Minnesota Playoff Central: Mekonnen, Eastview Move On

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a HUGE Saturday of games today and a dozen games to sift through from last night, at Playoff Central!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Playoff Central.</strong> Last night's buzzer beater was Maple Grove getting a corner three from freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2126467' first='Baboucarr' last='Ann'] to beat rival Osseo 61-60. Ann had 15 and [player_tooltip player_id='1617766' first='Keegan' last='Harney'] scored 18 to avoid losing to local rival Osseo who got 30 from De'mari Larkins. It was the shot heard around the state last night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Upset City</strong>. Eastview Lightning. Four wins in the regular season, two playoff wins. Colorado State signed [player_tooltip player_id='1287440' first='Jonathan' last='Mekonnen'] went for 37!! And he led his team to a 73-63 win over Apple Valley earning the neighborhood victory. The Lightning are the upset story of the season and next up is one seed Eagan. The Wildcats beat Rosemount as [player_tooltip player_id='1434063' first='Max' last='Buslee'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1943059' first='Charlie' last='Birk'] each had 23. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eastview and Eagan played twice this year with Eagan winning both. But the story of the Eastview season, the games were close but Eastview lost. The Lightning lost the first match-up by six in overtime and the second on a three at the buzzer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And Eastview comes into the section final with two double figure playoff wins. Go figure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Big Stage.</strong>  Four spots today and games are being played right now in many. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mayo Civic Center in Rochester</em>: You got 6AA Lake CIty against Zumbrota-Mazzepa, a Class AA top ten match-up between Cannon Falls and Caledonia, Kingsland against 5A Blooming Prairie, and the upset pair of Fillmore Central and Goodhue going head to head as a 6 vs a 7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Hibbing Memorial Arena</em>: It starts at noon with Hill City vs CarltonWrenshall, Deer River taking on Mountain Iron-Buhl, 1A Cherry led by Minnesota signed [player_tooltip player_id='1288733' first='Isaac' last='Asuma'] facing North Woods and then Fond du Lac Ojibwe playing Cromwell-Wright.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls</em>: Minnesota high school hoops in North Dakota. Sounds funny but it makes sense. Sacred Heart and 8A Fertile-Beltrami start it off followed by WAO taking on 9A Red Lake County. Then 10A Cass Lake-Bena plays Mahnomen/Waubun and Red Lake plays Win-E-Mac. Lots of talent in that location.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Southwest Minnesota State</em>: The games open at 12:30 with 3AA Eden Valley-Watkins playing Morris Area and then Jackson County Central facing Redwood Valley. There is a break and then defending champ RTR plays Hills-Beaver Creek and Minneota takes on Central Minnesota Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Performers</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1284143' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson'] had a team high 19 points in the Totino-Grace win over Zimmerman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1287438' first='Jackson' last='McAndrew'] had a game high 24 leading Wayzata over Edina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1284214' first='Tameron' last='Ferguson'] had 43 points and nine assists in a game we wrote about last night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1172835' first='Casmir' last='Chavis'] had 22 pushing Park Center past Mounds View</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1418945' first='Nathan' last='Hill'] scored 32 points for Hermantown in a two point win over Rock Ridge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tip of the Hat to the Career</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1284167' first='Kyle' last='Jorgensen']. There is a lot to say here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyle is a player that I first saw playing with the [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] at 15u. He was good and you could see his talent. Then I saw him a lot at 16u with the Heat and while good, I was a little uncertain of how good. He then had an excellent junior year for Washburn, was outstanding for the Comets, and offers started coming in. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyle got an offer from UST and I was honestly surprised. As much as I loved his talent that caught me off guard. But it was myself that was off. He then got the Colorado State offer and I was really surprised. He signed with the Rams and then had an incredible senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He led Washburn to a Minneapolis City title, won the Twin Cities Championship game, led his team to a win over Breck which is their lone loss, had Washburn in the top ten, and he is a top ten finalist for Mr. Basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyle's skill level and feel are so high level, it's been wonderful to watch him compete and it will be fun to watch him play for Coach Medved. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But what I really loved is that he played for a program that was better when he left than when he came in. Didn't leave, didn't transfer, just worked with the guys in his area to take his program to the league title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->