The true outcome of Saturday’s first annual Urban Dreams Classic at North High School won’t be determined until May when a couple of scholarship awardees are announced.
In the meantime, we can report that DeLaSalle High School from Minneapolis came out on top in a fiercely fought basketball game that was much tighter than the final score of 76-64 suggests.
The unlikely named Islanders are the top-ranked team in the Class 3A tier of Minnesota’s four-class hierarchy. Their lineup features two D1 college recruits, Stanford-bound guard Tyrell Terry and rugged forward Jamison Battle, headed for George Washington University next year.
Ultimately, they overcame North, ranked #6 in Iowa’s latest 4A power rankings. The Polar Bears, led by all-time DMPS leading scorer Tyreke Locure, who’s committed to play his college ball at South Alabama, are the state’s highest scoring team, quick of both hands and feet and not at all shy when it comes to shooting.
The host team led by seven at halftime, 38-31. Intermission featured a joint announcement by North principal Ben Graeber and Izaah Knox, Executive Director of Urban Dreams, the Northside nonprofit human services agency that’s been a community mainstay since 1985.
“Proceeds from tonight will benefit our booster club and help fund two scholarships that will be awarded by Urban Dreams to North seniors in the spring,” said Graeber.
The game seesawed in the second half and was tied as late as midway in the 4th quarter when North sophomore Malik Allen scored to knot things at 60. DeLaSalle burst back in front by six, but a pair of buckets by Locure brought North within two at 66-64.
Late turnovers dug the Polar Bears into a hole and left them no choice but to foul as the Islanders, with Terry leading the way, ended the game on a 10-0 run.
Nothing was at stake besides border war bragging rights as two fine teams tuned each other up for stretch runs toward their respective state tournaments. Both might end the season as winners.
The tipoff edition of the Urban Dreams Classic was a winner, the first step toward Knox’s vision of a one-day, multi-team tournament.
Who’s got next?
