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Park Center holds off Cretin-Derham Hall at St. Thomas Invite

By Will Jarvis, SportsEngine, 12/27/16, 8:00AM CST

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The Pirates nearly blew a 12-point lead but held on to defeat the Raiders 64-61.



Park Center's Losini Kamara (11) drives on Cretin-Derham Hall's Jake Prince (2) during play Dec. 27 at the University of St. Thomas Invite. Park Center beat the Raiders 64-61. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine




Up by eight points in the final minute, a Park Center bench player walked away from the timeout huddle shaking his head.

“This is how we win every game,” he told his teammates.

The Pirates slowly gave up a comfortable lead. They led by 10 points in the final minutes, but mental mistakes and untimely turnovers gave Cretin-Derham Hall an opportunity for a late comeback.  

The statement turned out to be true, though, as the Pirates (6-0), ranked No. 4 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, held on for a 64-61 win over No. 9-4A Cretin-Derham Hall (2-3) on Tuesday night at the University of St. Thomas Invite.

It was the Pirates’ third win this season of five points or less, a drastic change from last year’s Park Center team.

“Last year we would have lost this game,” said junior Jarius Cook, who scored a team-high 17 points. “This team is special, though.”

Cook said last year’s team was troubled by egos and discipline. Players focused on padding stats instead of team play. Free throws were missed down the stretch. Last year’s 16-10 regular season record was evidence of such troubles. In games decided by less than 10 points, they had a .500 record.

This year the undefeated Pirates have come out on top in close contests, though not without a healthy dose of drama. Tuesday night, Park Center missed free throws down the stretch and committed a number of poorly-timed turnovers in the final minutes. The Raiders had a chance to tie the game, but missed a deep buzzer-beater that would have forced overtime.

“We’ve just got to get better at closing these games,” coach James Ware said. “The positive is that we won, and they made the plays they needed to make to win the game. But I look at the negatives as opportunities to learn, and that’s what they’ve got to keep doing. A lot of these guys are young and haven’t been in this position before. They just need to get used to closing these games.”

Closing games was an issue last year and still is, but the ability to finish close games is thanks to competitive open gym practices, according to Cook and teammate Losini Kamara. Once the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) season ends, the Park Center team comes together in August for practices run by the players.

On paper, the practices are optional.

“But if you miss a day, coaches will let you know,” Kamara said. “Sometimes I think open gym is more competitive than games. It’s crazy.”

Cook chimed in, agreeing with Kamara's analysis.

“We go at each other. It gets intense,” Cook said.

High-flying dunks. Players taking charges. Trash talk.

“Then we get to practice, and we’re all good,” Kamara said, smiling. “You know, ‘I’m your boy, you’re my boy.’ It’s all good.”

The intense practices also led to a different attitude, the teammates said. While last year’s team struggled with individuals wanting to be stars, a different mindset emerged this fall. Kamara, who led the team in scoring entering Tuesday’s contest, focuses on facilitating offense for his teammates before worrying about his own stats.

In the first half against Cretin-Derham Hall, the senior was held scoreless and attempted just a few shots. But when his team needed a boost in the second half, he took his shots—culminating in a 10-0 solo run. He ended the game with 15 points.

“I think we’re the best team in the state,” Kamara said. “Games like this, it shows.”

Shortly after the game ended, Kamara swarmed his teammates after the Raiders missed the game-tying shot. Park Center was still undefeated, and the Pirates jumped into one another, celebrating.

While all this was happening, Ware stood on the other end of the court staring at the floor while taking a deep breath.

Kamara thinks his team is the state’s best. For Ware, it’s a process.

“We want to be the best, and that’s what we talk about,” Ware said. “Right now we’re trying to be the best.”

First Report

Park Center (6-0) held off a late Cretin-Derham Hall (2-3) run for a 64-61 win at the University of St. Thomas Invite Tuesday night. It was the Pirates' third win of five points or less this season.

The Raiders, ranked No. 9 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, trailed by 12 points at the half. A late second-half comeback gave them the ball in the final seconds, but Cretin-Derham Hall missed a deep three-pointer that would have forced overtime. Daniel Oturu finished with a team-high 19 points, and Ryan Larson scored 17.

Park Center senior Losini Kamara was held scoreless in the first half, but scored 15 second-half points to push the undefeated Pirates to their sixth win. Junior Jarius Cook finished with 17 points.

The No. 4-4A Pirates will face Wayzata on Wednesday.

Photo Gallery


Park Center guard Jarius Cook (21) with a jumper during Tuesday night's game against Cretin-Derham Hall. Cook finished with 17 points in the Pirates' win. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

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