The Big Stage: Game by Game Rundown
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What did each The Big Stage game/result mean in our eyes? Here is our breakdown! Robbinsdale Cooper over Champlin Park. It’s a third example that Cooper is once again a tough team and a bit better than people expected. They’ve…
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Continue ReadingWhat did each The Big Stage game/result mean in our eyes? Here is our breakdown!
Robbinsdale Cooper over Champlin Park. It’s a third example that Cooper is once again a tough team and a bit better than people expected. They’ve had three good results so far and senior Michael Cooper Michael Cooper 6'6" | PF Robbinsdale Cooper | 2023 State MN has been one of the great surprises of this young season.
Hopkins over Maple Grove. Another example of a team being better than expected is Hopkins. Jayden Moore Jayden Moore 6'0" | PG Hopkins | 2026 State MN and Anthony Smith have been excellent together, Vincent Hillesheim Vincent Hillesheim 6'6" | PF Hopkins | 2023 State MN has been a top post in Minnesota, some young talent is playing well in roles, and honestly the Royals lost some talented guys but they are playing better team basketball.
Minnetonka over St. Cloud Tech. This was a needed win for the Skippers who have dropped a couple games and needed to get a win on the board against a good team. Jordan Cain Jordan Cain 6'3" | SF Minnetonka | 2024 State MN was good while Greyson Uelmen Greyson Uelmen 6'2" | PG Minnetonka | 2024 State MN continues to be another surprise player of the season. On two ends.
DeLaSalle beat Stillwater. This was one of two games that we thought would be closer. The Islanders just had more depth than the Ponies, Nasir Whitlock Nasir Whitlock 6'2" | PG Delasalle | 2023 State MN got the edge on Max Shikenjanski Max Shikenjanski 6'2" | PG Stillwater | 2023 State #288 Nation MN , and the Islanders were simply the better team which meant they earned a controlling win.
Cretin-Derham Hall defeated Robbinsdale Armstrong. I would say this was the upset of the day. Armstrong has the more talented group but CDH played the better team basketball that day and they had a more balanced group on the court. Jake Little Jake Little 6'1" | SG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2023 MN continues to be a name that surprises this 2022-23 school year plus Anthony Knight Anthony Knight 5'10" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2024 State MN , Adam Tauer Adam Tauer 6'3" | SG Andover Central | 2023 State MN , and Luke Jacobson Luke Jacobson 6'1" | SG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2023 State MN were solid with Little.
Eastview over Osseo. The Lightning just overwhelmed Osseo with everything. Eastview is the longer team, the bigger team, the more explosive team, the more experienced team, and the more talented team. All of that overwhelmed Osseo in a 20 point game, and it was a balanced effort.
Benilde-St. Margaret’s beat Andover. The Red Knights just got by Andover in a great game. The young BSM squad overcame a rough first half to earn the victory. Jalen Wilson Jalen Wilson 6'8" | PF Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State #230 Nation MN kept the team in the game, Jaleel Donley Jaleel Donley 6'1" | PG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN then took the game over in the second half. Andover is a veteran team and they are a tough out, but the young talent of BSM was too much. That said, Ben Kopetzki Ben Kopetzki 6'0" | PG Andover | 2023 State MN once again scored in ways that I didn’t know that he could.
Park Center over Lakeville North. The Pirates and Panthers lived up to the billing. The 1 vs 2 match-up was played in front of a loud and packed crowd, all of the talent had their moments, and the game had the perfect amount of swings to entertain the crowd. Park Center’s ball pressured was the difference in the game and Casmir Chavis Casmir Chavis 6'2" | PG Park Center | 2024 State #170 Nation MN was the best player on the floor.