Section Scout: 5AAAA Semifinals
Off to Coon Rapids we go for the last night of Class AAAA semifinals, this time of the section 5 variety. I must say the Coon Rapids fieldhouse has become a stellar place to hold neutral games with the double…
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Continue ReadingOff to Coon Rapids we go for the last night of Class AAAA semifinals, this time of the section 5 variety. I must say the Coon Rapids fieldhouse has become a stellar place to hold neutral games with the double baseline bleachers and plenty of space around the lines. On the docket were some northwest metro squads and chalk won out. Here’s the recap:
Semifinal 1: Champlin Park 59 Roseville 38
Roseville was coming off an upset win over Spring Lake Park in round one and feeling good. They got off to a 5-0 lead behind Yohanes Gebeyehu, shifty point guard with excellent range. The Raiders collapsed on Champlin Park drives very well forcing five turnovers in the first six Rebel possessions. Then the tides shifted halfway through the first frame as CP went on an 11-0 run to go ahead 21-10. The Rebel zone combined with extended guard pressure made Roseville throw errant skip passes and fight for tough contested shots (Raiders were 6-19 in half one). Jacob Johnson poured in three treys to lead the way for a 33-17 advantage at the break.
But Roseville had some fight left. They go on an 8-0 burst out of the gate to get within eight. Right on cue, senior guard Bennett Otto righted the ship with his strong vision and interior passing along with great strides of help defense, and the Raiders were held to 13 points in the final 15 minutes of the game. Champlin Park continues their playoff run at 23-5 and Roseville’s season comes to an end at 10-18.
Jacob Johnson (SF, 6-4, Sr., Champlin Park) – He’s got the athleticism gene and every move he makes supports that. Johnson’s length is unrivaled at 6-4 and he seems to glide when moving his feet defensively or sprinting in transition. He had lots of opportunities from deep and cashed three of them with no hesitation. Johnson has an offer from Lake Region State and NAIAs are also in contact, he’ll be a great two-way fit wherever he lands.
Bennett Otto (SG, 6-3, Sr., Champlin Park) – Leave it to Bennett, de facto Rebel point guard, to secure the CP offense in unstable circumstances. Good teams have balance and depth, but usually the best teams boast a guy you can give the ball to at the end of games to put away victories. Otto has become that rock. Only scored six points but added a bevy of assists and rebounds too. His defense has come a long way over the years too. Good get for Augustana.
TJ Moberg (PG, 6-0, Jr., Champlin Park) – Moberg is as tough a kid as they come, not only with hustle plays but with discipline and polished skill. He knocked down a big three-pointer to counter a Roseville run and was an unselfish ball mover all night off the bench. The Rebels have a viable 10-man rotation and Moberg’s willingness to be a small but effective piece of it makes a big difference.
Yohanes Gebeyehu (PG, 5-10, Sr., Roseville) – Led his team with 10 points in his final high school game. “Yo” isn’t tall but his dribble separation moves are top notch and his release is quick. He can create a shot out of nothing and get space from a defender with ease. Headed to St. Scholastica next year.
Cam Walker (SF, 6-3, Sr., Roseville) – A springy wing with a quick trigger, Walker showed a new side of his game last night — passing out of drawing two defenders in the halfcourt. He has explosiveness to drive by guys but when the help comes that ends the possession; last night he had eyes up and made some great dropoff passes to his big men for finishing opportunities at the rim. Five points, six rebounds and three assists for the senior.
Semifinal 2: Park Center 61 Osseo 52
I figured this game would get packed and I was right. The third meeting between District 279 rivals was going to be a battle from the beginning. A back and forth affair led by Dain Dainja’s defensive presence at the rim (three blocks in three minutes) and Terrance Waits driving 100 miles per hour to soft paint finishes (six first half points challenging the PC length) was a 31-26 score at half.
Josh Brown was the dynamite stick for Park Center extending the lead to nine on back to back triples with 10 minutes left, but a 13-4 run capped by a Cornell Richardson game-tying bomb made it even more interesting, tied at 43 with six to play. Osseo even took the lead 47-45, but then Dainja got a couple isolated post ups and free throws down the stretch to pull away by an entertaining score of 61-52. PC moves past the Osseo team they couldn’t beat last year in the playoffs, they are now 27-1. Osseo finishes 16-12.
Dain Dainja (PF/C, 6-10, Jr., Park Center) – He dominated the glass, plain and simple. Osseo center Elijah Barlue couldn’t get shot attempts inside because Dainja’s anticipation and discipline to not fall for pump fakes was at its most acute level. He scored 11 points with 15 rebounds and six blocks on the evening, doing a bit of everything from Dream Shake post moves to hitting a pull up triple.
Emmanuel Tamba (SG, 6-0, Sr., Park Center) – Tamba led the team in scoring, and that is something that doesn’t happen often. He was extremely aggressive to the middle of the floor squeezing the defense in, but showed great concentration to convert those inside attempts. His defense as usual was stellar, coming up with a string of steals to layups including an and1 that gave PC the lead back permanently.
Josh Brown (SG, 6-2, Jr., Park Center) – Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson, where you at? Because someone wants to challenge you for that moniker! Brown was absolutely unconscious on Tuesday, draining four triples for 12 points. The Osseo defense didn’t account for him enough on the perimeter even when he stood four feet beyond the arc. Nothing was stopping Brown from hitting those three-pointers, all in dagger fashion.
Terrance Waits (SF, 6-3, Sr., Park Center) – Waits has become a very solid offensive player this season. He has length to acrobatically get around contesting rim protectors and there seems to be a natural knack for the ball going in the hoop. He scored 14 points giving the Orioles a wing driver to complement the shooters around the perimeter.
Benard Omooria (SF, 6-3, Fr., Osseo) – Watch out for this young man down the road, NWSC. Benard is a lanky freshman with a nasty smooth jumper that was on display against one of the best perimeter defense teams in the state. He handled point guard duties off the bench so Cornell Richardson could work off the ball. Love his confidence, balance and fluidity. Will be a player to keep an eye on for years to come. Scored 11 with a couple treys and midrange floaters.
– Park Center and Champlin Park will face off in the Section 5AAAA finals on Friday, March 15 at Rogers High School at 7 p.m.