With a blizzard on the horizon, girls 1A quarterfinal contests represented the calm before the storm. Four senior-driven teams moved on to what should be a highly competitive 1A East final four. One Journal-covered team is guaranteed a spot in the section title game. Four Journal teams are in the semis.
Top seed R-P (18-6) scored 52 first half points versus 9-seed W-K (5-20) and cruised 76-31. Trojan seniors Brianna Koop (28 pts, 9-13 FGs, 10-11 FTs, 6 rebs, 4 assists), Savannah Skalet (21 pts, 4-7 threes, 6 stls), and Mikayla Crawford (4 pts, four FGAs, 11 assists, 6 stls) led the way. Skalet has hit four or more threes six times in R-P’s seven-game streak. Sophomore Megan Oian added 7 (pts) and 7 (rebs). The Trojans converted 24 of 34 free throws. They’re averaging 15.9 makes on 24.1 attempts (65.7 %) during the streak. In Spring Grove, the 4-seed Lions (15-10) fell victim to 5-seed FC (14-12). The Falcons trailed 18-14 at half, but started the second 9-0. Tayah Barnes hit four three’s after intermission. FC converted free throws down the stretch to post a 57-50 victory. Seniors Barnes (22 pts, 7-12 FGs, 5-10 threes, 7 rebs, 4 assists, 5 stls), Kenzie Broadwater (10 pts, 6-10 FTs, 5 rebs, 8 assists, 6 stls), Kendyl Bennett (10 pts, 12 rebs), and Paige Bennett (10 pts) scored all but five of the points. SG beat FC in January 65-48. It will be R-P (19-6) versus FC (15-12) in one semi. The Trojans swept the season series.
Two-seed M-C (19-7) had some first half trouble with 7-seed Lanesboro (8-16) in the teams’ third meeting. The Burros (minus Emily Snyder and Alyssa Gathje) began 7-0, led by as many as 11, and took a 27-19 lead to intermission. Senior F Haley Polin had 15 points. But M-C erased the 8-point deficit and built a 10-point lead before the Burros attempted a second half field goal. The Cougars scored on 12 of their first 14 possession for a 25-0/31-3 run! A deficit turned into game over in seven minutes. M-C prevailed 58-38. Senior F/C Courtney Graves (career-high 22 pts, 7-12 FGs, 7-7 FTs) and freshman G Payton Danielson (18 pts, 4-9 threes, 6 rebs, 5 stls) led the way. Coranda Vickerman had 7 (pts), 7 (rebs), and 7 (assists). Maddy Michels had 5 (pts) and 7 (rebs) all in the second half. Polin (19 pts, 7-14 FGs, 4-5 FTs, 9 rebs) led Lanesboro, which finishes 8-17. In Spring Valley, young Houston (9-15) tested senior-laden Kingsland (16-10) for a half. The Knights (minus PG Alayna Meskill) jumped out 10-2 only for an 11-0 Hurricane run, a 13-10 lead. Kingsland led 20-19 at the break. Jessica Kitching hit a three to begin the second, putting double-H up 22-20. Double-K responded with a Lauren Buchholtz/Kellyn Webster inspired 14-0 run (34-22). The Knights prevailed 47-35. The super-soph Buchholtz (18 pts, 14 rebs, 3 assist, 3 stls) and the senior-shooter Webster (11 pts all in the second half, 3-8 threes) led the way. Gracie Schmidt added 8 (pts) and 5 (rebs). Alyssa Rostad (10 pts, 5-6 FTs, 5 rebs) led Houston, which finishes at 9-16. It will be M-C (20-7) versus Kingsland (17-10) in the other semi. The Cougars beat the Knights 39-35 in December.