CP 77 - Anoka 43

The Showdown That Never Went Down !

The #5 Anoka Tornadoes traveled to #8 Champlin Park Rebels on Wednesday night with thoughts of jumping into a 2nd place tie with the Rebels and remain 1 game behind Osseo in the league race with a win. The Tornadoes are led by senior post player Lomumba Ismail who is averaging 16 ppg a game and sophomore point guard sensation Marcus Tyus who is averaging 13 ppg.

The game also featured a reunion of sorts as Anoka's Ismail and BJ Sherva played with Champlin Park's Jasper Duberry (pictured) and Kyle Zimmerman last summer for TNL Express.

On to the game and before you can blink, the Rebels jump out to a 6-0 lead all on transition baskets before Tyus gets the Tornadoes on the board. The Rebels continue their dominance as a short hook shot by Josh Pella gives the Rebels an 11-2 lead, timeout Anoka. Right after the timeout, Dillon Hagler cleanly picks Tyus’ at half court and races in for a basket at the 14 minute mark. Which gets us to the play of the game, Pella makes a steal and passes ahead to Brent Walker who misses a layup high off the backboard as Brandon Davis one handed dunks the miss, 18-2 Rebels. The Rebels get another steal that is passed ahead to Hagler for another layup, 20-2 Rebels, timeout again Anoka.

Anoka’s Eric Jordan knocks down a 3 pointer to end the Rebels 14-0 run. TJ Okafor answers as Ismail gets his first basket of the game. Jordan Reibling knocks down a 3 pointer and then on the next possession Ismail loses the ball and while going down court picks up his 2nd foul of the game at half court reaching from behind, 25-8 Rebels at the 9 minute mark. Duberry gets a great follow up tip off a missed jumper and then answers Ismail’s put back with a quick layup, 30-10 Rebels with 5 minutes to go.

Tyus knocks down a 3 pointer in between a basket and nice 3 point play by Pella at the rim when Duberry gets a rebound and quickly dribbles thru the entire Tornado team for another layup, 37-14. Tyus with a break out layup, a Jordan 3 pointer and 2 more Tyus free throws as the Tornadoes finish the half on a 7-0 run to close to 39-21 at the half.

The 2nd half starts with Tornado starters Ismail, Sherva and Tyus on the bench as Davis (pictured above) goes on a 4-0 run, 43-21. The Tornadoes score a couple of baskets that are both answered by a 3 pointer from Duberry and Hagler, 49-25 Rebels as the rest of the Tornadoes starting 5 return with 15 minutes left. Sherva breaks out for a layup 50-27, timeout Anoka with 13 minutes to go.

Mooers breaks out for a layup and is fouled for a 3 point play that is then followed with an Ismail foul as he, Sherva and Tyus go back to the bench with 11 minutes to go, 54-30.

D’Andre Williamson (pictured below) comes off the bench to score 6 quick points as Ismail, Sherva and Tyus return, 59-32 with 8 minutes to go. Zimmermann with a basket, Hagler with his 3rd 3 pointer and the Rebels have now doubled the Anoka score, 64-32. Baskets on four straight possessions by Pella, Okafor, Davis and the another basket by Davis as he attacks the basket for a 3 point play (as Ismail picks up his 4th) and this one looks to be over, 73-36 with 5 minutes left in the game. Both teams clear their benches and we have running time.

The win extends the Rebels winning streak to 6 and brings their conference record to 8-1 for a two way tie with Osseo. The Rebels who have won 12 of their last 14 games are now 12-4 for the year.

The Box:

Davis 14

Duberry 12

Hager 13

Okafor 6

Pella 11 (5 for 6 from the field)

Reibling 3

Walker 1

Williamson 8 (4 for 5 from the field)

Zimmerman 9

Anoka: Mooers 3, Tyus 9, Johanson 2, Ismail 4, Guptil 3, Sherva 7, Gave 7, Jordan 6, Specht 2.

Of Note.

• Great coaching move to front Ismail in the post
• Ismail and Tyus do NOT score in the 2nd half and are held to a collective 13 points
• Rebel team defense (NO Tornadoe player reached double digits) and forced turnovers (13 steals)
• Post play defense by Zimmermann, Pella and Okafor
• Rebel passing and ball movement (16 assists)
• Hagler goes 3 for 3 from the arch
• Big 2nd half from Davis
• Zimmermann with 12 rebounds