Minnesota State 4A Semis Results and Finals Preview

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wayzata Beats Shakopee 59-55</h2>   <p>The first half NBA analytics circles would tell you Wayzata had a math problem, not enough 3-pointers versus Shakopee's. The Sabers shot 15 first half 3-pointers and hit 8, 6 of them came from 2025 senior's [player_tooltip player_id='1575347' first='Luke' last='Wherley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1436821' first='Eli' last='Schroeder']. [player_tooltip player_id='1574229' first='Devin' last='Pass'] made the other 2, and that's 24 of the 31 first half points. Unfortunately for the Sabers the rest of the team was 0 of 10. That's right, nobody else made a shot.</p>   <p>For the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] #1 2026 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1560867' first='Christian' last='Wiggins'] and 2025 uncommitted [player_tooltip player_id='1454976' first='Wyatt' last='McBeth'] kept them in the game with 7 of 13 shooting, scoring 16 of their team's  24. The rest of the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] were 3 of 16 including 1 of 9 from behind the arc.</p>   <p>The [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] math problem was fixed up in the 2nd half while the Sabers wasn't as the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] hit 7 made 3-pointers. 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1560807' first='Isaac' last='Olmstead'] knocked down 3, Wiggins 2, and 2 from six-foot-six-inch 2026 wing [player_tooltip player_id='1560778' first='Nolen' last='Anderson'] who we've been waiting for to get it going. Shakopee made just 2 of 11 3-pointers and 2 of 7 free throws.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sabers Who Played Well</h2>   <p>2025 Jamestown committed six-foot-five-inch [player_tooltip player_id='1575347' first='Luke' last='Wherley'] came out hot in the first scoring 8 points in a row in one minute and eighteen seconds. He hit two 3-pointers, one off an assist from [player_tooltip player_id='1574229' first='Devin' last='Pass'] and another from [player_tooltip player_id='1575342' first='Isaac' last='Cordes'], and the next basket was a lay-up in response to a Wiggins stepback score. The lefty needed little time on his shot, saw the rim and let it fly.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1436821' first='Eli' last='Schroeder'], a six-foot-one-inch 2025 guard, hit three 3-pointers he hit in the first half. He showed good ability off the ball to get free to have good looks. Schroeder used defenders over aggressiveness to fake back cuts to open space on his shots.</p>   <p>Isaac Corde, a six-foot 2025 guard committed to D3 Northwestern College here in Minnesota, was fantastic setting up Wherley, Schroeder, and Pass for shots. His dribble penetration really kept the defensive players' eyes on him and allowed his teammates to find spaces for open looks. While Cordes didn't shoot well overall, just 2 for 8 and 1 for 6 from 3, he hit a huge 3-pointer in the 2nd half with 2:46 left to cut the game to one point.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] Players of the Game</h2>   <p>The 2026 six-foot-four-inch Wiggins was fantastic for the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] scoring in the 2nd half and the beginning of the 2nd half, and he was very good defensively throughout. Wiggins finished the game 6 of 12 from the floor for 18 points, his two 3-pointers in the early part of the 2nd half were huge to get the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] momentum turned. He blocked 1 shot and nabbed 1 steal, those aren't the parts about his defense that stick out. He took on the responsibility of guarding ball handlers at the top and did great on switches all over.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560807' first='Isaac' last='Olmstead']'s four 3-pointers, especially the three in the 2nd half were huge. With his team trailing 53-49 with 2:46 left Olmstead hit back to back 3-pointers to give the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] a 2-point lead. Then handling the ball out of a timeout hit [player_tooltip player_id='1454976' first='Wyatt' last='McBeth'] for an AND1 lay-up off a great ATO set. Early in the 2nd half he made two passes, one to Tommy Shunmugavelu for an inside score and pushed one up to Wiggins for a 3-pointer.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/iAmBBell/status/1902914978723537316 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cretin-Derham Hall Big 3 Score 43 2nd Half Points</h2>   <p>The Raiders shot 7 of 27 in the first half including 0 of 6 from 3, and only Monteff Dixon and [player_tooltip player_id='1310206' first='Tommy' last='Ahneman'] scored their 15 points while they also committed 11 turnovers. In the 2nd half the Raiders shot 15 of 21 from the floor and 14 of 17 from the foul line to score 48 2nd half points, 43 of the points from 2025 Notre Dame committed big man [player_tooltip player_id='1310206' first='Tommy' last='Ahneman'], 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1560868' first='Joseph' last='Mitchell III'], and 2027 wing [player_tooltip player_id='2126094' first='Ty' last='Schlagel'].</p>   <p>2026 wing six-foot-five-inch [player_tooltip player_id='1960892' first='Henry' last='Knutson'] was very active for the Crimson scoring 11 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots. Knutson who does well as a secondary ball handler passes the ball very well, he only managed one assist as Maple Grove's perimeter offense struggled to hit 3-pointers.</p>   <p>2025 six-foot-three-inch guard [player_tooltip player_id='1617766' first='Keegan' last='Harney'] who has been huge for the Crimson down the stretch this season shot just 4 for 12 from the floor and 2 of 9 from 3. He scored 14 points by making 4 of 5 free throws and did well to draw fouls versus the Raiders defense. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126467' first='Baboucarr' last='Ann'], the six-foot-four-inch 2027 sophomore showed why he's received a few P4 offers this winter with his length, speed, and quickness defending on the perimeter. Ann's potential as a primary ball handler is still coming along, he did show the range by hitting two 3-pointers.</p>   <p>At this point there's not much else that can be said about Ahneman that hasn't been said already. Maybe, watch how to operate with the ball from the post looking for passing opportunities as he makes good reads for baskets. The six-foot-ten-inch senior finished with a dominant stat line and the NDSU football commit Hromodka was no match inside. 28 points, 15 boards, 3 assists, and 2 blocks while shooting 8 of 11 in the 2nd half including one 3-pointer.</p>   <p>2026 guard Mitchell showed in the 2nd half why he's previously been offered from some Division One schools with his combination of quickness, fundamentals, and ability. Mitchell drew five fouls driving to the basket giving himself five free throws in the half, he made four shots including two 3-pointers which were back to back pushing the game to 34-28.</p>   <p>2027 wing [player_tooltip player_id='2126094' first='Ty' last='Schlagel'] with a wrap on his left hand had a near perfect shooting 2nd half, 3 of 3 from the floor including a 3-pointer and 3 of 4 from the line. Schlagel also grabbed four rebounds and handed out one assist. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Final Preview</h2>   <p>Unlike our 3A Final, this final won't be a rematch from earlier this season. Cretin-Derham Hall now 29-1 and Wayzata is 27-4. Will the game be decided by the Raiders Big 3 or the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last='']? Or will a player outside of their team's 3 best step up in the biggest game of the year?</p>   <p>Raiders Big 3 versus [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] Big 3, who has the advantage? As both have strengths the other doesn't have they probably come out evenly if you take attributes and say overall this is where they go. However, Ahneman gives the Raiders the advantage of having the single best player from both teams, and Wayzata will have to scheme to stop him inside.</p>   <p>Monteff Dixon versatility gives the Raiders an advantage defensively with his speed and agility, Anderson, Wiggins and Olmstead will have to shoot it well from the outside to outpace Cretin-Derham Hall. Plus [player_tooltip player_id='1454976' first='Wyatt' last='McBeth'] has come up large in Wayzata's most important game's so far.</p>   <p>2027 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2140716' first='Xaviahn' last='Ivey'] gives the [program_tooltip program_id='2075965' first='Trojans' last=''] an extra guard off the bench versus the Raiders 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2126154' first='Julian' last='Smith'].</p>