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St. Paul Como Park upends Minneapolis South to clinch Twin Cities Championship

By Sarah Johnson, SportsEngine, 02/22/20, 10:30AM CST

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The Cougars have won six consecutive Twin Cities Championship titles and are winners of 13 straight games heading into the postseason.

St. Paul Como Park's Ronnie Porter makes a move to the inside around Minneapolis South's Shanice Cox (23). Porter led the Cougars to their sixth straight City Championship on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

St. Paul Como Park's Ronnie Porter makes a move to the inside around Minneapolis South's Shanice Cox (23). Porter led the Cougars to their sixth straight City Championship on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

For the sixth consecutive year, the Twin Cities championship will not only be staying in the capital city, it will be staying with St. Paul’s Como Park as it defeated Minneapolis South 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at Como Park High School. 

After winning last year’s championship by a single point, the Cougars, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, earned their 13th consecutive victory with a defensive intensity often highlighted by full court pressure.

“Up-tempo” is how Como Park coach Alexis Gray-Lawson described her team’s style of play, which is like saying the Daytona 500 is a nice car ride. 

“Our practices are like this,” she said. “We like to tire teams out.”

Kaylynn Asberry sinks a three-point shot for the Cougars after being left alone on the perimeter in the first half.  St. Paul Como Park defeated Minneapolis South 68-61 at Como Park Senior High. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Kaylynn Asberry sinks a three-point shot for the Cougars after being left alone on the perimeter in the first half. St. Paul Como Park defeated Minneapolis South 68-61 at Como Park Senior High. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

First Report

For the sixth consecutive year the Twin Cities championship will stay with St. Paul Como Park, as the Cougars defeated Minneapolis South 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at Como Park High. 

Led by sophomore guard Ronnie Porter’s 21 points and six assists, the Cougars, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, held off the Tigers with defensive intensity often highlighted by full court pressure.

Leading 39-30 at halftime, Como Park (19-4, 10-0) withstood several runs in the second half, including two South steals in the last minute of the game to bring the Tigers (24-3, 12-0) within four points.

Cloey Dmytruk had 14 points and six blocks for Como Park, while teammate Kaylynn Asberry added 14 points.

Jade Hill, a junior guard who scored 28 points, and her sister, eighth-grader Angel Hill, recorded 19 points for South, accounting for 77% of the Tigers’ scoring.

Minneapolis South's Jade Hill (4) shoots over defender Kaylynn Asberry. Hill leads the Tigers' offense, scoring 725 points in 26 games this season. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Minneapolis South's Jade Hill (4) shoots over defender Kaylynn Asberry. Hill leads the Tigers' offense, scoring 725 points in 26 games this season. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

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