Sports Prep Zone by Our Varsity

Sports Prep Zone by Our Varsity

Richfield Boys to Rely on Senior Leadership

Richfield Boys to Rely on Senior Leadership

Knopke & Sewer All Tournament

Congratulations to Devon Knopke and Jauson Sewer for making the 2009 Mr. Basketball All Tournament team.

Sewer Is All Conference

TNL would like to CONGRATULATE club member Jauson Sewer for making the Classic Suburban All Conference team.

Mpls North at Richfield Thoughts

Posted by Twin Cities Hoops Czar at 10:06 PM

A special mid-week day game in the Kingdom thanks to the holidays as Minneapolis North makes the trip to Richfield. St. Thomas Academy on hand to watch as well as Rene Pulley (insert cash register sound here). Pulley has North coach Bo Powell on his staff in addition to a couple of players who played on the 15s team for them this summer.

Spencer Puckett off to a hot start for North as he knocks down a triple and gets a layup in the 1st 4 minutes for a 14-6 North lead. Richfield with their small lineup not able to make a shot. Kevin Thompson with a baseline J and then a post 2 and him and Puckett are doing all the scoring for North. 20-12 Polars lead at 10:20. Renard Robinson with a steal for 2 as Richfield turns up the D. Robinson with 2 more layups during the 12-3 Richfield run over 3:20. 24-23 Richfield now on top at the 7 minute mark. After a couple of offensive rebound scores for North, Robinson hangs and takes the contact before going glass for an And 1. Puckett then picks up his 2nd foul and has to sit at the 5:08 mark. 3 more for Robinson makes it 32-30 Richfield at 3:15. Thompson with another post up for 2 and then a putback. He then puts back a miss at the 1st half buzzer to tie it at 36 all as Richfield tried for 1 shot and didn't execute. Robinson with 16 and Philip Freeman with 8 for Richfield. Kevin Thompson with 15 for North

Freeman comes out en fuego in the 2nd half. Jay Sewer finds him for 3 on a pretty 2nd pass, they go inside out and find him for a step in 3. Robinson gets a block and then the 2nd pass on the ensuing Spartans possession finds Freeman again. 3 triples for Freeman in the 1st 1:40 and bang bang bang Richfield is up 45-36. North not going away. Puckett on the block, Malik El-Amin with 2 FTs and then big Mark Devine swats a shot on 1 end and gets a putback on the other for 6 straight Polars points. North coach Bo Powell then gets T'd up. Freeman makes the 2 FTs and then knocks down a jumper via an offensive rebound on the possession to put Richfield back to a 7 point lead, 49-42, at 14:10. Puckett and Freeman trade 3s and Freeman has 16 points in 4:50 of the half. 53-45 Richfield at 13:10. North again gets a run. Devine with a post 2, Thompson on the offensive glass for 2 more. Thompson then gets a defensive rebound and throws the touchdown to Ariel Deloney for a layup. Deloney then follows with another layup. Thompson drives for 2 and Pengi Mboma lays one in. Malik El-Amin then drives and forces one up that goes down to conclude a 15-1 Polars run over 5 minutes and its 60-54 North with 8:15 left. Robinson and Thompson take us down the stretch. Robinson with 4 FTs, then a steal for 2. Then a putback and a swat that eventually turns into a Freeman jumper that concludes an 8-0 run (Thompson had a jumper before the run). 64-62 Richfield at 5:50. Thompson with a free throw to cut it to 1. After a Richfield putback, Thompson finds Devine for a layup (we'll draw this play up in the X and O segment) and its 66-65 Richfield at 4:10. Chris Williams gets a layin from Jay Sewer and then is fouled by Puckett on a 3. He calmly makes all 3 of the foul shots and the Richfield lead is 71-65 with 3 minutes to go. Puckett makes a couple of triples late and its 74-71 Richfield at 43.3. Williams makes 2 more free throws and Freeman makes 1 0f 2 with 14.6 left to seal a 77-73 Richfield win.

