Lady Jays win Region 13A hoops, earn fifth straight trip to nationals

The Minnesota West Lady Jays captured the Region 13A title and qualified for the NJCAA Division 3 Women's Basketball Tournament for the fifth straight year by beating Ridgewater 78-40 on Sunday.

Minnesota West, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation, never trailed Sunday and improved to 23-5 overall. The brackets for nationals will be announced Wednesday; the tournament will take place March 11-14 in Brownwood, Texas. 

Payton Riemers and Sadie Krahling scored 18 points apiece for the Lady Jays. Riemers also had nine rebounds. Katrina Schutz chipped in with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Jayda Hellewell also grabbed 10 boards.

Ridgewater shot just 20% from the floor in the game while also turning the basketball over 20 times. Minnesota West led 37-20 at halftime, then outscored the Warriors 22-5 in the third quarter.

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In the Section 3A South girls basketball finals Friday night, top-seeded Hills-Beaver Creek topped No. 3 Murray County Central 48-40 in Worthington. The Patriots will face Central Minnesota Christian on Thursday at SMSU in Marshall for a state tourney berth.