Elk River Elks Flow to Class AAAA State Title

Ms. Basketball finalist Gabi Haack was no hack Saturday night, scoring a game high 25 points to lead the Elk River Elks to a 64-60 over the Hopkins Royals in a Class AAAA championship battle of unbeaten teams at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.

It was the first state title for Elk River  in their eighth trip to state.  The elks played in their first Class AAAA final since 2001, losing to Lakeville (before the split into North and South).

Freshman Paige Boeckers would begin the scoring for the Royals :25 into the game.  Danielle Lachmiller would tie the game for the Elks and Dlayla Chakolis would put Hopkins ahead.  Angie Hammond would score six straight points to widen their lead but it was Gabi Haack, who will play next season at Bradley University who would hit from Washington Ave. to cut the lead to one.  Sidney Wentland would hit a three pointer to put Elk River in the lead.  Chakolis would score to regains the lead for Hopkins and Gabi Haack would hit a free throw to tie the game at 22.  The Elks offense began to flow like the river the Sherburne coutry seat is named for.  Wentlaand, who will head for Denver next season hit a couple of three pointers and Gabi Haack made a three point play that led the Elks to a 35-30 halftime lead.

Boeckers would open the second half with a three point play.  Lachmiller would hit a three pointer.  The tide would turn for Elk River after Raena Suggs was charged with an intentional foul.  Gabi Haack would make one of two free throws and possession would remain with Elk River.  Lachmiller would score four straight points to put the elks on a 7-0 run.  Hammond would score to regian the lead for Hopkins but Wentland  With Elk River up by three, Hopins had to foul to send the elks to the free throw line.  They would pick up four quick fouls in span of :06 that forced Elk River into the bonus.  Wentland would sink a pair of free throws.  Suggs would bring Hopkins close with :21 left in regulation time.  They would have a chance to bring home their seventh state title but Boeckers missed a three pointer.  Chakolis would foul Lachmiller and shemade one of two from the line to send Elks fans home happy on the Northstar Commuter Rail.

Other Elks in double figures were Lachmiller with 17 points.  Wentland had 16 points and five assists.  Boeckers led the Royals with 19 points.  She was 7-7 from the free throw line.  Chakolis added 13 points and Suggs and Hammond had 12 points apiece.  Hammond also had 12 rebounds.

In the third place game at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia Univeristy campus in St. Paul, Rachel Ranke had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Eastview Lightning to a 68-49 win over the Lakeville North Panthers.  The Park Center Pirates won the consolation title on the 17th with a 55-45 victory over the Andover Huskies.

Attendance for the four championship games was 8,012.  Total attendance at Williams Arena was 27,050.