Sunday, July 26, 2009

Final Silver Division Bracket

Saturday, July 25, 2009

TNL Express (Duberry & Zimmermann) bow out in the Championship.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Buchanan named head men's basketball coach

Buchanan named head men's basketball coach

(Waukesha, Wis.) - David Buchanan, until recently the head men's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, has been named head men's basketball coach at Carroll University, athletic director Kris Jacobsen announced today.

Buchanan, chosen after a national search that attracted more than 200 applicants, becomes the 25th head coach in the 101-year history of the Pioneers men's basketball program. He succeeds David Schultz, who resigned after seven seasons to become a full-time teacher and boys basketball coach at Waukesha West High School.

"Our men's basketball program has been very successful and has garnered national attention," said Jacobsen. "I feel strongly that David Buchanan represents integrity and character. He will continue the tradition of winning on the court and will be a positive influence to his players, the community and the large following of alumni. Carroll University is fortunate to have David join our team.

Theresa Barry, Carroll's Dean of Students, echoed Jacobsen's comments. "We are delighted to have David join Carroll University as the head men's basketball coach," said Barry. "He will be a strong asset to our student-athletes, both on and off the court."

Buchanan comes to Carroll after a successful two-year stint at the helm of the UW-Superior program. In his short tenure at Superior, the Yellowjackets improved from being Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) afterthoughts to title contenders.

In his first season at UW-Superior (2007-2008), Buchanan led the Yellowjackets to a five-win improvement from the previous season and ended the year by advancing to the semi-finals of the WIAC Tournament for just the second time in school history. Superior's fifth-place regular season finish that year was its best WIAC finish since 1979. He compiled a two-year record of 23-29 overall, including a 10-22 mark in the WIAC.

Buchanan, a Watertown, Wis. native, was a standout collegiate basketball player at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he graduated in 1995.

Buchanan's coaching career began as a volunteer student assistant coach at UW-La Crosse. He then moved to Greenfield High School for his first head coaching position, leading the Hawks in just his second season to their first Woodland Conference Championship in 31 years. After five years at Greenfield, Buchanan had a short stop as head coach at Brookfield East High School before becoming head assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, an NCAA Division II member.

As the recruiting coordinator at UW-Parkside, Buchanan recruited a regionally recognized class in just his first season. That recruiting class went on to eventually qualify for the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to become the head men's basketball coach at Carroll University," said Buchanan. "The University has a tremendous upside both academically and athletically. Coach Schultz did a great job with this program and now my goal is to build on that and win Midwest Conference Championships while also competing at the National level."

Buchanan inherits a Carroll program that has the talent to contend for the Midwest Conference Championship in his first season. Two notable returnees for the Pioneers include senior point guard John Hoch (Colgate, Wis./Hartland Arrowhead) and sophomore shooting sensation Kyle Jones (East Troy, Wis./East Troy). The pair averaged 24.1 and 11.8 points per game, respectively, and played a major role in helping Carroll finish 16-8 overall (12-4 in the MWC), its sixth consecutive season with 15 or more wins.

"The players are looking forward to the opportunity to work with Coach Buchanan," said Hoch, a third-team D3hoops.com All-Region selection and first-team All-Midwest Conference honoree. "We are willing to do whatever it takes to keep the program at a high level. We believe Coach Buchanan is going to give us a great opportunity to be successful, both now and in the future."

Carroll's 2009-2010 schedule is currently being finalized and will be released in the coming weeks.

2009-2010 Men's Basketball Home Page

2009-2010 Men's Basketball News Archives

Monday, July 20, 2009

STMA Showcase: Notes from the seats

by Ryan James
The BREAKDOWN
(updated 7/20/2009)

The last of the Breakdown Summer Showcases took place this weekend with several varsity and junior varsity divisions being played at St. Michael-Albertville High School and Middle School. Some new talent was on display yesterday although the results were fairly similar as once again Spring Lake Park and Champlin Park walked away victorious. The following are player and team notes taken from yesterday’s action.

