Top seed Chaska won a back-and-forth battle in the final minutes over Eden Prairie, getting the 41-39 margin of victory Friday on a familiar play centered around the team’s career scoring leader, Myles Hanson.

The senior forward’s floater with 2.6 seconds left keyed Chaska’s Class 4A, Section 2 championship at Hopkins High School and a trip to the state tournament for the first time since 2004.

The play is “not very complicated,” Hawks coach Dana Kallman said. “Alex Strazzanti pitches (the ball) to Myles and we try to get Andrew Kallman coming off a double screen from the other side of the floor. Myles’ job is to get in the paint and if no one guards him go to the rack. He’s done that all year.”

Hanson, who is headed to Columbia University to play basketball, shot just 4-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-5 from the free throw line. He finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists and one steal.

Eden Prairie scored the first 11 points of the game and led by 11 later in the half before the Hawks gradually narrowed the margin to 25-19 at halftime.

Chaska took its first lead 10 minutes into the second half on a three-pointer by Strazzanti, his only field goal. The senior also stripped the ball from Eden Prairie’s Owen Chose a few possessions later, setting up a layup by Hanson to continue the momentum.

“The three was a huge play,” Kallman said. “Alex is by far the best defender I have ever coached. He’s a good on-ball defender. That steal he had, he has done that all year. He’s not afraid of the moment at all.”

Austin Andrews led the Eagles with 12 points, four rebounds and three blocks. Kyler Kluge added 10 points and two steals.

JOE GUNTHER

First report

Top seed Chaska won a back-and-forth battle in the final minutes over Eden Prairie 41-39 to win the Class 4A, Section 2 championship Friday at Hopkins High School.

The victory sends the Hawks to the state tournament for the first time since 2004.

Myles Hanson was just 4-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-5 from the free throw line, but he made a floater with 2.6 seconds left for the game-winning basket. He finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists and one steal.

The Hawks trailed by as many as 11 points twice in the first half, including allowing the first 11 points. They gradually cut into the lead and trailed by six at half.

They didn’t take their first lead until 10 minutes into the second half, on a three-point shot by Alex Strazzanti, his only field goal of the game.

Check back later for more on the game.


Myles Hanson releases the game winning shot, scoring with 2.6 seconds left in the game. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine