Apple Valley Boys, Eastview Girls Win Tip Off Classic Matchups

Saturday’s Breakdown Sports USA Tip Off Classic matchup between Apple Valley and DeLaSalle at Hopkins’ Lindbergh Center was billed as a battle of champions. Apple Valley is the defending boys’ Class 4A champion, and DeLaSalle is the defending 3A champion. In the end, though, Apple Valley came off looking much more like a champion.

The Eagles closed the first half with a 36-28 and held on to that momentum into the second to secure a 73-63 win.

Senior point guard Tyus Jones scored a game high 29 points, along with 11 assists and seven rebounds. Freshman guard Gary Trent Jr. sank 18 points. Sophomore center Brock Bertram scored eight points and tallied a game high 11 rebounds. And senior forward Robert Tobroxen scored seven points.

Also at the classic, Eastview’s girls’ team held off Chaska in a hard-fought 52-50 victory. The Lightning held a solid 27-19 lead at the half, but Chaska rallied in the second to close the gap.

Junior guard Madison Guebert led Eastview with 18 points. Senior guard Kari Opatz scored 14. Junior forward Hana Metoxen scored eight.

The 10th-Annual Breakdown Sports USA Girls’ Tip Off Classic featured 12 girls’ games and three boys’ games, including the Apple Valley-DeLaSalle matchup. Fifteen of the 24 girls’ teams are in Breakdown Sports’ top 15 preseason rankings, including the No. 1 team in all four classes.