Boys basketball tournament: Apple Valley’s quarterfinal loss to Maple Grove ‘a necessary step’ for Eagles

Apple Valley guard Tylan Ward (0) drives past Maple Grove forward Bo  Draheim (25) during the second half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Maple Grove won 74-51. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Maple Grove forward Henry Knutson (3) tries to shoot over Apple Valley guard Trey Parker (5) during the second half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Maple Grove won 74-51. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley guard Tylan Ward (0) takes a shot past Maple Grove forward Jacob Wrbanek (14) during the second half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Maple Grove won 74-51. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley guard Justin Cowan (1) dunks the ball against Maple Grove during the first half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley forward Camare Young, center, takes a shot between Maple Grove forward Bo Draheim (25) and guard Nathan Hromodka (24) during the first half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley guard Tylan Ward (0) goes up for a shot past Maple Grove guard Kaden Harney (11) during the first half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley guard Marcus Horton, left, fouls Maple Grove forward Grant Mitchell (22) as he tries to knock the ball away during the second half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Maple Grove won 74-51. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley guard Justin Cowan, top right, takes a shot over Maple Grove forward Nathan Hromodka (24) and forward Baboucarr Ann (5) during the second half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Maple Grove won 74-51. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Maple Grove head coach Nick Schroeder watches their game against Apple Valley during the first half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley guard Justin Cowan, front, goes up for a shot as Maple Grove guard Keegan Harney to block during the second half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Maple Grove won 74-51. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley head coach David Collier watches the game against Maple Grove during the first half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley guard Trey Parker (5) drives past Maple Grove guard Kaden Harney (11) during the first half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley guard Jaedin Williams, center, is fouled by Maple Grove forward Bo Draheim (25) as he drives past forward Baboucarr Ann (5) during the second half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Maple Grove won 74-51. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

Apple Valley guard Marcus Horton (11) drives past Maple Grove forward Baboucarr Ann (5) during the first half of a Class 4A quarterfinal game in the State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)