Junior forward Gary Trent Jr.’s 23 points, 11 more from fellow senior front court mate Cameron Kirksey and a steady floor game from sophomore point guard Tre Jones — who chipped in eight — helped No. 3 seeded Apple Valley to a 77-57 Class AAAA state boys’ basketball quarterfinal victory over Blaine at the Target Center Wednesday afternoon.

The Eagles raced out to 50-25 halftime lead and didn’t look back. The victory sets up a showdown with Hopkins. Apple Valley, who now sports a 29-1 record, lost 89-81 to the Royals in December.
Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdonald@spokesman-recorder.com.

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald is a contributing columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.