Breakdown Tip Off: Evening on the East Court

MAHTOMEDI 51 DELASALLE 36 One week ago, all everyone wanted to talk about was DeLaSalle's vast array of offensive weapons and how difficult it is to contain the Islanders, one of the elite teams among Minnesota's 3A schools. After Saturday's performance at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic, however, the answer for future DLS opponents was clear: Do what Mahtomedi did. What Mahtomedi did was employ stifling, suffocating, painfully patient defense that slowed the Islanders to a standstill, and the result was a convincing 51-36 victory. Of course, it helps when you have an elite talent like Emma Grothaus at your disposal to do good work on offense, and that's exactly what she did. A top 10 player in the Class of 2018, Grothaus scored 32 points as the Zephyrs made it clear that they, too, should be in the conversation about potential state champions. DeLaSalle had things its way in the early going, building a 6-point cushion. Once Mahtomedi's defense kicked into gear, however, the Islanders had trouble mounting much offense of any description. After a plodding half of basketball, the Zephyrs were up 18-17 at the half. In the second, Mahtomedi displayed great patience at both ends of the floor, picking its spots wisely, and waiting for quality scoring opportunities. Eventually those opportunities came and Grothaus picked the Islanders apart. The result was a statement win for Mahtomedi and an afternoon of frustration for the Islanders. Player of the Game Emma Grothaus – Sometimes it can be challenging picking a player of the game. On this day it was not. Although Mahtomedi thumped DeLaSalle with team defense, they still needed to put some points on the board and Grothaus's 32 did just that. News from the Sidelines One player who might have helped DeLaSalle is 8th grade sensation Kiani Lockett. She's a wiz from beyond the arc and was off to a great start to the season. Saturday Lockett was on the sidelines and will apparently remain there. Kiani, it seems, has been caught up in the often incomprehensible rules of eligibility for high school athletics, a tangled web that can get even more confusing when junior high kids are involved. Lockett lives in Minneapolis and attends a Minneapolis public school. Even though she plans to enroll on the Island for 9th grade, that's not good enough to play for DeLaSalle now. Of course, it would have been nice to know that before the season started, and there is no shortage of scuttlebutt about the situation. I'll spare you the details at this point, but it's an unfortunate situation for all involved. Scoring Mahtomedi – Emma Grothaus 32, Anika Sougstad 9, Josie Underwood 5, Eve Farrell 2, Cauli McGauley 2, Lydia Maule 1 DeLaSalle – Nureji Weems 14, Alexis Cochrane-Starr 6, Ayana Gardiner 6, Olivia Travis 4, Mary-Claire Francois 2, Nora Francois 2, Elaina Jones 2 NORWOOD-YOUNG AMERICA 71 CHISAGO LAKES 53 The headliner whose name was up in lights on the marquee was Carmen Backes, the talented forward from Chisago Lakes with the big ticket to the University of Wisconsin. The real star of the show, however, was Abby Mackenthun of Norwood-Young America, who led her Raiders squad to an impressive 71-53 victory over Chisago Lakes at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic in Hopkins. With Backes on the comeback trail from another knee injury and playing limited minutes, she wasn't quite up to her high standards, yet still managed to score 17 while showing flashes of greatness. Meanwhile, Mackenthun was just being her usual super-efficient self, effectively running the show for the Raiders, making smart decisions at the right time and every so often knocking down an important shot. The game was tight throughout most of the first half until the final three minutes. That's when Mackenthun did her best work, landing a pair of long threes while Kali Grimm added one of her own. That little spurt of energy created enough separation to give the Raiders a 35-27 lead at the half. Norwood-Young America wasted little time after the break asserting its dominance thanks largely to some great work on the glass by big Bren Fox, and an application of significant defensive pressure on the Wildcats. Before long the lead was 12 then 15 then more and the Raiders were on their way home with a W. Player of the Game Abby Mackenthun – Abby has always been a low-key star who just goes about her business with quiet competence, but even so she has earned a top-55 rating in our Class of 2019 rankings. Every time we watch Abby, she is better than the time before. Saturday's performance was a new high. NYA has some really nice pieces. Others might get more glory, but Abby is the one who puts the puzzle together. Scoring NYA – Kallie Grimm 18, Abby Mackenthun 17, Bren Fox 13, Anna Mackenthun 10, Samantha Miller 9, Jayden Fritz 1, Kacie Miller 1, Hannah Zellmann 1 Chisago Lakes – Carmen Backes 17, Hannah Gillach 12, Anna Peters 10, Sophia Wood 6, Heather Elfering 5, Fiona Tollefson 4, Lydia Rehder 2