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Providence Academy downs Minnehaha Academy in 51-48 thriller

By Heather Rule, SportsEngine, 02/03/21, 4:15PM CST

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The undefeated Lions have had the recipe to success this season, scoring 63.6 points per game while giving up a meager 28.6 points a contest.

Minnehaha Academy's Talia Graham and Providence Academy's Grace Counts battle for a loose ball along the baseline in the second half. Counts had 10 points in the Lions' 51-48 defeat of the Redhawks Wednesday night. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

Minnehaha Academy's Talia Graham and Providence Academy's Grace Counts battle for a loose ball along the baseline in the second half. Counts had 10 points in the Lions' 51-48 defeat of the Redhawks Wednesday night. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

The numbers going into Wednesday night’s game speak volumes for Providence Academy. The Lions scored 394 total points (65.7 points per game) in their first six games of the season while allowing only 152. The closest margin of victory was 25 points in a 63-38 win over Rockford.

For their seventh game, it was time to face Minnehaha Academy, a fellow undefeated team and Independent Metro Athletic Conference (IMAC) rival, which came into the matchup scoring 78.5 points per game.

“All season we’ve been wanting some tough competition,” said Providence Academy sophomore forward Grace Counts. “So these are the games we love to play, especially against a close rival like Minnehaha.”

The intense game came down to the final minute of play, with Providence Academy, ranked No. 3 in Class 2A by Minnesota Basketball News, coming out on top with the 51-48 victory at Minnehaha Academy.

The win was “a fun checklist” item for Lions coach Conner Goetz, even though there wasn’t a full gym to see it due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“In my four years, I’ve never won here,” Goetz said. “Then Liv [Olivia Klammer], my senior, it was fun for her to get a road win here, too.

“Usually the atmosphere is just packed, and it’s loud. We were happy; Minnehaha fans were great. They made the atmosphere as great as it could be.”

The Lions (7-0) held a lead throughout much of the second half. But the Redhawks went on an 8-0 run to make it 43-42 with 4:44 to play. Down two points, Redhawks eighth-grader Addison Mack inbounded the ball to Aniyah Reuben who scored to make it 48 apiece with 56.1 seconds to play.

Minnehaha Academy's Aniyah Reuben and Providence Academy's Maddyn Greenway fight for position at the edge of the paint Wednesday night. The Lions edged the host Redhawks 51-48. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

Minnehaha Academy's Aniyah Reuben and Providence Academy's Maddyn Greenway fight for position at the edge of the paint Wednesday night. The Lions edged the host Redhawks 51-48. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

First Report

Providence Academy made a late bucket and a free throw in the final minute of the second half to seal a 51-48 victory over Independent Metro Athletic Conference (IMAC) rival Minnehaha Academy on Wednesday at Minnehaha Academy.

Providence Academy, ranked No. 3 in Class 2A by Minnesota Basketball News, trailed at halftime 27-24, but held a lead late into the second half before No. 5-2A Minnehaha Academy rattled off an 8-0 run to tie it at 48 apiece with just under a minute to play.

But senior Oliva Klammer scored an important two points for the Lions (7-0) with a bucket underneath the hoop with about 38 ticks remaining in regulation. The Redhawks (4-1) had another shot but missed in the final 30 seconds. A made free throw with 7.1 seconds remaining gave the Lions a three-point lead.

Redhawks eighth-grader Addison Mack, who scored a game-high 29 points, sailed a long three-point try off the rim as time expired.

Grace Counts led the Lions with 18 points. Teammates Brooke Hohenecker and Maddyn Greenway chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Redhawks eighth-grader Addison Mack (in red) faces a double-team while driving to the basket in the second half. Mack led all scorers with 29 points in Minnehaha Academy's 51-48 loss to Providence Academy. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

Redhawks eighth-grader Addison Mack (in red) faces a double-team while driving to the basket in the second half. Mack led all scorers with 29 points in Minnehaha Academy's 51-48 loss to Providence Academy. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

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