The Rebels End Osseo's Home Streak
The Rebels headed into the Orioles nest with the possibility of being the conference leader’s 41st home victory victims. The Orioles were riding a four year 40 game winning streak and had defeated the Rebels at least twice a season for the last five years.
To the game we go. First obvious thing you notice is that the Rebels have replaced post player D’Andre Williamson in the starting lineup with off guard Dillon Hager (pictured). Osseo who doesn’t possess a large front line, make this CP move look like a strategic one and not as big as it looks until Hager knocks down a 3 pointer for the Rebels first points of the game.
The Rebels and Orioles continually trade baskets until CP’s Jordan Reibling knocks down a 3 pointer and Zimmermann gets a basket to push the Rebels to their largest lead before the Orioles John Rowland knocks down a 3 to get Osseo within four points at 20-16 with ten minutes left in the half.
After a number of questionable fouls on both teams, we are at 22-17 CP with 7 minutes left as both teams struggle to figure out the officiating. Pella attacks the basket and is fouled; he makes 1 of 2 for a CP 25-18 lead with 5 minutes to go. Duberry with a long cross court pass to Davis who knocks down a 3 which is answered with a quick foul on Anderson who knocks down both throws with 2 minutes left. Hager with a floater at the buzzer and the Rebels have their largest lead of the game to end the 1st half 34-24.
All season long half times have been the most interesting times for the Rebels as they have held the lead in every game that they have lost this year. This one gets a new twist as the Orioles don’t return early enough to warm up and just take the court to start the 2nd half.
The Orioles increase their defensive intensity and quickly force the Rebels into forced and unforced turnovers. The teams trade baskets as it seems the Rebels get a couple of questionable calls. The Orioles pound the glass for a couple of put backs and go on a 8-4 run to close the CP lead to 38-32 with 13 minutes left, timeout CP.
Pella and Zimmermann baskets pushes the lead to 54-44 with 3 minutes left, timeout Osseo. The Rebels keep missing shots but keep coming up with rebounds as they out hustle the Orioles for loose balls and the only difference over the next 2 minutes is a Rebel free throw, 55-44 CP with 1 minute left and it looks like this one is over.
Pella (pictured) led the Rebels with 15 points to bring Osseo’s 40 game home winning streak to an end. This incredible home winning streak started back in the 2006 season. More importantly is that the Rebels moved into a 1st place conference tie with the Orioles.
The Box:
Duberry 3
Davis 9
Hager 8
Pella 15
Reibling 8
Walker 5
Zimmerman 13
Osseo: Rowland 11, Anderson 10, McMorris 8, Bailey 3, Bervin 8, Sonnenfeld 7, Theisen 6.
Of Note:
Rebels don't blow half time lead and hang on to win
- Williamson replaced in the starting line up with Hager and plays limited minutes
- Rebels 2nd half defense
- Rebel hustle, focus and hard play
Oriole perimeter shooting
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4 comments:
Have the same enthusiasm giving the Rebel coaching staff credit for winning as you do bashing them for losing. T
Anonymous,
Sorry that you thought I was bashing the Rebel coaching staff when they lose.
I think they did an OUTSTANDING job last night. Moving Hager into the starting lineup for Williamson and having him guard Anderson was smart. I thought that when Duberry picked up his 3rd foul and they came with Walker was another good move because of his length and not allowing the Oriole wings good looks at the basket. Giving Reibling more minutes also created havoc for the Orioles as he gets his hands on a lot of balls and is disruptive.
I think playing man to man for the game and then switching to the 2-3 zone late in the game with the lead was another smart move. It basically added more shooting pressure on the Orioles who have been struggling from the perimeter.
I also think they did a great job of staying one step ahead of the Oriole staff. In the previous losses that you alluded to me bashing, I simply thought they didn’t put the team in the best position to win those games, last night they did an EXCELLENT job.
They sure didn't use the same coaching strategy against Centennial. Went back to the same horrible coaching (lack of rotation) and it almost cost us the game. Luckily for Champlin Park, the starters were able to tough it out and finish strong. That isn't going to happen against better teams.
I don’t think that you can come into every game with the same strategy or plan as opponents are different as well as game conditions warranting different changes. It did look like the starters played more this game in comparison to the Osseo game, however, they did play well, didn’t look tired and none of them where in foul trouble.
I also think that the Rebels had to use more bodies against Osseo because of Osseo’s athleticism and depth where as Centennial is not an athletic team with no depth that rely on a half court offense taking perimeter shots. I’m assuming Centennials ineffective play and the pace of the game had something to do with it as well.
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