By Dave Pedersen
January 11, 2007

Rubin is constant for Armstrong basketball

In a week of emotional ups and downs for the Armstrong boys basketball team, there was one constant - Alex Rubin.

Rubin averaged 20.8 points in the first nine games for the No. 7-ranked Falcons. Then he scored 27 in the thrilling 56-55 win over No. 4-rated Shakopee last Thursday. Rubin's 60-foot shot with one second to play won the thrilling game.

The week was capped with a 28-point effort in the 80-66 loss to district rival and state tourney runner-up Cooper Friday.

"Alex has been a dominate force," said coach Greg Miller. "He leads our team in rebounding, steals, assists and points. Plus, he is playing great defense and is unselfish."

Miller called it a "miracle shot" that beat Shakopee, a "once-in-a-lifetime deal when a guy makes a shot like that. It was unbelievable."

Shakopee took a two-point lead with 2.6 seconds to play. Armstrong's pass-in was overthrown and intercepted, forcing the Falcons to foul with 1.6 seconds left. Shakopee missed two free throws, leaving just one second for Armstrong to set up a final shot.

"The play wasn't going to me," said Rubin about how Scott Kaitz, the team's top 3-point shooter, was the go-to guy. "I got open and got the pass. I just let her fly. We joke around in practice by taking long shots from all over the place. I am not that good at it."

The Falcons have been missing the team's second leading scorer in 6-foot-4 senior forward Carter Biewen with an ankle injury. He is expected back by the end of January.

"It's been tough without Carter, and I felt I had to pick up the scoring slack," said Rubin, who can shoot the long shot and drive to the basket. "I try to take what the defense gives me."

Rubin and the Falcons have come close to advancing to state the past two years, losing in the section title game to Cooper last season.

"We hope this will be our year," adds Rubin. "For me, there is no next year. Cooper is just as good as last year, but so are we."

Armstrong lives and dies with the 3-point shot, and that was a key factor in the loss to Cooper. The Falcons made just 3 of 25 long-range shots. Tom Knorr, a 6-9 senior center, scored 16 points against Cooper and senior guard Ben Vathing added 15 points.

The Falcons took an 8-2 record into the Cooper game after placing second in the Catholic Spirit Tournament at the University of St. Thomas.

Armstrong opened with 53-38 win against Roseville, and then beat Woodbury, ranked No. 4 in the state at the time, 76-74. After losing 70-67 to No. 9 St. Paul Johnson, the Falcons bounced back to top Shakopee.

Rubin scored 65 points and had 18 assists for the tournament. Kaitz made nine 3-point shots combined in the last two games of the tournament, including hitting on five of six attempts against Johnson. Against Woodbury, junior Wes Hoefer added four 3-pointers.

The competition continues to be tough when the Falcons play host to Minneapolis Patrick Henry, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, Thursday, Jan. 11. A tough Forest Lake squad comes to face the Falcons Tuesday, Jan. 16. It is expected that Rubin will show up.