roundup

Champlin Park, Centennial advance to section final

girls' basketball

CLASS 4A

• SECTION 5: Champlin Park hung on after a low-scoring second half to beat Maple Grove 43-40 on Tuesday and advance to the section championship game. Senior guard Alexis Alexander led the Rebels with 11 points. Teammate Allison Gerads scored 10. No one from Maple Grove scored in double figures. ... Jasmin Bretoi scored 19 points and Jaycie Gerding 10 as Centennial took control in the second half to beat Northwest Suburban Conference rival Osseo 59-41 in the semifinals at Anoka High School. Madi Malone scored 15 points for Osseo.

CLASS 3A

• SECTION 4: Abby Kain scored a game-high 25 points to lead Simley over Hill-Murray 64-52 in the semifinals at St. Paul Washington High School. The Spartans led by seven at halftime and held on in the second half despite a 22-point performance from the Pioneers' Lindsey Malecha. Malecha was the only player to score in double figures for Hill-Murray. Kylie Brown added 14 points for Simley while Katie Atkins and Maya DeLao scored 12 and 10 points. ... New Prague beat Missota Conference rival Red Wing 65-45 thanks to Maizie Deihl, who scored a team-high 20 points for the Trojans.

CLASS 2A

• SECTION 5: Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted took to a 21-point lead at halftime and cruised to a 66-41 victory over Watertown-Mayer to advance to the championship game. Cozy Eastman and Abby Miller each scored 20 points for the Lakers. Teammate Gabby Gruenhagen added 11 points for HL-W-W. Claire Killian had 15 points and Kirsten Klitzke 12 for the Royals. Eight different players scored for Watertown-Mayer. ... Top-seeded Annandale held off Braham 39-36 to advance to the section championship. Hannah Spaulding scored 11 points to lead Annandale while Emma Atkinson and Emmy Whitesell each contributed 10. Kayla Nickles finished with a game-high 22 points for Braham.

• SECTION 4: Minnehaha trailed Concordia Academy by six points at halftime but stormed back to win 67-66 thanks in large part to Sarah Kaminski, who scored 17 of her game-high 23 points in the second half. Gracia Gilreath and Olivia West each scored 14 points for the third-seeded Redhawks. Michala Walther finished with 17 points for Concordia. ... Top-seeded St. Croix Lutheran raced out of the locker room and scored 40 second-half points to thump No. 4 seed New Life Academy 74-39 and advance to the final. Jennie Scislow scored a game-high 15 points, all on three-pointers, for the Crusaders. Audrey Lefto finished with 12 points while teammate Jazmyn Solseth added 11. Molly Saum scored 10 points for New Life Academy. Ten different players scored for St. Croix Lutheran.

CLASS 1A

• SECTION 4: Top-seeded Maranatha scored 45 points in the first half en route to an 83-70 victory over Heritage Christian in the semifinals. Five players scored in double figures for the Mustangs, who are trying to win their third consecutive Class 1A state championship. Mikayla Payne led all scorers with 21 points for Maranatha. Lexi Lee had 18 points and sister Madison 17 for the Mustangs. Bella Lien led Heritage Christian with 20 points. Paige Berge added 19 for the fifth-seeded Eagles.

NOTES

Mr. Basketball finalists named

• The five finalists for the Mr. Basketball Award were announced on Tuesday. They are Wheeler Baker (Osseo), Brian Goodwin (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa), Tyus Jones (Apple Valley), J.P. Macura (Lakeville North) and Reid Travis (DeLaSalle). The winner is expected to be announced next Tuesday.

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