Hopkins still unbeaten; Mayo and Como in contention; Utke getting it done.
By Matt Krumrie
MaxPreps.com
Starting Five
1. New London-Spicer: At 15-1, coach Matt Cordes’ Wildcats have entered the MaxPreps.com top 10 rankings, coming in at No. 10. The Wildcats average 84.4 points per game, and have scored over 100 points in a game twice. The Wildcats are in first place in the West Central North Conference, and are led by a number of players, including Chris Tengwall, Wade Powers, Erik Tengwall, Jackson Wright, Jay Moten, Skylar Wachter, and Jordan Radel. The Wildcats are ranked No. 6 in Class 2A in the recent Minnesota Basketball News poll.
2. Hopkins Remains Unbeaten: Everybody is gunning for them, but no one has knocked them off yet. The Hopkins Royals remain ranked No. 1 in the state by MaxPreps.com, and in the state Associated Press 4A Poll. The Royals have defeated highly-touted Cretin-Derham Hall (86-73), Classic Suburban Conference power Richfield (88-75) and Minneapolis Conference power Henry (92-70). Ken Novak’s squad has four players averaging double figures, including Raymond Cowles (15.9), Trent Lockett(15.1), Mike Broghammer (12.4) and Moses Sundufu (10.5).
3. Rochester Mayo: The Spartans are ranked No. 6 in the state in 4A, Minnesota’s big school class. Head coach Shaun Lang’s squad is 11-3 overall and 6-1 in the Big 9 Conference. They’ve won eight straight games and are led by Lucas Kuipers (19 points per game) and Jordan Hicks (18.8).
4. Como Park in Contention: St. Paul Como Park had a successful football season that resulted in a City Conference championship. Many of those same student-athletes are now getting it done on the hardwood. The Cougars are 10-5 overall and 3-1 in the St. Paul City Conference. Greg More leads the team with 18.8 points per game. Morse, many may recall, was the quarterback for the Cougar football team and among state passing leaders. At 6-foot-5, Morse is a versatile threat. Steven Baker is averaging 16.8 points per game and Lewis Johnson is chipping in 12.4 points per game.
5. Mercy Rule Coming?: The State High School League is discussing implementing a mercy rule in basketball. This is being fast-tracked in the wake of St. Paul Central’s 93-9 win over St. Paul Harding in a girls basketball game. If passed, the mercy rule would likely be implemented for the 2008-09 season. The NFHS rulebook allows for state adoption of a mercy rule
Three to Watch
1. Josh Hagan, Kingsland: Hagan leads the Knights with 25.2 points per game. The Knights are 9-5, and 4-2 in the Three Rivers South League.
2. Aaron Hulsebus, St. Croix Lutheran: Hulsebus scored 24 points in a 69-63 win over St. Paul Academy. He scored on a layup with 12 seconds left in the second half to send the game into overtime, where the Crusaders went on to win.
3. Alex Ewing, Simley: Ewing, the Spartans’ leading scorer, scored 22 points to lead the Spartans to 91 total points in a win over crosstown rival South Saint Paul.
Two Hot Too Handle
1. Scott Theisen, Champlin Park: Theisen, a 6-4 guard/forward, made of 20 of 29 three pointers in his last two games. He made nine three-pointers in the Rebels’ 83-49 win over Centennial Friday. On Tuesday he made 11 from beyond the arc as his team won again, 84-55 over Elk River.
2. Colin Utke, Irondale: Theisen was hot from three, while Utke did it all. The 6-6 senior had 45 points, 25 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in two games – he went for 28, 11 and 4 in an 83-82 win over Columbia Heights, and for 17, 14 and 6 in a 71-55 win over Fridley.
Inside the Numbers
44 – Combined points for Santano Rosario and Evan McMillan in St. Paul Academy’s loss to St. Croix Lutheran Tuesday. Rosario had 23 points, McMillan 21.
35 - McMillan scored a career high 35 and had 13 rebounds in a loss to Concordia Friday.
33 – Points Champlin’s Theisen scored in the win over Elk River Tuesday. All 33 points came on three-pointers, as he made 11 from downtown.
19.2 – Average points per game for Blooming Prairie’s Matt Zellmer, tops on the team.
6 – The number of wins for Stillwater in the competitive Suburban East Conference.
3 – The number of second left on the clock when Eden Prairie’s Ryan Grant scored on a layup to give the Eagles a 48-47 win over Bloomington Jefferson.
0 – The number of losses for Stillwater in conference action. Stillwater is in first place and 14-2 overall. Tuesday, the Ponies’ Joel Armstrong had 23 points in a 59-52 win over Woodbury.
