Cherry boys basketball leaves no doubt in state championship rout

MINNEAPOLIS — With 2 minutes, 34 seconds left in the Class A championship game and Cherry leading Fertile-Beltrami by 35 points, coach Jordan Christianson subbed out senior Isaac Asuma Saturday at Williams Arena.

Isaac walked over to his coach and hugged him as they began to celebrate their state championship and what would end as a 78-40 victory over the Falcons.

The rest of Tigers’ starters had been subbed out nearly a minute prior, but Christianson left Isaac, the 2023 News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year and a Minnesota Golden Gophers recruit, out there to soak in the applause as left the court for the last time in a Cherry uniform.

“I wanted everyone to give him a standing ovation,” Christianson said. “I’ve been the head coach for five years, my first year was him as an eighth grader, so I don’t know any different … I just know he’s meant a lot to me. I’ve known him since fourth grade when I was his (physical education) teacher. He’s a special kid and they’re a special family.”

It was the beginning of a fitting tribute to the Iron Range's best prep basketball player since Hall of Famer Kevin McHale, but hardly the last game Asuma expects to win at "The Barn." But few of the wins to come here are likely to come as easily and mean as much as this one.

Just like their previous two state tournament games, Cherry started fast against Fertile-Beltrami and, again, never really looked back as they cruised to the state title.

Cherry jumped out to an 11-0 lead, and after back-to-back Falcons baskets cut the lead to seven, the Tigers put together a 13-2 run to leave no doubt they are the best Class A boys basketball team in Minnesota. Cherry jumped out to a 21-9 lead against Russell-Tyler-Ruthton on their way to a 78-46 win Thursday at the Target Center and the Tigers hit their first five shots in a 76-58 win over Nevis, the only game in the state tournament they won by less than 30 points.

After RTR dismissed Cherry in the state semifinal last year, the Tigers wanted to make a statement in 2024.

“It was definitely disappointing last year, but everyone worked hard in the summer,” Isaac said. “We were ready to bounce back and knew that if we play to the best of our abilities what we could do it. We came out here and we showed it.”

Cherry’s ball movement and commitment to an often-repeated motto of “pass up a good shot for a great shot” was on display again. Noah Asuma led the team with 22 points and Isaac Asuma — the 2023 News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year — picked up eight of his team's 21 assists.

The strength of the team isn’t just a single transcendent player, but their collective desire to help each other succeed. Isaac had just six points with about 8 minutes to play, but that wasn’t a problem because the Tigers “don’t care about stats,” Christianson said.

“He’s not going to go hunting shots, he’s going to keep playing defense and keep moving the ball,” Christianson said. “These guys don’t care. They want to share the ball, they want to make the right basketball moves and they really like to see each other succeed.”

The Tigers built a 43-21 lead at halftime and cruised to their first championship in their fourth appearance at the state tournament.

Fertile-Beltrami’s Caiden Swenby finished with 14 points and Preston Hanson had 13, but no other Falcon had more than six points and Cherry's defense was as good as its more-publicized ball movement.

The Tigers held the Falcons to under 33.3% shooting from the field and recorded nine steals and 21 points off turnovers.

“A lot of our offense starts with defense and getting out and running in transition,” Isaac said. “Getting our hands in passing lanes, contesting all the shots and finishing plays with rebounds — I think that’s the true strength of our team and then we can get out and run.”

After a triple-overtime win against West Central Area Friday that concluded less than 20 hours before Saturday's 11 a.m. tip-off, the Falcons were spent and playing a team on a mission.

“We didn’t get into a rhythm offensively, but give them credit,” Fertile coach Neil Steffes said. “Every cut you make they’re banging you. The great thing about them is that they’re so athletic, they can switch everybody onto anybody and so it gets difficult to get open.”

Fertile (27-7) didn’t have a lot left after the 48 minutes against West Central Area, but they wouldn’t give up, senior Masen Nowacki said.

“I was definitely tired, especially from the long game yesterday,” Nowacki said. “But we knew this was our last game, no matter what. So we were going to work hard and leave it all out there at the end of the day.”

While Cherry (31-2) will lose Isaac Asuma to the Gophers next season, they do return Noah and Isaiah Asuma, plus Sundquist and should be among the top Class A teams next season, too.

When will the Tigers start thinking about their title defense?

“Right now,” Noah said.