The second quarterfinal of the day was the Class AAAA game I was most eager for - the Anoka - Eden Prairie clash. Anoka, of course, came into this state tournament three seasons ago with only 4 wins but managed to catch fire in their section games and got to the big stage. The Tornadoes were here last year, of course, but bowed in the quarterfinals and were determined to make the most of their opportunity this time around. Eden Prairie, meanwhile, was the surprise entrant from Section 6AAAA as they not only knocked off three-time defending state champ Hopkins but also managed to dump Minnetonka in the section final game. Could the Eagles maintain their hot streak.
Neither team could gain a decided advantage early on although two treys from lanky Anoka senior guard Kyrah Fredenburg had the Tornadoes up 9-8 by the 11:24 mark. Anoka was in their normal 2-3 zone defense that, coupled with their size and length, makes it very, very difficult for opponents to venture into the paint against them. A Fredenburg score in the paint with 9:16 left put the Tornadoes up 11-8 before Eden Prairie could get things going offensively. A Eden Prairie steal and subsequent lay-up by junior reserve guard Andrea Jirele put the Eagles out in front 12-11 by the 8:42 mark and things would stay close again.
After a decent start by Anoka, the Tornadoes were not able to get into that EF-5 mode that Head Coach Scott Antl was hoping for and this gave Eden Prairie an opportunity to find its groove and they were able to establish a 25-21 lead with 4:00 left thanks to a "3" from junior forward Martha Kuderer with 7:07 left. An injury to Anoka sophomore reserve guard Naomi Torgerson dampened the Tornadoes spirits further. Torgerson, however, appeared to be okay and two scores by the Bray twins - Amber and Ashley - drew Anoka to within one with 2:36 left. Things would stay tight and the Tornadoes would recapture a small lead when Amber Bray knocked down two freebies after getting fouled on a lay-up attempt with 1:20 left for a 30-29 advantage. Eden Prairie would climb right back and take the lead going into the locker room at the half. Two free throws by senior guard Jayla Mayes-Jackson with 1:13 left followed by an Eden Prairie steal and a Mayes-Jackson lay-up that got her fouled in the process and allowed her to sink the obligatory freebie had the Eagles back up 34-30. Eden Praire would make one last jab - a short jumper from the left side by junior forward Emma Boehm for a 36-32 advantage. Still, just like the first game, this one was way too close for Eden Prairie to feel good just yet.
Things would stay nip and tuck once the second half started up and, despite stabs and jabs from both sides, it was difficult for Eden Prairie to extend its slim lead. Things temporarily took a turn for the worse for Anoka when Amber Bray picked up her third foul but twin sis Ashley stepped right up to the plate and with the Eagles clinging to a two-point advantage at 41-39, Ashley; better known for her blue-collar work ethic in the paint, knocked down an unlikely "3" at the 11:26 mark for a 42-41 Tornado lead. Anoka was finally able to expand on that advantage as lanky senior guard/forward Claire Lundberg; one of the best three-point shooters in the state, knocked down two freebies for a 47-41 Anoka lead. Turnovers were catching up with Eden Prairie as well and now, facing a six-point deficit, you began to wonder if that Eagle magic was finally wearing off.
Eden Prairie sophomore reserve guard Esabelle Levine knocked down a "3" from the left corner with 8:32 left that drew Eden Prairie back to within three trailing 47-44 and another Levine "3" from the right wing with 7:22 left knotted things up at 47 a piece. Mayes-Jackson bravely took a foray into that murderous Anoka front line and somehow connected with a lay-up with 6:25 left that put the Eagles back out in front 49-47 with 6:25 left. Eden Prairie was able to extend that advantage to 54-49 on a "3" from Boehm with 4:46 left and suddenly Anoka was under the gun again. Amber Bray picked up her fourth foul with 4:22 left on a charging call and suddenly the Tornadoes could not find the key baskets when they needed them. Eden Prairie extended their advantage to 58-49 with 3:40 left on two Mayes-Jackson freebies and Anoka; needing to hit a couple of big threes to get things close again, simply couldn't find the range. The Eagles, now with a bit of a cushion, started to work the clock on their offensive possessions and Anoka, forced to foul, gave Eden Praire several opportunities to pad that lead. Free throws by Kuderer and Jirele had the Eagles up seemingly comfortably at 62-54 with 2:15 left and Anoka; trying to desperately make something with full-court pressure, just could not get that big bucket when they needed it most. This senior-laden Anoka team that has been through so much over the last few years and wanted nothing more than to extend their run saw their hopes and dreams to a crashing halt as Eden Prairie finished things off with a 67-57 victory as the Eagles move on to the semifinals while Anoka ends their season with a 22-8 record.
A disappointed Anoka Head Coach Scott Antl spelled things out quite plainly after this defeat. I asked him specifically about when the Tornadoes had the 47-41 lead and looked to be in control. "We broke down" Antl said...."Too many turnovers" he added. Indeed, Anoka committed 21 turnovers in this game with a majority of them coming in the second half when they needed to take care of the rock. While the Tornadoes did enjoy a 32-29 advantage on the boards - and Antl credited his 2-3 zone for that - he also admitted that Eden Prairies speed and quickness caused a lot of problems for his squad. Furthermore, Antl also felt that Eden Prairie adjusted to that zone in the second half. One thing Antl is proud of is that all nine seniors on his team are going to be playing college basketball next season. Two of the teary-eyed Anoka seniors that I got to speak with briefly afterward offered up a few thoughts. Ashley Bray admitted that "We did our best to keep our composure"; referring to when Eden Prairie made their decisive move. "We tried to collapse on defense when they tried to get into the paint but they would always kick it out for the "3". Kyrah Fredenburg takes a lot of pride in playing a big role in helping to take this Anoka squad to the point where it is now. "We knew we could do that.....coming from nothing to where we are now."
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