Pool play between the "Big Four" of the Breakdown Summer Showcase Invite at Lakeville South was intense.  Four of the top teams in the state: Maranatha, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Apple Valley and Perham squared off in a round-robin tourney.

Game one saw Benilde-St. Margaret’s barely survive over Maranatha Christian Academy, 55-51. The Red Knights were without Isaiah Zierden but still had Sanjay Lumpkin, Will Dunn, Danon Briggs, Isaiah Gray, and company. Lumpkin had a wall shacking one-handed throw down that had all on-lookers in Lakeville talking but MCA still fought to the end before falling by four.

Next up was Apple Valley, which played the smaller schools Perham and Maranatha in its first two games. The Eagles had to claw their way to a 51-48 victory over the scrappy class AA state champion Perham squad. A game later the Tyus Jones-less Eagles found their grove and consistently held a 20 point lead over MCA. 

Behind a well oiled offensive system and consistent hard-working efforts Perham also gave Benilde-St. Margaret’s a run for their money. Simply put Perham makes opponents play defense and if those opponents refuse to step up and give a quality effort they will get scored on most often by 6-foot-6 big Mark Shumacher. The Red Knights survived 54-50 but Maranatha Christian Academy got caught up in the Yellowjacket sting losing by double digits.

With Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Apple Valley each winning their first two games this set up the late night Big Four championship game. At first it seemed as if somebody told the teams that defense was forbidden. Lumpkin scored 11 fast points that included three all out attacking sprints to the rim in the halfcourt set. Lumpkin also hit an early trey while Will Dunn put a quick eight points up on the board. Back the other way Dustin Fronk licked his lips looking at a Red Knight zone and he hit five first half three-pointers. 

Things slowed down in half number two as the Red Knights stepped further out on Fronk, the Eagles shut down Lumpkin’s lanes to the cup, and overall the combatants stepped in and played tougher. Will Dunn shined hitting five three-pointers (most in the second half) plus both he and Isaiah Gray scored on contested penetration. For the Eagles sophomore to be Dennis Austin took over in the middle scoring over the top of Knight defenders for 14 second half points and Harry Sonie seemed to create every scoring opportunity.

At the end of regulation the score was tied at 66 so the two-minute overtime rule was put into action. And after scoring two points in about the last 33 minutes of play, Lumpkin stepped up huge to make an early overtime three-pointer that gave Benilde-St. Margaret’s the momentum. From there Isaiah Gray put the game away with two free throws and the Red Knights won 71-68. 

Dunn hit five three-pointers and scored a game high 25 points while Fronk hit six treys and led Apple Valley with 22 points. Lumpkin had 16 for the Red Knights in support while Gray offered 15. Austin totaled 18 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles and Sonie totaled an eye-opening 10 assists.

Benilde-St. Margaret's 55, Maranatha 51
Apple Valley 51, Perham 48
Apple Valley 69, Maranatha 57
Benilde-St. Margaret's 54, Perham 50
Perham 50, Maranatha 38
Benilde-St. Margaret's 71, Apple Valley 68 OT