Finally-A Class AAAA State Title for Hopkins Royals

For the last three years, the Hopkins Royals have played in the Class AAAA championship game and have come up short.  Not this year.  Maya Nnjai scored 19 points and a strong supporting cast in the second half also contributed to the Lake Conference powerhouse's 74-45 win over the Stillwater Ponies Saturday nigh at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.

It was the seventh state title for Hopkins in 13 trips to the state tournament.

Dlayla Chakolis got the Royal offense going, scoring three of her team's first four points.  Alexis Pratt would score first for the Ponies.  Sara Scalia, who will play next season at The Barn as a University of Minnesota Golden Gopher got a taste of her future home court as she scored five straight points.  Eighth grader Taylor Woodson would tally to regain the lead for Hopkins.  They would go on an 8-0 run that would end on Pratt's basket.  Stillwater would even the game at 20 as Mary Fultz and Wagner would contribute.  Nnaji would score inside on a great pass from Chakolis to put Hopkins ahead and Sara Scalia would counter to even the game at 22.  The Ponies would forge ahead on a 7-0 run that included a three pointer from Delaney Wagner. and they would lead at halftime 29-27.

Stillwater would extend their lead in the second half with four straight points from Sara Scalia.  Paige Bueckers would hit a three point play for the Royals.  Prat would go to the free throw line for three shots after she was fouled by Amaya Battle on a three point attempt and made two of three free throws.  It would be the only bright spot for Stillwater in the second half as Liza Karlen picked up her fourth foul with 13.12 to play, sending Amaya Battle to the free throw line.  Her two made free throws would help Hopkins begin a 12-0 run that would vault them into the lead and they would stay in that capacity the remainder of the game.  Bueckers, Minnesota's Player of the year would score and also force a turnover.  Chakolis, who will play next season in Hampton, VA would get a steal and a score. Also adding to the Royal attack was the outstanding three point shooting of KK Adams who would hit four straight shots from Oak St.  Hopkins would outscore Stillwater 17-3 to finally bring home the championship hardware.

Also scoring in double figures for the Royals was Bueckers and Chakolis with 13 points apiece.  Bueckers recorded seven assists.  Adams added 12 points.  Sara Scalia led the Ponies with 24 points and Pratt scored 16.

Hopkins concluded the season a perfect 32-0 and Stillwater wrapped up their year 27-4.

In the third place game played at Ganglehoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul, Sara Stapleton scored a game high 20 points to lead the Centennial Cougars to a 68-53 win over the Eastview Lightning.