By Matt Krumrie
MaxPreps.com
THE STARTING FIVE
1. Hopkins No Longer Undefeated: The top team in the state suffered its first loss of the season in the last week. Hopkins, ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps.com poll, and No.1 in every other state poll, was upset by rival and No. 2-ranked Minnetonka, 93-79. Minnetonka’s Anthony Tucker, who is headed to Iowa next year, led the way with 35 points in the win. C.J. Erickson, Tyler Schilling and Sedrick McBounds all chipped in 13 for the Skippers in the win. Trent Lockett led Hopkins with 21 points, and Raymond Cowels added 17 in the loss. With the win Minnetonka and Hopkins are now even in the conference loss column, with both teams splitting so far this season. Minnetonka is 21-3 on the season, 7-1 in the Classic Lake. Hopkins is 24-1 overall, 6-1 in league play.
2. Cretin Cruising: Cretin-Derham Hall is well known for its success on the football field. This fall, the Raiders made it to the Prep Bowl before losing to Eden Prairie. Many of those key players are finding success this winter on the basketball court. The Raiders are currently 21-3 overall, and in first place at 14-2 in the Suburban East Conference, one win ahead of Stillwater (13-2). Michael Floyd, the do-everything football player who is headed to Notre Dame next year, leads the Conference in scoring at 24.4 points per game. John Nance, the quarterback on that football team, a Minnesota signee, averages 14.4 points per game, and mammoth, 6-foot-7 center Seantrel Henderson, a sophomore lineman on the football team that is expected to be among the most sought-after senior football players, averages 11.6 points per game. The Raiders have climbed to No. 7 in the MaxPreps.com rankings.
3. Scare For Monticello Player: Adam Thielen of Monticello left North Memorial hospital in Robbinsdale this week after collapsing during a game against Rogers Saturday. Thielen, a senior on the Magic basketball team, started the game, came out five minutes into the game, and collapsed shortly after. A portable defibrillator was used twice to restart his heart prior to reaching the hospital. While at the hospital Thielen also went into a coma. The game was cancelled after the incident. There is no timetable or reports on if or when Thielen will return to action for Monticello, who is 13-10 this season. They did finish the game against Rogers March 5, and won 69-58.
4. White Dismissed at DeLaSalle: Royce White, the DeLaSalle 6-7 junior forward who is considered one of the best juniors in the state and country, is no longer with the DeLaSalle basketball team, according to various media reports this week. White averaged a team-leading 21.2 points per game prior to being dismissed from the team. White had been suspended from the team earlier this season but returned. Where he will go or his future with DeLaSalle has not been announced. Jeremy Randle (10.3 points per game), Tyler Heaps (10 ppg) and A.J. Barker (8.8 ppg) will be among the players looked to pick up the load with White out of the lineup.
5. Felt Takes Scoring Lead: Mike Felt, a junior guard for Redwood Valley, replaced Kevin Noreen of Minnesota Transitions as the leading scorer in the state this week. Felt is averaging 30.3 points per game, Noreen 29.7. Felt also averages six rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the Cardinals.
Three to Watch
1. Jesse DeFrang, Fosston: DeFrang, a 5-11 senior guard, is averaging 23.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for the Greyhounds. He has scored 23, 33 and 28 points in his last three games.
2. Charles Vue, Hmong Academy: Vue is averaging a team best 22.3 points per game for Hmong Academy. He had a season high 47 points Jan. 8 against Community of Peace Academy and 39 points against Shattuck St. Mary’s Jan. 1.
3. Minnetonka Christian Academy: At 18-4 overall and 13-1 in the Eastern Minnesota Conference, coach Joe Perrone’s team is in first place and looking to wrap up the conference title as the regular season end nears.
Two Hot Too Handle
1. Jake Lindstrom, Park (Cottage Grove): The Wolfpack star is the most prolific scorer at the east metro school since former University of Minnesota star and Los Angeles Lakers first round pick Sam Jacobson dominated the local high school scene. Lindstrom, second behind Cretin’s Floyd in scoring in the SEC with 23.6 points per game, outscored Floyd in their head-to-head match last week. Lindstrom scored 29 points, and Floyd had 20, but Cretin came away with the 83-70 win. In the three games prior to that Lindstrom scored 28, 32 and 25 points. Lindstrom is currently 13th in the state in points scored.
2. Minneapolis Henry: The Patriots have won eight in a row since a 87-81 loss to South Feb. 4, and are in first place in the Minneapolis City Conference at 10-2 (16-9 overall). They avenged that loss to South Thursday, defeating their rivals 93-68. Henry has scored 93 points in each of its past two games. Mandela Jackson leads the team with 20.7 points per game, while Jordan Hughes (19.2), Jerry Sweezy (16.1), and August Fleming (10.0) all provide punch for Jerry Williams Jr.’s team. In that win over South Hughes had 26 points to lead the way.
Inside The Numbers
84: Points Elk River gave up to Champlin Park in a 84-55 Northwest Suburban Conference loss earlier this season.
56: Points Elk River gave up to Champlin Park this week. The Elks avenged that lopsided loss earlier this year to pull out a 58-56 win over the Rebels. Jack Gavin led a balanced attack with 14 points, while Ben Ford had 13, Blaise Davis 12, and Eric Voltzke 11 in the win.
19: Points per game by senior Brett Bjornrud of Babbitt-Embarrass, tops in the St. Louis County Conference standings according to MaxPreps.com stats.
5: Teams in the Classic Lake Conference.
3: Teams from the Classic Lake conference in the top four MaxPreps.com state rankings. Included is top-ranked Hopkins, No. 2 Minnetonka and No. 4 Wayzata.