For North, Kevin Thompson is a scary player. 6'3 and athletic and willing to play in or out. A pleasure to watch this summer with 94 Ft of Game. I just wish North would have run more postups for him as Richfield had no answer for him on the box. He finished with 23 points. Spencer Puckett with 4 triples from the PF spot. 21 points for him and a very nice day. Mark Devine with 4-6 swats. Not much of an offensive player, but he can be a real presence for teams coming into the lane. Charles Smith is a freshman that might turn into a player to keep an eye as time progresses.

For Richfield, Philip Freeman out of his mind in the 2nd half with 20 points and 28 total. Renard Robinson with 25 and he was clutch in leading the Spartans back from the 6 point deficit with 8 to play. Jay Sewer goes scoreless but his initial penetration was the initiation of the sequences that got Freeman off to start the 2nd half. Richfield just has no size and I was surprised they didn't extend the court more with all of the quick guards they have. Then again they only play 7 so that could be part of it.

X and O of the Day
In the X and O segment, a backdoor lob that we talked about above. 1-4 high set. Malik El-Amin enters to Thompson on the right wing (important as Thompson is a lefty). El-Amin then goes and sets a ball screen for Thompson. Devine is on the ball side high-post and he also screens. As Thompson comes off the screens (where he should look to score 1st and didn't), El-Amin doubles back and sets a backscreen for Devine for the lob.

Sewer Directs The Spartans in Richfield Battle

Jauson Sewer scores 14 points, dishes out 7 assists and has 3 rebounds as the Richfield Spartans defeat Holy Angels in the battle of Richfield. The Spartans who where only up 2 points at the half, turn it up in the 2nd half and go on to the 65-55 win.

Jauson Sewer Receives YFG Invite

Jauson Sewer receives invitation to train with and compete with student atheletes from over 25 countries at the Youth Friendship Games, an Olympic-style sports festival in Holland, in July 2009.

1st Look: Top Jr Prospects - TNL's Sewer #13

by Ryan James
The BREAKDOWN
(updated 11/21/2008)

Check below for the most current standing of the top junior prospects in Minnesota. But remember, these are not the top high school players, but top 20 college prospects. Expect this list to shuffle around soon.

1. Chad Calcaterra, C, Cloquet
2. Kevin Noreen, SF, Minnesota Transitions
3. Cole Stefan, sg, Minnetonka
4. Jacob Thomas, sg, Columbia Heights
5. Marshall Bjorklund, PF, Sibley East
6. Mike Rostampour, PF, Henry Sibley
7. Jake Kreuser, C, Henry Sibley
8. D.J. Peterson, SG, Hopkins
9. Dyami Starks, SG, Duluth East
10. Taylor Filipek, SF, Willmar
11. Brett Ervin, SF, Eden Prairie
12. Tor Anderson, SG, Minnetonka
13. Jauson Sewer, SG, Richfield
14. Clay Horne, SF, Cretin-Derham Hall
15. Ben Bucholz, PF, Perham
16. Tony Gerdling, PG, Centenntial
17. Jordan Hughes, PG, Mpls. Patrick Henry
18. Leonard Glass, SF, Minnetonka
19. Trevor Gruis, PG, Ellsworth
20. Ryan Duxbury, PF, Stillwater

Congratulations To Devon, Jasper & Jauson!

Congratulations to Devon Knopke, Jasper Duberry & Jauson Sewer for making the 2008 Breakdown FAB 40 Juniors list.

Nothing's Junior About Their Skills ...

by Ryan James
The BREAKDOWN
(updated 11/5/2008)

The 2010 prospect rankings are being sorted through right now but you may not see some of the state’s top juniors at the top of the list. The reason for that is simple, some of the best juniors in state are just not very tall. However, what they lack in height some of these kids surely bring in game.

Minneapolis Patrick Henry’s Jordan Hughes was listed at 5-foot-7 last year and Richfield’s Jauson Sewer is a taller 5-foot-9. Hughes produced 19 points a game highlighting the year with some incredible shooting performances beyond the arc and he helped lead the Patriots to the final four in state. Sewer put up 12 a game as a sophomore and then went on to have a breakout spring and summer showcasing some monster games that has produced him division one college interest. Sewer is also an impressive shooter from deep and he has outstanding lift on his shot.

