Mayer Lutheran overwhelms Christian Life to advance to section 4A final

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Grant McGinnis March 7, 2018 @ 01:15 PM

Christian Life Academy coach Peder Eide was a little misty-eyed following Tuesday night's game at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and it wasn't because his team had just been trounced 67-28 by Mayer Lutheran in the 4A section semifinals. No, Eide was just dealing with the emotions of watching his seniors conclude their high school basketball careers. Among them was his daughter Allison Eide, whose athleticism, tenacity, and 20 points per game helped put the little school from Farmington on the basketball map. The 5'8 Eide is one of the least-known high-quality guards in Minnesota – not surprising considering that the entire student body at Christian Life totals just 42 – and she will now take her game to Bethel College. Four Christian Life seniors took their final bows on Tuesday night – Sydney Krall, Holly Anderson, Maria Norman and Eide. That's the downside of watching section play. For all the excitement of great playoff games, there are the seniors' tears at the final whistle as they realize that it's all over. "Our seniors have been starters since the 9th grade, and over those four years I think they have really built something beautiful for our girls program and for our school," said the coach. "Obviously, when you are coaching your daughter – and I have coached her since she was in the 4th grade – it's a privilege and an honor." Part sadness, part celebration, the ritual is repeated nightly at this time of year. Unfortunately, there was not much to celebrate on the court for the Hawks as Mayer Lutheran pounced early. Athletic senior guard Mya Chmielewski scored the Crusaders' first basket a mere three seconds into the opening half. She scored again seven seconds later. Then 6'1 sophomore forward Olivia Tjernagel put the ball in the basket before Chmielewski quickly deposited her third bucket of the game. Just 60 seconds in, Mayer-Lutheran was up 8-0. Christian Life was clearly experiencing stage fright. "Maybe a little bit," Peder Eide admitted. "Our team has never been here before. We have never been in the section semifinals. You have to give credit to Mayer. Their speed and pressure tightened us up a little bit. We were down by 21 points, but the best part was, we called time out, we settled it down and we got back to our game." After giving up a 13-0 lead, it took Christian Life nearly four minutes to score. To their credit, the Hawks did not give up. They were down by 21 when Eide got her team going, slowing things down to a more comfortable pace and going on a 14-5 run. Then Chemielewski scored three baskets in a row to end the half and restore Mayer Lutheran's lead to 18. In the second, the Crusaders launched an all-out assault to win it by 39 and advance to the section final against Heritage Christian Academy. It's about more than basketball for the Eides Coach Kris Gustin's 20-9 Mayer Lutheran squad is a well-oiled machine. Earlier this year I watched them surprise second-ranked Lyle-Pacelli with a first-half offensive onslaught at the Hayfield showcase indicating quite clearly that they were a legitimate state tournament candidate. Besides Chmielewski and Tjernagel, the Mayer Lutheran attack features talented senior guard Maddy Hucky, long and lanky junior wing Symone Jopp, and senior guard Nicole Klaustermeier. Chmielewski finished Tuesday's game with 21 points while Klaustermeier, Tjernagel and Hucky combined for 34. Eide led Christian Life with 11, the only Hawk in double figures. "Mya and Maddy are averaging 16 points a game and they are great shooters," Eide said. "Against them you have to take care of the ball, and we had 18 turnovers in the first half." The Eide family took the loss in perspective. Although they clearly know their basketball, Peder and Allison have a lot going on beyond the game. He is a nationally-acclaimed Christian singer-songwriter who has performed at major music festivals across North America. In addition to her basketball talents, Allison also inherited her father's musical genes. (Click the link to watch her remarkable Pure Gold music video at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9l2WmGxaXk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9l2WmGxaXk</a>) Although she will no doubt make an impact on the court at Bethel, Allison is likely destined for bigger things. "A lot of people told me high school goes by superfast so enjoy it. I enjoyed every bit of it," she said. "It has been so fulfilling and I absolutely loved it. To be able to be coached by my dad has been such a positive experience."