It was one of a half-dozen similar stretches Bloomington Kennedy guard Kenisha Bell had in the Eagles’ methodical 71-57 victory Tuesday over St. Michael-Albertville in the Class 4A quarterfinals, but it illustrated just how much influence the 5-foot-10 senior guard wielded.

Midway through the second half at Target Center, with the Eagles fending off a run by St. Michael-Albertville (23-5), the uber-quick Bell found a slight opening and slashed through the lane for a lay-up. It missed, but she outleaped the scrum underneath, grabbed the rebound and put it back in.

The next time she had the ball, she found again found a seam in the defense and blew through it. This time, as the defense scrambled, she zipped a no-look pass to teammate Lasha Wright-Ponder for a basket. Bloomington Kennedy’s lead, which had bobbed between seven and 10 points for much of the game, was back to the comfortable stage, 53-41.

“She’s been doing that all year,” Kennedy coach Quinton Johnson said. “She has that ability to break down the defense, create things, make the right decisions.”

Bell, a Marquette University signee, finished with a game-high 29 points. She also had six rebounds and three look-at-that assists. She could have had at least three more if her teammates would have been able to handle her passes.

But Bell wasn’t overly pleased with her performance. In fact, she said, she can play better. “Way better,” she said. “I had a bunch of turnovers. I wasn’t pacing myself well. “

Scary thought for Lakeville North, the Eagles' opponent in Thursday’s semifinals. The Eagles (25-6) defeated their South Suburban conference rivals twice during the regular season.

“They know us,” Johnson said. “There won’t be any secrets.”

The biggest reason for Bloomington Kennedy’s 71-57 victory over St. Michael-Albertville in the Class 4A quarterfinals was simple, really. The Eagles had All-Metro guard Kenisha Bell. The Knights had no one to match her.

The explosive Bell turned the game into a personal showcase, using her speed to breakdown the St. Michael-Albertville defense and create opportunities for herself and her teammates. Bell, who will play at Marquette next year, scored 29 points, grabbed six rebounds and had a handful of assists. 

The victory sends the Eagles to Thursday’s Class 4A semifinals against Lakeville North, a team they defeated twice during the regular season. 

Check back later for more on the game.