Minnehaha Academy Redhawks Sink Lake City Tigers

Freshman sensation Jalen Suggs scored a game high 27 points and added 12 rebounds to lead the top seeded Minnehaha Academy Redhawks to a 77-63 win over the Lake City Tigers Wednesday night in the Class AA boys basketball quarterfinals at Target Center in Minneapolis.

The Tigers made their first trip to state since they won the Class A state title in 1990.  They clinched a state tournament berth with an upset of the top seeded Caledonia Warriors.

Both teams were as cold as the renovated corridors at Target Center until the Redhawks Jose Williamson began the scoring 2:37 into the game.  Nathan Heise would hit from Target Field to put the Tigers ahead.  Mitch Marien would score to put Lake City on a 5-0 run that would end with a Minnehaha Academy basket from JaVanni Bickham.  The Tigers would also go on a 7-0 run  that also included a three pointer from Reid Gastner.  Suggs would bring the Redhawk offense to life with four straight points, including a left handed layup.  Terry Lockett would hit a couple of three pointers, the second following Heise from Lake City that would put Minnehaha Academy.  The lead would swing back and forth like a pendulum on a grandfather clock until Lockett put Minnehaha academy on a 4-0 run.  Lockett would also get credit for a basket late in the first half after Marien was called for goaltending.  Heise would hit another three pointer that would cut the Redhawks halftime lead to 33-31.

Minnehaha Academy's lead would surge in the second half as they started to pull away from Lake City by going on a 10-0 run.  Kaden Johnson would hit a three pointer and Suggs, who was adept at changing hands when he dribbled up and down the court would score a three point play.  The freshman would also pick up an assist on Williamson's basket.  However, foul trouble would plague Suggs when he picked up his fourth foul with 8:35 to play and the Tigers Marien would follow :21 later.  Marc Kjos would try to get the tigers back in the game by hitting four three pointers after missing his only three point attempt in the first half.  Suggs would hit another three point play before he fouled out with :37.6 to go.

Other players in double figures for the Redhawks were Bickham with 19 points and Lockett with 12.  Kjos and Heise led the Tigers with 18 points apiece and Marien added 14.  Minnehaha Academy improved to 24-5 and will play in the Class AA semifinals against the winner of the Jackson Country Central -Annandale game Friday, March 24 at 6 PM at Target Center. The tigers fell to 23-7 and will play in the consolation semifinals Thursday, March 23 at 6 PM at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia Univeristy in St. Paul.