Roseau advances to Class AA final thanks to the Kacie & Katie Show

One year ago Kiley Borowicz was the center of attention as she turned in series of stunning playoff performances to lead Roseau to a perfect season and the state AA championship. Friday night, all Kiley could do was watch as Roseau tried in her absence to get back to the big game. What the MSU-Moorhead freshman saw was jaw dropping, as her younger sisters Kacie – a junior – and Katie – a freshman – combined for 60 points to lead the Rams to an impressive come-from-behind win over Maranatha Christian Academy. "It was a lot harder watching than it was playing," Kiley admitted as the citizens of Roseau celebrated their 78-66 victory. The Rams will now meet Sauk Centre in Saturday's AA championship game. Maranatha was having its way for a good portion of the game thanks largely to some impressive play from senior Jaclyn Jarnot (a Miss Basketball finalist), junior forward Kae Seana Barth-Lofton and senior guard Kylie Post, in particular. The Mustangs concluded the first half on a 14-2 run. When Post made a three-point basket midway through the second half, that put Roseau behind by 8 and things were not looking bright for the girls in green. That's when Kacie, a top 10 player in the class of 2019, kicked it into a higher gear. Borowicz rattled off a series of field goals as she and sister Katie, herself a top 10 talent in the freshman class, went on a tear. Despite Post's series of countering baskets in that stretch, there was little Maranatha could do once the Borowicz sisters got hot. It was an equation that the Mustangs have often been on the right side of but not this time around. In addition to her 20 points, the 5'4 Katie also had 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 6 steals and three very big blocks. Kacie's offensive onslaught totaled 40 points, one short of Kylie's number in last year's semifinal. Kacie shot 13 for 23 including a perfect 3/3 from three. The sisters were a combined 21/24 at the free throw line. The 6'1 Jarnot, who will play next year at Division 1 Monmouth in New Jersey, ended her night with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Post, a Minnesota-Crookston signee, finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. The pair of Mustangs have compiled outstanding high school and AAU careers and will no doubt be successful at the next level. Roseau looks to continue its success on Saturday back at the Target Center. Sauk Centre 54 Norwood-Young America 45 It can be dangerous walking down Main Street at night, especially if you are carrying something valuable. The Norwood-Young America Raiders found that out the hard way in downtown Minneapolis Saturday as they got mugged by a gang of Mainstreeters, who grabbed the loot and ran off into the night with a 54-45 victory. As a result, Sauk Centre advanced to the class AA final where they'll meet Roseau for the second year in a row. Led by big Bren Fox and crafty guard Abby Mackenthun, things were going along rather nicely for the Raiders, even though they were the underdog #5 seed facing top-seeded Sauk Centre. NYA controlled the tempo in the first half as the Mainstreeters struggled to contain the 6'3 Fox, who was scoring and rebounding at a torrid clip. The Raiders were up early but Sauk Centre gradually drew even to a 23-23 halftime tie. After the break, the Mainstreeters came out running. That's never a good sign for Sauk Centre's opponents. When NYA let down their guard for just a few moments, Sauk Centre pounced, going on a 16-2 run. During that stretch, the Mainstreeters most dangerous attackers were especially deadly as Kelsey Peschel, her sister Tori, and their partner in crime Maesyn Theisen went on a tear while lengthy sisters Julia and Michaela Dammann defended the inside. The senior Kelsey downed a couple of big threes during the run and had 13 points in all. Sophomore Tori was equally good while racking up 18 points and 11 rebounds. Theisen, a top 10 player in the senior class, made 4 of 8 from the three-point line – a couple of them from outside the NBA arc – as she tallied 13 points and 9 assists. Fox, who will play with Kylie Post at Crookston, finished with 18 points, 15 rebounds, 4 steals and 5 blocks in an outstanding performance. Fox went 7 of 10 from the field and 4 of 4 at the line. Sauk Centre is now 32-0 on the season. The Mainstreeters have been to the state tournament in three of the past five years but have yet to win it. Roseau is in their fourth straight tournament and seeking their second championship in a row. Regardless of the outcome, it will be difficult to top the shear entertainment value of Friday's semifinals.