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Minneapolis South’s stifling defense leads to blowout of Minneapolis Southwest

By Ryan Williamson, SportsEngine, 01/07/20, 3:30PM CST

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The Tigers forced 32 turnovers and were propelled offensively by Jade Hill's 24-point performance to stay unbeaten in Minneapolis City Conference play.

Tough defense by Minneapolis South held Minneapolis Southwest to just 29 total points as the visiting Tigers beat the Lakers on Tuesday night. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngineht. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine

Tough defense by Minneapolis South held Minneapolis Southwest to just 29 total points as the visiting Tigers beat the Lakers on Tuesday night. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine

Minneapolis Southwest coach Dan Froelich tried to prepare his team for Minneapolis South’s stout defense his team would play against Tuesday by having his five starters go up against eight defenders in practice.

As it turned out, even adding three more defenders in practice wasn’t enough to prepare the Lakers for what was coming in their Minneapolis City Conference matchup with the Tigers, as South rolled Southwest 63-29 at Minneapolis Southwest High School to stay unbeaten in league play.

The Tigers (11-2, 4-0) pressed and trapped their conference rival from the opening tip, with their tight defensive play forcing the Lakers into 32 turnovers.

As a perennial favorite to win the conference, South coach Ricky Hill knows his team is usually the hunted instead of the hunter.

“They better be ready for every game,” Hill said. “They’re going to shoot for us every time. A win over us can make a team’s season.”

Minneapolis South's Jade Hill scored a game-high 24 points in the Tigers' 63-29 defeat of the Lakers at Minneapolis Southwest High School. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine

Minneapolis South's Jade Hill scored a game-high 24 points in the Tigers' 63-29 defeat of the Lakers at Minneapolis Southwest High School. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine

First Report

The old adage of the best offense being a good defense was put on display at Minneapolis Southwest High School on Tuesday, as Minneapolis South forced 32 turnovers to fuel its offense and run away from Minneapolis City Conference rival Minneapolis Southwest with a 63-29 victory.

South (11-2, 4-0) used its tough half-court trap and full-court press to jump out to a 10-3 lead, making things difficult for the Lakers early. Tigers junior guard Jade Hill led the way in the first half with 11 points. She finished with a game-high 24 points and 17 rebounds.

Despite the Tigers’ stifling defense, Southwest (6-5, 2-2) went into the halftime break trailing just 27-19. Senior forward Becca Murphy led the Lakers with 10 points in the first half, including a pair of three-pointers.

The Lakers, however, couldn’t keep up in their opponents after halftime and Murphy couldn’t tally a point in the second half. Virginia Johnson, a freshman forward, was a bright spot for the Lakers, as she knocked down a pair of three-pointers and finished with a team-high 11 points.

Junior guard Amajah Mullins-Carlson poured in nine second-half points to finish with 13 for South. Teammate Angel Hill, an eighth-grader and younger sister of Jade who plays guard, had 15 points, and junior forward Camryn Benjamin added 11 points.

Minneapolis Southwest's freshman guard Virginia Johnson led the Lakers with 11 points in a 63-29 loss to visiting Minneapolis South. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine

Minneapolis Southwest's freshman guard Virginia Johnson led the Lakers with 11 points in a 63-29 loss to visiting Minneapolis South. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine

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