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Tip Off Classic recap: Maple Grove vs. Hopkins

By Ryan James, Northstar Hoops Report, 12/13/14, 5:00PM CST

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Maple Grove bested Hopkins immediately after the tap.  Sophomore shooter Jack Hutchison hit a couple treys, Brad Davison hit three early jumpers, and Reed Nikko threw down a pair of alley-oop jams as Davison lobbed over the top.  In fact all those baskets we listed were either scored by Davison, or Brad assisted to teammates for those scores. 

Nikko not only intimidated opponents going over the top for the pair of dunks, he also scored four times in the first half overall. On the other side of the court Nikko swatted an early Hopkins shot hard towards the baseline seating area.  Each and every Nikko play was met with an excited crowd response.  Davison scored 17 in the first half as Maple Grove held a 45-29 lead at the break.

If you’ve seen Hopkins play you knew the run was coming.  It came last week against the best team in Iowa (Iowa City West) and it was going to come tonight.  John Warren got his team going with three treys and another jumper to go with it.  This built momentum plus John was defending with as much effort and intensity as he could put together.  It rubbed off on his teammates.

Next Vincent Shahid got into the act.  First Shahid defended with the traditional intensity and drive of a Hopkins lead guard, and then he scored.  In bunches.  Shahid attacked right off ball screens and it didn’t matter how well Maple Grove defended him, Shahid hit.  Vinnie attacked middle to score and sunk three trues.  The last of which made this a 62-61 game.

Hopkins fans were going wild.  Maple Grove needed a timeout.  The Royals seemed to have complete the comeback.  But they didn’t.  Brad Davison took control when his team needed him to the most.  He scored at the rim once and complete several free throws.  With 40 seconds to go Tywhon Pickford hit a pair of tosses and the differential was ten points (71-61).  Hopkins wasn’t able to make up the difference falling 75-69.

Statistics

Score by half: Maple Grove 45-30--75, Hopkins 29-40--69

Hopkins:  Vincent Shahid 22,  John Warren 21, Graham Hutson 8, Greg Warshaw 3, Erik Davis 8, Ishmael El-Amin 5, Simon Wright 2

Maple Grove:  Mitch Rekstad 3, Tywhon Pickford 9, Jared Martinson 4, Jack Hutchison 14, Brad Davison 30, Kayode Awosika 6, Reed Nikko 9

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