Monday, December 15, 2008

Tip-Off Classic

For the past six years Minnesota Sports Preview, the organization that publishes "The Breakdown", has organized what is now called the "Tip Off Classic". It is an event in which the Breakdown Staff looks to showcase teams from across the state and provide unique, as well as competitive, match ups. It not only showcases top rated teams who have state tournament aspirations but it also pits "small schools" against the "big schools".

In the beginning this event was called the "David and Goliath Classic" and the Pelican Rapids girls were one of four teams that were invited to compete in its inaugural games back in 2004.

The 2A Vikings were pitted against Annandale, a highly ranked 3A school. The Viking girls won the game and Nikki Toso was named the games MVP! Following the girls game the highly rated 1A school of Ulen-Hitterdal went head to head against metro powerhouse Hopkins. Hopkins survived the night with only a two point victory but more importantly hoops fans liked the format of the event.

Fast forward six years and the Viking boys were identified as a team with all the right credentials and they were invited to match up against 4A Duluth East. Here is what Ryan James, a writer for the "Breakdown", had to say about the event:


Saturday Night Recap: Tip-Off Classic by Ryan James
(updated 12/15/2008)


You had to feel bad for the Greyhounds from Duluth East. They were excited to be involved with the Tip-Off Classic when named to the event but last Tuesday they realized they would be playing against the second ranked team in Class AA (Pelican Rapids) without their best player in Dyami Starks. Starks, the star junior do everything guard, twisted his ankle and was unavailable so the Greyhounds traveled down the 35 and across the state on 23 about four and a half hours to be defeated 78 to 41.

Tydan Storrusten made the game look very simple dropping numerous dimes and controlling the contest from all angles. His play reminded me a lot of what Bryce Tesdahl did last season hitting deep jumpers, scoring at the rim, and breaking apart the defense with backdoor passes, and dishes off of penetration.

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Ty did have a great game and was given the honor of being the games MVP. The team, however, played like a team of MVP's as their defense, rebounding and over-all team play was a lot of fun to watch.

How much of a difference would have Dyami Starks made???? I still see the Vikings dominating the game and winning by 15+. It was pretty disappointing for the boys and the coaches that Starks was injured. This is a team that wants and needs to play against the best.

No matter how much fun it is to blow a team out of the water. . .a team of this caliber would rather be in the "fire" of a competitive game. These types of games may be on the horizon but we may have to wait until the Christmas tournament games in Moorhead on the 29th and 30th for the Vikings to be tested.

The two games that follow the Moorhead tournament games will also be a test for the Vikings. The first will be on January 3rd when the boys travel to the Target Center to face Cloquet. Cloquet has size, two 6'10" centers, on the roster which will offer the Vikings a match-up challenge. Then, on January 6th, the Vikings will face off against Breckenridge. The Cowboys will be the team that stands in between the Vikings and an HOL title this year.

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