The Apple Valley Eagles boys’ basketball team, ranked #1 in Class 4A, fell to the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks, ranked #1 in Class 2A, on Thursday night by a score of 82-79.

It was a highly anticipated, nationally-televised matchup that also featured two of the top point guards in the nation: Apple Valley’s Tre Jones (Duke commit) and Minnehaha’s Jalen Suggs (Undecided). The Redhawks were able to hold on to a narrow second half lead and gain a critical early season win. Jones had a good look at a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds, but just missed.

Jones led the Eagles with 39 points, while the sophomore Suggs countered with 19. Minnehaha forward JaVonni Bickham (Denver commit) was the top scorer for the Redhawks with 25 points. Apple Valley’s Luke Martens (Winona State commit) also had a strong showing, putting up 11 points of his own.

The contest featured a rowdy atmosphere and star-studded crowd, with Minnesota Timberwolves point guard and AVHS alum, Tyus Jones, and University of Minnesota basketball players, Amir Coffey and Isaiah Washington, in attendance.

The Eagles next foe also appears to be a tough matchup, a clash with arguably Minnesota’s second-best Class 2A team, Minneapolis North. The game will be played in Hopkins on Saturday, December 9 at 9:00 pm in the Breakdown Tip-Off Classic.