Division one schools are most certainly aware of Hughes and Sewer but teams at the highest level will wait because of the size. While teams are waiting to find somebody with similar abilities only six or seven inches taller some other mid or low major teams are going to take a chance on Hughes or Sewer and receive the benefits. Although I have heard that Jordan does have some grade concerns so he may have to go through the junior college route first which is just fine and has worked out great for several Minnesotans lately.

There are several others under six-foot junior guards in Minnesota that will also make a big impact this year. Hughes’s teammate Louis Cox at Henry is also very talented and he can fill up the stat sheets with his jumper. Eastview point guard Vinard Birch had a great summer and was dynamite in the AAU state title game. Vinard might just be the more feared on-ball defender in his class. Aaron Anderson of Osseo has much explosion along with a scoring touch to boot. He will play both guard positions for his team this year and Aaron really has a smooth game.

Others like Dajon Newell of Lakeville North and Michael Johnson of Grand Rapids are also strong players and under the six foot mark as juniors. Champlin Park’s Jasper Duberry fit the category last year as 5-foot-11 although in the Minnehaha Fall League I thought he had grown some near the six-foot mark but his talent deserves the mention nonetheless. Duberry and Zerrick Fuller will give the Rebels a strong duo of lead guards to run the team with.

The Czar's Classic Suburban Preview ...

The Czar picks Richfield To Finish 4th;
1. Henry Sibley
2. Tartan
3. St Thomas Academy

Richfield Spartans (2007 Season 13-14, 10-6)
Continuing the theme of small teams, Richfield also lacks size. But they have a ton of small and quick guards. Despite the loss of leading scorer DeAaron Hearn who transfered to Washburn, offense won't be hard to come by. Junior Jay Sewer had a big summer. Renard Robinson will be their power forward at 6'2, but he's one of the better rebounding guards around. Chris Williams and Philip Freeman also return. Shooter Chris Daly graduated so they'll have to find someone who can consistently make the 3.

Week 1 @ The Breakdown

Boys Premier Performance Players of the Week

*Alex Richter, Soph, Lakeville South
*Trey Scott, Sr, Spring Lake Park
*Jauson Sewer, Jr, Richfield

Team of the Week: Columbia Heights

Week 2 Results At The MBA League

TNL 70 - Minnehaha Academy 76
Team played well in a 76 – 70 lost to Minnehaha Academy. Team lead thru out until the last five minutes when some questionable calls were repeadetly made. Minnehaha got 7 straight points in the last 2 minutes to go from 1 down to 6 up. Taylor Sparkman with the 1st five of those points to lead the Redhawks to the 76-70 win. Big games by Duberry and Zimmermann.

TNL - 53 - Mpls Deamons 35
In their second game the team played with only six players do to prior commitments but had no problem knocking off the Mpls Deamons 53-35.

• Jauson Sewer (Richfield)
• Kyle Zimmermann (Champlin Park)
• Jordan Reibling (Champlin Park)
• Josh Pella (Champlin Park)
• Josh Pratt (St Anthony)
• Eric Sandstad (Champlin Park)

The team played good defense and kept the bigger Deamons off balance the entire game. Good game by Reibling who brought it on both ends reeking havoc on the Deamon guards. Sewer found his legs and knocked down a ton of shots with Zimmermann playing well. Pratt knocked down some long shots to answer a couple of Deamon runs. Eric Sanstad (6’7) who was a sub for the weekend made his size noticeable and played well in the paint.

Jauson Sewer Creating Interest At Colorada State

Week 1 Resuts At The MBA Fall League

(Click here for more Twin Cities Boys Hoops)

Week 1 of the MBA Fall League
Fall leagues opened today with a full day of action at Minnehaha Academy as part of the Minnesota Basketball Assocation fall league. I attended the 1st half of the day (4 boys sessions) and here's what I saw.

Session 1: Coon Rapids vs TNL Express (Champlin Park based)
A battle of NW Suburban foes in the opening session. 28-24 TNL at the half and then a couple of Jay Sewer 3s in the 2nd half breaks the game open. TNL goes on to a 62-48 win. Sewer with 5 triples and a total of 22 pts in the win. Jasper Duberry with 20 points for TNL. Ben Baker with 10 pts and 7 rebs for Coon Rapids in the loss.

