–Armstrong  applied to the Northwest Suburban but was turned down. Armstrong may turn to the North Suburban and apply there, but Armstrong officials don’t feel the North Suburban is a great fit for them.

–Hopkins and Wayzata have applied to the Northwest Suburban and are waiting to hear if that conference will accept their applications.

–Edina, Minnetonka and Wayzata have applied to the Lake Conference. Lake superintendents and principals will meet next week to consider those applications. If they are turned down by the Lake, expect them to apply next to the Northwest Suburban.

I get mixed reactions in talking with people from the Classic Lake schools. While an official from one school was optimistic today about being admitted to another league, someone from another school was very pessimistic, and others fell somewhere in between. The theme, I would say, is major uncertainty.

The Northwest Suburban is spearheading efforts to find a solution before the MSHSL has to step in, as mandated by the bylaws, and place the Classic Lake schools in new leagues. Representatives from eight metro conferences will meet for the second time later this month, and they will discuss realignment of several leagues. Today I was told by someone from the Northwest Suburban that when the eight leagues meet again, they will consider an idea I proposed in the Star Tribune in late November. To read that column, CLICK HERE. 

FIRST HALF

7:00 …We’re tied 14-14. Lots of turnovers and missed shots so far, along with five three-point baskets by five different players. New Prague is running but Jordan is doing a nice job of getting back on defense.

2:00 left in half … Jordan up 21-16 after Leah Dietel hits a three.

Halftime … Jordan leads 23-16. Brittany Chambers scored at the horn for Jordan.

SECOND HALF

12:00 left…Beautiful spinning drive by Chambers for a layup, then a three by Emily Clark and Jordan leads 30-20.

11:02…New Prague takes timeout. Baseline drive by Dietel has Jordan up 32-20.

7:35 … Jordan in front 35-24. New Prague’s press is slowing the Jaguars down, but New Prague can’t cut into the margin.

4:13 …Jordan’s lead has been trimmed to 37-32. Kayla Gill has scored six consecutive points for New Prague. Dietel has four fouls.

1:06…It’s 37-34 Jordan, and the Jaguars are in a delay offense. New Prague is fouling, and the next foul will put Jordan in the bonus.

16 seconds … Chambers makes two free throws, Jordan leads 39-34. And that’s the final score.

Scoring for Jordan: Chambers 12, Dietel 9, Michelle O’Malley 6, Ashley Hartman, Nora Hamer 3, Emily Clark 3. New prague: Maggie Weiers 11, Amanda Wagner 7, Kayla Gill 6, Hannah Strop 6, Britt Rynda 4.

Each team has one loss, both coming against 4A powers. Jordan fell to Centennial in early December and New Prague lost to St. Paul Central a week later.

Things don’t get much easier for either team later this week, because Jordan will play host to 4A power Hopkins on Thursday and New Prague goes to Minneapolis South on Saturday. Hopkins is the No. 1 team right now but South, which beat Hopkins last week, should assume the No. 1 spot when this week’s poll is released.

See you in Jordan!

History was made at The Clash when Apple Valley and Simley finished first and second. Apple Valley had won one previous title in the seven-year history of The Clash, but the 1-2 finish by the Eagles and Simley was the first time two Minnesota teams finished atop the 32-team field. If those two teams don’t win repeat state titles (Valley in 3A, Simley in 2A), something is wrong.

The Clash always brings out a packed house at the Regional Sports Center in Rochester, a modern, roomy venue that is the perfect place for this event. There is much more room for fans to spread out at the Shootout, because even though tickets cost just 10 dollars, large crowds are rare. And due to budget constraints, the Timberwolves weren’t able to bring in top teams from across the nation. The out-of-state teams this time came from Wisconsin and South Dakota instead of places like California, Tennessee and Alabama.

The game between Henry Sibley and Madison (Wis.) Memorial was the best of the day, with Memorial winning 67-64. Sibley plays host to Hopkins on Friday in a matchup of the top two teams in Minnesota, and you just know the Hopkins coaching staff learned something watching Memorial use a halfcourt zone trap to distrupt Sibley’s offense down the stretch. The Warriors committed four consecutive turnovers in the final couple minutes, and that was the difference in the game.

Jeronne Maymon led Memorial with 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting, and also had 13 rebounds. Vander Blue scored 16 for the Spartans. Muke Bruesewitz led Sibley with 20 points and 10 boards, Chris Halvorsen scored 16 and Maurice Hernandez had 11.

Memorial’s Jeronne Maymon, a 6-7 forward who has signed with Marquette, leads the scoring with 14 points. Wisconsin signee Mike Bruesewitz has 10 for Henry Sibley.

Sam Dower led Osseo with 22 points and Aaron Anderson had 19. Cody Larson had 14 for Roosevelt.

The 2 p.m. game is a big one: Henry Sibley vs. Madison (Wis.) Memorial. Sibley is No. 2 in 4A and Memorial is the No. 1 team in Wisconsin’s largest class.