Last week I saw three boys’ basketball contests. Two went into overtime, and two teams served notice that the Minneapolis and St. Paul City Conference titles won’t be that easy to reclaim by the defending champs.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Forward WAYLAND JOHNSON II sent the game into overtime with a freethrow with two seconds left inregulation, while finishing with 30 points in a 66-65 loss to Eden Prairie.
GRANT SHAEFFER and ANDRE WALLACE had 16 and 15 respectively for Eden Prairie. QUASHINGM SMITH-PUGH added 10 points for Johnson.
Friday, January 13, 2012
CHUCKIE SMITH was there when his teammates needed him most. The senior guard nailed a three-pointer with 23 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, added two freethrows in the extra period, and proved to be a steady influence while helping Minneapolis Washburn, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, to a hard-fought 72-69 City Conference victory over Henry.
Henry jumped out to a 23-8 lead before Washburn stormed back to make it a two-point deficit (32-30) by halftime.
Washburn, the defending Minneapolis City champs, led 55-51 at the 4:35 mark before the game started progressing and became one to remember.
Senior forward TIM GILL’s dunk and lay-up, followed by a couple of three-pointers by DARIUS HILL and SEAN ATKINS, put the Patriots up 61-55 with 1:37 remaining. Smith’s three-point play and DWIGHT ANDERSON’s freethrow made 61-59 at the 1:05 mark.
Gill and Washburn’s JERRY PRATT exchanged baskets during a 27-second span to make it 63-61. Gill added another freethrow to put Henry up by 64-61, setting up Smith for his three-pointer that sent the game into OT.
Gill led Henry with 20 points, Hill added 19, and Atkins chipped in 17. Washburn got 15 points each from Anderson and Smith while sophomore DEJON DAVIS contributed 11.
Henry point guard WUNELL BEARD and Washburn shooting guard JOSEPH DOBY each chipped in ninepoints respectively.
Washburn coach REGGIE PERKINS said he warned his team that Henry would be prepared for battle: “I told my players that they [Henry] will be ready to play us.” How right he was.
Friday, January 13, 2012
The guard tandem of TY’SHAUN WILLIAMS and DION BRADLEY scored 28 and 26 points respectively as
St. Paul Highland Park, who led 45-39 at halftime, gave defending City Conference champs Johnson all they could handle before falling 86-82.
Wayland Johnson II led the Governors with 22 points, BAJUAN ADAMS had 20, Smith-Pugh 17, and DE’VONTA DURR chipped in 10.
Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdonald@spokesman-recorder.com.
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