In last year’s Class 1A, Section 4 semifinal against Heritage Christian, Prairie Seeds Academy needed overtime to advance to the championship game.

So when a rematch was slated for Tuesday evening, Lycans coach Quincy Caldwell knew what to expect out of the Eagles.

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight,” he said. “They’re a good team, but we had a chip on our shoulder. Everybody has said that team’s been better than us all year and we wanted to prove that it wasn’t.”

Third-seeded Prairie Seeds Academy used its uptempo pace and press defense to squeeze past second-seeded Heritage Christian 74-70 behind a 27-point night by Brian Robinson at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids.

“Our focus is we’re going to run and we’re going to keep running until you break,” Caldwell said.

The Eagles converted from behind the arc with ease in the opening minutes of the second half and had a size advantage that led to second-chance baskets inside. The Lycans countered by forcing 18 turnovers and scoring in transition. 
 
 “In practice, all we do is run. We’re a smaller team so you gotta be faster against bigger teams. That’s what we try to take advantage of,” Robinson said.

Robinson finished with five steals as Prairie Seeds Academy (24-4) wore down the Eagles and forced them to work the ball inside in the final minutes of the game.

“They didn’t really shoot a lot of threes because their legs wasn’t there,” Caldwell said. “That’s what we want. Now they’re playing our game. It’s all about tempo for us we want you to run and get you tired.” 

C.J. Woda, who led Heritage Christian (23-6) with 24 points, drove the lane with under three minutes remaining the game. Robinson stole the ball and scorched upcourt to the rim where he was fouled and sank one of two from the free-throw line.

Two key stops on the ensuing possession led to a jump ball call and a Lycans possession which led to two final clutch free throws by Robinson.

Returning to the section championship reminds Caldwell of last year’s final where observers told him eventual champion, Minneapolis North, wouldn’t lose because they had fallen in the section championship two years in a row prior.

“They told me last year [Minneapolis North] wasn’t going to lose because they understood the pain they lost two years in a row, and I can understand that because we had that pain last year,” he said.

Robinson and his teammates welcome whatever challenge awaits depending on if the result between the top-seeded Polars and fourth-seeded Cristo Rey Jesuit.

“It’s unbelievable,” Robinson said of returning the finals. “We worked so hard for this. A lot of blood sweat and tears. We just play hard and we’re not ready to go home.”

Brian Robinson led third-seeded Prairie Seeds Academy with 27 points in the Lycans’ 74-70 win over second-seeded Heritage Christian Tuesday evening in a Class 1A, Section 4 semifinal at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids. 

Robinson sank three of his final four free throws to help Prairie Seeds Academy (24-4) clinch its return the section championship game and upset the Eagles.

C.J. Woda sank a basket to give Heritage Christian (23-6) a 66-64 lead with four minutes, 26 seconds left in the game. Woda finished the game with a team-high 24 points for the Eagles.

Sophomore AiMonti Booth gave the Lycans the go-ahead basket off a layup with two minutes, 50 seconds remaining. Prairie Seeds Academy locked in on defensive in the waning minutes of the game and Robinson’s free throws to secured the win.

A.J. Abara posted 20 points for the Lycans, who will play either Cristo Rey Jesuit or top-seeded Minneapolis North.