Some things never change.

St. Michael-Albertville won the 2009 Class 3A state title thanks to stellar defense. Six years later, the Knights are still reaping the benefits of a stout defense, but this time the damage is being done in Class 4A, where they moved in 2010.

Minnetonka became the latest team to struggle against St. Michael-Albertville’s stingy defense as the Knights upset the Skippers 53-51 in a matchup of top-10 ranked teams Tuesday night at Minnetonka High School.

The Skippers, ranked No. 2 by Minnesota Basketball News, entered the game as one of the state’s high-scoring teams with a 67.7 points-per-game average, but No. 4 St. Michael-Albertville, which is giving up 45.2 points per game, held Minnetonka to its lowest point total of the season.

"I think (the defense) is good," Knights forward Sydney Tracy said. "It's definitely getting there, but it's not quite where we want it to be ... but I am pretty happy with where we are right now."

Tracy, a 5-foot-10 junior who has verbally committed to South Dakota State, plays with four of Minnetonka's starters on a Amateur Athletic Union team, including Skippers standout junior forward Courtney Fredrickson. Tracy had the difficult task of guarding Frederickson, who entered the night averaging 16.9 points per game. Frederickson finished with 11 points.

"It's always tough playing against AAU teammates and there was definitely some tension out there between us," Tracy said. "I honestly couldn't have done it without my team playing great help defense."

Knights coach Kent Hamre said he's asked his team if it wanted to switch to zone, but the girls declined. Put simply, his team just loves to play man defense.

"We like to hang our hat on defense and the kids buy into it," Hamre said. "They want to play man-to-man and they want to get after it (on defense),"

The Knights are now 11-2 on the season despite a difficult schedule, which features all five Lake Conference teams. After Tuesday night, St. Michael-Albertville has wins over Wayzata and Minnetonka and losses to Edina (by one point) and No.1-4A Hopkins. The Knights host Eden Prairie on Feb. 14.

"I think with playing the Lake teams, it's kind of a monkey off our back," Hamre said. "Just answering that question of 'Do we belong in 4A?'... and right now we're showing that we do belong."

Tracy said her team simply “wanted it” more than the Skippers on Tuesday night. It's clear: the Knights are on a mission to put St. Michael-Albertville on the Class 4A map, and do it with defense. 

"I feel like bigger teams and Lake (Conference) schools, they tend to overlook us," Tracy said. "I think when we come out and play the way we did (tonight), we really show them that we're something to reckon with."

Junior Kitri Zezza scored 13 points as St. Michael-Albertville knocked off Minnetonka 53-51 in a nonconference matchup of top-10 teams from Class 4A at Minnetonka High School on Tuesday night.

Sophomore Rae Johnson notched 11 points for the Knights (11-2), ranked No. 4 by Minnesota Basketball News. 

St. Michael-Albertville held an eight-point lead at halftime and withstood the Skippers’ second-half rally to hand No. 2 Minnetonka its second loss of the season.

Senior Caroline Shelquist made five three-pointers and finished with a game-high 17 points for the Skippers (14-2).

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