Centennial Sweet 16 Champs

#4 posting 8.5.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SWEET 16 WRAP
Centennial proved to be sweet as they took the Sweet 16 tournament in convincing fashion with a 79-55 win over defending AAAA state champ St. Paul Central. Centennial jumped out to a 14-2 lead early in the game and Central got no closer than 7 the rest of the way. Centennial led 36-25 at half time. In a signature play for the tournament, Kiara Allums raced down court after what appeared to be an over and back ball against SPC. Allums picked it up at the baseline and finished to push the lead to 53-33. It was 62-37 when Centennial emptied their bench. They proved to have a few tricks up their sleeve too and outscored SPC's main group 17-16. I will have more on this contest later in the week.

In the semis Centennial beat defending AAA champ Becker in the semis 54-48. Becker did finish with a flourish with a 13-6 run capped with three desperate treys to get back in the game. The largest Centennial lead in the second half came at 48-35.

In the other semi, Central held off Hopkins in a nail biter 61-58. Since both games went on at the same time I only caught the very end of the action. Megan Howard scored in transition to make it 59-56. Kyana Johnson made two free throws that added insurance 61-58.

here are the results of the day
Semis
Centennial 54, Becker 48
St. Paul Central 61, Hopkins 58
5th place semis
DeLaSalle 41, Eden Prairie 26
Eastview 74, Albany 70
9th place semis
Rogers 45, Ada-Borup 43
Eden Valley-Watkins 67, Crookston 62
13th place semis
Winona Cotter 62, Bigfork 40
New Life 49, Hancock 40

FINALS
Championship: Centennial 79, St. Paul Central 55
3rd place: Becker 66, Hopkins 58
5th place: Eastview 51, DeLaSalle 28
7th place: Albany 62, Eden Prairie 57
9th place: Rogers 57, Eden Valley-Watkins 54
11th place: Crookston 66, Ada-Borup 61
13th place: New Life 78, Winona Cotter 74 4 overtimes
15th place: Bigfork 66, Hancock 40

This is the second straight year the Northwest Suburban has taken the Sweet 16 title. Last year Champlin Park won the title with a victory over Cinderella Story Cedar Mountain-Comfrey.

Today the Bigger school vs Smaller school record was 7-4.

Records for each class:
AAAA 13-7 .650
AAA 8-4 .667
AA 7-9 .438
A 4-12 .250

And so concludes the summer of 2007. This week I will report on these games on these days
MONDAY
Hopkins vs Crookston--first round
Centennial vs Rogers---first round
TUESDAY
St. Paul Central vs Eden Prairie--quarterfinals
Centennial vs Becker--semifinal
WEDNESDAY
Centennial vs St. Paul Central--championship

On Friday I will have the last summer 2007 "week that was" with player of the week and team and the week.
On Sunday, August 19, I will have a wrap of the summer season with player, team of the week and best of this and best of that. If you have nominations on any subject, drop me an email. Remember to be considered for these honors I will need to see the player and teams.

Next up: tomorrow morning