Transitions wins with tons of offense and a bit of defense

The Class 1A semifinalists combined to attempt 128 shots -- with 50 of them being three-point tries -- and score 164 points.

By JOHN MILLEA, Star Tribune

Last update: March 28, 2008 - 10:51 PM

Here is what we knew before the starter's gun was fired at Friday's first semifinal game in the Class 1A boys' basketball state tournament: Cass Lake-Bena averaged 98.1 points this season and Minnesota Transitions averaged 94.4.

At halftime the numbers were on track. Transitions was in front 47-45 after 18 minutes of rock 'em, sock 'em, NASCAR on hardwood that included 70 field-goal attempts, 25 three-point tries and just nine fouls.

In case anyone inside Target Center was wondering if the big four-sided scoreboard would be sagging under the weight of a couple hundred points by game's end, another omen arrived when two members of the Harlem Globetrotters walked into the gym.

Curly Neal and Wildkat Edgerson made a halftime television appearance, pushing ticket sales for the Globetrotters' April 11 appearance at Target Center. The expected opponent on that date is the Washington Generals, but Friday's contest featured no team that was willing to take it on the chin.

Transitions is a 12-year-old Minneapolis charter school making its first appearance in the state tournament. Cass Lake-Bena is one of the great basketball powers in Minnesota, reaching the big show for the fourth time since 2001. The Panthers lost a one-point decision to Ellsworth in last year's title game.

Cass Lake-Bena has 179 students in grades nine through 12 and Transitions has 178. If the basketball teams are any indication of how things go in the classrooms at both schools, speed reading must be part of the curricula and the term "accelerated learning" is code for the old hoops strategy of Fire and Fall Back.

Transitions put up six three-point attempts before the game was four minutes old, and the Wolves hit four of them. Cass Lake-Bena was less inclined to shoot from behind the line, but "less inclined" is a relative term. In the midst of all the long-range artillery, spinning drives to the hoop and otherwise wide-open basketball, a fan sitting in the front row hollered, "This is NBA!"

If he meant the National Breakneck Association, he was correct.

The pace didn't hold in the second half, although the shooting did. Transitions' defense began to take a toll on Cass Lake-Bena, and the Wolves steadily pulled away to an 87-77 victory. They will meet Ellsworth for all the 1A marbles today.

"We always say that defense wins championships. But give credit to Transitions," Cass Lake-Bena coach Dan Ninham said. "Their defense was tough and they held us."

It seems a little odd to think that defense can be key for a team that averages almost 100 points. But amid the running and gunning by Transitions, there were defensive stars. Kevin Noreen, a 6-8 potential-laden sophomore, blocked four shots and made two steals. Quick-handed guards Virgil Baker and Kavarian Williams kept Cass Lake-Bena's offense off balance.

Anyone who saw the game, however, went home watching mental replays of end-to-end sprints and long-distance shots from other zip codes. The teams combined to shoot 128 field goals (50 of them -- 50! - were three-pointers) and score 164 points.

Defense might win championships. But a little high-flying offense doesn't hurt.

John Millea • jmillea@startribune.com

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