Minnehaha Academy is the State’s Top Team
The Minnehaha Academy Redhawks defeated Apple Valley 82-79 on ESPNU this evening earning themselves the claim as the state’s best team.
The season is less than two weeks old but the top candidates have already done battle on several fronts. DeLaSalle lost to Iowa’s best team and we all know Minnesota basketball is better than Iowa hoops. Hopkins fell to Cretin-Derham Hall last week but then CDH fell to Edina tonight. That leaves the Minnehaha Academy/Apple Valley match-up of defending state champs and the Redhawks finished with the three point edge (Redhawks beat East Ridge too). Minneapolis North, Park Center, and Orono will have a chance to make their claim but for now the Redhawks have earned that All Class top spot (look for NHR overall top ten next Tuesday).
When Apple Valley was playing their best the basketball was flying around the court. Luke Martens, Ely Hendrickson, and Spencer Rolland were getting open touches. What changed? The Redhawks played better defense and guys like Nathan Macho, Martens, Hendrickson, and Rolland no longer received touches in space. At all.
Tre Jones struggled with his shot in the first half making only two of his first dozen attempts. That changed in half two as Jones went head on full steam at the Redhawks defense for 30 second half points. But while that was happening, the Minnehaha Academy team used all of their weapons to gain the victory.
Denver signed JaVonni Bickham’s matured play was very important to the Redhawks victory. Right from the outset the senior used his extreme length to block a few shots and bother others. He took a charge, boarded and sent quick outlets, and offensively the Eagles could do nothing with Ja’Vonni up front. Bickham’s one dribble attack using his length and core strength to stay balanced and touch shots in gave Minnehaha an element that the Eagles didn’t have.
Kaden Johnson, Terry Lockett, Lorenzo Smith, and 2022 wing Prince Aligbe all played key roles both ways in earning this win. Johnson continues to be respected as one of the state’s best defenders and too much space was given for Lockett to attack and Smith to sink.
Then there is Jalen Suggs. The sophomore superstar didn’t have his best shooting game (18 points) but he made just enough foul shots and scored at the rim late to keep his team ahead. Jalen also did exactly what his team needed to get the win.
When you think back to the state tournament games last year when Jalen led his team to a title as a freshmen, do you remember him scoring? Or do you remember his several passing lane jumps that forced turnovers? Do you remember the jumpers, or do you recall the quick hands getting steals and starting the transition for scores for himself and others? I remember the defensive playmaking.
Tonight Minnehaha Academy needed Jalen to score some (he usually will), they needed him to be a second rebounder next to Bickham (had 14 of those), and they needed him to bring the ball up the floor against the scary defender that is Tre Jones. Suggs had no issues with that either. Suggs took some quick shots early but he learned as the game went on those shots were not going to get it done. So he switched up his approach and led his team to a monster win.
Tre Jones, he played like the superstar he is. Attacking the rim making one hand contested buckets on the move. And when they didn’t fall he was at the foul line seemingly all night long because he was smacked on the attempt. Jones had the 39, dished out nine assists, and had ten boards. One assist shy of a triple double which was quiet telling as the Eagles came up one score of tying the game late.
The plays that I will remember? Bickham’s flex after an And1 signifying his power approach, the buckets and composure of grade 8 Prince Aligbe (symbolizing the Redhawks youth), and Jalen Suggs getting scored on by Jones but quickly responding by sending a fast outlet to Kaden Johnson the other way for a dunk. The Redhawks took the Eagles best punch from Jones and reacted with a better team play the other direction.
Advantage Minnehaha Academy. The best team in the state right now.