Saturday, March 9th:
Boys Basketball
Section 8AAAA Semifinals: #2 STMA 63, #3 Buffalo 51. Jordan Holm hit a three pointer at the buzzer to end the half for the Knights giving them a 28-25 halftime lead, and it was all Knights after that. Jeremiah Johnson, and Hudson Hochstedler lead the way with 22, and 21 points respectively for the Knights as they advanced to the section final. Grady Guida ended his outstanding career with 18 for the Bison in the loss.
Sold out crowd in full force at STMA for Boys Section Semifinal game between rivals STMA and Buffalo on Saturday.
Section 6AAA Semifinals: #3 Orono 77, #2 Delano 53. Delano had defeated Orono in their only matchup of the season and only trailed by two at the half, but the tandem of Brady Wooly and Nolan Groves were just two much for Delano. Wooly had a monster game with 23 points and 21 rebounds, while the 6’9 Groves had 23 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assist in the Spartans win. Will Strandemo ended his illustrious career with 18 points for the Tigers.
Nolan Groves, above, had a double double as the Spartans advanced to the Section finals in Section 6AAA.
Section 6AA Semifinals: #2 Annandale 89, #7 Foley 58. Isaak Eenhuis wasn’t feeling well last week, but it didn’t show in the section semifinals as he went off with ten threes, and 30 points as the Cards rolled over the Falcons in the Section semifinals. Colton Purcell added 17 points and Nick Walter had a solid all around game with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assist for Annandale. Caleb Purcell lead the Cards with 11 assist.
Caleb Purcell, above, had 11 assist in the Cards quarterfinal win over Foley on Saturday.
Wed., March 13th.
Girls Basketball.
Class AAAA State Quarterfinals: #3 STMA 68, Rosemount 57. The defending champs got off to a good start in there first state game with a pull away victory over Rosemount. Cail Jahnke scored 22 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in the win. Ja’Kahla Craft added 19 points, while Abby Hoselton netted 17. The Knights will take on Minnetonka tomorrow at 8 PM at Williams Arena in the State Semifinals. A game you can hear on AM 1360 KRWC.
STMA , above is going back to the state semifinals after their win over Rosemount on Wed.
Boys Basketball.
Section 6AA Semifinals: #2 Annandale 61, #6 Osakis 50. The Cards saw an eleven point lead slip to one with just over three minutes left, when a sophomore and freshman saved their season. Gabe Westman saved a loose ball with a great pass to Colton Purcell under the basket to give the Cards a three point lead, and a little breathing room. The upperclassman also showed up as Nick Walter hit the dagger three to give the Cards a six point lead with about a minute left, while Isaak Eenhuis lead the way with 18 points. The Cards will take on Albany Friday night at St. Cloud for the Section final at 6 PM, and you can hear that game live on AM 1360 KRWC.
Thursday, March 15th.
Class AAAA State Semifinals: #2 Maple Grove 67, #3 STMA 49. The Skippers jumped out to a 35-16 halftime lead and they never looked back. Aaliyah Crump lead the Skippers with 27 points and 9 rebounds, while Ja’Khla Craft scored 16 points and added 6 rebounds for the Knights and Cail Jahnke scored 12 and took down 9 rebounds for STMA. The Knights who advanced to the state championship the last two years, and won it all, will now play for third place vs. Maple Grove on Saturday night. You can hear the game right here on AM 1360 KRWC, at krwc1360.com and on our app. with the pregame show starting at 5:45 PM.
Aaliyah Crump, above in white, guided the Skippers to a blowout win over STMA on Thursday night.
Friday, March 16th.
Boys Basketball.
Section 6AA Finals: #1 Albany 63, #2 Annandale 53. Isaak Eenhuis was on a heater coming into the Section finals, and it stayed that way in the first half of the 6AA finals as Eenhuis scored 20 points and the Cards lead by 7 at the half. In the second half it was all Albany as Zeke Austin scored all of his 25 points in the second half as the Huskies advanced to state. With the loss it also meant it would be legendary coach Skip Dolan’s last game, as he announced his retirement earlier in the season.
Sr. Nick Walter embraces coach Skip Dolan after Annandale’s loss to Albany in the Section Finals. It was the final game for longtime coach and hall of fame member Dolan.
Section 8AAAA Finals: #1 Rogers 54, #2 STMA 50. The Knights had a tremendous turn around season and they were just one win away from advancing to state. In what was a close game throughout the Royals had just enough to get past the Knights and advance to state on Friday night at Monticello.
Jeremiah Johnson, above with the ball, drives against Rogers in the section finals on Friday night.
Saturday, March 17th.
Girls Basketball.
Class AAAA State Girls 3rd Place game: #3 STMA 72, #4 Maple Grove 54. Ja’Kahla Craft played her final game for the Knights before she continues her career at Seton Hall, and she went out on a high note by scoring 19 points as the Knights defeated the Crimson for 3rd place. The Knights now have finished 2nd, 1st and 3rd in the last three years at state. The baton has now been passed to So. Cail Jahnke who scored 19 points and had 12 rebounds in the STMA win. Ava Haus added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Knights.
The Knights, above, celebrate their third place finish at state on Saturday.
