On an abnormally beautiful March evening when many people were busy watching the State Hockey Tournament or NCAA Championship games, the real magic occurred in a Twin Cities gym overlooking the Mississippi River. Our Spartans played in a thriller against the Minnehaha Redhawks. It was a quarterfinal matchup, the 2 seed vs the 7 seed and our boys were the latter. Earlier in the season the Spartans had been defeated by the Redhawks decisively. Head Coach Kevin McKenzie who is in his fourth year guiding the Spartans had never beaten Minnehaha. The pieces were in place for a David and Goliath story. You would not have been dumb to write the Spartans off as underdogs. But did they play like underdogs? Hell No.
The Spartans came out playing their way, with tough, stingy defense. At first the Redhawks jumped out to an eight point lead but the boys quickly regrouped and went on a beautiful run that gave them a 20-15 lead. Dalante "the Chosen One" Peyton had a few clutch transition baskets during this run and you could be forgiven for mistaking him for a man rather than an eighth grader. The referees were not calling much but the Spartans did not let this get to them and continued to run their offense with great patience. At the half our Spartans had the lead and all of sudden they were no longer as heavy underdogs as many believed them to be. They sent the Redhawks into the locker room with fear in their eyes.
It would have been just fine if the game ended right there but as we all know too well there are two halves in a game and the Spartans would have to play their hearts out for this one. The second half began much like the first with the Redhawks looking a little stronger but the Spartans were quick to calm down. Spencer Egly took over at one point and the offense ran beautifully. Under pressure, the Spartans continued to stay with the Redhawks and eventually jumped out to a small lead. Big man Connor Allen played an integral role with timely close range transition baskets. Pretty soon the Spartans had Minnehaha and their fans rattled. Our boys were patient and continued to draw fouls on the inside. The Chosen One hit a three from the corner and Josh "Slim Shady" Gray along with his fellow junior captain Spencer Egly hit their fair share of free throws to keep the Spartans up. And before you knew it there was less than a minute left and the Spartans had the game in hand by the slimmest of margins; 68-67 with 35 seconds left. The Spartans set up their potential final drive and Josh Gray was fouled. Slim Shady went 1-for-2 from the line and the Spartans went up 69-67. The Redhawks however acted like they had been there before and went the length of the court to hit a game tying bucket. 69-69. However they made one small mistake, they allowed the Spartans to have 6 seconds to finish the game off. As I told my co-Manager, Spencer Bemel, various times throghout this second half, I could not feel my face.
After a long pause in play the Spartans lined up to try to end the game once and for all. Sophomore Harrisen "the Truth" Egly inbounded the ball to the Chosen One who immediately passed it right back to him. Egly made a run down the left sideline. He got to the three point line and put up a marvelous shot which ended up into the net. There were just tenths of a second left, but it was not enough for the Redhawks. Game. Set. Match. Upset.
The Spartans knocked out the heavily favored Redhawks in the best game they played all season.
Things have a funny way of working themselves out. The Spartans had lost seven straight games in the second half of the season and it seemed that their season had ended long ago. But now they have won 5 of their last 6 and they seem like a new revitalized squad. Credit to the boys for believing and never giving up. They have had to overcome a lot of adversity this season and everything is starting to come together at the right moment. They are winning when it counts.
The Spartans will take on the Concordia Beacons in the Semifinals on Tuesday night at Holy Angels Academy. The two teams split their regular season series and the matchup will not disappoint. All of a sudden our Spartans are two games away from the State Tournament. Do you believe? Why Not.
As I spoke to Harrisen yesterday, after he hit the shot that was all too reminiscent of Josh Gray's Golden Goal during soccer season, he explained to me how he was laying in bed the other night thinking what it would be like to hit a game winning shot. Well, Harrisen, now you know.
Go Spartans!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Playoffs
After having won 3 of their last 4 games to finish the season, the Spartans took to the court in their first section playoff game Thursday night. The opponent was Minneapolis Edison, the team that the Spartans recorded their first win against back in December. McKenzie's Frenzy piled into Briggs Gymnasium for what could be the last home game of the season.
Josh "Slim Shady" Gray had the hot hand early and gave the Spartans a commanding lead. He continued to make threes and would finish the night with five three pointers drained, simply reassuring us that he deserved the All-Conference honors he received. Connor Allen was all over the place, racking up boards and swatting shots away. Senior Andrew "Superman" Bradley came off the bench and played some of his best minutes of the season. Bradley played an incredibly polished game with his classic junkyard dog mentality on the defensive end of the court. He ended up receiving "the chain" to commemorate a quality performance.
