Minnehaha Academy, Lake City, Perham win in Class 2A boys' basketball quarterfinals

Minnehaha Academy and St. Peter was a mismatch when the seedings were announced. That is, as long as the Redhawks weren't settling for three-pointers.

The No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Redhawks rolled to a 78-47 victory over St. Peter despite making only one of their first 10 three-pointers in the Class 2A quarterfinals Wednesday at Target Center. Minnehaha Academy (27-2) is the two-time defending state champion.

"We were getting to the basket easy, and had a good start," Redhawks coach Lance Johnson said. "Then we started settling for threes. We tend to do that. We have to remind them to keep going to the basket."

The Redhawks raced to a quick 22-7 lead in the opening 7 minutes, 31 seconds. They only outscored St. Peter 13-12 the rest of the first half.

"We have to play the whole game come tournament time," Minnehaha Academy junior guard Jalen Suggs said.

He led the Redhawks with a triple-double (21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists). The Redhawks regrouped at halftime. They scored the first seven points of the second half, and started hitting three-pointers. They continued the onslaught the rest of the way.

"We came back out with more energy in the second half," said Suggs, who made two of the Redhawks' six three-pointers following intermission. "We were focused."

St. Peter (22-7) was led by junior center Wyatt Olson's 17 points.

RON HAGGSTROM

Lake City 60, Melrose 44: A combination of letting it fly from beyond the three-point arc and pounding the ball inside propelled the No. 5-ranked Tigers past the No. 9 Dutchmen. Lake City scored 24 points in the paint as well as from three-point range.

"When we're balanced, we're at our best," Lake City coach Greg Berge said. "We're going to take what the defense gives us. We have four really good shooters, and can score inside, too."

The Tigers' first three baskets came from long range, opening the lane. They used a 10-3 run midway through the first half to take a 22-15 lead. They had two layups and two three-pointers in the run.

Junior guard Nathan Heise paced the Tigers with 18 points, going 7-for-9 from the free-throw line. Senior forward Ethan Hietman and freshman guard Justin Wohlers each had 11 points. Wohlers made three of Lake City's eight three-pointers.

"They were triple-teaming our guys down in the paint, and leaving me unguarded," Wohlers said. "We have good spacing. It gives players wide-open looks."

Said Berge, "I told our guys all season that we'll go as far as our defense takes us. We win with our defense."

Melrose (26-5) was led by senior guard Preston Keaveny's 13 points.

RON HAGGSTROM

The No. 3-seeded Yellowjackets (30-1) rode the emotional lift into the second half, going on a 14-4 run en route to a 15-point victory over Redwood Valley (16-12).

"That did make a little momentum change going into the second half," Cresap said. "We came out in the second half with a nice little lead there, and it kind of helped us throughout the whole game."

Perham's Josh Jeziorski and Finn Diggins combined for 29 points and 25 rebounds.

"It was offensive rebounding," Perham coach Dave Cresap said. "We held a 36-21 rebounding advantage, that's pretty big for us." The offensive rebounds were 15-3 in the Yellowjackets' favor.