Norwood Young America senior guard Jayden Fritz was the type of player Minnehaha Academy feared — an unstoppable X-factor off the bench.
Fritz repeatedly hit big shots throughout a 67-58 Class 2A quarterfinal victory at Target Center. She scored 12 points, often in clutch situations and often after the ball rattled around the entire rim before dropping.
"That was the best game I've seen her play," Raiders senior Bren Fox said. "She was hitting all her shots and being aggressive on offense and defense."
In other words, just what No. 4 seed Minnehaha (21-8) couldn't afford. The game plan to slow starters Fox and Kali Grimm worked well enough, limiting the duo to a combined 19 points. But Fritz emerged to change the game's tone.
"Credit to them to have girls off the bench step up," Redhawks coach Josh Thurow said.
No. 5 seed Norwood Young America (28-3) assembled a defining 10-0 run through the final five minutes. Abby Mackenthun, Samantha Miller and Grimm combined for nine points, and a Fritz free throw capped the run.
Mackenthun led all scorers with 25 points. Sophomore guard Mia Curtis countered with 23 points for Minnehaha, fueled by four made three-pointers in the second half.
"I thought we had it," said Curtis, whose team lost an 11-point lead it held in the first half. "We were just slow and sloppy on defense at the end."
