Maranatha is used to achieving milestones. The Mustangs (19-4, 12-0) won their 100th-consecutive Minnesota Christian Athletic Association game on Jan. 27 against Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity. The streak is now at 105.
Maranatha won the MCAA once again this season, a commonality since 2012. Another milestone is on the horizon: They’ve played in eight-straight state tournaments, and if they make it there once again, it will tie a Minnesota record for most consecutive state tournament appearances.
That will be tougher this season, as the Mustangs leaped to Class 2A, but they’ve been successful, winning 15 of their last 16 games, and are currently ranked No. 4. They will have a tough test in the Section 5 tournament, competing with No. 10-2A Eden Valley-Watkins and No. 6-2A Holy Family Catholic (17-5, 6-3), who the Mustangs will play on Monday.
The Mustangs have been led by Jaclyn Jarnot (17.7 ppg), who reached a personal milestone last week by scoring her 2,000th career point against St. Paul Como Park.
The Fire made the section championship last season but lost 55-44 to Watertown-Mayer. Julia Geurs scored a team-high nine points for the Fire in the low-scoring affair. The Fire made the Class 2A state tournament in 2016, and they’ll have to go through the Mustangs to return.