Harrisen "the Truth" Egly's scrappy play provided even more energy for the Spartans to hold their lead in the second half. Egly proved once again that he is a good all-around player who is also fundamentally sound as he finished the night with a Double-Double.
The Spartans never gave up the lead but the Edison team just would not go away. With about 4 minutes remaining they cut into the lead and made it a three point game. It was evident that somebody would need to grab the reins and take over for the Spartans. But just who would that be? For the Lakers its Kobe. For the Bulls it was Jordan. And for the Spartans it was Dalante "the Chosen One" Peyton. The Chosen One was cold-blooded as he scored 10 points in the final minutes of the game to help hand the Spartans a solid Win.
The Spartans advanced to the Quarterfinals of the Section Playoffs and will be taking on Minnehaha on the road this Saturday. The two teams have played each other once before this season with the Redhawks coming out on top. The game should be a fantastic one to watch with the Spartans looking to pull of a major upset.
Go Spartans!
Josh "Slim Shady" Gray had the hot hand early and gave the Spartans a commanding lead. He continued to make threes and would finish the night with five three pointers drained, simply reassuring us that he deserved the All-Conference honors he received. Connor Allen was all over the place, racking up boards and swatting shots away. Senior Andrew "Superman" Bradley came off the bench and played some of his best minutes of the season. Bradley played an incredibly polished game with his classic junkyard dog mentality on the defensive end of the court. He ended up receiving "the chain" to commemorate a quality performance.
Harrisen "the Truth" Egly's scrappy play provided even more energy for the Spartans to hold their lead in the second half. Egly proved once again that he is a good all-around player who is also fundamentally sound as he finished the night with a Double-Double.
The Spartans never gave up the lead but the Edison team just would not go away. With about 4 minutes remaining they cut into the lead and made it a three point game. It was evident that somebody would need to grab the reins and take over for the Spartans. But just who would that be? For the Lakers its Kobe. For the Bulls it was Jordan. And for the Spartans it was Dalante "the Chosen One" Peyton. The Chosen One was cold-blooded as he scored 10 points in the final minutes of the game to help hand the Spartans a solid Win.
The Spartans advanced to the Quarterfinals of the Section Playoffs and will be taking on Minnehaha on the road this Saturday. The two teams have played each other once before this season with the Redhawks coming out on top. The game should be a fantastic one to watch with the Spartans looking to pull of a major upset.
Go Spartans!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
En Fuego
On Tuesday night the Spartans won their third straight game in style. The Boys defeated the Concordia Beacons on the road, avenging a double overtime loss at home from earlier this month.
Last night the Spartans took the court in Roseville with a Win being the only thing on their minds. Connor Allen brought his usual energy on the court and continued to prove that he can be a true difference maker when he sets his mind to it. The Chosen One on the other hand may have shown emotion on the court for the first time in his young career after scoring an exceptional layup on which he also drew a foul. The game also saw the return of Joe "Kleezy" Klein who will be of great use in the upcoming playoffs.The Spartans came out strong but fell back a couple of times, however they never let the hole grow too big and with great patience they pulled away and won fairly comfortably.
Thanks to a late season charge the Spartans have finished their Tri-Metro East season 5-5. The Spartans have beaten a better team each time in this stretch (MPA, St. Agnes, Concordia) and are experiencing a fantastic growth spurt. The team is playing well together and has finally developed some confidence.
On Friday night they will take on Trinity at Historic Briggs Gymnasium. This will be senior night. The fans will see the six seniors play their final regular season game of their careers, it will be a memorable night to say the least. And then, next thing you know the playoff madness will begin. Go Spartans!
Last night the Spartans took the court in Roseville with a Win being the only thing on their minds. Connor Allen brought his usual energy on the court and continued to prove that he can be a true difference maker when he sets his mind to it. The Chosen One on the other hand may have shown emotion on the court for the first time in his young career after scoring an exceptional layup on which he also drew a foul. The game also saw the return of Joe "Kleezy" Klein who will be of great use in the upcoming playoffs.The Spartans came out strong but fell back a couple of times, however they never let the hole grow too big and with great patience they pulled away and won fairly comfortably.
Thanks to a late season charge the Spartans have finished their Tri-Metro East season 5-5. The Spartans have beaten a better team each time in this stretch (MPA, St. Agnes, Concordia) and are experiencing a fantastic growth spurt. The team is playing well together and has finally developed some confidence.
