Thomas lights it up beyond arc for Benilde

Benilde-St. Margaret's senior guard Matt Thomas is likely too young to remember the 1990s video game "NBA Jam." But in Thursday's 100-70 Class 3A semifinal victory over Minneapolis Henry, the game's patented "He's heating up!" and "He's on fire!" calls would have been appropriate.

Thomas nailed five of his six three-point attempts in the first half. What's more, he made three in a row in the final 57 seconds as BSM increased its lead to 56-27 at the break.

"It's just a really good feeling when you're shooting like that," said Thomas, whose only points came on the five first-half threes.

His hot shooting helped the Red Knights earn a second consecutive berth in the state title game. Players were planning to stick around to watch at least part of the second semifinal between Willmar and St. Thomas Academy -- the latter being the team that defeated BSM in last year's title game, 56-40. There was no doubt Thomas and his teammates were pulling for STA and another shot at the Cadets.

"I think that's the thing we all want," Thomas said.

Once St. Thomas Academy completed its end of the bargain with a 56-35 victory over Willmar, it was learned the feeling was mutual.

"That's what we've been hoping for from the time we saw the [tournament] draw," St. Thomas Academy coach Mike Sjoberg said.

Fritz Waldvogel, who will be called upon to slow down BSM's Jordan Taylor, took it a step further. "That's what we've wanted from Day 1," he said.

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton coach Ted Hammond knew that Thursday's opponent in the 1A quarterfinals was quick, so he came up with some special preparations. In order to get a feel for how Minnesota Transitions plays, Hammond leaned on experience as well as numbers.

He gathered some of the players from Janesville-Walforf-Pemberton's 1997 team -- the last one to go to state -- and had this year's squad practice against them.

"We played some five-on-eight, worked on half-court traps," Hammond said.

Transitions still was too much for the Bulldogs and rolled to a 77-32 victory.

Amid rave reviews for Mariucci Arena as a site for basketball games, Chisholm coach Bob McDonald had one minor, and good-natured, complaint.

"There are an awful lot of steps to climb here," said McDonald, 74, who has an artificial hip. "I need a Sherpa guide to get me to the top."

A member of the Gophers men's hockey team stopped a member of the media in a Mariucci Arena ice-level corridor and asked a question: "Do you know how Grand Rapids did last night?" The questioner was freshman and Grand Rapids native Patrick White. (Grand Rapids lost to Willmar in Wednesday night's 3A quarterfinals.)

• Saturday's 4A title game between Minnetonka and Henry Sibley is a rematch. Minnetonka beat Henry Sibley 78-74 on Dec. 18.

• Upon further review: Willmar had a basket taken away at the end of the first half against St. Thomas Academy when a replay showed the clock had struck zero before the ball was shot.

JOHN MILLEA AND MICHAEL RAND