The Yellowjackets head to the state semifinals as the program seeks its second state championship in a fourth state appearance. They’ll face #2 Minneapolis North on Friday, March 22 at 8 p.m. at Target Center in Minneapolis.

Redwood Valley heads to the consolation semifinals against Esko on Thursday, March 21 at 8 p.m. at Gangelhoff center on the campus of Concordia University, St. Paul.

The Cardinals started hot, sprinting out to an 8-1 lead while holding the Yellowjackets to one point for the first four and a half minutes of play. 

Following a 7-0 run by Perham, they finally claimed their first lead over 10 minutes into the half and didn’t look back from there. A 15-2 spurt put the Yellowjackets ahead by 10, 23-13 with 4:40 to play in the half.

Redwood Valley trimmed the margin back to one late in the half before another Perham run put the game away. The Yellowjackets buried a three just before the halftime buzzer and pushed the lead back to nine (35-26) in the opening minutes of the second half.

The Yellowjackets played to a double-digit lead for the final 13-plus minutes of action in the win.

Redwood Valley managed to outshoot Perham, 51.1% (24-47) to 46.0% (23-50) and knocked down more than twice the three-pointers (7 to 3) but, it was Perham’s ability to get to the foul line that stood out where they outscored Redwood Valley 24-3 at the stripe.

Junior Charlie Rasmussen led four Yellowjackets in double-figures with 19 points on efficient 7-of-11 shooting. Senior Josh Jeziorski and sophomore Finn Diggins each had double-doubles with Jeziorski putting up 14 points and 13 rebounds and Diggins adding 15 points and 12 rebounds. 

Redwood Valley senior Cole Woodford led all scorers with 23 points on the day, making 9-of-17 shots including three from long distance.