On Friday night they will take on Trinity at Historic Briggs Gymnasium. This will be senior night. The fans will see the six seniors play their final regular season game of their careers, it will be a memorable night to say the least. And then, next thing you know the playoff madness will begin. Go Spartans!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
MPA Part 2: Feels Good
On Tuesday night the Spartans played host to their rival, the Mounds Park Academy Panthers. The Spartans were desperate to get a win. The boys had benn on a seven game losing streak which was beginning to take an emotional toll. The last time that the Spartans had experienced a win was at home against Brooklyn Center at the end of January, it had been too long, way too long. But if seven games is too long it is hard to describe what the "hungry" Panthers were feeling, seeing as they have been in search of a conference win for the past couple of years.
Sophomore Connor Allen got his first start (at center) since December and the Spartans would be without Joe "Kleezy" Klein for the night. The Spartans came out strong looking for a season sweep of the Panthers. They started off hot, sharing the ball and simply out hustling the Panthers. By the time the Panthers gathered for their first timeout the score was already 10-2. Great intensity from Allen, the Egly brothers and Josh "Slim Shady" Gray proved to be just what the Spartans needed to jump ahead. By halftime the Panthers had been held to only 12 points.
At halftime more great action took place, however this time with the hockey players. The Spartans took home gold in the Hockey Bro shooting contest for the second straight year. Yet another historic achievement in the storied rivalry.
In the second half the Spartans did not let up and continued with the same intensity that had been missing for a stretch of the season. The fans were kept entertained with great displays of athleticism from the dynamic eighth grader Dalante Peyton. Late in the second half the man of the hour was Aidan "Eragon" Arnold who got his first varsity points from the charity strike. Congratulations to him on this milestone.
The game ended with a score of 64-35. The Spartans finally got a WIN under their belts. Maybe now things will begin to turn around for the better. The Spartans now have a great opportunity to gain momentum as the section playoffs are approaching quickly. Friday night at home the Spartans will look to complete a season sweep of the St. Agnes Aggies. Be there or be square. Go Spartans!
Sophomore Connor Allen got his first start (at center) since December and the Spartans would be without Joe "Kleezy" Klein for the night. The Spartans came out strong looking for a season sweep of the Panthers. They started off hot, sharing the ball and simply out hustling the Panthers. By the time the Panthers gathered for their first timeout the score was already 10-2. Great intensity from Allen, the Egly brothers and Josh "Slim Shady" Gray proved to be just what the Spartans needed to jump ahead. By halftime the Panthers had been held to only 12 points.
At halftime more great action took place, however this time with the hockey players. The Spartans took home gold in the Hockey Bro shooting contest for the second straight year. Yet another historic achievement in the storied rivalry.
In the second half the Spartans did not let up and continued with the same intensity that had been missing for a stretch of the season. The fans were kept entertained with great displays of athleticism from the dynamic eighth grader Dalante Peyton. Late in the second half the man of the hour was Aidan "Eragon" Arnold who got his first varsity points from the charity strike. Congratulations to him on this milestone.
The game ended with a score of 64-35. The Spartans finally got a WIN under their belts. Maybe now things will begin to turn around for the better. The Spartans now have a great opportunity to gain momentum as the section playoffs are approaching quickly. Friday night at home the Spartans will look to complete a season sweep of the St. Agnes Aggies. Be there or be square. Go Spartans!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
One Way
On Tuesday night the Spartans were looking to snap a three game losing streak. The Spartans found themselves back at Historic Briggs Gymnasium after what seemed like an eternity. The only thing standing between the boys and a win was the top ranked team in the Tri-Metro Conference, the Blake Bears. Led by 6'4 junior Kebu Johnson, the Bears had been beating everybody in their way, even upsetting highly favored DeLaSalle on their home court. The Spartans would not be scared however and they would rise to the occasion against one of their most hated rivals.
The game began immediately with a high pace which allowed the Spartans to jump to an early lead. Eighth grader Dalante "the Chosen One" Peyton could not be stopped.The beast within him was unleashed and he drained three after three after three to finish the first half tying his career high 19 points (he would finish the night with 27 points and 10 boards).The kid became a man before our very eyes and just a reminder, he's only in eighth grade and he owned one of the best teams in the league. However Peyton's phenomenal play was not the only news in the first half, as the Spartans were seen playing smarter basketball than they had been in a while, regardless of being short of key forward Connor Allen who is out with a knee injury. The guys shared the ball and did not force passes. They kept moving the ball until they found the open shot and this strategy worked perfectly. The high powered Blake offense however held their own in the shooting game and was able to go into the half with a lead.
