Top 10

Ryan James

Spring/Summer Top 10 rankings - April 30th

1. Minnesota Pump-N-Run (25-0)
2. Howard Pulley Black (4-3)
3. Net Gain (6-2)
4. 43 Hoops I (11-3)
5. Minnesota Comets I (4-1)
6. TNL Express (6-1)
7. Minneapolis Redhawks (10-5)
8. Minnesota Fury (9-4)
9. Howard Pulley White (1-0)
10. Minnesota Magic Black (5-3)

TNL 17's Win The 1st Annual Twin City Spring Jam

The team win a tough championship game against TC Elite 75-66 to take the championship!

Playing in their first championship game this spring, the Express take a 37-32 lead behind the all around floor game of Devon Knopke (11 points) and the inside presence of Doug Sewall, Spencer Cummings and Lomumba Ismail.

The team turns up their back court pressure and answer a couple of Elite runs. Jauson Sewer scores 9 from long range as Kyle Zimmermann is unstoppable from the block. Ollie White gets out of his shooting slump for 6 points as Ismail gets 8 of his 10 points from running the court and playing hard. One of the 2nd half hi-lites was when Ismail hustled back on defense and threw a break away lay up off the backboard for a viscous block and break out lay up and then came back on the next possession and tipped in a missed layup. BJ Sherva who did not score in the game, made his defensive presence known as he made a couple of key stops down the stretch.

Team Tournament MVP - Jauson Sewer
Honorable Mention - Kyle Zimmermann & Devon Knopke
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Box:
Sewall 4, Duberry 9, Ismail 10, Sewer 14, Knopke 14, White 6, Zimmermann 15, Cummings 3

TNL 16's Win The 1st Annual Twin City Spring Jam

Why TNL Is Home For April

New coaches bear brunt of bad rule


by Jeff Goodman
Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. He can be reached at GoodmanonFOX@aol.com or check out his blog, Good 'N Plenty.

This was usually the time of year that new head coaches were able to rely on to help restock their roster.

They faced a dilemma whether to head to an AAU tournament in Pittsburgh or Arkansas where they were able to get a look at 30 or so kids that were still searching for a college destination.

Not anymore.

Now coaches like Georgia's Mark Fox, High Point's Scott Cherry, Arizona's coach Sean Miller and others have their work cut out for them.

The NCAA instituted a ridiculous and baffling rule recently in which college coaches are no longer able to watch players at AAU events in April.

It was done with the intention to try and limit the amount of school days missed by student-athletes and also to attempt to shift the "power" back from the AAU coaches to the high school coaches.

But it'll backfire.

It will result in coaches having to now take someone else's word, making determinations off watching videotape and thus will lead to an increase in transfers.

"That's a hard way to make a living," said Cherry, who was an assistant at South Carolina last season. "Especially on your first coaching job. It makes it challenging and really difficult."

It certainly won't be helping cut costs either. Instead of sending coaches to one spot per weekend — such as Pittsburgh or Arkansas — they now are zig-zagging the country in an effort to see as many individual kids as possible. Take one spot in the northeast on Friday morning when there were three head coaches and five assistants.

Fox, the former head coach at Nevada, got his gig about two weeks ago and has a couple of scholarships to fill. Sure, he's recruited the southeast before and had a pair of kids from North Carolina on his roster, but he's not yet plugged into the area.

So instead of hitting the ground running and getting an opportunity to see 50 or so available players over the next two weekends, as has been the case until this year, he's forced to try and make quick decisions.

"All year long, people were talking that the coaches who were going to be affected the most were the ones who took a new job that needed some rebuilding," Fox said. "Now I'm in that situation, but you just have to deal with the cards you are dealt and be efficient."

The first day Fox was allowed to go on the road was a week ago Thursday at noon. He went to Alabama and Florida to see a couple of kids at their school (that's all coaches are allowed to do in this period) and then flew to Texas that night.

On Friday, he saw a couple of kids in the Lone Star State before getting back to Athens around 4 a.m. on Saturday morning.

The NCAA also allowed coaches to see kids over the weekend, but there was NO one to see. Most of the kids were out playing at AAU tournaments and the rest were home with their families for Easter.

Since Sunday, the NCAA hasn't allowed coaches to go on the road to watch kids at all. They were permitted to go back out this morning, but most of the players are headed to AAU tournaments this weekend — even though coaches won't be allowed to watch.

