Minnesota Playoff Central: Lamar (Grayson) Becomes Legend

Half of the #MNStateHoops21 field is set. There have been 16 tickets punched. [player_tooltip player_id="774836" first="Lamar" last="Grayson"] may have just moved to legend status with his game last night. Upset City. Richfield versus South St. Paul was a very even match-up. We only threw it in here to 1) talk about [player_tooltip player_id="774836" first="Lamar" last="Grayson"], and 2) it was the 1 vs 3 match-up so I feel I can throw it in the Upset area on a technicality, and 3) South St. Paul’s main seven player rotation hadn’t lost a game all season (they didn’t play in the loss to Mahtomedi). I am going to try and watch this game today or tomorrow so I can see the amazing performances of Grayson (37 points) and [player_tooltip player_id="958636" first="Alonzo" last="Dodd"] (39 points) and detail them. But there’s no way we can let the day go by without at least mentioning what Grayson was able to do. [player_tooltip player_id="774836" first="Lamar" last="Grayson"] is scoring 23-24 points a game this year and has earned his spot on the top ten list of Mr. Basketball. After last night’s performance you have to wonder if he can squeeze into that final group with names like Chet, Tschetter, Morgan, and the pair from Champlin Park. Grayson’s second half was incredible as he matched Dodd bucket for bucket including down the stretch when he made the game clinchers. Grayson has had an incredible All State level season and it will continue in the state tournament.   Playoff Central. Last night I took in the Wayzata vs Cooper game won by Wayzata 67-59. I’d like to start with the guard play. [player_tooltip player_id="774744" first="Eddie" last="Beeninga"] of Wayzata missed his first four shots but after that he was beating Cooper guards to the rim on a constant run to the rim. And with no Cooper backside help Beeninga made his final eight field goal attempts plus 11 of 14 foul shots. It’s one of the most relentless basket attacks I’ve seen this year and it went for 28 points. [player_tooltip player_id="532609" first="Kody" last="Williams"] also got to the front of the rim for five makes and five assists. His second half was key. Cooper’s guards also played well. They turned over the Trojans often led by the outstanding defensive pressure of Broderick Powell. College coaches out there looking for a full court pressuring guard, take a look at the film of Broderick Powell soon. He also kept his team in the game at times scoring 14 (most of it at key times in the Cooper runs). [player_tooltip player_id="958641" first="Davion" last="Evans"] was quiet in half one but most of his 15 came in the second half. Powell and Evans were able to score on the Wayzata guards and give their team a chance. The difference? After Beeninga I would go with the quick nine point run early from [player_tooltip player_id="958661" first="Drew" last="Berkland"] and then the Trojans having a but more up front. [player_tooltip player_id="850713" first="Carter" last="Bjerke"] and [player_tooltip player_id="850703" first="Camden" last="Heide"] really weren’t scoring factors as much as they were rebounding (nine for Heide, six for Bjerke) and blocking/contesting shots (Bjerke had four, maybe five blocks). Heide also shot well from the foul line (6 of 8, scored 11 points). Cooper junior David Conners was really good off the bench nearly producing a double-double (9 and 8). CP Undefeated. The Rebels beat Park Center for the third time this season! That’s a tough accomplishment. Last night was also a big moment for the season that [player_tooltip player_id="774746" first="Joshua" last="Strong"] is having. He scored 26 in the section final plus put the game away with his late foul shots in overtime. Strong is Class AAAA All State for sure but Class AAAA player of the year? Mr. Basketball final five? That is the type of company Strong is keeping right now having a fantastic season. The Big Stage. Minnehaha Academy vs Totino-Grace. It’s the expected game people have looked forward to since the first thought of the 2020-21 season entered minds. It’s the biggest collection of talent on one floor that Minnesota can provide. For example: [player_tooltip player_id="532574" first="Chet" last="Holmgren"] of MA - number one player in the nation, IMO the greatest two way impact player I’ve ever seen in Minnesota. [player_tooltip player_id="962198" first="Taison" last="Chatman"] of TG - top 20-40 level talent nationally in the 2023 class [player_tooltip player_id="850702" first="Prince" last="Aligbe"] of MA - a top 100 level junior prospect nationally. Demarion Watson of TG - a top 100 level junior prospect nationally. Mercy Miller of MA - one of the top pair of freshmen in the state [player_tooltip player_id="962199" first="CJ" last="O’Hara"] of TG - A top 3-4 level sophomore in Minnesota [player_tooltip player_id="680229" first="Hercy" last="Miller"] of MA - D1 talent announcing his college choice today [player_tooltip player_id="962203" first="Tommy" last="Humphries"] of TG - A top 3-4 level sophomore in Minnesota [player_tooltip player_id="957130" first="Isaiah" last="Davis"] of MA - D1 offered wing DJ Akapti of TG- A top available Senior PG [player_tooltip player_id="850707" first="Chase" last="Carter"] of MA - A top two-sport Minnesota talent [player_tooltip player_id="532558" first="Devin" last="Burger"] of TG - A top available Senior PF   Players To Watch. All eyes will be on Minnehaha Academy vs Totino-Grace which makes sense, it’s the most anticipated game of the year to date. That said, keep an eye on these players who hope to lead their teams to state this evening in big games: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="958848" first="Ty" last="Morrison"] of Deer River vs Nashwauk-Keewatin. That’s a match-up of top five Class A level teams. </li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="850706" first="Jackson" last="Loge"] of Morris Area vs Pipestone. Loge has Morris Area as a favorite as a top ten Class AA squad. </li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="774733" first="Bryce" last="Lance"] of Marshall vs Mankato West. Another outstanding game for the 2AAA title is expected.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="850701" first="Tre" last="Holloman"] of CDH vs Woodbury. Holloman is coming off an amazing 28 and 11 game. Will he be clutch in the section final like last year? (Remember that [player_tooltip player_id="846128" first="Curtis" last="Jones"] shot BTW!) </li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="567061" first="Dominic" last="Aguilar"] of Fergus Falls vs Perham. The Otters and Yellowjackets for state.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="532590" first="Rowan" last="Nelson"] of Melrose vs Annandale. It would be good for the state to see Nelson, an All State AA level player but they must get past the Cards.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="774753" first="Colton" last="Roderick"] of Alexandria vs Sauk Rapids-Rice. I watched part of Alex flex cutting Apollo for a constant lay-up the other night. </li> </ul>   Tip of the Hat to the Career. Several quality seniors saw their season end last night. Let’s honor the best of the bunch: [player_tooltip player_id="836689" first="Jalen" last="Cook"] of Park Center - Headed to Minot State. A model of consistency, good shooter but does more than just make shots [player_tooltip player_id="774816" first="Marquise" last="Gleb"] of South St. Paul - A key player that has been at the heart of the SSP turnaround. Versatile. [player_tooltip player_id="774734" first="Reid" last="Patterson"] of Lakeville South - Fantastic shooter plus has handled the ball for South as well. Broderick Powell of Robbinsdale Cooper - One of the state’s best pressure defenders and a solid playmaker as well. [player_tooltip player_id="532600" first="Luke" last="Strazzanti"] of Chaska - Strazzanti can play both guard spots, at his best shooting from many angles.