State AA Quarterfinal #20 Pequot Lakes vs. #3 (#8) Annandale

Recap

A stifling defense in the second half propelled Annandale past Pequot Lakes in the boy’s basketball state quarterfinal.

The Patriots trailed by as many as ten in the first half before a 15-8 run gave them a lead at 26-25. In the run, the Patriots found their stroke from deep hitting five of their six first-half three-pointers. Annandale responded with seven straight points to get back up by six. Pequot Lakes scored the final four points of the half and it was nip and tuck into the locker room with the Cardinals up 32-30.

There would be no Patriots run in the second half, however. Annandale scored the first seven points of the half. The Patriots battled to keep themselves in striking distance, but after they cut the lead to 44-38 with 8:41 to go, the Patriots would only score two more points the rest of the way. The Cardinals’ defense was simply outstanding, making nothing easy at all for Pequot Lakes.

The Cardinals (29-2) win their 27th straight and will face Caledonia (28-1) in the semifinals Friday night.

Pequot Lakes (24-7) will face familiar foe in Perham (18-11) in the consolation semis tomorrow night in St. Paul. Coverage is set for 7:30pm on KLKS Talk 100.1 & rjbroadcasting.com.

Click here for the official stats of the game.

Postgame interview with coach Rich Spiczka: