The Minnesota Hoops Weekend

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where should you go to see basketball in Minnesota this weekend? We give you the breakdown of the weekend ahead!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Friday Metro Combo</strong>. I would say your best chance at catching a live pair of games tonight is to watch Brooklyn Center play at Fridley, and if/when the game gets out of hand you hustle over to Maranatha at Nova Classical which is the latest starting metro game at 7:30. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fridley is 15-5 which is at least five games better than anybody expected. The Tigers have five guys averaging in double figures with [player_tooltip player_id='1296151' first='Antwan' last='Smith'] likely doing the most leading the way but [player_tooltip player_id='2365722' first='Gideon' last='Cooper'] being maybe the best story growing into a nice player. Brooklyn Center is 2-19 so the game is not likely to be close but Fridley has some guys local colleges should check out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After you are done there head over to Nova Classical who has also won more games this year than expected (8). Six-foot-2 sophomore guard Caleb Taylor leads Nova with his 14.5 points a game and he is supported by 6'1 junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2109930' first='Mason' last='Engelking'] and his 14 points a contest. MCA will be a tough opponent. The Mustangs are 16-5 on the year and hoping to sneak up on people come playoff time in 5AA. If these standings are updated, it shows MCA up a half game in the Skyline. They are led by the 20 a night each from DaTrell McCrimmon and [player_tooltip player_id='2372703' first='Gresyn' last='Rennie']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Weekend's Best</strong>. That would be Totino-Grace at Minnetonka. A couple things to know going into this game: [player_tooltip player_id='1284162' first='Jordan' last='Cain'] has been out as of late which is a big blow to the Skippers, and [player_tooltip player_id='1284143' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson'] is likely the February MVP having averaged 29 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in his February games. He has shot 60 of 77 in those contests while doing a lot of ball handling plus made half of his threes! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1574227' first='Chace' last='Watley'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1284083' first='Andy' last='Stefonowicz']. Chace needs to attack Andy and do it at the opportune times. Andy needs to shoulder a big load of creation and scoring especially if Cain is still out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560835' first='Tian' last='Chatman'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1574218' first='Duke' last='Richardson']. A pair of four or five bucket a game two guards, Tian is a bit bigger, Duke is a bit older, both have to be located and contested.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1288748' first='Tyler' last='Wagner'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1288767' first='Greyson' last='Uelmen']. Right here is a big example of the difference with these teams as Tyler has four inches on Greyson but Greyson will put forth the fight needed to compete. Greyson leads Tonka in scoring while Tyler is scoring 13 a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560740' first='Dothan' last='Ijadimbola'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1284162' first='Jordan' last='Cain']. Dothan against Cain would be a good match-up but without Cain, Tonka will get smaller playing more [player_tooltip player_id='1567964' first='Isa' last='El-Amin'], or they will have to go to the bench/jv for some more size. Dothan scores 14 a game, Cain 19 a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1284143' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='1296153' first='Kayden' last='Wells']. Wells and his active 14 a game will be needed on Johnson who as we said before is playing incredible basketball right now. Johnson will handle, score 30, rebound in double figures, create and do everything else. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bang For the Buck</strong>. No big events this weekend so you are going to be paying double but watching the Tonka/TG game can be followed by a trip downtown to watch CDH and De on the island. Raiders and Islanders are playing their annual rivalry game and they are both top ten teams right now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What about Cannon Falls? They get Lake City and Cannon Falls in back to back days. Time to prove that ranking! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Ten Weekend Games</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>1AAA Totino-Grace at 3AAAA Minnetonka (S)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>3AA Lake City at 6AA Cannon Falls (F)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8AAAA Cretin-Derham hall at 6AAA DeLaSalle (S)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>6AAAA Lakeville North at 10AAAA Farmington (S)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fertile-Beltrami at 6A Ada Borup (S)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9AAAA Waconia at Orono (F)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Caledonia at 6AA Cannon Falls (S)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Holy Family at Hutchinson (F)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Buffalo at Minneapolis Washburn (F)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mound-Westonka at Hermantown (F)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list -->