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Section 6AAA Playoffs

First Round-

Chisago Lakes 72

Brooklyn Center 45

It took one quarter for Chisago Lakes to live up to their number one seed. Down 9-1 to Brooklyn Center in the first quarter last Thursday in the first round of the section 6AAA playoffs, led by their seniors, the ‘Cats relaxed and started playing their game. The rest is history.

“We came out a little too hyped. It was a long time between our last game and that one, it seemed like forever. The guys were just hyped, we didn’t have enough patience. Once we settled down we started playing,” said Herb Jangor, Chisago Lakes head boys basketball coach. “They came to play. They hit some shots early and put us in a hole. Mike Tschida hit some big shots and that helped us relax.”

Tschida hit two three-pointers in the first quarter, accounting for two of the Wildcats four field goals in the first. David Olson, Levi Secord, and Cameron Lallier also scored, helping Chisago finish the quarter on a 12-6 run.

Tschida, Olson, and Secord were just getting warmed up. In the second, the three seniors provided the type of senior output Jangor was looking for. Along with Kyle Collins, the Wildcat senior class accounted for all 21 Chisago points in the second. Olson hit for 11.

“Like I said before, the last couple of times we’ve been the number one seed, a sophomore has led us in scoring and we lost,” remarked Jangor. “You need to have your seniors step up and that’s what they did in the second quarter.”

Meanwhile, the Wildcats relaxed on defense as well, holding Brooklyn Center to just five points in the second, turning a 15-13 deficit into a 34-20 basketball game at the half. It’s official, the ‘Cats were back.

“We settled down and started playing team defense,” commented Jangor. “We were getting more aggressive. Realistically, we’re a slow starting team and that game was no exception. We just got that first quarter out of the way and after that we were fine.”

For the most part, the Wildcats were in cruise control the rest of the way. Once again, the ‘Cats senior class made most of the noise in the third quarter, striking 17 more points. As a team, Chisago Lakes scored 18 points in the third. With 13 points in the first half, Olson scored 10 more. In addition, Secord struck for five points and Tschida two. All three players finished the game in double figures.

“David was solid and Levi had a nice game. Mike hit some really big shots, Cameron (Lallier) played solid, he did a great job on the boards and played tremendous defense. All of our seniors did what they needed to do to get this team past the first round,” said Jangor.

Comfortably in front late in the third, Brooklyn Center made a mini-run to close the third and continued it into the early goings of the fourth quarter. Although the Chisago lead was still in double figures, Jangor called his team to the bench for one final piece of advice.

“I just told them that about five years ago, we were the number one seed and we were leading Mahtomedi by about 14 late in the game,” remembered Jangor. “They started hitting some shots, hit some lucky threes and things got out of control. I just reminded the kids that they had to finish. The guys responded and they finished.”

What was said- worked. Out of the break, the ‘Cats stopped the run and went on the offensive, closing the door by out-scoring the Centaurs down the stretch. A total of nine players scored for the Wildcats in the fourth. Chisago also went six of eight from the free throw line, securing a 72-45 win.

Olson finished the game with 26 points while Tschida added 13 and Secord scored 12. Secord also finished the game with 12 rebounds.

The victory improved the ‘Cats overall record to 23-4. More importantly, it punched their ticket to the section semifinals in Irondale on Tuesday, putting them two wins away from state. They will face Spring Lake Park in the semifinals.

“If we play the way we’re capable of, we should be in the title game. Spring Lake Park was the number five seed last year and they made it to state,” remarked Jangor. “They know they can beat us so we have to come out and take it to them.”

Chisago Lakes 72

Brooklyn Center 45

1 2 3 4 F

Brooklyn Cntr 15 5 10 15 45

Chisago Lakes 13 21 18 20 72

Scoring-

Olson 26, Tschida 13, Secord 12, Lallier 7, Collins 3, Claeson 2, Maher 2, Froberg 2, Golv 2, Sill 1, Maushart 1, Olness 1.

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