This season was thought to be a rebuilding year for top-seeded Minnehaha Academy after five seniors from the Redhawks team who won third place at last year’s state tournament graduated.
Their seemingly annual rematch with second-seeded St. Croix Lutheran in the Class 2A, Section 4 finals also wasn’t expected to resemble last year’s 55-27 rout of the Crusaders, due to a youthful lineup.
“I worry about St. Croix Lutheran year-round,” Minnehaha Academy coach Josh Thurow said following the Redhawks' 69-47 victory Friday night at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. "But my girls came out shooting and pushed the pace.”
Ranked No. 4 in Class 2A by Minnesota Basketball News, Minnehaha Academy (25-3) shot 7 of 14 from three-point range, and used a 20-2 run in the first half to put the game out of reach of the No. 15 Crusaders (22-6).
Forget rebuilding. This season has been all business as usual for the Redhawks.
George-Mason commit Sarah Kaminski has been fortunate enough to play in the state tournament in all but one year of her varsity career.
“This has been my home and life the past four years, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished,” she said.
The only senior on Minnehaha Academy’s starting lineup that consists of three freshman and a sophomore, Kaminski has been the team’s leader in points, assists, rebounds and shooting percentage. She led the Redhawks with 21 points and 11 rebounds in Friday's section final.
“I’ll never coach a better player - I don’t think - as far as an all-around player,” Thurow said. “She’s everything you want in a basketball (player) and an outstanding kid.”
“She’s inspired a lot of people by breaking records at our school, and it inspires people to work as hard as she has,” starting sophomore guard Terra Rhoades said.
Now advancing to its eighth state tournament in nine seasons, Minnehaha Academy is looking to continue to roll with its youthful confidence and Kaminski’s veteran play.
“They didn’t come in here nervous tonight," Thurow said. "We always say 'nervous never scores at the hoop', so we’d better get that out of our system right away."
Sarah Kaminski (24) led all scorers Friday night with 21 points, and also grabbed 11 rebounds. Photo by Cheryl Myers
First Report
Senior Sarah Kaminski recorded a 21 point, 11 rebound double-double in Minnehaha Academy’s 69-47 win over St. Croix Lutheran in the Class 2A, Section 4 championship at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Friday night.
Ranked No. 5 in Class 2A by Minnesota Basketball News, the Redhawks (25-3) earned their eighth state tournament berth in the past nine seasons with the win.
Minnehaha Academy sank 7 of 14 three-pointers in the opening half, four of which came on a 20-2 run over a seven minute span in the middle of the first half.
The Crusaders (22-6) received 14 points from senior Danica Cambrice, and bounced back by opening the final frame on a 14-4 run, but it was too little, too late. .
