s shot was off in the first half, but he would find his stroke in the second half!

Ederer scored in the opening seconds of the second half on a drive, then Asher Michels-Allen hit Otto with a backdoor pass for a layup to cut the lead to five, 30-25.

Ederer found Otto on a fast break, Ederer hit a three-pointer, and Michels-Allen found Otto for a backdoor layup again to cut the lead the three. Otto hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to two, then Allen-Michels hit Gist-you guess it-back door, and the score was tied, 37-37, with seven minutes left in the game.

After a Benilde basket, Allen-Michels scored on a putback of an offensive rebound, but Benilde went on a run and led by six, 45-39.

Otto scored a basket-and-one, and Allen-Michels scored on a jumper from the free throw line to cut the lead back to one.

With 4:30 left, Otto hit a three to tie the game, 47-47, and, after a Benilde basket, Dahlke made a nice scoop shot to tie the game, 49-49, with 2:36 remaining.

Gist was fouled and hit both free throws to put Park up by two, Dahlke scored on a nice up-and-under move, was fouled and made the free throw to five Park a five point lead, 54-49, with two minutes left.

Benilde couldn’t buy a basket in the closing minutes, and resorted to sending Park to the line down the stretch. Otto hit 4 of 4 free throws, Gist hit 3 of 4, and Dahlke iced the game with a steal in the final seconds.

Otto scored all 19 of his points in the second half, Gist scored 10 of his 20, and Ederer and Michels-Allen were the key playmakers of the game, with several great passes each.

Stats:
TJ Gist-20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks
Bobby Otto-19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Andrew Dahlke-7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Chris Ederer-5 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Shai Hillman-4 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Asher Michels-Allen-4 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
Dominique Hodgkins-2 points
_____

Friday, 2/22/08 @ Home
Freshmen vs. Spring Lake Park

Park won, 58-50, Friday afternoon, with all nine players denting the stat sheet.
For the second game in a row, Park dug itself a hole early in the first half, and trailed 10-0 before all the fans got comfortable in their seats.

Chris Ederer got Park on the scoreboard with a nice right-handed layup (Ederer is a lefty), followed by three Bobby Otto threes and one by TJ Gist, and the Panther lead was cut to four, 18-14.

Park’s next six points came from the line (4 of 4 from Gist, 2 of 2 from Dominique Hodgkins), and Shai Hillman nailed a jumper from the free throw line, and the half ended with Park trailing by four, 26-22.

The second half was dominated by the duo of Gist and Ederer, who each scored 13, with Otto adding 5, Hodgkins 3, and Dylan Vosika 2.

Ederer scored on a drive to start the half, then fed Gist for a layup “and one” to pull within a point. After a 5-0 Panther run, Otto nailed a three, then made a steal and layup and again pull Park within a point, but this time the Panthers didn’t go on a run. Park did.

Andrew Dahlke hit both Gist and Vosika for layups, and Ederer did a little “shake and bake” en route to a layup, and Park led 38-33.

The Panthers scored the next five point, followed by a Gist layup, a Gist three-pointer, and a Hodgkins three-pointer, and Park started to pull away.

Ederer hit a layup with five minutes left in the game, and Gist scored a layup “and one” off an Ederer assist to give Park a 51-43 lead with time running out.

The Panthers made a frantic run over the next two minutes to pull within three, 53-50, with 42 seconds left, then put Ederer on the line on Park’s next three possessions. With the pressure on in the one-and-one, Ederer hit both ends twice, and one of two on his last trip to the line to ice the game, 58-50.

Gist (20), Ederer (15), and Otto (14) carried the lion’s share of the scoring burden, but all nine players contributed in different ways. Asher didn’t score a point, but led Park with 7 rebounds, with Hillman adding 6, Vosika and Otto 4. Ederer led Park with 4 assists, but Dahlke added 3, and Gist, Otto, Hodgkins, and Hillman each dished out 1.

Vosika responded to a rare starting assignment with 4 big rebounds and big second half basket.

