MINNEAPOLIS-Top-seeded Minnehaha Academy used an eye-popping second-half blitz to sprint past Annandale for a 76-44 victory in the Class 2A semifinals Friday night at Target Center. Freshman guard Jalen Suggs led the way, scoring 16 of his 23 points in the decisive run that sends the Redhawks (25-5) into the Class 2A championship game for the second time since 2013.
That season, Minnehaha Academy was also the top seed and went on to defeat No. 2 Litchfield.
Suggs was 9 of 15 from the field, had six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and five steals in making an impact nearly everywhere on the court for the Redhawks, who outscored the Cardinals 47-19 in the second half.
Junior forward JaVonni Bickham scored 16 points.
Senior forward Jarod Wilken had 13 points for Annandale (27-5).
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North Woods 51, Goodue 49
MINNEAPOLIS-In the Class 1A quarterfinals, unseeded North Woods' Chad Goggleye made a desperation 3-pointer from midcourt at the final horn to upset No. 3 Central Minnesota Christian on the first day of the tournament.
When Goodhue senior center Jacob McNamara's jumper missed at the horn, another celebration ensued for the Grizzlies following a 51-49 upset victory over the No. 2-seeded Wildcats in Friday's semifinals. Moments earlier, Goggleye made two free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining in regulation to send North Woods (31-1) into the 1A championship game where it will face top-ranked and defending champion Minneapolis North.
Junior forward Tate Olson led the Grizzlies with 20 points. Junior guard Brendan Parson added 13 and Goggleye nine.
Goodhue (29-4), runner-up to Minneapolis North in 2016, forged a 49-all tie when freshman forward Sam Opsahl made a layup with 1:44 left in regulation. McNamara led the Wildcats with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Opsahl finished with 13 points.
Mpls. North 100, Springfield 56
MINNEAPOLIS-Top-seeded Minneapolis North will make another trip to a state championship game following its 100-56 victory over the Springfield Tigers in the Class 1A semifinals Friday at Target Center.
The Polars (31-2) earned a chance to repeat as champion behind 29 points and 10 rebounds from senior guard Isaac Johnson and 22 points and 12 rebounds from junior center Odell Wilison IV.
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North, which has scored at least 100 points four times during the postseason and three other times during the regular season, was led by junior guard Tayler Johnson with 19 points and JaQuan Sanders-Smith 16, including the 1,000th point of his career.
Sophomore guard Isaac Fink scored 18 points for the Tigers and junior guard Tanner Vogel added 17.
