Watching Others

Anoka 81 –  Centennial 66

Went to see if the Anoka Tornadoes are as good as they say. Was skeptical about going after seeing that Elk River blew them out the other night 96-50 at the Target Center. See a few NWSC coaches in the gym; Osseo, Maple Grove, Andover, Elk River and Blaine. A few local D3 coaches as well.

Anyway on to the game … Anoka jumps out early as Centennial is able to get back into the game before the half and cut the score to 31-28 at the half. Centennial doesn’t have anyone who can play Anoka’s post player Lomumba Ismail as he has his way in the lane and is on his way to a big game. Gerding who I believe must have missed his first 5-8 shots scores about 7 to close out the first half.

Second half gets going at a much faster paste as Anoka continues to feed Ismail in the paint as Centennial’s jump shots start to fall. Enter Anoka sophomore Marcus Tyson who had 6 points in the 1st half off the bench. I think he might have been the 2nd guard off the bench but you couldn’t tell it as he starts hitting jump shots and then going to the basket on 1 or 2 Cougars at a time with ease and scoring. The Tornadoes start to pull away as the Cougars missed bunny after bunny after bunny. Anoka guards continued to drive the baseline and then bounce pass to Ismail in the lane for baskets or fouls. The only thing that kept the Cougars in striking range was Ismail missing free throws and the play of Cougar Brian Sarvela. Sarvela, who is clearly Centennial’s best player and a hard worker, at one point went on an 8-0 run by himself. I think he defers too much to the Cougar’s Gerding which will probably change as the season goes on. What was also very noticeable was the ease that the Anoka wings (Sherva and Gave) had getting to the basket off the elbows when Tyus wasn’t sprinting by them for baskets.

Back to Anoka’s Tyus. He has to be one of the best sophomores in the conference and maybe in the state. He plays with a great calmness and confidence that you usually see in a senior. He can hit the 3 and get to the basket and finish as his 21 second half points illustrated. His best play of the game was when he was in the lane on an Anoka free throw. While getting boxed out he grabbed the rebound with one hand and attempted a shot while being pushed to the floor by a Centennial player. Look for him to be in the Anoka starting line up before the end of the season as he is more athletic and versatile than the guards that are currently starting in front of him.

The Rebels play the Tornadoes for the first time this season at home February 23rd.

Centennial: Orth 4, Burns 16, Kuck 14, Malinowski 6, Sarvela 13, Gerding 10, Melby 3.

Anoka: Mooers 6, Tyus 27, Johanson 2, Ismail 19, Sherva 10, Gave 12, Jordan 5.