The bottom line is that kids are going to continue to play — and miss part of school on Friday — whether coaches are watching or not. Especially because Division 2 and Division 3 coaches are allowed to be out this weekend and next weekend.

"It's very difficult now," said Sean Miller, who went from Xavier to Arizona this offseason. "Everybody knows the most important way to build a program is to bring in the right players. It's hard when we don't have the opportunity to see them. ...

"We only had a couple of days last week, which allows us to see no more than eight to 10 kids at their schools."

"You have to make the most of the limited days you have," added Tony Bennett, who went from Washington State across the country to Virginia. "We can't see the mass quantity anymore, so you have to make the most of the weekdays going to the schools."

But it's far more difficult to judge a 6-foot-9 big man in a high school practice when he doesn't go up against another D-1 players than it is over four weekend days in April (which is what the NCAA allowed prior to this year) when the elite players go up against one another.

"It's difficult to evaluate now," Miller said. "It means there'll be more mistakes made."

New Memphis coach Josh Pastner said maximizing time becomes more important. However, that's easier said than done when you've just taken over a job and have numerous other responsibilities.

"You need to try and assemble a staff, take care of your current team, try and re-recruit the recruits who had already committed to the program," Pastner said. "And try and recruit for the future. It's much harder to do now without the April period."

That's why the NCAA needs to bring it back.

TNL Win Pool To Advance To Championship Game

Game 3
TNL 70 - Triple Threat 58
The team plays a lackluster and uninspired 1st half and then finally realize they are in a battle. This game got out of hand do to the officiating (Duberry nailed and made layup is not called goal tending with the foul; a few hard fouls and no calls that draw technical foul, a couple of cuts that draw blood and stop play in the 1st half)
Box:
Sewall 13, Duberry 14, Host 3, Sherva 5, Ismail 4, Sewer 16, Knopke 4, Zimmermann 10, Cummings 1

Game 2
Forfeit

Game 1
TNL 68 - Team Cannon 32
Team shoots very poor in the 1st half and can't buy a bucket. The 2nd half they step up their defensive intensity and pull away as Brandon Host knocks down some 3"s to stretch the defense. Good game by Knopke as he is great attacking the basket, knocks down some 3's and continually finding the open man.
Box:
Sewall 4, Duberry 5, Host 9, Sherva 2, Ismail 4, Sewer 10, Knopke 21, Zimmermann 3, Cummings 11.

Up Next The Twin City Spring Jam

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The team will be playing in it's 2nd tournament that is being ran by one of their sponsors Inside The Lines (ITL).

Jasper Duberry Makes Comets Invite All Tournament Team - 17s

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Here is the official Comets All tournament team. Coaches had the big vote with myself and the tourney admins kicking in a good say as well.

First Team
Steve Tecker - MN Pump N Run
Carlos Emmory - MN Pump N Run
Vinard Birch - 43 Hoops I
Clay Horne - 43 Hoops I
Taylor Filipek - MN Comets

Second Team
Dajon Newell - MN Fury
Kevin Noreen - MN Pump N Run
Dyami Starks - MN Pump N Run
Jordan Riewer - MN Comets
Jordan Reetz - 43 Hoops I

Third Team
Dominique Dawson - 43 Hoops II
Jasper Duberry - TNL Express
Yuriy Malashenko - MN Fury
Mike Jensen - MN Comets II
Nick Quicksell - Minnesota Heat

Sunday Notes From Comets Invite

Ryan James
MinnesotaPreps.com Senior Writer

Although the Pump N Run brain trust was frustrated with parts of the defensive discipline and shot selection it was still a fairly strong beginning for the new Minnesota AAU program. They went 6-0 with wins over ECI Minnesota, a senior dominated Grassroots team, 94 Feet of Game, TNL Express, the Minnesota Comets, and 43 Hoops. Carlos Emmory was a highlight reel, Steve Tecker was a beast, and Dyami Starks was the controlled leader.