Stats:
TJ Gist—20 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Chris Ederer—15 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 block
Bobby Otto—14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
Dominique Hodgkins—5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Shai Hillman—2 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
Dylan Vosika—2 points, 4 rebounds
Asher—7 rebounds, 1 steal
Andrew Dahlke—1 rebound, 3 assists
John Gallice—1 rebound
_____

February, 2/19/08
Freshmen vs. Irondale

Park’s Freshmen lost to a strong Irondale team, 59-65, Tuesday afternoon.

In the opening seconds, Bobby Otto hit a jumper and TJ Gist hit a three, but Park couldn’t buy a basket afterwards, and trailed, 27-5, eight minutes into the game.

Dominique Hodgkins hit two free throws to break the cold streak, and Chris Ederer scored on back-to-back drives to cut the lead to 16, 27-11.

Gist hit a free throw, Otto nailed two threes, and Ederer found Gist in the corner for a wide open three, and all of a sudden it was a game again, 34-21.

Just scored five straight points on a three and two freebies, and with 40 seconds left Otto’s three cut the lead to single digits, 39-31. In the final seconds, Gist hit two free throws, and Park felt good to be trailing by only six points at the half, 39-33.
The hot hand in the second half belonged to Ederer, who scored 15 points, most on strong drives to the basket.

Ederer hit back to back drives to open the half, followed by a Gist three, but Irondale couldn’t seem to miss, and pushed the lead back up to 14, 54-40, before Ederer hit two driving layups and Shai Hillman nailed a three to cut the lead to 11.

Gist scored on a drive, Ederer hit a three, Gist hit Adrew Dahlke with a pass while rolling on the floor for a layup, and Ederer scored on two more strong drives to cut the lead to six with a minute and a half left.

Unfortunately, Park had only four team fouls, and by the time they put Irondale on the line there wasn’t enough time for a comeback, and Dahlke scored the game’s last basket for a 65-59 final.

Stats:
Chris Ederer—19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

TJ Gist—18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist

Bobby Otto—11 points, 2 rebounds

Shai Hillman—5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist

Andrew Dahlke—4 points, 1 rebound

Dominique Hodgkins—2 points, 1 steal

Asher Allen—4 rebounds

John Gallice—1 rebound
_____

Wednesday, 2/7/08 @ SLP HS
Park Freshmen vs. Fridley

The Park Freshmen exploded in the second half to blow out Fridley, 55-38.

The first half was close, with Park never able to build a large lead. With the score 17-15 Park, John Gallice scored inside, followed by a nice pass from Chris Ederer to a cutting TJ Gist for a layup to push the lead to six, 23-17. After a Fridley basket, Ederer hit two free throws after being fouled driving to the hoop, then scored on a nifty drive to push the lead back to six. Over the final 3:02 of the half, though, Park only scored a single point (a free throw by Gist), and lead by only five, 26-21, at the half.

Gist led Park at the half with 11 points, Bobby Otto 8, Ederer 5, and Gallice 2.

Park took control of the game early in the second half, led by Gist and Otto’s shooting, and the passing of Ederer. Gist scored 12 points in the second half, many on strong drives to the basket, and Otto nailed a free throw and three long bombs for 10 second-half points. Gist and Ederer led Park with 5 boards apiece, Otto added 4, Gallice 3, Michels-Allen and Hillman 2.

Park is possibly playing their best ball of the year, and recent games have shown that if Coach Cade’s crew can keep the game close at the half, they usually make the necessary adjustments to take control in the second half. Additionally, the Park bench has been very valuable of late, with Shai Hillman, Gallice, and Dylan Vosika making the most of their minutes.

*Note: Though Vosika had only one assist, he did have another fine pass to a teammate whose layup rimmed out. Sorry, Dylan.

