Final Results

17U bracket play
67-64 Triple Threat over MN Comets-North
87-80 Team Cannon over TNL
92-62 Redhawks over MN Sizzle
TC Elite big over MN Sharks

74-64 Redhawks over TC Elite
65-55 Triple Threat over Team Cannon

62-49 Triple Threat over Redhawks for 1st
84-59 TC Elite over Team Cannon in 3rd place game

16U
La Crosse YMCA over Old Skool 63-46
TNL over P-Town 70-45
MN Select their quarterfinal

TNL over La Crosse
MN Glory over MN Select 60-53

MN Glory over TNL 73-51 for the 16U title (I'll have a premium story on this game later today)
La Crosse over MN Select 72-49 for 3rd place

15U
MN Select over Triple Threat 46-44 in 1 semifinal

TC Elite Black over MN Select 42-37 for the 15U Title
MN Fury 61-60 over Triple Threat for 3rd

Kevin Alsteens
MinnesotaPreps Staff Analyst
Author of Twin Cities Boys Hoops
tchoopsczar@comcast.net

Triple Threat over Redhawks in Final

Alsteens & Much
MinnesotaPreps.com Basketball Analyst

The 17U Triple Threat squad defeated the 17U Redhawks to take home the championship trophy at the AAU Super Regional held this past weekend in Champlin Minnesota. The event was sponsored by TNL and they did a very nice job. It was fun having all the championship games played on the main floor.

Kevin Alsteen joined Michael J. Much for halftime and postgame audio which can be accessed via the links listed below. Check out the game in pictures and visit the MinnesotaPreps resource page for lots of details on both these excellent teams.

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Click here for halftime audio with Kevin Alsteens and Michael J. Much

Click here for postgame audio with Kevin and Michael.

Visit our www.mnphotonet.net for hundreds of high resolution game pictures for home delivery.

Visit our Resource Page for team photographs, rosters, schedules and more.

TRIPLE THREAT TOOK ON THE MINNEAPOLIS REDHAWKS FOR THE 17U CHAMPIONSHIP

In the 17u championship game it was Triple Threat going up against the Red Hawks. In the first half both of these teams played very aggressively.

The Minneapolis Red Hawks played a zone defense in the first half. Both of these teams went up and down the court.

Triple Threat was able to find the basket early and often in the first half.

At the half the score was Triple Threat 29 and Minneapolis Red Hawks 16.

The Minneapolis Red Hawks came out fired up and ready to go in second half. They played aggressive defense.
Triple Treat was able to go on a run in the third quarter. At the end of the third quarter the score was Triple Threat 43 and Minneapolis Red Hawks 33.

As the fourth quarter got underway each of these teams turned on the pursuer. They each played half court man to man defense.

The Minneapolis Red Hawks went on a run in the middle of the fourth quarter. They were able to make consecutive shots and Triple Threat couldn’t respond.

It was a game that went back and forth but in the end Triple Threat was able to come away with the 62-49 victory.

15U CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

In the 15u championship it was Minnesota Select going up against TC Elite. Minnesota Select started out in a full court man to man defense. Both of these teams traded baskets in the first quarter. When Select made a shot the next time down the court TC Elite came down and made a shot.

Each of these teams went at each other in the first quarter. Neither team was able to go on a run. They did a good job of figuring out what the other team was doing and they matched it on their end.

At the end of the first quarter the score was Minnesota Select 11 and TC Elite 12.

In the second quarter the pace of the game was quite slow. Each of the clubs walked the ball up the clock wasting as much time as they wanted to. Select just couldn’t find the man inside. There coach wanted to have them make 5 passes before they even looked for the shot.

The second quarter neither team was able to go on a run. They both played aggressive defense. There were not many shots that were either put up or taken.

At half time the score was Select 17 and TC Elite 19.

As the second half got underway both of these teams seemed to be quicker getting up and down the court. They seemed to really play more aggressively.

Andre Hines for Select made some nice no look passes to his teammates. On the defensive end he was able to put pressure.

