Posted: 1/20/05
TIMEOUT
Still two chances for RRC titles
By Luther Dorr
In the last couple weeks it became apparent that two of the PHS winter sports teams had chances to win Rum River Conference titles in Princeton's final year in the conference.
In fact, when last week began, both the boys hockey team and boys basketball team were on top in the Rum River.
At that time I thought the hockey team had the best chance for a title, having beaten the favorite - Chisago Lakes - and having only to beat St. Michael-Albertville to end the first half unbeaten. But the Knights pulled off what can only be called an upset, winning 4-3 on their home ice last week before the Tigers then lost to St. Cloud Cathedral.
I was convinced Princeton was the best team in the Rum River after beating Chisago Lakes but now that's something they'll have to prove. They can win the title by winning the rest of their conference games. Another loss would probably mean no better than a title tie and might end a chance for first.
The boys basketball team, on the other hand, stayed in first place last week with a pair of high-scoring wins, one coming in triple overtime after letting a seven-point lead with three minutes to go slip away.
It's safe to say the team is the surprise of the conference. It's worth noting the team has won all of its close games but one, that an upset (in my book) loss to Pine City.
The key will be what happens the second time around when teams know more about Princeton and have perhaps scouted them better. The key to Princeton reacting to different strategies this time around will be to keep playing team basketball, not care who scores, and be a little more careful with the basketball, especially with a lead late in the game.
Boys still on top in section
The lead has dwindled to just 15/1000 of a point but Princeton is still ahead of Monticello in the Section 4AAA rankings that will determine section seeding.
The Magic, looking stronger every week, beat Spring Lake Park, 71-67, and Cambridge, 66-42, last week. The margin over Cambridge was a surprise. That was a four-point win for Monticello.
Princeton (9-1) is averaging 2.4 points a win, Monticello (10-3) 2.385. Sartell (7-5) is averaging 2.0 after beating St. Cloud Tech and Melrose last week.
Monticello has five four-point games left on its schedule, Princeton only two (Cambridge and St. Francis). Sartell, who plays Princeton Jan. 29, has four four-point games remaining.
McVey's time at Utah State
Ian McVey's senior year on the basketball team at Utah State in Logan, Utah, is winding down and it's safe to say it's been disappointing for him, as far as playing time goes. That's what he told me when he was home for a short break around Christmas.
McVey is getting just a few minutes a game on a team that is having a pretty good year. There seemed promise of more time early last season when he got off to a good start but his time dwindled the second half of the season and he is usually the 9th or 10th man in the game this season and plays about six minutes a game.
After a good start the Aggies lost two games last weekend and McVey didn't play in one game and got just a few minutes in the other. In a box score from a win over Loyola Marymount a couple weeks ago he played 13 minutes, was 2-for-2 from the field, had four points, 1 rebound and a blocked shot. As of two weeks ago he was second on the team with seven blocked shots in only 70 minutes. Last year he had 5 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in what was probably his best game.
I talked recently with Mike Strauss, sports information director at Utah State, and he said McVey is a well-liked member of the team. Assistant coach Dave Rice said McVey is a good practice player and is always ready to play.
McVey said he enjoys home games where there are 9,000 fans every night.
He may look back and wish he had gone to Division II, and possibly been a starter, but a Division I scholarship isn't a bad deal either.
Here and there . . .
PHS boys hockey coach Todd Frederick, in his seventh year as head coach here, got his 100th win recently and is 102-63-7 at Princeton . . . Chisago Lakes beat Zimmerman 104-28 last week in boys basketball as David Olson (28.2 average) scored 46 for the Wildcats. Princeton led the outmanned Thunder by about the same margin after one quarter as did Chisago Lakes and Princeton's leading scorer was having an easy time of it. But Princeton Eric Bjurman, as he should have, backed off and reserves played a lot. That must not have happened with Chisago Lakes . . . When the Princeton and Foley girls teams played last week, the Falcons were without leading scorer Jenna Thorsness, a senior who suffered a serious knee injury two weeks ago when she was only four points from 1,000 for her career. It's questionable if she'll be able to play again this year . . . Someone asked when the last time was that a Princeton High School basketball team scored 174 points in consecutive games. I don't have an answer, although I remember a game or two in the 90s and some in the 80s. The real trivia question is when the last time was that a PHS team shot 53 free throws in one game, as the boys did against Foley Friday in the triple overtime game . . . Defenseman Ryan Cross leads the boys hockey team with nine goals. Brandon Pangerl and Bryan Osmondson each have eight goals and Osmondson leads in points with 23, and in assists with 15. Pangerl has 20, Ryan McElhone 16 and Cross 15. The Tigers are clicking at 26 percent on power plays, their opponents at 20 percent.
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