Jackson McAndrew knew he had to have a big game for his Wayzata basketball team to get past the Hopkins boys in the Section 6AAAA finals March 12 at Wayzata.
Wayzata and Hopkins had split during the regular season, with the Trojans narrowly able to even the series 71-70 last month.
It was a different game in section finals and, indeed, McAndrew had a big game - perhaps the very best game of his distinguished high school career. The final stats showed him with 40 points as the Trojans ended Hopkins’ season 105-76.
“Our goal all year has been to get back to state,” said McAndrew, who led Wayzata to the state Class AAAA title last year. “We all came locked-in tonight after some really good practices last week.”
Early in the contest, Hopkins led 8-4, then it was tied 10-10. Wayzata suddenly hit the Royals with a 14-0 run to lead 24-10. The avalanche of Trojan points continued. Six-six junior forward Wyatt McBeth put Wayzata up 38-18 with a three-point shot. After Anthony Smith answered with a three-pointer for Hopkins, McAndrew flew high over the rim to splash a two-handed dunk.
At 6-9, McAndrew was the tallest man on the court, but it was more his skill than his size that made him the dominant player. His big night included six three-point baskets along with a lot of points in the paint.
“I wanted to take advantage of my size,” McAndrew said. As for his outside shooting, he said, “I kind of got into a flow.”
McAndrew had plenty of offensive and defensive support from his teammates. A good measure of the support came from two sophomore guards, 6-5 Christian Wiggins and 5-10 Isaac Olmstead.
Wiggins scored 20 points and switched off guarding Hopkins’ two All-Lake Conference guards - 6-foot junior Anthony Smith and 6-foot sophomore Jayden Moore.
Smith did everything he could to keep Hopkins in the game as he finished with 31 points, a two-handed dunk, a 35-foot three-pointer and a blocked shot from behind in transition.
Moore was a constant threat with his penetration and finished with 22 points.
Wayzata’s Olmstead, who knocked down two three-point shots early in the game, said, “Jackson played a great game. He’s so unselfish and his presence helps me get into the lane.”
Olmstead did a great job of handling the ball against Hopkins’ full-court pressure defense. By making the right plays at the right time, he made the 105-point output a reality.
All season, Olmstead has been able to shoot the three-ball in rhythm. “My teammates do a great job of finding me,” he said.
Wayzata head coach Bryan Schnettler has two championships and a second-place finish at state the last three seasons. Still, a trip to the championship can’t be expected every year.
“Our guys have really put in the work,” he said. “They took more shots in the offseason than anyone in the state.”
Schnettler’s message to the Trojans before the section title game was simple and to the point: “Trust your work, trust each other.”
After the game, the head coach was doused with a bucket of water in the team room. He didn’t mind at all.
Drying his hair afterward, he said, “It is always fun to watch how we share the ball.”
Nine Trojans shared the scoring against Hopkins. In addition to the three in double figures - McAndrew, Wiggins and Olmstead - point totals were: McBeth 9, Ben Shaffer 6, Brayden Sandmann 5, Evan Johnson 3, Daniel Grubesic 2 and Drew Nepstad 2.
For Hopkins point totals besides Smith’s 31 and Jayden Smith’s 22 were: Daveion Hart 9, Tyson Moore 7, JJ Semanko 4, Caden Knutson 2 and Tre Moore 1.
Wayzata goes to state with a season record of 27-1. Hopkins finished 23-6, with all of the top seven players eligible to be back in the lineup next season.
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