Through the first three quarters neither team was able to go on a run. It was a defensive battle from the beginning.
At the end of the third quarter the score was Select 25 and TC Elite 27.

TC Elite played a fair amount zone defense throughout the fourth quarter. This game came down to the end. In the end TC Elite came away with the 42-37 victory.

AAU Super Regional Action - Express over Elite

It's AAU Super Regional time again and that meant it was time for a trip to Champlin Park to catch some action in this TNL sponsored event. In Saturday afternoon play at the 17U level TNL Express faced and defeated the TC Elite squad in overtime.

This was a very close game with the exception of a couple of solid runs by the TNL squad. Elite quickly closed the gaps made by those runs and took the game into overtime.

It was pretty much all the Express in overtime. They put up some points and then defended the ball very well. TNL defeated the Elite at the Spring Jam tournament at the Colin Powell Center earlier this season and these teams really went after each other on Saturday.

Check out the game in pictures and visit the Preps resource page for rosters and players numbers.

Click here to load the photo gallery.

Visit our www.mnphotonet.net for hundreds of high resolution game pictures for home delivery.

Visit our Resource Page for team photographs, rosters, schedules and more.

TNL GETS UPSET BY TEAM CANNON IN THE 17U DIVISION

In their first game of the day Sunday TNL took on Team Cannon. TNL got out of the gates fast as they built a 6-0 lead with just over a minute gone in the first quarter. For TNL Devon Knope came out on fire he was able to hit and make most of the shots that he put up in the first quarter as he lead the early scoring run in the first quarter.

Team Cannon was able to find there shot in the first quarter as they begun hitting shots from everywhere on the court. But that didn’t discourage TNL they kept playing defense. TNL did a good job of their substitution pattern as they usually rotated four to all five players at one time.

At the end of the first period the score was TNL 24 and Team Cannon 16.

In the second quarter TNL played an aggressive half court man to man defense. They were getting in the faces of the Team Cannon players and making it difficult for them to make clear passes by waving their hands and getting out and contesting shots.

At half time the score was TNL 43 and Team Canon 38.

Both teams came out and played with a lot of poise in the third quarter as neither team was going to give up. TNL looked to burn time off the clock as they were able to pass the ball around the three point arch for some time. Team Cannon had to put defenders out on the three point line to guard them.

Team Cannon was able to go on a scoring run in the third quarter and they took the lead 47-45 with just under 5:00 left to go in the third quarter. TNL didn’t panic as they stayed calm when Team Cannon when on a run in the third quarter. TNL put on the full court press late in the third quarter.

At the end of the third quarter the score was TNL 56 and Team Cannon 57.

Devon Knope came up with some nice jump shots that went in. He also made some nice running lay ups that went in.

Team Cannon was able to go on a run and knock down jump shots in the fourth quarter. TNL was not able to get there shots to fall for most of the game.

Late in the fourth quarter TNL did get hot and made some shots to go in. they got within 3 68-71 with 2:58 left to go in regulation. TNL went on a run after the time out and they got within 1 point with 2:07 left to go. Devon Knope shot was falling for him as TNL looked to get him the ball on the offensive end.

There was a lot of intensity in this game showed by both teams. Both of the coaches were up coaching there kids and yelling positive instructions. And the players responded. The score was tied at 73 with 8.1 seconds to go in regulation and TNL called a time out to set up a final play.

The score was tied at 73 at the end of regulation. TNL kept the full court press on the whole over time period. Both teams played very aggressively they both applied pressure and guarded very well.

In a very hard fought game Team Cannon was able to upset TNL by the final of 87-80.

