Apple Valley upsets Maple Grove in Minnesota High School Boys Basketball Class 4A Semifinal

MINNEAPOLIS - Apple Valley won four games four years ago. Last season, they lost by 20 to Maple Grove in the first round of the state tournament.

But on Thursday night, the No. 7 Apple Valley Eagles (21-10) defeated the No. 3 Maple Grove Crimson (24-7) 73-63 in the MSHSL boys basketball Class 4A semifinals at Williams Arena.

“We had so much untapped potential,” senior Ryan Christiansen said. “We knew that we were going to get better as the years went along.”

It’s the second consecutive upset for the Eagles. They defeated the No. 2 Wayzata Trojans in the quarterfinal, and they continued to shoot well against Maple Grove. The Eagles made 62.2 percent of their shots against the Crimson.

“We’re not forcing shots,” senior guard Trey Parker, who finished with 23 points, said. “No one is having to work really hard for their shots. The way we’ve been playing, it’s just been fun. Everybody is touching the ball. It’s definitely fun these last couple games.”

Maple Grove shot well in the first half, but as the Crimson went cold, the Eagles continued to make 3s. In the process they buried another giant. But they bristle at the word Cinderella.

“I wouldn’t say a Cinderella run,” senior Camare Young said. “We have high expectations of ourselves.”

They’ll have a chance to win Apple Valley’s fourth state championship in program history. The Eagles face No. 5 Chaska in the title game on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Williams Arena.

Chaska defeated the No. 1-seed Tartan Titans, and they are a team with just as much momentum as the Eagles.

“It’s all about staying together and staying connected, and when one of those obstacles and challenges comes, just to rise above it,” Apple Valley head coach David Collier said.

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Maple Grove vs. Apple Valley: Live Score Updates of Minnesota High School Boys Basketball Class 4A Semifinal

First Half Updates

Maple Grove wins the opening tip, and the game is underway.

Maple Grove senior guard Max Iversen continues to shoot well from 3-point range in the tournament. He hit a 3-point shot to give the Crimson the lead — Maple Grove 5, Apple Valley 4 — 14:00 remaining

Apple Valley with a 15-14 lead with 10:21 remaining. Not much to separate these teams so far.

Maple Grove leads 23-22 with 5:47 remaining. Crimson junior center Jack Thelen leads all scorers with 8 points.

Apple Valley's Tyrese Hutton makes a 3-point shot to tie the game at 28 with three minutes remaining.

HALFTIME: Maple Grove 34, Apple Valley 33

Iversen's breakaway dunk at the end of the half gives the Crimson the lead. He and Thelen lead Maple Grove with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Ryan Christiansen leads Apple Valley with nine points.

Apple Valley is 13-for-25 from the field, and Maple Grove is 12-for-26. Maple Grove is out rebounding the Eagles 10 to 16.

Second Half Updates

The second half is underway.

Apple Valley's Trey Parker hits a 3-point shot, and the Eagles lead 40-39 with 14:58 remaining.

Apple Valley has a 7-0 run, and the Eagles lead 44-39. Eagle senior Camare Young's drive and dunk forced Maple Grove to call a timeout to stop the momentum — 13:35

Apple Valley's Giovanni Horton makes a 3-point shot, and then Parker gets a steal and a layup, and the Eagles lead 51-43 over Maple Grove with 9 minutes remaining.

Apple Valley's Camare Young goes to the bench with 4 fouls with 5:18 remaining. He has 16 points — Apple Valley 57, Maple Grove 54 — 5:18

Apple Valley's lead is 67-57. Parker hits a 3-point shot, and he's scored 21 points — 1:56 remains in the game

Maple Grove can't hit some desperation 3s, and Apple Valley makes it free throws. The Eagles will be in the state championship game.

FINAL: Apple Valley 73, Maple Grove 63

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