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Washburn upsets No. 1 ranked Johnson

By Jim Paulsen, Star Tribune, 03/05/11, 9:14PM CST

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Millers take down defending state champions in Twin Cities championship

Cedric Chappell was the calm in the chaos, the level-head in a topsy-turvy game. The senior forward kept the Millers from sinking into the abyss created by the Governors’ whirlwind style, leading Class 3A, No. 5 Washburn to an upset victory over defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Johnson in the Twin Cities championship.

“He’s our rock,” Washburn coach Reggie Perkins said. “We have a lot of young players and Cedric is the senior we look to keep his head and be a leader for the guys around him.”

Chappell, who plays bigger than his 6-foot-2 height would suggest, scored a team-high 22 points, 14 in the second half. He was equally effective on the boards as the Millers not only captured a years’ worth of bragging rights for the Minneapolis City Conference but also served notice that they will have something to say about who wins the state championship in the highly-competitive class.

“That’s my role on this team,” Chappell said. “I need to keep the team under control when the pressure starts to get to them.”

And pressure is Johnson’s game. Its only two losses on the season both had come against teams from outside Minnesota’s borders. With guards Estan Tyler and Roosevelt Scott – two players whose vastly different games compliment each other perfectly – leading an athletic group that can go 10 players deep, the Governors  thrive on confusion and pace.

But, outside of a 19-7 spurt at the end of the first half that put them in front 36-32 at the break, Washburn was up to the task. The Millers even turned the tables on Johnson in the second half, their half-court defense forcing a half-dozen turnovers on the perimeter that were turned into easy baskets.

“It was a 2-3 matchup zone,” Perkins said. “We wanted to extend the zone and pressure their shooters.”

Washburn took the lead for good with a 12-2 run late in the second half, spurred by the defense of Chappell, Jerry Pratt and the Anderson brothers, Nick and Dwight. The Millers held off a late Johnson run by making 12 of 16 free throws down the stretch.

Clarence Thomas added 18 points for Washburn. Scott scored a game-high 24 points, leading six Johnson players in double figures.

“This means so much to our team,” Perkins said. “We’ve got some young, inexperienced players. Now they know they can beat anyone if they play up to their abilities.”

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