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West metro notebook: Howard Pulley team stays unbeaten but suffers injuries

By Star Tribune, 05/21/16, 4:45PM CDT

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The Howard Pulley Panthers 17-under boys’ basketball team is still the only undefeated team on the 40-team Nike EYBL national summer basketball circuit.

The Howard Pulley Panthers 17-under boys’ basketball team is still the only undefeated team on the 40-team Nike EYBL national summer basketball circuit after sweeping four games at EYBL Session 3 in Hampton, Va. It needed a 92-91 overtime victory over California Supreme to stay perfect.

Maple Grove’s Brad Davison stepped up with 37 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. His play contributed to offers from North Carolina State and Georgia Tech.

The Panthers are 11-0 on the EYBL circuit and 29-0 overall.

The tournament victories came with a price, however. Apple Valley’s Tre Jones, a first-team All-Metro point guard, broke his thumb before the game against California Supreme and is expected to be out for up to six weeks. Guard D.J. Hunter broke a bone in his foot and will miss five weeks.

Battle of No. 1s

Blake’s 4-3 victory over East Ridge was a battle of favorites in next month’s boys’ tennis state tournament. Playing in different classes, they won’t meet in the tournament. Blake, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 1A, swept the doubles and got a victory at No. 2 singles by sophomore Jack Barker. For East Ridge, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, the loss was its only one of the season.

It’s good for tennis fans that the teams met, if only to give some perspective to the regular season.

Make it five for Millers

With its 6-1 victory over St. Paul Harding Monday, Minneapolis Washburn won its fifth straight Twin City boys’ tennis championship. The Millers finished the regular season 16-4 and earned the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye in the Class 2A, Section 6 playoffs, behind top seed Edina and Eastview.

Knights clinch title

After a season-opening loss to Rogers, the St. Michael-Albertville baseball team reeled off 11 consecutive victories and reached No. 3 in the state coaches association rankings. They swooned briefly, losing three of four (the only victory coming against Rogers, avenging the early loss) but they righted themselves with a 15-hit attack in a 14-4 victory over Big Lake, clinching the Mississippi 8 Conference title.

Jim Paulsen

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