2009 TNL Super Regional Championships

We start championship day at the 2009 TNL Super Regional with a pair of 16U quarterfinals. La Crosse YMCA vs Old Skool is my featured game. Evan Pederson draws 3 fouls on RJ Dean (Rogers) in the 1st quarter while putting up 9 points, 3 rebounds and 4 steals to dominate the point guard matchup. 20-7 La Crosse after 1 quarter. 32-20 La Crosse at the half as Pederson ends the half with 16 and 4 with the 4 steals. In the 3rd quarter, he has a string of an assist, a 3 and then a steal for 2 to put the game away. 44-25 La Crosse with 5:51 left in the 3rd. The rest is cruise control for a 63-46 victory. Pederson finishes with 23 points , 4 boards and 5 steals. TNL blows out P-Town 70-45 in the other quarterfinal.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

Glory Captures 16 Super Regional Title

by Kevin Alsteens

The Minnesota Glory 16U team opened the season at the Comets Shootout in early April. Since then, they've been off the radar with a quiet schedule. This past weekend, the Glory stepped up their schedule by participating the AAU Super Regional at Champlin Park. The Glory's roster comes from near and far with players from Bemidji, Mankato, and Winona just to name a few places. The roster includes 2 freshman and an eighth-grader playing up.

Click here to read the entire article.

Championship Game Times

15 U 4:00PM
17U 5:15 PM
16U 6:30PM

17U Bracket Play

10:10AM
(A1) TNL Express
vs
(B4) MN Team Cannon

10:10AM
(A3) MN Comets
vs
(B2) MN Triple Threat

10:10AM
(A2) MN TC Elite Gym Rats
vs
(B3) MN Sharks

10:10AM
(A4) MN Sizzle
vs
(B1) MN Redhawks

16U Bracket Play

9:00AM
(1B) LaCrosse Warriors
vs
(4A) MN Old Skool

9AM
(2A) TNL Express
vs
(B3) P Town

11:20AM
(B2) Central Flyers
vs
(A3) MN Select (1A MN Glory plays the winner at 1:40PM)

15U Bracket Play

9AM
(B1)TC Elite Black
vs
(A4) TNL Express

9AM
(3B)MN Select
vs
(2A) MN TC Elite Green

11:20AM
(2B) MN Fury
vs
(3A) TC Elite White (A1 Triple Threat plays the winner at 1:40PM)

Day 1 of 2009 TNL Super Regional

Thoughts from pool play at the 2009 TNL AAU Super Regional. Is there a darker gym around than Champlin Park's? Love the Papa John's pizza but Sammy Perellas just down the street was something I wish would have had a chance at. Gotta love AAU rules so that means we get to watch this concept of 8 minute quarters.

Session 1
We open with a pair of pool B games. The Mpls Redhawks vs Team Cannon (Cannon Falls/Hiawatha Valley League kids) in my featured game. A nice 1st quarter by Team Cannon gives them a 20-17 lead at the 1st break. Parker Hines hot in the 2nd quarter as he starts with 5 straight and then back to back triples around a tough Cory Booker 3 point play. Hines with 14 points in the half for a 38-29 Redhawks lead at the half. The lead goes to 14 in the 2nd half before a Team Cannon comeback vs a Redhawks 1-3-1. 9 in a row for Team Cannon. Interesting that a bigger guard was running the back line with small guard Austin Brown on a wing. 50-40 Redhawks after 3 quarters and a 7-0 run early in the 4th puts the game on ice and they win 73-51. No Taylor Hanson in that game for the Redhawks. John Rowland playing his last game of the day before prom.

Triple Threat-Rhodes blows out the MN Sharks 76-49. The Sharks without Peter Sorenson in that game. TC Elite White 15s defeated TNL's 15s 58-39. Triple Threat's 15s in a nailbiter defeat TC Elite Green 56-55 in overtime. The teams traded 3s late in regulation and then traded baskets in the last minute of overtime before a late Triple Threat FT won it.

Session 2
To pool A of the 17s. TC Elite against the large unknown that is the MN Sizzle (where's my steak?, I'm thinking ribeye, when's lunch around here?). Forever in Czar history, Adrian Wackett makes his season debut coming out of a bad wheel. 18-12 Sizzle after 1 quarter. But Alex Koch goes off in the 2nd quarter with at least 4 triples. TC Elite gets 32 of the first 39 in the 2nd quarter before a Sizzle 3 scorches the net right before the half. 44-28 TC Elite at the half. They go on to a 96-58 win.

TNL gets out to a 13-2 start vs MN Comets-North but sleepwalk most of the rest of the way. The lead is 7 at the half, 14 after 3 and TNL wins 81-71. MN Glory 16s def TNL 16s 81-75. MN Select 16s held on vs Old Skool 62-61

Session 3
Kingdom Law applies here as the La Crosse YMCA 16s are in town. A great chance for The Czar to see the future of the Old Kingdom. They're taking on the Central Flyers. LAX ends the 1st quarter with a big run for a 20-6 lead and this one looks like a total blowout. Central comes out with a 1-2-2 zone in the 2nd quarter and LAX has no good answer for it. 31-27 LAX at the half and that's thanks to 3 of 4 technical free throws. Central stays around but can't get the lead in the 3rd. A banked 3 in a 1 on 4 situation for the Flyers cuts the La Crosse lead to 41-40 as we go to the 4th quarter. A pair of turnover lead to layups and the Central Flyers are back on top 46-44 with 5:20 left. Evan Pederson puts La Crosse back on top and they won't relinquish the lead. Central down 5 with 1:20 left and they miss a front end of the bonus. 2 more technical mean 3 more Pederson free throws. 61-49 La Crosse wins. Pederson with 19 points and a mitt full of steals with quick hands.

Triple Threat cut a 3rd quarter Redhawks lead to 5 before a late 12 point run pushed the lead back to double digits. Redhawks win 74-60. Peter Sorenson back for the Sharks who defeated Team Cannon 94-81. TC Elite Black 15s defeat MN Fury 15s 66-57.

Session 4
TNL taking on the MN Sizzle over my lunch break. This one went to the broiler quickly. 33-10 TNL after 1 quarter. TNL wins 103-45. David Rademacher with 7 in a row for TC Elite in their game vs Comets-North, downstairs I go to see the score. Comets North leads 49-42 with 3:14 left in the 3rd when I officially pick this game up. TC Elite goes 11-2 to end the quarter for a 2 point lead and they extends that into the 4th. Derek Jahner's 2 FTs conclude a 16-2 TC Elite run over 4:42 (across the 3rd and 4th quarter break). 58-51 TC Elite leads. The Comets then go on a 9-0 run of their own in the next 1:25 to regain the lead. 60-58 with 4:40 to play. Alex Koch with a triple at the 4 minute mark to break the run. Aaron McCrossan nails a dagger triple with 1:26 left. That gives TC Elite a 5 point lead and they win 74-65.

Session 5
Redhawks vs Sharks in this session with the Redhawks able to clinch with a win. But they have only 6 guys. That quickly goes to 5 as Cory Booker swats a shot about 5 rows up and then proceeds to roll his ankle on the landing and he won't return. 40-34 Redhawks at the break. Sharks come out with 5 in a row to start the half to cut the lead to 1. But Taylor Hanson is in the building and the Sharks have no answer for him inside. An 11-0 run goes thru him and he caps it off with a triple. The Sharks chip away at the lead as the Redhawks look gassed and go zone. A pair of layups against porous defense cut the lead to 7 with 5:10 left. A pair of Sharks triples in the last minute make it interesting, but Parker Hines makes 5 of 6 FTs to seal the deal. 80-74 Redhawks win thanks to Hanson's big performance.

Session 6
To the game of the day with TC Elite taking on TNL for the pool A title in 17U. Alex Koch gone for prom unfortunately. Derek Wolhowe, caution flammable. He gets the 1st 10 points for TC Elite. That gets them a 23-17 lead after the 1st quarter. TNL right back as a pair of Devon Knopke layups put them on top 32-31 with 3:25 left in the 1st half. TC Elite up 37-35 at the half. Jay Sewer with 13 points as he had the range from outside (3 triples).

TNL wins the 3rd quarter 20-9 and they take a 55-46 lead to the stretch run. Kyle Zimmerman with a pair of hoops inside for a 61-56 TNL lead with 2:45 left. Undersized vertically and strength wise, the left is still tough and productive inside. Josh Pratt for 3 with 56.4 left to cut the TNL lead to 62-59. Knopke then misses a pair of FTs and TC Elite converts with 38.9 left. 62-61 TNL. TNL inbounds and moves the ball and moves the ball and the clock never moves. Zimmerman with 1 of 2 FTs and Stephen Asp continues his big 2nd half with a bucket to tie the game with 30 seconds left. TNL has 2 chances late and we'll go to OT tied at 63.