Stats:
TJ Gist—23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
Bobby Otto—18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Chris Ederer—5 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal
Asher Michels-Allen—4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist
Shai Hillman —2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
John Gallice—2 points, 3 rebounds
Dylan Vosika—1 assist
Andrew Dahlke—1 rebound
_____

Tuesday, 2/12/08
Freshmen vs. St. Francis

The Park Freshmen won a physical battle against St. Francis, 51-40, Tuesday afternoon.
John Gallice got Park on the board with a three-pointer, followed by a three by Asher Michels-Allen. Chris Ederer found TJ Gist for a layup and an early 8-3 lead.

Two Gist free throws, a Dominique Hodgkins layup, and three-pointers from Andrew Dahlke and Bobby Otto pushed Park’s lead to 18-9. Ederer hit one of two from the line to put Park up 19-9, but St. Francis went on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 19 with under a minute left in the half. Gist scored on a nice slicing move to the hoop, and on St. Francis’s next shot Gist grabbed the rebound, went coast-to-coast, and hit a layup just before the buzzer.

In the second Asher hit a jumper from just inside the arc, and two Gist threes gave Park a 31-25 lead. Ederer scored on a nifty drive, Otto hit a three, Ederer scored off a nice TJ pass, Gist hit a jumper off the glass, and Shai scored on a drive to give Park a 42-25 lead with 7:00 left.

A seven point St. Francis run cut Park’s lead to 10, 42-32, but that’s as close as they would get. Gist scored off a nice pass from Otto, Otto hit two of three free throws after being fouled shooting beyond the arc, Ederer hit a free throw, and a moment later on a drive, and Shai hit a layup to end Park’s scoring, and seal the 51-40 win.

Stats:
TJ Gist—18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
Bobby Otto—10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Chris Ederer—8 points, 1 steal
Ahser Michels-Allen—5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks
John Gallice—3 points, 3 rebounds
Andrew Dahlke—3 points, 1 steal
Dominique Hodgkins—2 points, 1 rebound
Shai Hillman—2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
_____
Tuesday, 1/29/08 @ SLP H.S.
Freshmen vs. North Branch

This game was an ol’ fashioned whoopin’. Park out-hustled, out-rebounded, out-ran, and out-played North Branch, and won in convincing fashion, 77-45.

The game was never really in doubt, as Park ran to an early lead. TJ Gist was hot early, hitting a layup and three-pointer in the opening minutes. After John Gallice hit a three, and Gist hit two more, the score was 17-10, and Park never looked back.

Dominique Hodgkins kissed a jumper off the glass, then hit a layup a moment later to push the lead to 21-10. Chris Ederer hit two of two free throws, and fed Domique for a layup to push the lead to 25-16, and after North Branch made a mini-run and cut the lead to five, 25-20, Bobby Otto hit three 3-pointers and Gist hit an “and one” layup, and Park led 42-26 at the half.

The second half was a track meet, and North Branch wasn’t invited. Park dominated the defensive glass and released players up-court for lay-ups, and even when they had to run their half-court game they still ended up with lay-ups or short jumpers.
Gist continued his hot shooting with 11 second half points, and Hodgkins added 10. Ederer, who had three points in the game, all from the line, was Park’s big playmaker, collecting 9 assists.

Dylan Vosika scored in the paint to end Park’s scoring at 77.

Stats:
TJ Gist—30 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block

Bobby Otto—18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Dominique Hodgkins—16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Chris Ederer—3 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals

John Gallice—3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Asher—2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist

Dylan Vosika—2 points, 1 rebound

Shai—2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
_____

Friday, 1/25/08 @ Benilde H.S.
Park Frosh vs. Benilde-St. Margaret’s

The Park Frosh came from behind to win a thrilling game Friday afternoon, beating cross-city rival Benilde, 51-44.

Benilde went on a 19-6 run to start the game, with Park ’s only baskets coming from an Asher Michels-Allen basket in the paint and two TJ baskets off nice drives.

Bobby Otto hit a three-pointer to pull Park to within 10, 19-9, then Michels-Allen hit another basket in the paint to make the score 19-11. Benilde scored the next six points to go up 25-11, but Andrew Dahlke broke the string with a lay-up and two free throws to make the score 27-15. Gist scored Park’s last four points, both on nice inside moves, and the half ended with Benilde up 29-19.

