The Caledonia High School boys basketball team will tip off for a game at the MSHSL state tournament for the 11th time on Tuesday night.
That will follow a short practice, a sendoff from the school and the blaring horns from the fire trucks that escort them out of town. It’s a tradition everyone in town knows well and one they are willing to celebrate for the second time in a week after the Warriors also qualified for the state girls basketball tournament.
Caledonia’s history with the tournament suggests it will be ready for the external aspects of the event.
But so will Minnehaha Academy — the Warriors’ Class AA quarterfinal opponent at Williams Arena. The Redhawks are making their 13th state appearance and ninth in a row, and that plants the seed for a special night between programs not only familiar with their surroundings but with each other.
“Both teams are going to be prepared to handle the circumstances,” Caledonia coach Brad King said of the 8 p.m. tipoff. “Yeah, there may be some players who haven’t played in it before, but it’s such a part of the programs over the years.”
The Warriors (28-2) are seeded fourth and the Redhawks (19-9) fifth as they prepare to match up for the first time since the 2019-20 regular season.
It will pit two very effective offensive units against one another as they battle over a spot in Friday’s semifinals at Williams Arena. The losing team suits up again Wednesday for a consolation semifinal at Concordia’s Gangelhoff Center.
The Redhawks have scored at least 80 points in five of their past nine games and beat St. Croix Lutheran (25-4) 68-54 to win their section championship. Minnehaha had six players score between seven and 13 points in that victory, and that balance is something King said has been consistent this season.
“I really like their offense,” said King, whose team has won 17 straight games and only been beaten by Onalaska and Class AAA Stewartville this season. “It’s a lot like a European offense with a lot of movement. It isn’t dominated by one person, and they really shoot it well.
“All the guys are willing to shoot that open 3-pointer.”
Senior George Norsman, a 6-foot-5 forward who has committed to Carleton (Minn.), is the Redhawks’ top scorer at 19.2 points per game. He also shoots 41.9 percent from the 3-point line with 26 makes in 62 attempts and is one of five Minnehaha players averaging at least 10 points per game.
Senior guard Noah Hamburge leads the team with 58 3-pointers, and senior forward Kingston Manning follows Norsman on the scoring list at 11.6 ppg.
The Redhawks have a new coach in Jadee Jones — Lance Johnson coached them to five state titles with future NBA talent like Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren before retiring after last season — and has changed some things offensively to take advantage of his players’ strengths.
The Warriors’ job is to disrupt that, and a defense that has held seven straight opponents to less than 50 points will have to play a key role if they advance.
“We have to be able to put them on their heels,” King said. “If we can, we’ll be okay. If we can’t, it’s going to be harder to stop their stuff.”
That means dictating Minnehaha’s shots to an extent and limiting good looks from the perimeter. Caledonia will have to contest advancement off the dribble against a lineup filled with players who can handle the basketball.
The Warriors will also have to rebound effectively and defend well in the perimeter with 6-6 sophomore Kellen Troup (10.6 ppg, 7.3 rebounds per game) around. That’s where senior Ethan Stendel — a future linebacker at the University of Minnesota — enters the picture in a prominent way.
The Warriors have a good rebounding team and plenty of length and athleticism to get to the ball, but Stendel’s power will also be a factor.
“He’s extremely important in the rebounding for us,” King said. “When you get to postseason basketball, things typically become more physical, and that’s great when you have him on your side.
“But the way we play defense with switches, there will be times where we have a guard on (Troup). He has that shot-blocking ability, and can he get over there at those times to block a shot or make it more difficult? That will be important.”
So will getting a couple of shooters hot, especially early.
Senior Mason King leads Caledonia with his 18.1 ppg, but seniors Redi Klug (15.9 ppg) and Garrett Konz (15.8) aren’t far behind, and Stendel (10.6) gives them another double-figure performance to rely on. Freshman Grant King (9.6 ppg) can also be a factor.
“They have played some zone, so we will have to be ready for that or man-to-man,” Brad King said of the Redhawks. “That, and on the defensive end, we will have to find a way to turn them over a little.
“Hopefully, we can do that.”
