Just how dominant has Minneapolis North been in this postseason? The Polars routed Red Lake 82-61 in the Class 1A semifinals Friday and the general question from many observers was “What did North do wrong?”

The Polars committed 21 turnovers and made just half of their free throws. And they still won by 21 points.

“People expect us to beat everybody by 50,” North coach Larry McKenzie said. “Red Lake played very well, but we still won by 20. This is the state tournament. It’s supposed to be the best eight teams, right?”

Boasting a lineup that could compete for a Class 4A title, the ultra-athletic Polars blitzed Red Lake early, taking a 9-0 lead before the game was two minutes old. Yet Red Lake, playing a freewheeling and fearless style, gave the Polars everything they could handle in the first half and trailed 49-37 at halftime. Will Morrison, a 5-foot-8 guard with basketball moxie, led Red Lake with 11 points in the first half and 19 for the game.

“Every time we’d shoot, they’d have someone run into the corner and get open,” North guard Tyler Johnson said. “We must have given them 10 free baskets.”

In the second half Red Lake cut the North lead to 49-42. But the Polars turned up the defensive pressure and quickly rebuilt the lead, which never fell below 15 points for the rest of the game.

Jamil Jackson Jr. scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds for North, the type of game the senior forward has envisioned for years. In each of the two previous seasons, Jackson missed a last-second, potentially game-winning shot in the Section 4 finals.
 
“This makes it all worth it,” Jackson said. “I used to look back and be upset about those shots, but not [anymore]. We’re here now.”

Red Lake’s confident play and flair won over the crowd. Despite trailing by double-digits late in the second half, the Red Lake players were high-fiving and cheering every made shot. When junior guard Rob McClain made a free throw that proved to be his 1,000th career point, the Warriors bench erupted.

Their play, and their attitude, was a reflection on coach Roger White’s approach. White’s son Aaron, who would have been a freshman on the team, died in November after battling cancer.

“Being through what I’ve been through, losing my son, things that used to seem really, really important don’t seem as important,” White said. “We use basketball as an instrument for life. I want to win – I’m a coach – but at the same time, this is special for these boys. We can’t take the fun out of it and that’s what it’s about. It’s about being fun and having a great experience. There’s more to life than basketball.”

It wasn’t the virtuoso effort it delivered in the quarterfinals, but Minneapolis North survived its own sloppy play and a fearless opponent from Red Lake for a 82-61 victory Friday in the Class 1A semifinals.

Jamil Jackson Jr. scored 21 points and Isaac Johnson and JaQuan Sanders-Smith scored 13 points each for the Polars (28-6), which advances to the championship game for the first time since winning the Class 4A title in 2003.

North forced 28 turnovers, but committed 21 of its own.

Red Lake, playing with a flair that won over the crowd at Target Center, had 19 points from Will Morrison and 14 from Rob McClain, including his 1,000th career point on a free throw late in the second half.

Check back later for more on the game.