Gist led all Park scorers at the half with 8, Michels-Allen and Dahlke each had 4, and Otto had 3.

Benilde scored the first three points of the second half before Otto hit a three-pointer to make the score 32-21. A Gist block led to another Otto three, and a Michels-Allen free throw pulled Park to within 10, 36-26.

Dahlke grabbed an offensive board and fed Gist for a layup to pull Park within eight, and Chris Ederer made a nifty pass to Dahlke for an easy basket and the lead was down to six, 36-30.

Otto scored a layup off a give-and-go from Dominique Hodgkins to cut the lead to four, but Benilde hit a jumper to push the lead back to six. With 6:36 left, Gist hit one of two free throws to make the score 38-33, and Hodgkins nailed a three to cut the lead to two with 5:49 left.

After a Benilde basket made the score 40-36, Michels-Allen grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the put-back to cut the lead to two, 40-38. Benilde hit a shot inside, and Hodgkins nailed another three to pull Park within a single point, 42-41 with 3:37 left.

After a Park timeout, Dahlke hit a layup off an inbounds pass, and Park had their first lead of the game!

Benilde took the lead back with a short jumper, but an Otto three gave Park a two-point lead with 55 seconds left.

Benilde missed a jumper from the wing, and immediately fouled Otto who made one of two to push the Park lead to three, 47-44.

Down the stretch, Benilde couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean, and Otto was fouled twice and made all four free throws to make the final score 51-44.

Stats:
Bobby Otto—19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
TJ Gist—11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
Andrew Dahlke—8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block
Asher Michels-Allen—7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Dominique Hodgkins—6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Shai Hillman—1 rebound
Chris Ederer—1 assist
____

Asher Michels-Allen Comes off the Park Bench to Spark Team to Win!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 @ SLP H.S.
Park Boys Freshmen vs. Cooper

Park caught fire in the second half against Cooper, and blew out the visitors, 59-40.

The first half was closely played, with Bobby Otto’s four three-pointers keeping Park close. Midway through the half, a Dominique Hodgkins three-pointer pulled Park to within three, 18-15, and an Andrew Dahlke drive and basket cut the lead to one. With 3:50 left in the half, TJ Gist scored on a nice drive to tie the game at 20-20, and with 26 seconds left, Gist scored again on a drive to five Park a 26-22 lead. Cooper scored seconds later and the half-time score was Park 26, Cooper 24.

Shai Hillman hit a long three-pointer to open the second half, but Cooper battled back to tie the game at 29-29. Chris Ederer had a steal and assist to Hodgkins to put park up, but again Cooper came back to tie the game.

Gist nailed a three, but Cooper scored on back to back possessions to take their first lead of the second half at 35-34. Gist tied the game with a free-throw, and Dahlke grabbed an offensive rebound and fed Hodgkins for a three-pointer to put Park back up by three, 38-35.

Asher Michels-Allen came off the Park bench and played an inspired game, hitting back to back jumpers from the free-throw line, and Hodgkins hit Gist for a back-door layup to put park up eight, 46-38.

Down the stretch, Cooper couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean, and Park couldn’t miss. Michels-Allen hit two of two free-throws, and a nice put-back in the final mintues, and grabbed one rebound after another.

Otto, who had 12 first half points, was held to 2 in the second half, but he grabbed 5 second half boards.

Gist hit 7 of 8 free throws in the second half, 8 of 10 in the game, to lead Park with 16 points.

Stats:
TJ Gist: 16 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Bobby Otto: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals
Asher Michels-Allen: 13 points, 7 rebounds
Dominique Hodgkins: 11 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
Shai Hillman: 3 points, 1 rebound
Andrew Dahlke: 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Chris Ederer: 1 steal, 1 assist
________________
Friday, December 21, 2007 @ St. Louis Park Sr. High
St. Louis Park Freshman Boys vs. Columbia Heights

In a nip and tuck game, Park’s late comeback attempt fell a bit short as they lost to a strong Columbia Heights team, 48-42.