  • After three years of competing for the state tournament behind Nick Haugen, Rockford fell to .500 this past year. However, if yesterday’s performance from sophomore-to-be Nick Monseen is any indication, the star power is back in Rockford. After averaging about five points a game last year Monseen should be able to break out as a sophomore. He’s a good athlete at about 6-foot-3 who is comfortable handling the basketball already with good skills. Rockford beat Monticello 44 to 22 in the final game and Monseen’s late scoring expanded the lead from strong advantage to blow out category. Monseen is a crafty scorer who can get to the line time and time again. His touch looked solid allowing him to hit most of his several free throw attempts.
  • The Windom Area Eagles went 17-11 with a lot of youth in their line-up last year and expectations will be higher out west. There is a lot scoring ability throughout their line-up but the guys that get the most attention are freshman twins Jake and Lee Holt. I believe wearing 45 was Jake Holt who showed off a nice left-handed shooting stroke from the elbow. Meanwhile, on the inside Lee Holt scored on the block using crafty moves, good footwork, and a strong upper body to finish plays.
  • Be prepared to see the name Derek Sprang from Irondale as one of the top scorers in the Twin Cities the next couple years. As a sophomore he led the Knights with almost 14 points a game while earning all-conference honors. Yesterday Sprang broke open a close game with Windom by hitting four field goals late including a slashing score that was tear-dropped over Jake Holt and then a cold blooded triple from the corner.
  • Maple Grove post Sam Schwalbe has been impressive at a pair of Breakdown Summer Showcases now. Fighting in the post Schwalbe is like a bulldozer clearing space for the initial pass and he’s finishing a high percentage of his attempts.
  • Champlin Park won yet another Summer Showcase this time defeating Maple Grove in the final. The game was close for a while but the Rebel athletic ability was to much in the end for the Crimson. Seniors D’Andre Williamson and Kyle Zimmerman and junior T.J. Okafor had their way around the basket catching lobs for scores, running the floor to produce, and scoring on several second half putbacks. The depth and athletic ability of Champlin Park should make the state contenders in a year where there is no clear-cut favorite and it was the difference in the 61 to 38 win over Maple Grove. The Rebs also have some youth in Davis and Anthony Hill who could play as underclassmen.
  • Yesterday Apollo beat Henry Sibley by three points in OT, Sibley beat Forest Lake, and Forest Lake beat Apollo in pool play. So how did they break down who played Spring Lake Park in the title game? Points given up. With three seconds left Apollo had given up 100 points through two games and Forest Lake 101. Knowing they needed to win by a ten point margin to list higher in the pool Zach Riedeman raced to the other end to dunk at the buzzer giving Forest Lake a one point advantage and a higher ranking. As it turned out Henry Sibley had given up the least and they would play for the title but it was an interesting end to the game nonetheless. Forest Lake beat Apollo 58-48.
  • Spring Lake Park defeated full strength Osseo and Buffalo teams yesterday then defeated Henry Sibley, who had the majority of their players on the floor as well, in the championship. Elijah Sabah had his share of troubles with Jake Kreuser who blocked four of Sabah’s shot attempts. After a struggle to produce for most of the game Sabah did help put Sibley away 49-47 in the closing minutes.
  • The Breakdown noticed it forgot about Sean Scott when it produced a top 50 2012 list last week and Scott’s work ethic against Sibley screamed oops. He battled a bigger but now 15-pound lighter Mike Rostampour (because of mono) neck and neck. Also, lightning quick point guard Derek Dahl was blowing through the Sibley lane all game and Steve Bailey was the loud vocal leader who had his team playing defense from start to finish.
  • Sibley’s Jordan Jackson is going to be a big time scorer next year. He had dunks, tear-drops, and acrobatic lay-ins scoring about half of Sibley’s points yesterday. With size and athletic ability Sibley will most definitely have a backcourt scoring option next year and even though they have such productive size Jackson may be the top scoring option.
  • The point guard battle of the day was between STMA’s senior-to-be Jack Mooney and Big Lake’s Michael Stephens. Mooney has Stephens in size and experience but for the first part of the game it was Stephens who had the upper hand. He beat Mooney to the basket with a hard drive right then extended to finger roll of the glass over the bigs. Shortly after Stephens used a hesitation dribble to get Mooney leaning and to shift the defense and as all that happened Stephens exploded to the rim for a score. And when Mooney looked frustrated with his team behind he took his eye off the ball and in that time Stephens picked his pocket for an easy lay-up. Just when you wanted to say that Stephens was picking Mooney apart, the tide turned towards the veteran. Mooney used his size advantage and some quick dribble drive moves to take Stephens to the bucket four times late in the game. But in the end, Stephens and Big Lake emerged with the victory.
  • Wearing number 33 for STMA was an the athletic Joe Carpenter standing about 6-foot-3 with athletic ability and a very nice touch. That combination of talent will most certainly introduce this player to some recruiting looks down the road from colleges. Watch out for this athletic shooter on STMA.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

STMA Summer Showcase

The Showcase has been moved to STMA from Rogers due to facility sprinkler system repair in Rogers. Please note, games scheduled at Big Woods Elementary have all been moved to Fieldstone Elementary. Please check back periodically for any updates to the Showcase...it is recommended that you print final brackets/schedules on Friday due to possible changes.

STMA Boys - July 19:Games at St. Michael Albertville High School, Middle School, and Fieldstone Elementary

(MAP)

Boys Varsity Yellow (St. Francis, Braham, STMA, Big Lake, Mahtomedi, Anoka, Delano, Hutchinson)

Boys Varsity White(Becker, Monticello, Perham, Rockford, N. St. Paul, Rush City, EVW, Sartell)

Boys Varsity Red(Apollo, Osseo, Forest Lake, Buffalo, Henry Sibley, Spring Lake Park)

Boys Varsity Green(Princeton, Holy Family, Zimmerman, Maranatha, Chisago Lakes, Virginia, Howard Lake Waverly, Warroad)

Boys Varsity Blue - UPDATED(July 16th)(Rogers, Irondale, Champlin Park, Maple Grove, Elk River, Windom, Mpls SW, Cooper)

Boys JV Orange ( Irondale II, STMA, Zimmerman, Virginia, Delano, STMA)

Boys JV Black (Holy Family I, Apollo, Spring Lake Park, Irondale I, Maple Grove, Mahtomedi, Forest Lake, Big Lake)

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Champlin vs Forest Lake @ The Breakdown


Kyle Zimmerman, Dylan Hager and D'Andre Williamson are part of a very solid Champlin Park team which competed this past weekend at the Breakdown Event held in Rogers, Minnesota. All three player joined MinnesotaPreps for a post-game audio visit and talk about their success at the Breakdown tournament and their hopes for the coming varsity season.


CP Head Coach, Mark Tuchscherer has high hopes for his squad as well. He noted in a brief discussion following his team's win over Forest that he feels this is one of the best Champlin teams in several years. The team has size and depth, and many of the players have years of experience playing together on the AAU circuit.

The Forest Lake Squad gave the Rebels a run for their money as they cut a 20 point deficit to just a few point loss. Their intensity is apparent in the game slide show.

Hit the links below and learn more about the CP squad as Prep's Michael J. Much visits with several of the players. Check the slide show link for the game in pictures too.


Click here for a visit with Kyle Zimmerman, Dylan Hager and D'Andre Williamson. from Champlin Park.

Click here to load the photo gallery.

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

Wednesday, July 1, 2009