CP 54 - Osseo 75

The Rebels square off with the predicted conference winner. The Rebels keep it close for the first 14 or so minutes of the first half as Sam Dower makes his presence know with some finishes around the basket and a couple of blocked shots. Osseo never gets control of the game and go on a late run to take a 32-23 lead into the locker room but you had a feeling that Champlin was still in the game behind Zimmermann's 8 points. The other 15 points are sprinkled thru out the line up.

The second half starts and Osseo starts to pick up some fouls with Dower (20 points) picking up two quick ones (over the back on offensive rebounds) and goes to the bench. The Rebels go into their 1-3-1 zone and start to get back in the game on a couple of 3's by Theisen (20 points) and cut the lead to 5. The Orioles start to show some patience and rotate the ball to get some easy shots around the basket as Bobby Fisher (14 points) knocks down a couple of 3's to keep the Orioles lead in double digits.
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Dower returns breifly because as he picks up 2 more quick fouls and heads back to the bench. The Orioles get a couple of quick steals and breakouts that sends Osseo on another run that the Rebels do not answer ... game over. Osseo's coach Theisen does a masterful job in his rotations and is able to get the maximum prooduction out of his bench as they do journey man type work. I would say 8-9 players played meaningful minutes and made some type of contribution at some point. The Orioles bench easily outscored their starting line up and where the ones who were able to scrap there way around and build the lead. No one steps up or gets anything going for the Rebels as they play this one out.

The Box:

Theisen 20

Zimmermann 12

Williamson 6

Munneke 5

Duberry 3

Walker 2

Of note:

• The Rebels 5 game winning streak comes to an end.
• Was clear that the Orioles only had one deep threat on the floor (Fisher) which the Rebels never figure out.
• Osseo's half court traps gives the Rebels problems.
• Dower should have easily fouled out of this one but the refs went to sleep watching him play. He got his four fouls in 2-3 minute pairs.
• The Rebels collectively don't show enough BIG game energy.
• Zimmermann not able to finish around the basket as Osseo sent players at him in waves.
• Duberry is 1 for 8 and doesn't attack the basket after consistently beating the Oriole guards and finishes with one 3 pointer and no free throw attempts.
• The Orioles pick up their 7th foul in the 2nd half with 8 minutes left and up 12 points, the Rebels don't take advantage of it.
• Rebels score a season low 54 points