Orono Spartans Win First Class AAA State Title

It would be a happy bus ride down Highway 12 as Tori Andrew scored a game high 22 points to lead the Orono Spartans to a 65-47 win over the Winona Winhawks in the Class AAA championship game Saturday night at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.

It was the first state title for the Spartans in their third state tournament appearance.  The Winhawks returned to the Class AAA final after losing last year's title game to the Holy Angels Stars, a team they would beat in this year's semifinals.

The Spartans would begin the game on a 4-0 run on baskets from Natalie Smaron and Andrew.  Andrew, who will play next season at Yale and Winona's Eden Nibbelink would hit from Huron Blvd.  Andrew would hit another three pointer and Mattea Rice would score four straight points.  Orono would dominate the first half as Andrew would hit her third three pointer. The Winhawks Danneka Voegeli would have pleased any coach when her shot bounced off he backboard and into the net.   It would be a bright spot for winona as they trailed Orono at halftime 39-25.

Defense would be he opening highlight of the second half when Nibbelink made an outstanding insideblock of Rice's shot.  Rice would eventually open the second half scoring and Madeline Loder would help spark a 7-0 run.  There would also be three point plays from both teams.  Anna Hughes of the Spartans and Voegeli of the Winhawks. With Orono holding a big lad, they began to run time off the clock but Winona wouldstill manage to go on a 6-0 run with a three pointer from Abby Winter and a three point play from Maria Appicelli.  Loder would score four straight points and pick up an assist on a basket from Rice.

Rice was the only other player in double figures for the Spartans, scoring 19 points. Smaron had 12 rebounds.   Winter led the Winhawks with 14 points, Nibbelink had 12 and Appicelli added 10.

In the third place game at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, Holy Angels beat Alexandria 74-66.  The DeLaSalle Islanders wrapped up the consolation title on the 17th with a 68-66 win over the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks.

Orono ended their season with a 27-4 record and Winona concluded their season with a record of 26-5.