Minnesota Pump-N-Run

For their first weekend of play the Minnesota Pump-N-Run 17s conquered the Comets Invitational. Of course it wasn't easy as the Pumps came from behind to beat tough the TNL Express and Minnesota Comets teams and then had to battle with the top 43 Hoops group before puling away late 54-45. These Comets and 43 Hoops teams are considered two of the five best (along with the Pumps, Net Gain and Howard Pulley) in state plus the TNL bunch is not far behind. Add in that Grassroots included three senior members of a state runner-up St Bernards team, three senior players from a top five ranked Robbinsdale Cooper squad (and Rodney Williams on Sunday), and other talent and you can understand how much game was at this Comets event.

Other

TNL Express's effort against the Pumps should be noted. They had the tournament champions down for the majority of the game before a late comeback. Jasper Duberry was named third team all tournament.

Click here to read the rest of the article:

TNL Bows Out Of The Minnesota Comet Invite In The Elite 8

TNL 56 - Pump & Run 65

We came into this game knowing we didn’t have a chance in the world matching up with their size (probably the tallest team in the state and maybe the nation) so we decided we would go as small as we logically could (started Sewer 5’9, Duberry 5’11, Knopke 6’2, Zimmermann 6’3 and Cummings 6’5) play up-tempo, sit back in an ACTIVE zone and more importantly BLOCK OUT!

We had only practiced twice before this tournament so a lot of the things we where going to try where on the fly and then we had to factor in the new key players (Devon Knopke, Spencer Cummings, Lomumba Ismail and BJ Sherva).

The game started out at our pace as we put up four air ball 3’s and PNR missed a few easy shots. The refs where calling what we thought where some soft fouls in the paint against us trying to battle their size. PNR showed the signs that we showed, early morning game and a lot of new players. I believe the game prior to ours, which ran extremely late, gave both teams a problem getting started because of the quick 4 minute warm up time.

Our 1-3-1 twisting 3-2 zone and junk press gave them problems as their most meaningful points came from Carlos Embry on break out and back side dunks (8 points). Jasper (10 points) hit a 3 to end the 1st half and we where able to get out to a 35-28 halftime lead. Jauson’s breakouts where what we needed to keep PNR thinking we would beat them down the court at any given time. With Spencer getting in foul trouble, Lomumba’s (3 of 4 from the line) and Doug’s (2 of 2 from the line) inside work was huge.

Jay hit an opening 2nd half 3 to push our lead to 10. We decided to sit in our zone and pack it in even more because PNR had not made a 3 point shot in the 1st half. Embry got a couple of leak out baskets as PNR went on a 10-0 run. We missed a couple of easy inside shots as Spencer picked up his 4th foul and had to sit while PNR got a couple of put back baskets and the next thing you know we are down 2.

With about 6 minutes left Spencer returns and gets twisted up with Rostampour during our possession and the refs call a double foul. This kills us because it’s Spencer’s 5th foul, PNR had just scored and then gets the ball back because of the possession arrow … horrible call in a game of this magnitude at this pont of the game. We go ice cold, Noreen (13 points) knocks down two huge 3’s (PNR’s only 3’s of the game) and we can’t come back. We’re forced to foul as PNR ices it from the free throw line (Aaron Anderson 3 of 4) to end the game.

35-28 TNL @ The Half

Box: Sewall 6, Duberry 12, Host 3, Ismail 7, Sewer 12, Knopke 10, Zimmermann 3, Cummings 3.

Other Related Articles:

The Czar:
Q2: Pump N Run 17s vs TNL. Back and forth in the 1st half but TNLs pace. 17 All with 6:43 left in the half, then 23-21 TNL before they stretch it to 35-24 on a Jasper Duberry 3. 35-28 TNL at the half. An 8-0 run early in the 2nd half by PNR cuts the lead to 38-36. 47-41 TNL with 9 minutes left before the shots don't fall and that's not good for TNL with Spencer Cummings out of the game. PNR goes on a 22-3 run with some of that against TNL traps after PNR got the lead and spread the court with about 5 minutes left. 65-56 PNR wins. The number of easy bunnies that PNR missed inside was unbelievable in this one. Kevin Noreen had 3 of them on the 1st 3 possessions of the game (and this wasn't the only game where he had trouble finishing). TNL played zone most of the way and kept PNR at bay with it as they didn't get much inside.

