Viewfinder: Boys' Basketball Season Ends Abruptly for St. Michael-Albertville in St. Cloud

The Crimson appear to be getting red hot at the right time. 

After a disappointing, one-point loss to Anoka back on March 4 to close the regular seaosn, Maple Grove seems to be playing with a chip on its proverbial shoulder. 

They crushed No. 5 Alexandria to open the Section 8-4A tournament with an 90-63 victory. Saturday, they moved to the championship game with a 70-51 defeat of St. Michael-Albertville at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud. 

The Knights went cold from the field in the second half, and Maple Grove was able to rely on its offense, which has averaged nearly 75 points per game over the last five games, to cruise to victory.

The Crimson will take on Buffalo Saturday in the Section 8 title game Thursday, March 17 back at St. Cloud State. 

St. Michael-Albertville finishes the season 20-8, with senior Joe Carpenter leading the squad in scoring at 18 points per game, and eclipsing the 1,000-point scoring mark this season. 

Michael Mooney and Michael Weise also both average in double figures. Both juniors, they will be back next season. 

Senior Dain Krutzig lead the squad in assists with nearly five per game. 

After a bit of a rough start in 2010, the squad found its identity when the calendar turned to January, said head coach Tim Anfenson. The team only lost to three teams, total, in 2011 (Rogers twice, Buffalo once and Maple Grove).