This past week I saw a matchup of two of the state’s top boys’ basketball teams, a contest between two Southside City Conference rivals, and a record-setting freshman point guard at the collegiate level in women’s hoops.
Here is how my week went:
Fri., Jan. 25: Minneapolis North at Hopkins
Senior point guard Jalen Dearring scored 16 points and had an all-around floor game in leading Hopkins to an 84-66 victory over North in a matchup between the number one-ranked Class 4A team and number two-ranked team from Class 2A.
Zeke Nnaji led the victorious Royals with 36 points, Kerwin Walton added 17, and Andy Stafford chipped in 11.
The Polars were led by Eli Campbell and Nasir El-Amin — who scored 16 points each— and also got 10 points each from Willie Wilson and Davon Townley Jr.
The score was 38-38 at halftime.
Thurs., Jan. 24: Minneapolis Roosevelt at Minneapolis South
Khalid Ahmed led the way with 15 points to a 50-45 Roosevelt victory over City Conference rival South.
Taijhuan Williams added 11 and Abdikani Abdi contributed 10 for the Teddies, who trailed 25-16 at halftime.
Joey Erickson led South with 12 points, and Deshawn McArthur added 11.
Wed. Jan. 23, Macalester College at Hamline University
Cha’nel Anderson-Manning scored seven points and had an outstanding floor game leading Hamline to a 60-51 win over Macalester, but it’s what the freshmen point guard accomplished on Jan. 12 that turned heads in MIAC circles.
On that date, the 5’7” freshman tied a school record by going seven for seven from three-point range while scoring 21 points in a 75-61 victory over Carleton College.
She led Cretin Derham Hall to a state tournament appearance in Class 4A competition last spring.
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