Three Up, Three Down: Class AAA

<p>What teams in Class AAA are playing their best right now?  And who has hit a minor slump?  We jump into that in Three Up, Three Down. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Three Up</strong></p> <p><strong>Two Rivers</strong> (14-7).  There was a point that Two Rivers was ranked as a top ten team this year after beating North Branch and Holy Angels.  They lost six of nine after that but have since rebounded.  The Warriors have won five straight games and that was kicked off by a big win over Mahtomedi.  Six-three sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1148715" first="Jaden" last="Morgan"] is scoring 15/16 a game for this team having a break out year. </p> <p><strong>St. Paul Johnson</strong> (13-3). The Governors have won nine games in a row and 12 of their last 13.  Their only loss in that stretch was a one score defeat to top ten ranked Minnehaha Academy.  And - I know this will come as a shock (sarcasm) - Johnson is on top of the St. Paul City Conference undefeated with a one game lead on Como Park.  Johnson is winning with great balance.  Ishmael Davis is scoring 14 a game as a senior followed by [player_tooltip player_id="1284114" first="Daejohn" last="Thomas"], Christian Jones, Jalani Tucker, and Dhimani Tucker all scoring four, five, or six baskets a night.  </p> <p><strong>Mound-Westonka</strong> (14-7).  The Whitehawks have won seven games in a row and eight of their last nine.  This is a veteran team that is catching it’s grove playing tough team basketball and that’s not something section opponents wanted to see.  These have been solid wins too:  Hutchinson, Jordan, STMA, Southwest Christian, Minneapolis Southwest, Blake, etc.  [player_tooltip player_id="796950" first="Jason" last="Spaeth"] is scoring 17 points a game playing excellent basketball while [player_tooltip player_id="1144113" first="Jake" last="Dallman"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1144111" first="Jack" last="Eberhart"] are playing well as well.  Jason, Jake, and Jack with a Jake off the bench!  Lol, I am guessing the names get jumbled during practice at times.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Three Down</strong></p> <p><strong>Fridley</strong> (7-14).  Fridley, I’m sorry.  There are certain Pepsi guzzlers out there that think I have never said a bad word about you.  But the Tigers have lost four games lately hitting a cold streak.  That said, my Fridley Faith never waivers!  [player_tooltip player_id="1225659" first="Eli" last="Nelson"] is a good guard plus senior Devin Williams is having a good year and [player_tooltip player_id="1296151" first="Antwan" last="Smith"] is an up and comer.  Like Ed Orgeron said, Go Tigas! </p> <p><strong>St. Francis</strong> (5-15).  They’ve lost eight games in a row and that is rough.  There is some talent there too.  [player_tooltip player_id="962233" first="Matthew" last="Bothun"] is scoring 26 points a game this season.  That said he’s only played in one win so they need to find a way to turn that around.  Keep an eye out for 6’6/6’7 sophomore Caleb Shoenrock as well.  He’s getting his feet wet as the only underclassmen on varsity. </p> <p><strong>North Branch</strong> (14-8).  At one point North Branch was ranked but they have since cooled.  The Vikings have lost four in a row and 7 of their last 10.  With big [player_tooltip player_id="958755" first="Trevor" last="Johnson"] scoring 19 a game, they are still a strong section contender though with Cloquet, Hibbing, and Hermantown.  In fact North Branch is undefeated against section opponents with wins over Cloquet and Hermantown. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>