Minnetonka Edge Benilde in 71-70 Thriller

Minnetonka rallied from a 15-point first half deficit to Benidle St. Margaret 71-70 in front of a standing-room only crowd. The Skippers trailed 36-21, but scored the final eleven points of the first half to cut the margin to four at the break.

Leonard Glass hit a lay-up off a pass from Cole Stefan to tie the score at 52-52 with 8:03 left. Glass put the Skippers ahead for the first time in the second half 58-57 and Stefan's driving layup put Minnetonka up 60-57. Peter Crwford, who signed with Minnesota Duluth inside basket cut the margin to 60-59, but Stefan put the Skippers up by two with 3:17 to go by making one of two free throws.

Crawford electrified the crowd with a dunk to tie the score at 61-61, but he fouled out of the game when he fouled Stefan on a three-point attempt with 3:17 to go. Stefan made one of three free throws . Glass put the Skippers back up by three with a rebound put-back with 2:18 left in the game. Isaiah Zierden knotted the game at 64-64 with a three-pointer with 2:00 left.

Glass countered with a bucket with 1:46 left, but Zierden tied the score with two free throws with 1:22 left. Stefan sank both free throws with 1:04 remaining to put the Skippers up 68-66. Zierden responded with his fifth three-pointer of the game to put the Red Knights up 69-68. Nick Latzke hit a three-pointer with 29 seconds left to put the Skippers back up 71-69. Myles Barnes made the second of two free throws with 13 seconds left to make it 71-70 and they immediately fouled Stefan with 12 seconds left. He missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity. However, he came up big on the defensive end with a blocked shot from the left hand corner and Glass blocked a last second chance to seal the victory.

Stegan led the Skippers with 22 points. Glass had 17 points and Tor Anderson added 13. This was the first game for all three seniors who forced to sit out the first five games of the season.

Zierden led all scorers with 23 points. Crawford had 18 points and Seth Marx added ten.