DeLaSalle Islanders Hold Off Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders

A packed gym on the banks of the Mississippi River was the site for a Saturday night key nonconference boys basketball game where Dominic Bledsoe's three pointer with 2:13 left in regulation time that helped the host DeLaSalle Islanders beat the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders 60-59.

For the fans who arrived a bit late due to the walk from the overflow parking on Island Ave., there was no scoring until Daniel Oturu opened the scoring 1:31 into the first half.  The Raiders would open the game on a 7-0 run that would end when Tyrell Terry's free throw erased the zero from the Islanders side of the scoreboard with 12:40 left in the half.  Gabe Kalscheur would score four straight points and Bledsoe would hit a three pointer to put DeLaSalle, the number one ranked team in Class AAA on a 12-0 run.  Jayden King would hit from Nicollet Island to end the run.  It would be Oturu, the junior who committed to Minnesota who would be a dominant presence on offense as well as defense as he scored three straight points.  King's three pointer would spark a 6-0 run and the Raiders led at halftime 23-18.

Oturu, the 6'10" junior, would open the second half scoring for CDH with four straight points.  DeLaSalle would go on a 7-0 run that included a three pointer from Kalscheur and four straight points from Sage Booker.  Christian Dickson would put the Islanders ahead on an assist from Terry.  Oturu would show good post play as he evened the game at 33 and eventually put the Raiders ahead.  The Islanders would vault into the lead as Goanar Mar scored on a dunk.  King would hit a three pointer to put CDH ahead and Oturu would hit a three point play.  Mar would hit a free throw to tie the game at 51 and Bledsoe's three pointer would put DeLaSalle ahead. Mar would get a steal and a score to put the Islanders ahead with 1:02 to play. But Oturu would bring the Raiders back to a one point lead with :30.1 DeLaSalle would go up by three and CDH would go for the last shot after a time out was taken with :18 to go.  A three pointer was missed and Oturu scored on a rebound as time expired to keep the game from heading into overtime.

Mar led the Islanders with 15 points.  Other players in double figures were Kalscheur with 14 points, Terry and Bledsoe added 10.  Oturu led the Raiders with 25 points.  King had 11 and Ryan Larson 10.

DeLaSalle improved their record to 17-2 and returns to action on Tuesday, February 14 as they host the Columbia Heights Hylanders at 7 PM. CDH, ranked seventh in Class AAAA, will travel to Forest Lake on the 14th for a 7:15 game against the Rangers.