Northwest Suburban Conference foes Blaine and Champlin Park were reacquainted with each other in the finals of the Breakdown Summer Showcase Silver bracket this Sunday after reasonably strong prior bracket victories. In the final, Blaine pulled out the 53-49 victory to earn bragging rights for the summer.

Blaine defeated Buffalo, 38-32, and then took out traditionally strong Owatonna, 52-46. Senior Alex Cappard stepped up to perform multiple roles directing the offense at point guard plus slashing to the rim for scores. The former 9th grade B-team player has improved his game to the level of a varsity starter and this weekend he showed he has the ability to be a standout.

Along with Cappard was returning all-conference shooter Tanner Schumacher and ultra athletic Duke Anywanu. “The Duke” of course had his trademark lockdown defense on display, plus he showed he is quite the creative passer on the move opening teammates up for jump shots and slashing lay-ups. Schumacher knocked down several perimeter jumpers, including a three trey make session inside of five minutes that made an Owatonna lead a distant memory.

While Blaine had to battle to the finals, the Rebels from Champlin Park held double figure leads through most of the quarterfinal and semifinal contests. They beat up and comer St. Peter (who fought back several times after falling behind double digits), 49-45, and then crushed Prior Lake (missing three expected starters) by nearly 20 points.

Guard Zach Johnson controlled the pace of the game with his waterbug-like movements with the basketball slipping in and out of the clutches of the defense. Johnson hit some key shots and found teammates for production, specifically Anthony Hill.

Hill looks like he is going to be amongst the scoring leaders of the Northwest Suburban Conference all year long. Anthony used his strength, first step off the dribble, and his touch to finish opponents off both inside and out.

Overall the athletic ability and toughness of both Blaine and Champlin Park was too much for Prior Lake, Owatonna, St. Peter and Buffalo to deal with and it led to them meeting in the finals.

The championship game started ugly. The teams combined to make 14 of 41 first half shots and it took the Rebels over nine minutes to score their first points of the game. Blaine led 22-17 at the half behind the scrappy Josh Limberg. Limberg was the first half catalyst scoring 10 points with five rebounds.

The action picked up in the second half, giving the fans in attendance something to hoot and holler about. Anthony Hill scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half plus Anthony Adams attacked the cup for nine points and Trevor Garrison totaled nine points with a team high six rebounds.

The Rebels put up a fight but Blaine had an advantage in physical strength and some in experience. Schumacher continued his torrid shooting pace with five more made three-pointers and Limberg continued to control the glass grabbing a team high eight boards overall. Cappard kicked in eight points despite fighting off cramps and the Bengals walked out of Lakeville with a 53-49 victory and a Summer Showcase championship.

Quarterfinals
Prior Lake 37, St. Cloud Apollo 35
Champlin Park 49, St. Peter 45
Blaine 38, Buffalo 32
Owatonna 50, Mound-Westonka 38

Semifinals
Champlin Park 53, Prior Lake 38
Blaine 52, Owatonna 46

Third-place
Owatonna over Prior Lake

Consolation semifinals
St. Peter 56, St. Cloud Apollo 46
Mound-Westonka 42, Buffalo 32

Consolation third-place
Buffalo over St. Cloud Apollo

Consolation final
St. Peter over Mound-Westonka