“We were [0-25] two years ago, and now we’re going to Gustavus, which I don’t think has been done,” Nicollet’s Henry Kennedy said. “We just set a school record for wins, it means so much. These guys put in so much work. Proud of all of them.”

Kennedy had 20 points for the Raiders, while Carson Kettner had 23 points and 10 rebounds. Keegan Hulke added 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The Raiders were up just 44-41 in the second half, but Nicollet worked to push that lead out to a comfortable margin. A pair of deep late 3s by Mayer Lutheran’s Vincent Evans weren’t enough to get the Crusaders back into the game as Nicollet held on for the win.

“In practice, we work on end-of-game scenarios like that,” Kennedy said. “Our coach, he makes us work, end of game scenarios, always working on them. To finish like that, it’s amazing. Proud to be on this team.”

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Nicollet's Henry Kennedy shoots a layup during a Section 2A Boys Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals game against Mayer Lutheran Thursday at St. Peter High School.

The Raiders started the game hot, going up 9-0 to open the game, with Kennedy scoring 5 during the stretch.

“Earlier games, we struggled with getting energy in the beginning of games,” Kennedy said. “Once we start with energy, talk on defense, our chemistry is through the roof. We’ve been playing with each other since second grade. Just a bunch of friends that are good at basketball.”

Mayer Lutheran fought back, tying the game at 19 on a 3 from Benjamin Lindesmith, but Nicollet stayed on top with a pair of layups from Hulke. Kettner added two more layups and Kennedy wrapped up the 10-0 run with a lay of his own as Nicollet held a 29-19 lead. A 3 from Nicollet’s Noah Fitzner and one final 3-point shot before the buzzer by Hulke saw the Raiders with a 37-23 halftime lead.

Mayer Lutheran started the second-half scoring with a mid-range shot by Wyatt Sunde, but Nicollet kept pace with a make through a foul by Kettner. A 3 from Nicollet’s Abe Madson set the score at 44-34, but the Crusaders went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 44-41. Kennedy responded with a 3 and a scoop layup from Kennedy for a 49-41 lead. Lindesmith was fouled on a 3 and made all three free throws to keep pace, but Kennedy continued to score with a layup in transition for a 51-44 lead as Nicollet called a timeout with 10:09 to play in the game. An alley-oop from Hulke to Kettner made it a 57-49 game, but Mayer Lutheran cut the lead to 60-55 on a pair of layups from Dylan Sunde, but a putback and a layup from Kettner kept the Raiders in the lead. Mayer Lutheran began fouling with a minute left to play down 70-62, but two deep shots from Evans couldn’t cut the lead enough as the Raiders came away with the victory.

Nicollet must now face top-seeded Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at 6 p.m. on Monday at Gustavus Adolphus College.

“Same energy,” Kennedy said. “We’ve scouted them since the beginning of the season, we knew they were going to be good. Come out with energy, hit shots and I think we’ll be alright.”