The second half saw the Spartans slowly narrow the Bear lead with exceptional team play. The Spartans persevered and never gave up until they were able to find a way back in. The determination was there like never before and it payed off when junior captain Spencer "Spegly" Egly was able to work his way down the court and lay in the tying shot. 49-49. The team was fired up and continued to play with more passion and tenacity that they had since the first couple games of the season.
Unfortunately though the Bears proved to be mentally tough as well and closed it out. The Blake Bears won the game but as cheesy as it sounds the Spartans got a moral victory. They played hard and fought until the end. The team has been re-energized and is now on the right track playing the way they should have been for a while. The loss will sting but there is no shame. The next few weeks look bright for the Spartans who can only continue to improve.
The next stop for the boys will be against Brooklyn Center High school on Friday night. It smells like its time for a W....
GO SPARTANS!
The game began immediately with a high pace which allowed the Spartans to jump to an early lead. Eighth grader Dalante "the Chosen One" Peyton could not be stopped.The beast within him was unleashed and he drained three after three after three to finish the first half tying his career high 19 points (he would finish the night with 27 points and 10 boards).The kid became a man before our very eyes and just a reminder, he's only in eighth grade and he owned one of the best teams in the league. However Peyton's phenomenal play was not the only news in the first half, as the Spartans were seen playing smarter basketball than they had been in a while, regardless of being short of key forward Connor Allen who is out with a knee injury. The guys shared the ball and did not force passes. They kept moving the ball until they found the open shot and this strategy worked perfectly. The high powered Blake offense however held their own in the shooting game and was able to go into the half with a lead.
The second half saw the Spartans slowly narrow the Bear lead with exceptional team play. The Spartans persevered and never gave up until they were able to find a way back in. The determination was there like never before and it payed off when junior captain Spencer "Spegly" Egly was able to work his way down the court and lay in the tying shot. 49-49. The team was fired up and continued to play with more passion and tenacity that they had since the first couple games of the season.
Unfortunately though the Bears proved to be mentally tough as well and closed it out. The Blake Bears won the game but as cheesy as it sounds the Spartans got a moral victory. They played hard and fought until the end. The team has been re-energized and is now on the right track playing the way they should have been for a while. The loss will sting but there is no shame. The next few weeks look bright for the Spartans who can only continue to improve.
The next stop for the boys will be against Brooklyn Center High school on Friday night. It smells like its time for a W....
GO SPARTANS!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Blowout City
On Tuesday night the Spartans played host to Community of Peace Academy after having fallen to St. Croix Lutheran on Friday night. The loss was a disappointing one for the Spartans because their shots simply did not fall for and they were not able to capitalize on their many offensive chances. The team was looking to put that experience behind them and was hungry for a morale boosting victory.
With their mind set solely on the game, the Spartans were able to put on a dominating performance much like the one against "rivals" MPA. The Spartans were much more talented that the other squad but also played very smart. The teamwork provided the Spartans with an early boost that allowed for everyone on the team to receive some playing time.
Dalante "the Chosen One" Peyton showed once again that he is not your average eighth grader. He has gotten more and more comfortable as the young season has gone on and is evolving into being an all around player. The Chosen One provided his teammates with open looks, took a few of his own money-balls and rebounded the air out of the ball last night. With hard work he is growing right before our very eyes and gives this program and the SPA community as a whole something to look forward to.
The game saw good contributions again from the three captains and CJ "the Panda" Whitaker came off the bench to provide sparks of exceptional counter attacks for the Spartans. The night was a also a very memorable one for junior captain Spencer "Spegly" Egly who while going up for a drive in the second half hit the deck hard and had to be taken away from the game. He mislead the crowd into believing it was nothing by standing up straight away but had to be escorted away when blood was seen above his eye. Luckily though Spegly was stitched up and should be able to play on Friday as long as he wears a mask.
Sophomore Connor Allen put on another solid performance and showed that he is one of the most dynamic players in the league, much like his distant relative Ray Allen.
The game ended 69-30 in favor of the Spartans. On Friday the boys will travel across the river to take on the Minnehaha Redhawks in a section preview game which promises to be a thriller. Go Spartans!