Session 2: Maple Grove vs Redhawks (Minnehaha Academy)We continue the NW Suburban theme here as they take on the home team. No Taylor Sparkman for the Redhawks. I believe it was David Burnham on the bench watching and Greg Meyer playing but I may have them reversed. I'm going with Meyer and an apology if I mixed them up. 23-22 Maple Grove at halftime. Nothing for Meyer in the 1st half. MG comes out in a 2-3 zone in the 2nd half after playing man in the 1st half. This gets them out to a 41-33 lead with 9:10 to play. Them Meyer hits a 3 and gets a 3 pt play and Parker Hines knocks down a 3 to complete a 14-0 Redhawks run. 47-41 Minnehaha with 3:20 left. MG only gets 1 FG and 3-6 FTs in the last 9:10. Minnehaha goes on to win 56-47. Meyer with 9 pts, all in the 2nd half. Hines with 7 late points to put the game away.

In other session 2 action, Maple Grove JV def Blake 65-62.

Session 3: TNL Express vs Park Center
Tied at 26 at the break. Devon Knopke comes out and has a great 2nd half and we're tied at 46 with 5:20 to play. A 4 point play and a TNL technical foul give PC a 54-49 lead with 2 minutes left. But TNL gets the next 6 as Knopke gets the assist on a 3 with 45.2 seconds to play to give TNL a 55-54 lead. PC gets a layup with 28 seconds left to regain the lead. TNL then gives Knopke the ball again on a clear out and he delivers with a nice floater in the lane with 3 seconds left to give TNL the 57-56 win. Jasper Duberry made a living at the FT line in this game (7-9 FTs) and finished with 11 points. Jay Sewer quiet with 10 points.

In other session 3 action, Edison defeats Coon Rapids 58-46 after the scoreboard operator flipped the teams on the scoreboard. A shame to see situations like that. Armstrong blew out Maple Grove 86-67.

Session 4: Armstrong vs St. Paul CentralNo Ted Vogt for Armstrong but their guards were out in force in this game. Armstrong out to a quick 11-4 lead after 2 and a half minutes. 42-28 Armstrong at halftime. Central gets as close as 51-45 with 12 minutes to play, but a 17-4 Armstrong run puts the game away. Falcons win 77-57.

A typical Armstrong game with at least 9 triples. That includes a very cold shooting game for Damarius Cruz who started 2-12 before making a couple in the 2nd half. 4-15 shooting overall with 9 points. Andy Seidlitz with 3 triples and 15 points. David Weber with a real nice game of 4 triples and 16 points. Seidlitz had 9 triples in a JV game vs Hopkins last season. A real sniper and you know coach Miller will get him good looks over the next 2 seasons.

In other session 4 action, Dunwoody Academy blew out Blake 50-27. Minnehaha held off the Mpls Demons 72-65 after leading by 13 at halftime. The Demons squad has Jalen Jaspers and Jonah Travis of De La Salle as players of note.

Random thoughts from the day's action:
TNL's running game is fun to watch in addition to their trapping style defense. The long outlet pass off of a score or rebound is what makes it go and it appears they really work on that.

Along similar lines, Champlin Park had better be a running and trapping team this year as Josh Pella and Kyle Zimmermann will be their biggest players. The loss of Calvin Nolte and Emeka Okafor is definitely something big for the Rebels.

Dunwoody Academy has some athletes, but they too are a small team.
Sloppy play all day and a surprising amount of playground antics like behind the back passes.
Henry Sibley joins the party next week. Should be real interesting to see how they look.

Posted by Twin Cities Hoops Czar at 3:27 PM
Labels: 2008 Fall Leagues

The Future Of North Dakota State University Basketball ...

Another great recruiting tool, City of Fargo approved the new NDSU basketball arena project to expand the FFD!!

Jauson Sewer Creating Interest At Kent State

Due To Prior Commitments ... Sewer To Miss NDSU Elite Jr Event

Jauson Sewer Creating Interest At Tulsa

Jauson Sewer Creating Interest At North Dakota State