It's not the inaugural Skyline Conference regular-season championship or St. Croix Prep's 24-0 record that has senior Daniel McCarrell excited. It's the prospect of entering the postseason armed with an intangible asset previously unknown to McCarrell in his four years with the Lions' varsity — hope.
McCarrell has been a part of some good teams at St. Croix Prep — the Lions are 79-29 since the start of the 2016-17 season — but he said a state tournament never felt like a realistic goal. Not with Minnehaha Academy and its all-star lineup standing in the way.
That changed after last season's state tournament, when the Redhawks won their third consecutive Class 2A state championship and moved up to Class 3A prior to this season.
"That was a huge relief," said McCarrell, who is averaging 17.5 points per game this season. "Right away, we knew we would have a chance."
That has been evident on the court, as the Lions (24-0, 14-0) have outscored opponents by 23 points a game. With two victories this week, the Lions, ranked No. 4 in Class 2A by Minnesota Basketball News from Feb. 19, can complete an undefeated regular season on Friday night at St. Paul Harding, a potential finish that makes this our Top Game of the Week.
With No. 1-3A Minnehaha Academy finally out of the way, McCarrell and his teammates are eager to get on with the postseason and work for a goal that previously was an unthinkable dream — a state tournament berth. The Redhawks eliminated St. Croix Prep in four of its first six seasons in Class 2A.
McCarrell, who will attend St. John's, is one of three Lions seniors who plan to play basketball in college. Zach Doely, a 6-foot-7 forward averaging 13.1 points, is deciding between a handful of Division III schools, and 6-foot-6 Barrett Benson plans to play at Concordia College in Moorhead. Junior guards Addison Metcalf (18.5 ppg) and Andrew Howard (11.6 ppg) complete a strong starting five.
St. Paul Harding (7-17, 4-8) is led by senior guard Simeon Sharp (23.5 ppg) and junior Alex Addai (14.2 ppg)