No Gary Trent Jr. is no problem for Apple Valley when the Eagles have sophomore Tre Jones. 

With the state’s leading scorer sidelined Thursday night because of an illness, Jones switched from setting up baskets to knocking them down, including making several clutch shots in high-stake moments. 

Jones scored a game-high 35 points to help Apple Valley escape overtime with a 75-65 home victory over Shakopee on Thursday, remaining undefeated in South Suburban Conference play.

The Eagles (23-1, 16-0), who are ranked ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, also strengthened their position atop the league standings after completing the regular-season sweep of the rival Sabers.

Without Trent, who has scored 613 points this season, Apple Valley struggled to put away No. 8-4A Shakopee (19-5, 12-4). The Sabers took advantage and held a 59-57 lead with less than 15 seconds to go in regulation. 

Enter Jones.

Despite an off night from the floor, Jones hit a two-point shot in the final seconds of the second half to tie the game and send it to a four-minute overtime. He carried the momentum into the extra time, scoring nine points to help the Eagles pull out a victory going away.

After missing several shots he normally makes throughout the regulation, Jones said enough was enough. 

“When I missed five or six free throws, I felt I let my teammates down,” Jones said. “I didn’t want to let them down even more by not finishing out the game. I just wanted to finish it for them.”

It was a performance reminiscent of another Jones who played at Apple Valley.

“He is starting to remind me of (Minnesota Timberwolves guard) Tyus in the way Tyus closed games (for us),” Eagles coach Zach Goring said. “He has that attitude of ‘we’re not losing, I am going to do whatever I can to make sure we do not lose.’ ”

That included guarding Shakopee’s second-leading scorer, Booker Coplin. Coplin finished near his season average with 15 points but shot just over 25 percent from the field Thursday night.

“On both ends of the floor, (Jones) is an amazing player,” Goring said.

Jones wasn’t the only one stepping up in Trent’s absence. 

Senior Aaron Ertz earned more playing time, especially after Eagles second-leading scorer Cameron Kirksey got in foul trouble early and was forced to spend time on the bench. Ertz made his contribution on defense, limiting Shakopee star Steffon Mitchell to 19 points. Mitchell is second in the state with 589 points this season.

Goring considers Ertz’s performance against a player of Mitchell’s caliber a win for Apple Valley.

“Aaron did a good job staying in front of him and contesting, but Mitchell is going to get his no matter what (Ertz) does,” Goring said. 

Jones got his points as well, breaking out of slump when the Eagles needed him most. Should Trent miss time for any reason in the future, Jones showed he can fill the void.

“It was pretty fun (watching him),” senior captain Brock Bertram said. “Tre is an amazing player, and it showed how good of a player he is today.”

Tre Jones scored a game-high 35 points to lift a depleted Apple Valley to a 75-65 overtime victory over Shakopee in a South Suburban Conference matchup at Apple Valley High School on Thursday.

The Eagles (23-1, 16-0), ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, were without the state's leading scorer, junior guard Gary Trent Jr., who missed the game because of an illness.

Shakopee took advantage of Trent's absence, keeping the game close in the final three minutes and eventually forcing overtime.

Jones and Cameron Kirksey combined to fuel Apple Valley in the extra time, helping the Eagles pull away to record their second victory over the Sabers this season.

Kirksey had 16 points and teammate Brock Bertram added 15.

Steffon Mitchell led No. 8-4A Shakopee with 19 points. Booker Coplin and Taylor Triplett finished with 15 points apiece and Jake Kutina had 11 for the Sabers (19-5, 12-4).

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