The Independent Metro Athletic Conference allows its members to schedule just one game against any other league member during the regular season rather than the customary home-and-home two games. This provides relief for some league teams who have taken more than their fair share of beatdowns from perennial Class 2A power Minnehaha Academy.
For the No. 1-2A Redhawks, it provides coach Lance Johnson an opportunity to fill his schedule with more of what he calls "50-50 games" against opponents that have a realistic chance of winning. Saturday's contest against Onalaska at the 2019 Wisconsin-Minnesota Border Battle, the sixth of seven games at East Ridge High School, is a perfect example of how Johnson takes advantage of that scheduling flexibility.
Onalaska, with a school enrollment nearly three times that of Minnehaha Academy, is 10-2 and ranked eighth in Wisconsin's Division II. A look down the Redhawks' schedule shows this type of game is more the rule than the exception. Minnehaha Academy beat LaCrosse Central, the No. 3-ranked team in Wisconsin's Division II, 59-55 last Saturday. The Redhawks' two losses have come against No. 2-4A Hopkins (66-59 on Dec. 11 and 97-85 on Dec. 29) and they won 61-60 at No. 9-4A Eden Prairie on Jan. 10.
Jalen Suggs, a junior guard on the Minnesota Mr. Basketball watch list for this season, averages 24.6 points per game to lead the Redhawks (11-2, 2-0). Chet Holmgren, a 7-foot sophomore, averages 17.8 points.
Carson Arenz, a 6-4 junior wing, leads Onalaska with a 17.4-point scoring average. Junior guard Tyrell Stuttley (16.6 ppg) and sophomore guard Sam Kick (11.6 ppg) complement Arenz.