Minnehaha Academy started off soundly in the quarterfinals of the state Class AA girls’ basketball tournament on March 15, coming back with a furious second half to dismantle New London-Spicer 50-28 at Williams Arena.
However, the Redhawks (23-9) weren’t able to consistently play their A game, losing to top-ranked and eventual state champion Providence Academy 83-63 in the semifinals and then to second-seeded Goodhue 79-68 in the third-place game.
In the opener, the Redhawks were down 20-19 at halftime and there wasn’t much of their usually potent game that was clicking. However, they came out in the second half to outscore the Wildcats 31-8.
Sophomore Addi Mack led the comeback for the Redhawks with 21 points, while junior Angel Hill pitched in 15. Minnehaha used its suddenly stingy defense to garner 15 steals, with Hill picking off seven on her own.
“Our game got better overall, but the big thing was that we started to play defense the way we’re capable,” said Minnehaha coach Matt Pryor. “We had a bad first half, but we knew that if we turned it up on defense, we’d be all right.”
“Our girls showed great resiliency,” said Minnehaha coach Matt Pryor. “Our game got better overall, but the big thing was that we started to play defense the way we’re capable. We had a bad first half, but we knew that if we turned it up on defense, we’d be all right.”
The Redhawks were looking forward to facing Providence again, even though they had lost to the Lions twice during the regular season. Providence star Maddyn Greenway, the daughter of former Minnesota Viking Chad Greenway, wasn’t at her best, but her 35-point performance was enough to doom the Redhawks.
Trying to tame the Lions
The Redhawks were looking forward to facing Providence again, even though they had lost to the Lions twice during the regular season. Providence star Maddyn Greenway, the daughter of former Minnesota Viking Chad Greenway, wasn’t at her best, but her 35-point performance was enough to doom the Redhawks.
Mack tried her hardest to keep Minnehaha in the game with her 19 points. Senior Aniyah Reuben added 13 and Hill 12. However, the Redhawks didn’t have an answer for Greenway.
“With a player like Greenway, there’s really no stopping her,” Pryor said. “It’s just a matter of trying to slow her down.”
The third-place game found the Redhawks still a bit flat as they fell behind to Goodhue 37-34 at intermission. Hill led Minnehaha with 20 points, while Mack had 15.
Another successful season
Despite ending with twin losses, this season was another successful one for the Redhawks, who were making their ninth straight state appearance. They won big games against rugged competition from the outset and peaked as they headed into sections, including a 64-44 pasting of Saint Croix Lutheran in the finals.
Mack fashioned another stellar season, leading her club in points and steals per game. Eighth-grader Ava Cupito led the club in assists.
— Bill Wagner
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