East Ridge Look Ready for State Run

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raptors defeated White Bear Lake 87-64 on Friday night without two starters. The Raptors look ready to make a push in the most interesting section race in Class AAAA basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the last nine years Section 4AAAA has been represented seven times by Cretin-Derham Hall, once by White Bear Lake, and once by East Ridge (in 2019). The Raptors are looking for a return but the competition is fierce. Tartan hasn't been to state in 12 years so their hunger is there, and they are the undefeated number one team in the state. CDH is a top three team in the state and they are also a favorite. So what do the Raptors have that others don't?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We looked for what East Ridge might offer that can get them to state when they took out the White Bear Lake (Polar) Bears 87-64 on Friday evening. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>One. [player_tooltip player_id='1560882' first='Cedric' last='Tomes']</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1560867' first='Christian' last='Wiggins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1560778' first='Nolen' last='Anderson'] keep taking turns with big moments over at Wayzata when it comes to Mr. Basketball stuff including the big game from Wiggins who hit a game winner to beat Hopkins yesterday. They are going to have to catch Tomes though who scored 50 to beat Totino-Grace and had another 47 (point game versus Stillwater) in the past week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tomes is that very rare player that can carry a team offensively both as a scorer and as a playmaker, and still shoot in high percentages. His quick split of the defenses, his acrobatic scores at the rim, and his nasty step-back into a rhythm three... it was on last night. Stopping Tomes is a nightmare and he makes a difference. Yes we are aware of the Titan "Triangle and Two" I think it was a year ago, but the Raptors have had a year to think on it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Two. Size</strong>. CDH and Tartan are more top end talented than East Ridge no doubt. There is no debating that. But East Ridge will have a size edge in those games that they might be able to find a way to utilize. It doesn't have to be some big double-doubles or something, it just has to be consistent production. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-5 Raptor [player_tooltip player_id='2353671' first='Derek' last='Thompson'] had a 13 point, 13 rebound double-double last night with a relentless approach on the glass and of course scoring five times after a rough start. He also teamed with [player_tooltip player_id='2463188' first='Salman' last='Hussein'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3071101' first='Andrew' last='Theraldson'] to hold Colin Piper to 17 points on 6 of 13 shooting. Piper was solid but the Raptors slowed him from being a major difference maker. The Raptors will need to find a way to do that to [player_tooltip player_id='2126094' first='Ty' last='Schlagel'] who burned them for 25 points on 23 field goal attempts and ten rebounds in the Raider 82-69 win over the Raptors a few weeks ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Theraldson had nine points last night and after a rough start, Hussein scored three times late. Hussein is the Raptor best option for double figures right now to join Tomes. [player_tooltip player_id='2120491' first='Graham' last='Sanneh'] hasn't played the last four games but obviously if his 6'8/6'9 length returns that would help too. The Raptors do have the 6'9-6'7(strong)-6'5-6'5 size in their line-up that Tartan and CDH don't have. If they can find a way to use it to their benefit against their top competitors that would be huge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three. Shooting</strong>. This isn't to say that Tartan or CDH doesn't have shooting, they do. But Joe Lammar is coming along right now as he had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists last night. Lammar was their second option and he hit three threes. Second leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2431593' first='Aidan' last='Galvin'] missed last night's game but Galvin's game is being a sharp shooter. Tomes is fighting with future college teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1560778' first='Nolen' last='Anderson'] for the claim of the state's best shooter. And last night Thompson, [player_tooltip player_id='2392326' first='Max' last='Denson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2845899' first='Jack' last='Gunderson'] all hit two threes apiece.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Tartan uses that same playoff defense this year, East Ridge might have the shooters to make them pay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White Bear Lake</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bears fell to 3-12 on the season but there were some encouraging signs. Junior guard Will McQuay looked like a fighter last night. He is the top non senior scorer on the team at just under ten a game. Tough shooting night against the Raptors but he's a tough player that scored three times, had five boards and moved the ball for four assists. I liked the ball in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-5 [player_tooltip player_id='2140684' first='Preston' last='Crider'] is a player that we think has potential but he's missed games lately to injury. He and fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='2846672' first='Logan' last='Ehlers'] (6'6) should make for a quality pair up front next year. And speaking of pairs (or shall I say trio), the Bears have encouraging sophomore guards in Zach Turner, [player_tooltip player_id='2847897' first='Emmett' last='Anderson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2857428' first='Aaron' last='Hilderman'] that all made some plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->