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Minnehaha Academy takes down Totino-Grace to clinch first Class 3A state tourney appearance

By Blaze Fugina, SportsEngine, 03/12/20, 12:45PM CDT

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The Redhawks, who won the last three Class 2A state championships, got 50 points combined from Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren to help make their first larger-school tournament.

The Redhawks' Jalen Suggs (right) powers his way to the net Thursday night in the Class 3A, Section 4 final. Minnehaha Academy defeated Totino-Grace 94-58 in Woodbury. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

The Redhawks' Jalen Suggs (right) powers his way to the net Thursday night in the Class 3A, Section 4 final. Minnehaha Academy defeated Totino-Grace 94-58 in Woodbury. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

In most seasons, teams that win section championships typically celebrate their most recent achievement and then pivot so that they’re focused on winning the ultimate prize in the upcoming state tournament.

To start prepping maybe those players would check scores, predict a first-round opponent, or otherwise enjoy and celebrate the goals they’ve achieved thus far for a short period of time.

However, with new precautions being set due to the recent coronavirus outbreak, this is not a typical postseason, as teams await word as to whether or not the state tournament will be played in front of limited fans — or potentially not at all.

After Minnehaha Academy had a few moments to celebrate its fourth consecutive section title on Thursday night, Jalen Suggs, the team’s star senior guard who is committed to Gonzaga, was happy his team was able to put on a show in front of one more packed gym.

"Even if it isn't our last game, this was for sure our last game with a crowd like this," Suggs said after scoring 30 points in the top-seeded Redhawks’ 94-58 win over No. 2 seed Totino-Grace at Woodbury High School on Thursday night.

Minnehaha Academy’s Chet Holmgren (right) gets the defense turned around in the Class 3A, Section 4 final. The Redhawks beat the Eagles 94-58 Thursday night to advance to state. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

Minnehaha Academy’s Chet Holmgren (right) gets the defense turned around in the Class 3A, Section 4 final. The Redhawks beat the Eagles 94-58 Thursday night to advance to state. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

First Report

Minnehaha Academy put on a show for a packed crowd in Woodbury High School to end its 94-58 victory in the Class 3A, Section 4 championship game on Thursday night. But not before No. 2 seed Totino-Grace made the top-seeded Redhawks (25-3) work for a half.

Totino-Grace (20-9) was able to keep the Redhawks within 11 points at halftime, but Minnehaha Academy put the Eagles away with a 58-point performance, which included plenty of dunks, in the second half.

Senior guard Jalen Suggs, a Gonzaga commit and Mr. Basketball and McDonald Award finalist, scored 30 points to lead Minnehaha Academy while junior 7-foot forward Chet Holmgren finished with 20 points. Teammates Prince Aligbe and Donovan Smith added 10 points apiece.

Devin Burger scored 14 points to pace the Eagles. CJ O’Hara added 12 points and Tommy Humphries scored 10.

With the victory, the Redhawks advance to their first Class 3A state tournament. They won the last three Class 2A state titles before joining the larger-school class prior to this season.

Totino-Grace’s Talson Chatman looks at taking a three-pointer Thursday night. The Eagles lost to the Redhawks 94-58 in the Class 3A, Section 4 final. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

Totino-Grace’s Talson Chatman looks at taking a three-pointer Thursday night. The Eagles lost to the Redhawks 94-58 in the Class 3A, Section 4 final. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

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