Boys State Basketball: Strong second half propels Annandale to 62-55 win over Caledonia in 2A semifinals

Annandale was the final team to earn a berth in Championship Saturday following its 62-55 victory over Caledonia in the Class AA semifinal on Friday, March 25, 2022 at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus. Senior guard Carson Gagnon scored 30 points, including 24 in the second half when the No. 3 Cardinals (30-2) stormed back from a halftime deficit to land a spot in the Class AA championship game on Saturday against No. 1 Minneapolis North.

It will be Annandale’s second appearance in a Class AA title game. In 2014, Annandale was runner-up to Esko. Caledonia, the No. 2 seed, was hoping for a chance to chase away the bad memory of losing in the Class AA championship game a year ago to Waseca.

Annandale shot 68 percent from the field in the second half while outscoring the Warriors (28-2) by a 42-29 advantage. Senior forward Robert Olson added 11 points for the Cardinals.

Senior guard Eli King, a finalist for the Mr. Minnesota Basketball Award, had 24 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for Caledonia.

The final minute of play took many minutes as Caledonia was looking for ways to climb back. The Warriors were forced to foul, but the Cardinals answered with made free throws. Caledonia would make baskets at the other end while playing in catch-up mode, but Annandale matched those baskets with free throws.