March 15, 2018
The 2018 MPA Varsity Boys Basketball Team is one game away from the State Tournament!
Ranked the #6 seed, the Panthers defeated #14 seed Community of Peace Academy 80-49 in the first round of the Section 4A tournament here on campus last Thursday, March 8, and then upset the #3 seed Christian Life Academy in the quarterfinals 47-38 on March 10 on the road, and then went on to upset the #2 seed Prairie Seeds Academy 93-88 in double overtime this week for the section semifinals title!
In the semifinals versus Prairie Seeds, Senior Nick Guiang led the Panthers with 31 points, Junior Yahya Madar added 24, and Junior Ben Nippolt had 20.
The team features eight seniors, led by captains Takele Thompson-Nelson, Tom Fitzgerald, Nick Guiang and Bennett Henke. This is the deepest postseason run for MPA Boys Basketball since at least the 2000 season, even considering MPA’s Head Coach Jacob Schwartz and Assistant Coach Nate Bander’s successful season as alumni of the class of 2009 and of the MPA basketball program. They are so proud of their team, and are excited to witness potential history–with a win on Friday, MPA Boys Basketball would make its first ever appearance in the State Tournament.
MPA plays the #5 seed Heritage Christian Academy at 7 PM on Friday, March 16 in the Section 4A Championship game at Anoka-Ramsey Community College – Coon Rapids. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for students. A map of the college campus can be found here. To get to the game, enter through door eight (green indicator on map) on the east side of campus. This is also the only ramp/accessible door to the gym. Parking will be available in lot one immediately upon driving onto campus. There will also be signs posted outside directing fans where to park and where the gym entrance is located.
Thank you for all who have come out to support this team, and we hope to see you there Friday cheering them all the way to State!