Zimmerman with a nice spin and difficult finish for 2 inside and then a Knopke 3. TC Elite gets 2 stops but they miss 2 front ends. Zimmerman makes them pay with a hoop at 1:40 and TNL goes on to win 78-71. For TNL, Jay Sewer with 23 points and Kyle Zimmerman with 15 on my unofficial sheet. Stephen Asp with 22 for TC Elite. I don't remember if it was this game or another TC Elite game but they had Adrian Wackett on the wing of a 1-3-1 zone D instead of on top or in the back. Strange to see that twice in the same day.

Session 7
17s done for the day but we still have a pair of session left with 16s. MN Glory blow out MN Select 69-32. Some interesting pieces for the Glory 16s with Ben Figini (Josh's younger brother) and 8th grader Brody Egeberg (5'6 lefty guard who can shoot it). TNL 16s defeat Old Skool 74-60.

Session 8
MN Select 15s def MN Fury 15s 62-59 in a close game throughout. Central Flyers defeat P-Town 70-48 in a game where there were a handful of technicals.

Sunday Games
17U Quarters
TNL vs Team Cannon
Triple Threat vs Comets North
TC Elite vs MN Sharks
Mpls Redhawks vs MN Sizzle

16U Quarters
La Crosse YMCA vs Old Skool
TNL vs P-Town
Central Flyers vs MN Select (winner to play MN Glory in semis)

15U Quarters
TC Elite Black vs TNL
TC Elite Green vs MN Fury
MN Select vs TC Elite White (winner to play Triple Threat in semis)

TNL TOOK ON TC ELITE

TNL Took on TC Elite coming into this contest both of these teams is undefeated. This game got off to a frantic pace.

TC Elite got out to a quick start TNL didn’t panic. TNL started out slow but then they picked it up mid way through the first quarter. It took TNL a little bit to get going but they were able to find their shots in the first quarter.

TNL started playing a zone defense. They didn’t want TC Elite to get the ball up the court. They applied pressure in the full court. Jauson Sewer has able knock down shot in the early goings.

TC Elite was able to take it to TNL a little bit in the first quarter. Both of these teams were matched up pretty evenly in this contest.

At the end of the first quarter the score was TNL 17 and TC Elite 23.

The second quarter TNL was not able find the basket in the early goings of the quarter. TC Elite was able to go on a little bit of a run. TNL didn’t panic they kept on playing hard.

TNL was able to get into a running game with the TC Elite team. TNL was able to score some quick baskets. TNL caught up to TC Elite with just over 3:00 left in regulation.

The first half went up and down the court. TC Elite came out with a quick lead and that didn’t seem to faze TNL. TNL made a comeback late in the first half. The score was tied and there were several lead changes throughout the later part of the second half.

At half time the score was TNL 35 and TC Elite 37.

Both of these teams played with a lot of emotion in the game. Both of these teams kept the pressure on each other in the second half.

Both of these teams went back and forth throughout the game. Jasper Duberry put on a scoring show late in the third quarter as he was able to come up with some nice shots.

Both of these teams have gone after each other the whole game. Neither team gave up. This game has been nip and tuck throughout the game.

Spenser Cummings has done a nice job in this game. He has really done a good job so far in this game of getting his team into this game. He has made smart decisions.

This game has come down to the wire. Just was you though that one team was able to go on a run here come the other and they stop them dead in there tracks.

At the end of regulation the score was tied at 63 apiece. Both of these teams kept going at each dunning the over time session.

TNL was able come down and make shots in the overtime period. They were able to come away with the victory. The final of the game was TNL 78-71.

I was joined at this tournament by the Czar of Twin Cities Boy's Hoops. You can read about his thoughts of the Super Regional here.