Stevens Sports Report:
It was Sunday morning and we are back in the first game of the Sunday session. In the first game it was TNL Express going up against Minnesota Pump and Run. Both of these teams started off looking to get the ball up the court. Pump and Run started out playing zone defense.Both teams were able to make shots early in the contest. TNL looked to push the ball up the court in transition.Both teams traded baskets throughout the first half. Neither team was able to make a run in the first half.Jake Kreuser for Pump and Run had a couple of nice moves in the first half. He was able to shake off his defender with a head fake and go in for a nice layup.TNL had trouble breaking the Pump and Run press. Pump and Run did a good job getting the ball up the court.Both teams were able to keep the score close throughout the first half. Each team was able to counter the others scoring chances.Aaron Ernest Anderson from Pump and Run was a little spark plug throughout the game by coming up with some nice shots in the first half.TNL was able to make some easy shots in the first half. Pump and Run kind of went to sleep and TNL was able to find the back door and get some wide open shots at the basket.This has been a very competitive first half. TNL Express was able to go on a run late in the late in the first half. Pump and Run didn’t give up in the first half.At half time the score was TNL Express 35 and Pump and Run 28.In the start of the second half Pump and Run came out fired up and they were able to make some quick shots.Turnover’s hurt the Pump and Run team for most of the game. Everyone on the team had a case of the fumbles.Pump and Run tried to make a comeback in the second half. They were able to do that. Dyami Starks was able to make some nice plays and lead the Pump and Run back into the game.Each team battled in the second half. Throughout this tournament the Pump and Run guys really did a good job of coming together when they were down and deciding to put up shots in critical times in the game. They did that again here in this game.The Pump and Run was able to go on a run in the second half and battled their way back into the game and they were able to come away with a hard fought victory.TNL Express played a tough game they were able to expose Pump and Run in the first half. They really put the pursuer on TNL.In the end Pump and Run came away with the 65-56 victory.

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Team Tournament MVP - Jasper Duberry

Honorable Mention - Devon Knopke

Jasper Duberry & Kyle Zimmermann Attend Year End Banquet

Team Captains Tyler Munneke (South Dakota State), Jasper Duberry (Undecided) & Scott Theisen (Carleton).

Jasper Duberry
was named Mr. Assist while
Kyle Zimmermann was named the teams Co-MVP.

TNL Win Their Pool To Advance To The Championship Bracket

Game 3
TNL 80 -43 Hoops 16's 71 in OT (40-31 @ The Half)
The Express get a buzzer tying 3 point shot from Devon Knopke to tie the game at 65 and send the game in overtime. 43 Hoops where up 6 with about 2 minutes left before a couple of missed free throws let TNL back in the game. Knopke who sat out most of the 2nd half with 4 fouls scored 5 points in OT as the Express outscored 43 Hoops 15-6 for the win. Duberry led with 25 points as he logged a lot of minutes at the point as the team was without Jauson Sewer (family event). Zimmermann had 14 as Cummings scored 10 getting 4 in overtime. The 43 Hoops team is a tuff and talented 16U team.
Box:
Sewall 7, Duberry 25, Sherva 1, Ismail 6, Knopke 10, White 7, Zimmermann 14, Cummings 10.

Game 2
Forfeit

Game 1
TNL 93 - Fury North 48 (53-31 @ The Half)
The team jumps out to a quick lead and never look back behind Knopke's 20 points. Duberry had 15 with Ismail adding 10.
Box:
Sewall 8, Duberry 15, Host 5, Sherva 8, Ismail 10, Knopke 20, White 6, Azevedo 6, Zimmermann 6, Cummings 9.

Spencer Cummings Is All Suburban East Conference

TNL would like to CONGRATULATE club member Spencer Cummings for making the Suburban East All Conference team.

Duberry & Zimmermann Are All Conference

Duberry

TNL would like to CONGRATULATE club members Jasper Duberry and Kyle Zimmermann for making the Northwest Suburban All Conference team.

Zimmermann

2009 MN Comets Shootout Preview

The Czar has TNL bowing out to Pump & Run in a game of size vs speed in the Elite 8.

Click here to read his article.

Host & White Are All Conference

Host

TNL would like to CONGRATULATE club members Brandon Host & Ollie White for making the Wright County All Conference team. White

Team Set For 1st Tournament

The team is set for their 1st tournament of the year. The team won this event last year.

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Click here for tournament information.

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Here's the 17U bracket.

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Click here for a quick pre-tournament breakdown of the tournament.