BOYS' BASKETBALL
Washburn wins in upset• MINNEAPOLIS WASHBURN 85. ST. PAUL JOHNSON 80: Cedric Chappell was the calm in the chaos, the level head in a topsy-turvy game. The senior forward kept the Millers from sinking into the abyss created by the Governors' whirlwind style, leading Class 3A, No. 5 Washburn to an upset victory over defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Johnson in the Twin Cities championship.
"He's our rock," Washburn coach Reggie Perkins said. "We have a lot of young players, and Cedric is the senior we look to to keep his head and be a leader for the guys around him."
Chappell, who plays bigger than his 6-2 height would suggest, scored 22 points, 14 in the second half. He was equally effective on the boards as the Millers not only captured a year's worth of bragging rights for the Minneapolis City Conference but also served notice that they will have something to say about who wins the state championship in the highly competitive class.
"That's my role on this team," Chappell said. "I need to keep the team under control when the pressure starts to get to them."
JIM PAULSEN
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
CLASS 4A
• SECTION 3: Lakeville North had little trouble in advancing to the section final, turning away Park of Cottage Grove 62-40. Junior center McKenzie Hoelmenn provided a spark off the bench, scoring a team-high 16 points for the Panthers, a season high for her. Senior center Apiew Ojulu chipped in with 15 points. The Panthers led 32-18 at halftime and then shot 61 percent in the second half.
