For some teams, having four different players with at least 10 points in a game might be a cause for major celebration. But for Benilde-St. Margaret’s, it’s just another game.

The Red Knights take the court each game with a group of players worthy of putting up big scoring numbers out on the floor. That was certainly the case on Friday as Benilde-St. Margaret’s used that team-scoring approach to knock off Chanhassen 68-55.

Based on the teams’ first matchup, the Red Knights (19-3, 9-1) were going to need all the scoring they could get. Benilde-St. Margaret’s won the first matchup between the two teams 69-68 on Jan. 24.

“[Chanhassen] really competes,” Red Knights coach Damian Johnson said. “They have players that really want to compete and win.”

The opening half played out similarly to the team’s first matchup as the game was tied at 28 after 18 minutes. Benilde-St. Margaret’s held court early with sophomore Jaleel Donley pouring in a team-high 11 points in the first half. 

Chanhassen (10-12, 5-5) pushed back. Junior guard Maxwell Woods attacked the paint and scored 9 points while sophomore guard Riley Johnson knocked down three 3-pointers as the Storm played even with the Red Knights, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News.

“They are really good shooters and never give up,” Benilde-St. Margaret’s sophomore Jalen Wilson said. “They’re that team you really don’t want to play against.”

In the second half, Benilde-St. Margaret’s came out firing with a 9-0 run to open the half. Junior Jayden Daisey scored each of those nine points after going scoreless in the first half.

“We don’t know what we’re going to get,” Johnson said. “We have a team with enough weapons where if someone has a down game, we’re going to pick each up.”

The first half scoring for the Red Knights was led by Donley while the second was led by Daisey. The one constant in that mix—Wilson. He was a force in both halves. He tallied nine points in the first half and 13 in the second to finish with 22 points along with 11 rebounds. The consistency is something Johnson has seen all season.

“[Wilson] is just our steady guy,” he said. “He’s got a very high IQ. He’s going to make the right play. You wouldn’t think he’s a sophomore out there. He’s very composed out there.”

Wilson’s inability to be fazed was key as the sophomore helped Benilde-St. Margaret’s maintain a healthy lead during the second half.

“I know that if we are going to be good, I’m going to have to lead this team,” Wilson said. “The way I play and where I am on the court makes it easier to score. I can score often because I score outside of sets being run for me.”

The win for Benilde-St. Margaret’s is just another against a bigger school opponent. Johnson believes there’s value in beating bigger schools like Chanhassen.

“We’re getting to see that we can compete against anybody in any class,” Johnson said. “It gives our guys confidence when it comes to section time.”

MN Boys Basketball Hub polls are for entertainment purposes only.

Using a balanced scoring attack, Benilde-St. Margaret’s held off Metro West Conference foe Chanhassen for the second time this season as the Red Knights won 68-55 on Friday at Chanhassen High School.

After the Red Knights (19-3, 9-1) won the first meeting on Jan. 24 by just a single point, the two teams once again played things close as the teams entered halftime tied at 28.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, led in the game’s early minutes thanks to 11 first-half points from sophomore Jaleel Donley as he finished the game with 15 points.

Chanhassen (10-12, 5-5) kept even with the high-flying Red Knights with solid shooting throughout the opening half. Junior guard Maxwell Woods and sophomore guard Riley Johnson led the Storm with nine points apiece as Woods found success driving to the hoop while Johnson knocked down three 3-pointers.

In the second half, Benilde-St. Margaret’s junior Jayden Daisey finally found the score sheet as he rattled off 9 consecutive points to open the half for the Red Knights as he finished with 13. 

The play of Daisey, sophomore Jalen Wilson and freshman Christian Wiggins all helped Benilde-St. Margaret’s maintain a healthy lead in the second half. Wiggins finished with a double-double, tallying 22 points and bringing down 11 rebounds. Wiggins came through with 13 points, including key free throws in the game’s final minutes.

Chanhassen did manage to cut the deficit to two points at one point in the second half but could not break through. Senior forward Braden Barger led the way with 18 points while Woods finished with 16 and Johnson tallied 12 points.