THE STARTING FIVE
1. NOREEN SETS SCORING RECORD: Kevin Noreen has been putting up monster numbers for Minnesota Transitions Charter School (MTS) for years. Earlier this week, he scored 39 points against Minneapolis Roosevelt to unofficially break the state scoring record of 3,428 career points, previously set by Cody Schilling of Ellsworth in 2008.
The 6-foot-10 forward has signed with Boston College and has been starting for MTS since seventh grade. He is averaging a state-best 35.2 points per game and been a big reason MTS has scored 100 or more points 71 times in Noreen’s career. Look for Noreen to expand on that record as he helps try to lead MTS to the 1A state tournament in March. MTS is 13-3 and ranked No. 2 in the state behind MACCRAY (13-0) in the state rankings. With nine games remaining, plus playoffs and a possible state tournament run, it is quite possible Noreen could approach and/or eclipse 4,000 career points if he remains healthy.
2. STILL UNDEFEATED: The number of undefeated teams across the state is dwindling. But there are still five teams who are perfect. Those teams are Eden Prairie (15-0) in 4A, St. Paul Johnson (15-0) in 3A, Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta (12-0) and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (15-0) in 2A and MACCRAY in 1A.
File photo by Clarence Thomas
Taylor Grant, Eden Prairie
3. CENTURY MARK FOR JOHNSON: St. Paul Johnson, the top-ranked team in 3A, reached the 100-point mark for the first time this season in a 109-73 win over Highland Park on Tuesday. Maxine Rosenbloom (17), Demitri Conwell (14), Donte Warlick (13), Prince Williams (12), Roosevelt Scott (10) and Estan Tyler (10) were the six players who scored in double figures for the Governors. What is interesting in those numbers is that Tyler is the only Johnson player to average double figures (15.1) on the season. Johnson leads the conference in scoring (79.2 ppg) and defense (51.6 ppg).
4. WEST BEATS EAST IN RIVALRY GAME: It’s always a big game when Mankato West plays Mankato East in any sport. Tuesday, West defeated East 56-36 in a boys basketball game between the two rivals. Preston Brunz scored 14 points to help West improve to 8-4 overall (7-2 in the Big Nine Conference). Brunz also added three assists. Des Spann scored 13 points and had six rebounds, and Nick Kaus scored seven points and had six rebounds for the winners. Sam Onsomu led East with 13 points and 8 rebounds.
5. ST. PETER SCORING MACHINE: St. Peter has won five straight games since Jan. 5. This streak came after the Saints lost four of their previous five games. A big contributor in the winning streak is Brodie Raymond. Raymond has scored 26, 34, 32, 28 and 34 points during that win streak. Raymond, a senior guard, has also made 25 3-point field goals during that streak. He has a season high of 42 points, which came in a loss to Maple River on Dec. 22.
THREE TO WATCH
Alonzo Traylor, Minneapolis South: Traylor is averaging 20.9 points per game for South and scored 20 in a 64-51 win over Minneapolis Roosevelt on Friday, and has scored over 20 points in eight straight games.
Jameson Parsons, Eagan: Parsons, a junior, raised some eyebrows when he scored 38 points in a loss to Chaska earlier this month. He’s continued his scoring pace since then, and is averaging 22.6 ppg. He scored 19 in a 57-46 win over Burnsville on Tuesday to help lead the Wildcats to a third straight win.
Brendon Foss, Hancock: Foss is averaging 24.3 points a game for the Hancock Owls and scored 35 points in a 81-36 win over E.C.H.O. Charter School in the Owls’ latest win.
TWO HOT TOO HANDLE
Ben Figini, Chisago Lakes: That name is familiar to Minnesota prep hoops fans. It was Josh Figini who cleaned house for Chisago Lakes the past few years. Now, it’s the 6-7 Ben who is getting it done on a regular basis. The junior had 56 points, 22 rebounds and five assists in two North Suburban Conference games last week.
Joe Coleman, Hopkins: Coleman, the nephew of former NBA player Ben Coleman and brother of former Minnesota Gopher Dan Coleman, scored 29 points in a 96-67 win over Robbinsdale Armstrong on Tuesday. A 6-3 junior, Coleman is being recruited by Minnesota.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
56 – The number of steals this season by Ricky Suggs of St. Bernard’s. At 4-1, St. Bernard’s is in a first-place tie in the Tri-Metro East with St. Anthony Village. Suggs is also averaging a team leading 17.3 points per game.
17.1 – The average points scored per game by Brett Ervin, the leading scorer for Eden Prairie, the top-ranked team in the state in 4A.
16.3 – The per-game scoring average of Suggs’ teammate, Jake Demarais, one of three Bulldogs averaging double figures. The other is Shane Taylor at 11.9 points per game.
2 – The number of players averaging double figures for Eden Prairie. The other is Grant Soderberg, who is averaging 12.1 points per game.