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South metro teams celebrate winter sports excellence

There was no shortage of successful teams and athletes coming from south of the Minnesota River during the winter sports season. Here's a quick look at some of the excellence from the south.

By Ron Haggstrom

March 26, 2014 at 6:34PM

Members of the Eastview dance team celebrate with the first-place trophy after winning the Class AAA state dance tournament jazz competition finals in Minneapolis, Friday, Feb. 14, 2014. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

double dose of dance

º Photo by Ann Heisenfelt

Eastview's jazz/funk and high kick/precision dance teams got everything started by sweeping the state tournament competition at the Target Center. The High Kick/Precision team won its fourth consecutive Class 3A crown and eighth overall while the Jazz/Funk squad earned its second title in school history.

best All-Around again

(Dml - Star Tribune Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Photo by Kyndell Harkness Ø

Northfield junior Bailey DuPay dominated the Class 2A field to successfully defend her all-around crown in the gymnastics state meet at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion. She posted a winning mark of 39.075 points. DuPay finished first in the balance beam, floor exercise and uneven bars and second in the vault.

Apple Valley wins ninth title in a row

(Dml - Star Tribune Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ø Photo by Kyndell Harkness

Apple Valley turned in its usual impressive performance in the wrestling state meet at Xcel Energy Center. The Class 3A Eagles won their ninth consecutive team championship and 22nd overall. Apple Valley also crowned four individual champions. Simley topped Scott West for the Class 2A team championship.

Adapted hockey first

(Tom Wallace — Special to the Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

º Photo by Matthew Hintz

New Prague/Belle Plaine/Jordan/LeSueur-Henderson/Tri-City United won its first state championship in the cognitively impaired division of the adapted floor hockey state tournament. It defeated Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville 9-7 in the final. Junior Matthew Schoenbauer and senior Alex Palma combined for all nine goals and had 34 in the three state tournament games.

30-footer, And the title

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

º Photo by Marlin Levison

No one person carried its team to a state championship more than JP Macura of Lakeville North. The senior guard scored 43 points, leading the Panthers to an 84-82 victory over Hopkins in the final of the Class 4A boys' basketball state tournament. In the semifinals, Macura's 30-footer at the buzzer gave Lakeville North a 55-52 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall.

top-ranked and on top

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

º Photo by Marlin Levison

Trailing for all but the final minute of the Class 4A championship game, the Eastview girls' basketball team overcame a 12-point deficit to defeat Bloomington Kennedy 64-61. The victory avenged the only loss of the season for the top-ranked Lightning (30-1).

First time, first win

(Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ø Photo by Mark Hvidsten

Playing its first boys' hockey state tournament, New Prague recorded its first victory as well, defeating Chisago Lakes in the quarterfinals of the Class 1A tournament at Xcel Energy Center. Much of New Prague's student body, taking a break from finals, was there in support.