It's all over in the first Class 4A quarterfinal of the girls' basketball state tournament. Top-seeded and undefeated Lakeville North built a 34-10 halftime lead and coasted to a 52-33 victory over Northfield.
Cassie Rochel led the way with 17 points on 8 of 9 shooting, while Rachel Banham added 10 points and four assists. Gophers women's basketball coach Pam Borton watched a good portion of the game, presumably to check on Banham, a junior who has already committed to Minnesota.
Morgan Zabel, featured in this article today after helping the Raiders get to state despite an appendectomy four days before the section final, led Northfield with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Next up: St. Francis (25-4) vs. Chaska (22-6) in what figures to be a closer game.