With their mind set solely on the game, the Spartans were able to put on a dominating performance much like the one against "rivals" MPA. The Spartans were much more talented that the other squad but also played very smart. The teamwork provided the Spartans with an early boost that allowed for everyone on the team to receive some playing time.
Dalante "the Chosen One" Peyton showed once again that he is not your average eighth grader. He has gotten more and more comfortable as the young season has gone on and is evolving into being an all around player. The Chosen One provided his teammates with open looks, took a few of his own money-balls and rebounded the air out of the ball last night. With hard work he is growing right before our very eyes and gives this program and the SPA community as a whole something to look forward to.
The game saw good contributions again from the three captains and CJ "the Panda" Whitaker came off the bench to provide sparks of exceptional counter attacks for the Spartans. The night was a also a very memorable one for junior captain Spencer "Spegly" Egly who while going up for a drive in the second half hit the deck hard and had to be taken away from the game. He mislead the crowd into believing it was nothing by standing up straight away but had to be escorted away when blood was seen above his eye. Luckily though Spegly was stitched up and should be able to play on Friday as long as he wears a mask.
Sophomore Connor Allen put on another solid performance and showed that he is one of the most dynamic players in the league, much like his distant relative Ray Allen.
The game ended 69-30 in favor of the Spartans. On Friday the boys will travel across the river to take on the Minnehaha Redhawks in a section preview game which promises to be a thriller. Go Spartans!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Domination
Last night the Spartans traveled to Maplewood, Minnesota to take on the Mounds Park Academy Panthers. The Spartans were looking to bounce back from a dissapointing Fridley Holiday Tournament performance and looking for their fourth win on the young season. The Panthers on the other hand were very hungry for a win after having dropped the last three editions of the so called rivalry. However they would remain hungry because the Spartans would go hard from the get go. The Spartans made sure to make the trip worthwhile for the most feared fan section in the Upper Midwest; Mckenzie's Frenzy. And nobody would be disapointed.
The Spartans jumped out to a big lead early on thanks to great defense. Senior Captain CJ "the Panda" Whitaker lead by example as he constantly turned defense into offense for the Spartans. One of the highlights of the half was Sophomore Connor "Ricky Bobby" Alllen stealing a ball and going coast to coast with a styling lay in at the other end. The boys were productive and made the most of their chances while they made sure not much happened on the other side of the court. The Panthers were held to an embarrassing 8 points at the half.
The second half saw the Spartans keep their foot firmly held on the gas. Everybody in the lineup got a chance to play and everybody worked as hard as possible. Junior Captain Josh "Slim Shady" Gray epitomized the values of this program when he sacrificied his body and dove for various loose balls. The Spartans continued to simply dominate. Eighth grade sensation Dalante "the Chosen One" Peyton drilled three after three after three. He ended up with 19 points on the night and was 5 for 6 from three point range.
Another all around good performance for the Spartans who are now 4-2. On Friday they will take on the famous St. Croix Liars of West St. Paul in an important conference affair. The game will be played at Historic Briggs Gymnasium and it is the annual Coaches vs Cancer event. Donations of 5 dollars will be accepted for admission. Come cheer your Spartans on as they look for their fifth straight conference win!
The Spartans jumped out to a big lead early on thanks to great defense. Senior Captain CJ "the Panda" Whitaker lead by example as he constantly turned defense into offense for the Spartans. One of the highlights of the half was Sophomore Connor "Ricky Bobby" Alllen stealing a ball and going coast to coast with a styling lay in at the other end. The boys were productive and made the most of their chances while they made sure not much happened on the other side of the court. The Panthers were held to an embarrassing 8 points at the half.
The second half saw the Spartans keep their foot firmly held on the gas. Everybody in the lineup got a chance to play and everybody worked as hard as possible. Junior Captain Josh "Slim Shady" Gray epitomized the values of this program when he sacrificied his body and dove for various loose balls. The Spartans continued to simply dominate. Eighth grade sensation Dalante "the Chosen One" Peyton drilled three after three after three. He ended up with 19 points on the night and was 5 for 6 from three point range.
Another all around good performance for the Spartans who are now 4-2. On Friday they will take on the famous St. Croix Liars of West St. Paul in an important conference affair. The game will be played at Historic Briggs Gymnasium and it is the annual Coaches vs Cancer event. Donations of 5 dollars will be accepted for admission. Come cheer your Spartans on as they look for their fifth straight conference win!
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