Minnehaha Academy

vs. Minneapolis North

7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19

Minnehaha Academy has 12 consecutive victories and hopes to continue rolling as it enters the final string of regular-season games facing several of Minnesota's top-ranked teams, starting with No. 2-2A Minneapolis North on Tuesday.

The No. 1-2A Redhawks (18-2, 4-0) follow that with matchups against No. 1-3A DeLaSalle (Saturday), No. 4-2A Maranatha (Feb. 28) and No. 5-2A Breck (March 2). That's a pretty intense warmup for the postseason.

But then, that's business as usual at Minnehaha Academy, which routinely plays a difficult nonconference schedule in preparation for the postseason. The two-time defending Class 2A state champions have played eight games against ranked Class 4A, Class 3A or Class 2A teams this season.

The Redhawks still have Jalen Suggs and his 23.7-point scoring average but also rely on a young and improving duo of Chet Holmgren and Prince Aligbe.

Holmgren was a 6-7 freshman when he scored five points in a 62-53 loss to the Polars in a January 2018 matchup. This time, he comes in as a 7-foot sophomore who is stronger and much more confident, which has resulted in him being a dominant presence on both offense (18.9 ppg) and defense this season.

Aligbe scored 13 points in the loss to North as an eighth-grader. He is the Redhawks' third-leading scorer at 11.2 points per game this season.

The Polars also are gearing up for the postseason, and to prep for the rigors of section and state tournament play, they also filled their schedule with some of the state's top-tier teams. North (16-6, 10-0) is coming off a 77-64 loss to No. 2-3A Waseca on Feb. 16 and has faced No. 1-4A Hopkins (84-66 loss), No. 1-3A DeLaSalle (66-57 loss),  and No. 10-2A Caledonia (79-74 win). North ends its regular season Feb. 26 at No. 8-4A Eden Prairie.

Seniors Eli Campbell (17.7 ppg) and Nasir El-Amin (12.4 ppg) and 6-7 sophomore Davon Townley Jr. (12.3 ppg) pace the Polars' attack.