Wiconi UsesArrow scored five of Minnesota West’s 11 overtime points and the No. 2-ranked Lady Jays captured the Region 13B championship Sunday afternoon with a 75-69 triumph over No. 3 Northland, earning an automatic berth in the upcoming NJCAA national tournament.
Minnesota West was blown out on its home floor by Northland, 81-53, earlier in the season and trailed by nine against Northland at halftime on Sunday. The Lady Jays then outscored their opponents 21-11 in the third quarter, and the teams played evenly in the fourth before a Pioneers layup with 32 seconds tied things up at 64-64 and led to overtime.
Dasia Potter nailed a 3-pointer for Minnesota West seven seconds into OT, and UsesArrow made the next field goal for either team after more than two minutes had passed for a 69-64 advantage. A UsesArrow layup with 1:53 left made it 71-66, and after an Olivia Hayenga layup with 1:24 remaining it was 73-66. UsesArrow and Hayenga added one free throw apiece to close out the scoring and clinch the Lady Jays’ third consecutive trip to nationals.
Hayenga paced Minnesota West for the afternoon with 22 points, 17 rebounds and five steals. Hattie DeVries added 19 points, and Audrey Drapeau had 16 points and five assists.
In their game Saturday, the Lady Jays held a six-point halftime edge and then outscored Rainy River 26-15 in the third quarter on their way to an 84-60 victory.
Hayenga led the way with 37 points, 14 rebounds and five steals while Skylla Peterson contributed 18 points and seven rebounds and DeVries 13 points and six assists. Minnesota West outrebounded its opponents 53-35 while limiting Rainy River to just 32% shooting from the floor.
The national tournament will take place March 13-16 in Rochester. Seedings for the tourney will be released Wednesday.
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The Worthington Trojans boys basketball team will host a quarterfinal round Section 2AAA Tournament game on Wednesday night. The fourth-seeded Trojans will take on No.5 Hutchinson; tipoff is at 7 p.m. The winner meets top-seeded Mankato East on Saturday.
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In “Super Saturday” boys basketball Section 3A basketball Saturday, it was:
Hills-Beaver Creek 65, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 44
Murray County Central 84, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 83
Southwest Minnesota Christian 81, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 57
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 73, Red Rock Central 62
In Section 3AA basketball boys basketball Saturday:
Jackson County Central 90, St. James Area 45
Luverne 65, Fairmont 57
Pipestone Area 94, Windom 54
In Section 2AAA girls basketball Saturday:
Marshall 61, Mankato East 55
In Section 3A girls basketball Friday:
Southwest Minnesota Christian 59, Hills-Beaver Creek 50
Edgerton 52, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 51
In boys basketball Friday:
Martin County West 67, Nicollet 62 (OT)
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