A program once known for winning four straight state titles (2000-2003), Minneapolis Patrick Henry hasn’t been the most successful squad on the court in recent seasons.

After finishing years with records hovering around .500, the Patriots are off to a 8-1 start this year, and third-year coach Jeremy Miller said the reason is the team’s renewed focus on defense.

“We’re trying to build an aggressive defense and an offense that shares the ball,” Miller said. “Our defense is just about pressure, rotations, hustle and work.”

Patrick Henry, ranked No. 10 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, is certainly putting in its work on the defensive end, holding opponents to just 47.4 points per game.

Anchoring that unit is senior Julian Jackson, who also leads the team in scoring with 18.6 ppg.

“We get a lot of points off the fast break,” Jackson said. “We take pride in our defense and being able to just turn the other team over.”

That was certainly the case for the Patriots this week, as Patrick Henry came out showing a full-court press against No. 6-2A St. Paul Academy in a 61-50 win on the second night at the inaugural Hutton Winter Classic at Hamline University on Tuesday. The Patriots beat Breck 71-46 on Monday in the opening game of the tourney.

All these victories so early in the season have nearly matched win totals from previous years, and Miller credits Jackson with not only boosting the team now, but with redirecting the attitude of the whole program.

“(Jackson's) just a worker and that’s why our program has turned around,” Miller said. “Because he works so hard, it trickles down to the younger players when they see him working like that.”

While Jackson is the top player on most opposing teams’ offensive and defensive scouting sheet, teammate Lamar Wood is another key piece in defense.

Wood, a junior who moved from Chicago, is averaging 10.2 ppg and stands at 6-foot-7.

“(Wood) is long and he’s active and the sky’s the limit for him because he’s only going to get better,” Miller said.

The big question is if the Patriots can keep up the fast pace they’ve established on defense and if that keeps turning into wins.

Jackson will keep doing what he does best, though.

“We’ve just got to keep going at it hard and not get complacent,” Jackson said.

Julian Jackson scored 19 points and Minneapolis Patrick Henry defeated St. Paul Academy 61-50 Tuesday night at the Hutton Winter Classic at Hamline University.

The Patriots (8-1), ranked No. 10 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, also received 15 points from Lamar Wood.

The No. 6-2A Spartans (8-3) were led by a game-high 25 points from Kent Hanson.

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