The first half was very low-scoring, with Park trailing at the break, 19-15. Down 4-0, Park got on the board when Chris Ederer found TJ Gist for a lay-up, and Park took the lead a few moments later when Bobby Otto nailed a three-pointer. After a Heights basket, Otto found Gist down low, who hit the shot to give Park the lead 7-6. Andrew Dahlke found Dominique Hodgkins inside, he was fouled, and hit both free throws to put Park up 11-8. After a brief Heights spurt, Park tied the score at 13 when Dahlke scored in the paint. Over the last two minutes of the half, Heights outscored Park 6-2, with Park’s only basket coming on an Otto basket off a nice Dahlke pass. At the buzzer, Heights led by four. Gist led Park at the half with 6 points, Otto added 5, Hodgkins and Dahlke added 2 points each.

The second half was a wild one, with the lead changing several times. Park instituted a full-court press to start the half, and it had mixed results. Columbia Heights, on the other hand, employed a top-heavy zone, daring Park to try to force the ball down low; when Park did get it inside they scored easily, but any passes that weren’t perfect, Heights picked off and raced down-court for easy baskets.

Hodgkins pulled Park to within a basket when he hit a jumper, and after a Heights basket Hodgkins pulled the Orioles within two again when he hit Dahlke in the paint for a lay-up. Gist tied the game at 23 on a runner, then tied the game again a moment later when he was hacked and hit both ends from the charity stripe. After a Heights hoop, Hodgkins nailed a three to put Park ahead, 26-25, for the first time since the score was 11-10.

With 6:30 to play, Heights went on a run, and built up a 37-30 lead. With 5:55 left, Gist cleaned up an offensive rebound and was fouled on the put-back; he hit one of two free throws to make the scored 37-31. Otto scored on a drive to pull Park to within four, then Heights went on a 6-0 run to lead by 10, 43-33 with 2:20 left.

Park was patient on their next possession, swinging the ball around the perimeter, and found Gist alone for a moment and he hit a three to pull Park to within seven. Heights responded with a short jumper, and Otto hit two threes around a Heights free throw to make the score 46-42 with 30 seconds left. Otto dove on the ground for an errant in-bounds pass, stole the ball, but was called for traveling on a questionable call while he was rolling on the ground. Heights scored one more basket as the clock ran out, making the final 48-42.

Stats
Scoring: Gist 14, Otto 13, Hodgkins 7, Dahlke 8
Rebounds: Dahlke 8, Otto 6, Gist 5, Ederer 3, Hodgkins 2, Shai Hillman 2, Asher Michels-Allen 1
Assists: Gist 3, Otto 3, Hodgkins 3, Dahlke 2, Ederer 2
Steals: Hodgkins 2, Gist 2, Dahlke 1, Otto 1, Ederer 1
Blocks: Gist 1
______

Friday, December 14, 2007 @ SLP High School
St. Louis Park Boys Freshman Basketball vs. Totino Grace Eagles
Reported by Ryne McNary

The Park Frosh took one on the chin, falling to Totino Grace, 59-44.

Park got down 6-0 early, and seemed to be clawing back the entire game. TJ Gist grabbed a rebound and went coast-to-coast for a lay-up to get Park on the board, but the shooting slumped most of the first half. Down 18-11, Otto hit a fee throw and a lay-up, and Chris Ederer hit a nice reverse-layup on a pass from Gist during a mini-run, but Totino scored the last 10 points of the half, including a three-point buzzer beater, ending 31-16. Otto was Park’s leading scorer of the half with 6 points, and Gist, Dominique Hodgkins, Ederer, Asher Michels-Allen and Shai Hillman each added 2.

Despite the score, Park showed plenty of life in the first half, with Hodgkins diving for a loose ball and Gist blocking three shots in defiant style, but the ball just wouldn’t go in the hole.

Park played hard coming out of the break, and cut the lead to thirteen, 45-30, midway through the half. Gist, who was held to a basket in the first half, had a great second half, scoring 13, making several key passes, steals and blocks. Ederer was also key in Park’s inspired play, with 7 second-half points on one three-pointer and two drives to the basket. Hodgkins nailed a three, Hillman hit a lay-up off a nice Otto pass, and Andrew Dahlke also scored off an Otto pass, but Otto, though he passed great in the half and had several rebounds, couldn’t find his shooting touch and was scoreless in the second half.

Gist, a tremendous rebounding guard, led Park with 7 rebounds along with his game-high 15 points, Ederer ended with 9 points, Otto 6, Hodgkins 5, Hillman 4, Michels-Allen 2 and Dahlke 2.

Tre Munson grabbed a rebound and also played fine defensively. Jack Bordewick and Dylan Vosika, both injured, did not play.
_____

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.
_____

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
_____

_____

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
_______

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.
______

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.
_____

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.
_____
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.
________

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.”
_________

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.
_____

Saturday, 3/15/08 @ Wayzata H.S.
State Tournament, First Round

Park’s 6th grade A-team beat Cambridge, 46-37, in the first round of the state tournament Saturday morning.

Park led 18-12 at the half despite falling behind 4-0 in the opening minutes against a big Cambridge team. In the second half, Cambridge’s shooting was off, and Park’s rebounding was the key to their success, as they rarely allowed their opponents to get second shots.

DJ Davis and Jonah Resnick led Park with 10 points each, while Noah Schneck and Resnick led in rebounds with 9 each.

Stats:
DJ Davis–10 points, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Jonah Resnick–10 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist, 1 block
Grahamm Kellogg–7 points, 1 steal
Max Wolk–5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Daniel Foltz–5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Noah Schneck–5 points, 9 rebounds
Johnny Curren–2 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
Mel Curry–1 assist, 1 steal

___

Park 6As vs. Minnetonka
State Tournament, Second Round

Park lost a heart-breaker by a single point in a low-scoring contest Saturday morning in second round action.

Trailing 2-0, Melvyn Curry scored off a nice Johnny Curren pass to tie the game. A few seconds later, Park put on a great demonstration of the Three Man Weave when Curren passed to Curry, who passed to Noah Schneck for a layup and a 4-4 tie. DJ Davis scored off an offensive rebound and Jonah Resnick did the same seconds later to tie the game at 8-8. Minnetonka went on a run to take a 14-8 lead, then Davis hit a three-pointer and the half ended with Minnetonka leading 14-11.

In the second half, Curren hit two free throws to cut the lead to one, 14-13, and scored on Park’s next possession to give his team a 15-14 lead.

Tonka took a 16-15 lead, but Daniel Foltz hit Curry for a layup and a 17-16 Park lead with 7:15 left in the game. Davis hit a short jumper off the glass for a 19-16 lead, and Curry scored inside for a 21-16 Park lead.

Tonka fought back and tied the game at 21-21 with two minutes left, and Grahamm Kellogg hit a banker in the paint for a 23-21 lead. Again Tonka tied the game. With 1:05 left to play, Davis grabbed a rebound off a missed Park free throw and was fouled himself; he hit one of two for a 24-23 lead. Tonka’s center, a beast all day, scored inside to give his team a 25-24 lead, then Davis was fouled on the other end and hit both free throws for a 26-25 Park lead with 7.9 second on the clock.

Again Tonka fed their center inside, and he scored to take the lead back, 27-26. Park was fouled with 1.7 seconds left, but missed the front end of the one-and-one, and the game, unfortunately, ended with Tonka on top by a point!

Stats:
DJ Davis–10 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal
Mel Curry–6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block
Johnny Curren–4 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Noah Schneck–2 points, 6 rebounds
Jonah Resnick–2 points, 5 rebounds
Grahamm Kellogg–2 points, 1 steal
Daniel Foltz–3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Max Wolk–2 rebounds, 1 steal
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