The build up for this game was the EP guards against the mountain that is Henry Ellenson and that’s what the crowd got right off the bat, sort off.  After points points points and more points in the first several games defense took the stage in game four.  Getting open shots took a lot of hard work and quite honestly, talent. 

Henry Ellenson moves exceptionally well and even though EP has some size to check him they had a hard time doing anything about the big man when he was coming down hill.  Henry scored a first half high nine points while on the other end EP spread the ball around receiving equal scoring distribution from guards Grant Shaeffer, Andre Wallace, Sam Johnson, and Alex Ihrke.  Heading into the halftime break Shaeffer attacked middle and was met by defenders but before contact occurred he slipped a pass to Ihrke for a game tying trey at the buzzer (tied at 27).

Coming out of the break Rice Lake took Coach Kevin Orr’s inspirational words to heart as Henry Ellenson began snatching rebounds with authority including a put back score.  The big momentum push came after an Adam West trey that opened the lead to 37-27 which forced EP coach David Flom to get a time-out call.  A minute later the roof came off.  Henry Ellenson pulled down a d-board in traffic and sent a Kevin Love like outlet pass into the front court to West.  West then put the ball in the air and flying in from the backside Ellwood Ellenson caught over two guys in the air and threw down with two hands.  Captain McNasty it was and the roof just about blew off the Tonka gym as Rice Lake took a 43-31 advantage.

EP wasn’t done by any stretch and their comeback began when their full court press began to really take an affect.  One turnover became a Shaeffer score and then Andre Wallace lifted the EP crowd with a deep trey at the top the key cutting the lead to six points at 46-40.  EP’s trap was good until Shaeffer was called for foul number four.  Without the PG/QB Rice Lake broke it and the Ellenson brothers each scored in the paint twice building the lead to 60-46. Henry had a short runner and a deep three point play while Ellwood scored a pull-up jumper and baby hook and in the end it was Rice Lake 67, Eden Prairie 51.

Score by quarter: Rice Lake 27-40--67, Eden Prairie 27-24--51

Eden Prairie – Grant Shaeffer 8, Anthony Anderson 8, Alex Ihrke 14, Sam Johnson 6, Mark Gasner 1, Andre Wallace 10, Zach Horey 4

Rice Lake – Adam West 9, Ellwood Ellenson 12, Henry Ellenson 21, Ben Widdes 7, Shaen Magee 6, Brandyn Christmas 12