By Matt Krumrie
MaxPreps.com
STARTING FIVE
1. Defensive Standouts Honored: Who are the best defensive players in the Twin Cities? A total of 50 coaches voted in a St. Paul Pioneer Press poll and the results are in: C.J. Erickson of Minnetonka, a 6-foot-6 senior who has signed with Evansville, is the best of the best. Heading into this week’s games, Erickson has blocked 51 shots in 18 games for 16-2 Skippers. He averaged just over 11 points, almost seven rebounds per game and had 35 steals. Joining Erickson on the Pioneer Press All-Defensive first team were Sam Ryan of Tartan, Ethan Thomforde of Eastview, Tarrell Clark of Burnsville and Raymond Cowles of Hopkins.
2. Get There Early: The showdown everyone has been waiting for is Friday. That’s when Erickson and his Skippers, ranked No. 3 in the state in the MaxPreps.com poll, host top-ranked Hopkins in a game that is expected to be a sellout. Doors open at 4 p.m. for the 7:15 p.m. tip. Hopkins enters the game averaging a Twin Cities-best 86 points per game and giving up 61.6 per game. Minnetonka averages 83.4 points per game and gives up 64.8 per game. Anthony Tucker of Minnetonka is the high scorer for both teams, averaging 20.2 points per game.
3. Buffalo, St. Michael-Albertville Battle in Mississippi 8: Buffalo, the 2007 Class 4A state champs, and St. Michael-Albertville are in a tight race for the conference title heading down the home stretch. The two teams met Tuesday, with St. Michael Albertville emerging with a 51-41 win. That win helped STMA improve to 8-1 in conference action and 17-2 overall. The loss dropped the Bison to 9-1 in conference action and 13-6 overall. Kevin Nelson had 17 points and five rebounds to lead STMA. Dee Broadnax had 11 points to lead Buffalo.
4. Milestone For Rockford’s Haugen: Nick Haugen scored 21 points to help No. 2 (AA) ranked Rockford beat Holdingford 87-42 Friday. In that game Haugen went over 2,000 points for his career. He is Rockford’s all-time leading scorer.
5. Minnesota vs. North Dakota: Minnesota’s Moorhead High School emerged victorious in a battle against border rival Fargo South of North Dakota Tuesday, winning a hard-fought game 65-57. Jordan Driscoll scored 25 points for Moorhead to lead all scorers
THREE TO WATCH
1. Charlie Kern, Belle Plaine: Heading into action Tuesday, Kern was one of four players in the state with over 100 assists this season. Kern had 109 assists in 19 games, an average of 5.7, fifth best in the state.
2. Marshall Bjorklund, Sibley East: Bjorklund is averaging 17.4 points per game and was among the leading rebounders in the state, averaging 11.3 per game for the 11-7 Wolverines.
3. Micah Koehn, Totino-Grace: Koehn scored the winning touchdown on the last play of the game to give the Eagles a miraculous 13-8 win over Mahtomedi in the Class 4A Prep Bowl last fall. But the senior gets it done on the hardwood too. He was recently named to the Pioneer Press all-defensive third-team.
TWO HOT TOO HANDLE
1. Jacob Thomas, Columbia Heights: Columbia Heights has been struggling in the North Suburban Conference race, but got a big 78-75 win over Chisago Lakes Tuesday. Thomas was a one-man highlight reel, scoring 42 points in the win. He was averaging 21.9 points per game heading into the win over CL. With the win, CH improved to 5-9 in the conference and 9-10 overall.
2. Aldvaron Green, St. Agnes: Green made seven three-pointers and finished with 27 points in St. Agnes’ 62-55 win over Mounds Park Academy. Green leads the team with an average of 17.4 points per game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
50 – Minnesota players to have scored over 2,000 points in their high school career now that Rockford’s Haugen has accomplished the feat.
18 – Points Burnsville’s Tarrell Clark scored in a 76-69 win over Lakeville South Tuesday.
17 – Wins for St. Bernard’s, which is currently in first place in the Tri-Metro East witha 9-0 record and 17-1 overall.
8 – Free throws Moorhead’s Jordan Driscoll attempted in the Spuds’ win over Fargo South Tuesday. He made all eight.
5 – St. Agnes players who scored in double figures for St. Agnes in a 71-61 win over St. Croix Lutheran Friday. Aldvaron Green led the way with 14 points, Dalton Sturdivant had 13, Leevon Perry 11 and Ray Goines and Joe Costanzo 10.
4 – Burnsville players who scored in double figures for the Blaze in that win over South Tuesday. In addition to Clark’s 18, Devon Knopke and Alex Wheeler scored 14, and Patrick Rogers added 12.
