Minnetonka wields defense to strengthen its position atop girls basketball Metro Top 10

Minnetonka is showing what separates it from the pack this season: defense.

The No. 1 Skippers (18-0) held No. 4 Providence Academy more than 30 points below its season average in a 73-48 victory Saturday, securing their hold on the top spot in the girls basketball Metro Top 10. Minnetonka led 35-14 at halftime.

Junior Aaliyah Crump scored 27 points and senior Gophers commit Tori McKinney added 25 for the Skippers. Lions standout sophomore guard Maddyn Greenway finished with 23 points.

No. 8 St. Michael-Albertville (15-4) welcomed back leading scorer Ja’Kahla Craft in a 76-63 loss to Benilde-St. Margaret’s (11-5). She missed the Knights’ 77-53 loss to No. 2 Hopkins (16-2). Craft, who is averaging 25.8 points per game and bound for Seton Hall, scored 25 points against the Red Knights. She was sidelined because of a dislocated right pinkie finger.

It’s time to start paying attention to Benilde-St. Margaret’s again with senior guard Olivia Olson back in the lineup. The Michigan recruit scored 35 points against St. Michael-Albertville. She was sidelined because of a broken bone in her left hand.

Maple Grove (14-3) climbs into the No. 3 spot.

Hopkins at Minnetonka, 7 p.m. Tuesday

Don’t arrive late for this one, a matchup of the state’s two best teams. This is the second of five consecutive grueling games for the Skippers. They follow it up with matchups against Wayzata, St. Michael-Albertville and Maple Grove. Hopkins just finished a three-game stretch in which it beat all three of those teams.

1. Minnetonka (18-0). Last week: 1

2. Hopkins (16-2). Last week: 2

3. Maple Grove (14-3). Last week: 5

4. Providence Academy (2A) (16-3). Last week: 4

5. Wayzata (14-4). Last week: 6

6. Eden Prairie (15-4). Last week: 7

7. Lakeville North (13-4). Last week: 8

8. St. Michael-Albertville (15-4). Last week: 3

9. Andover (14-3). Last week: 9

10. Rosemount (14-4). Last week: 10