Big Blue Update -- Tourney Time!

It was a succesful first day for Big Blue in the year-end tournament played at Island Lake in Shoreview, with two victories that send them to the semifinals.

Big Blue began the day with the fifth seed in the 13-team tournament. The first game this morning was a rematch against eighth seed Irondale 6 (the Orange team) and the lads cruised to a 56-30 victory. Ben did not score, missing on a few open jumpers that rattled around on him. But he did add at least four rebounds and a steal against our overmatched friends from the west side of 35W.

That brought us to the second round game, a rematch against third seed Mounds View 75, a team that had narrowly beaten Big Blue earlier in the season. It was a hard-fought contest but Big Blue was able to pull away in the second half and defeat the green-clad 75 squad by a final score of 43-32. It was a defensive struggle all the way and our kids were able to eventually crack the tight 2-3 zone that the 75 squad played. Ben didn't score in the second game either, but grabbed rebounds and played very good defense.

The wins send Big Blue's overall record to 10-3 on the season and they take the court tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. against the second seed, Mounds View 74. This is a team that our charges did not face in the regular season so it will be an interesting challenge. A win would put Big Blue in the championship game at 1 p.m., likely against Roseville 5, the undefeated juggernaut that has looked very impressive all season long. The challenge will be great and a lot of fun. Both games are at Island Lake in Shoreview. As always, trust Mr. Dilettante for exhaustive coverage of in-house 7-8 basketball in northwest Ramsey County. And what could be better, really?