East Grand Forks Defeats Park Rapids in Section 8A Semifinal

The Jones brothers' return to the court sparked a comeback for the Green Wave

Mar. 8, 2026 at 1:35am

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In a Section 8A semifinal matchup, the East Grand Forks Green Wave defeated the Park Rapids Panthers 82-73 after the Jones brothers, Jezrael and Rafael, returned to the court following a midcourt collision that left them temporarily injured. Park Rapids had rallied to take a 29-25 lead in the first half, but the Jones brothers' presence sparked a Green Wave comeback that they maintained for the rest of the game.

Why it matters

The Jones brothers are key players for the Green Wave, providing energy and defensive intensity that fuels the team's success. Their absence allowed Park Rapids to mount a comeback, highlighting their importance to East Grand Forks' performance. The game showcased the competitive nature of the Section 8A tournament and the challenges teams face in trying to keep up with talented opponents like the Green Wave.

The details

After the Jones brothers collided and left the game in the first half, Park Rapids took advantage and built a 29-25 lead. But when the brothers returned, they quickly erased the deficit, with Rafael Jones scoring a short jumper, getting a steal, and then scoring a driving basket and a layup off a pass from Jezrael. East Grand Forks then pulled away in the second half, led by 18 points each from Chase Lindgren and Carson McDonald, as well as 14 from Jezrael Jones and 11 from Rafael Jones.

  • In the first half, the Jones brothers collided at midcourt and left the game.
  • With 2:52 left in the first half, Park Rapids led 29-25.
  • After the Jones brothers returned, East Grand Forks regained the lead and eventually won 82-73.

The players

Jezrael Jones

A senior player for the East Grand Forks Green Wave who, along with his brother Rafael, provides energy and defensive intensity that fuels the team's success.

Rafael Jones

A player for the East Grand Forks Green Wave who, along with his brother Jezrael, provides energy and defensive intensity that fuels the team's success.

Parker Hunter

A senior player for the Park Rapids Panthers who recently surpassed 1,000 career points and broke the school's single-season scoring record.

Michael Mahar

The head coach of the East Grand Forks Green Wave.

Jeb Sanford

The head coach of the Park Rapids Panthers.

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What they’re saying

“Our role is to play defense and bring the energy. And after we get the defense going, the offense just flows in. We always go on streaks, but it starts on defense. That's what my brother and I bring to the table every single night.”

— Jezrael Jones, Senior player

“Them not being on the floor was a key piece. They are really great athletes and we made a run without the pressure that they had on defense. We came back and got the ball inside without that pressure. Hats off to them — that's a really good basketball team.”

— Jeb Sanford, Head coach

What’s next

East Grand Forks will play in the Section 8A finals on Wednesday, meeting either Perham or Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton at Concordia College in Moorhead.

The takeaway

The Jones brothers' impact on the East Grand Forks Green Wave's performance highlights the importance of key players to a team's success. Their absence allowed Park Rapids to mount a comeback, but their return sparked the Green Wave to regain control and secure the victory, showcasing the team's depth and resilience.