With a 16-point lead, and everything going their way, it looked like winning another state championship was going to be a piece of cake for the Minneota Vikings. Instead there was a fair amount of indigestion, and a few bites worth of uncertainty, before the Vikings finally savored the sweet taste of success in a 48-45 win over Belgrade-Brooton-Elrosa to capture a second-straight Class A title.
After a slow start, Minneota got untracked midway through the opening half, building a 10-point lead at the break. When play resumed it was more of the same, enabling the Vikings to go ahead by as much as 16 before the second period had reached the midway point. Then the Jaguars found their bite, turning up the defensive pressure and forcing a series of Minneota turnovers. By the time the game reached its final 30 seconds, BBE’s Josie Knutson buried a lengthy three to close the gap to just one point before Minneota’s Abby HennenAbbyHennen
5'9" | CG Minneota | 2021StateMN
closed the deal at the free throw line.
Minneota finished the season with a record of 25-0. BBE lost just twice, both to the Vikings. Here is the Prep Girls Hoops Class A All-Tournament team.
CLASS A ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMFirst Team
CLASS AA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Big players make big plays in big moments, and in the biggest moment of her high school career that is exactly what Paige MeyerPaigeMeyer
5'6" | PG Albany | 2021StateMN
did. With a lead of just two points and under seven minutes remaining, the Albany point guard put the Huskies on her back and carried them to a 57-43 win over Providence Academy to earn a Class AA State Championship. Meyer’s second-half performance was just what we have come to expect from one of the toughest competitors we have seen over the past five years.
Albany got off to a quick start Friday afternoon, building a 15-5 lead midway through the opening half, but the Lions used a 10-0 run to close the gap to 18-17 at the break. In the second half it was back and forth. When 7th grader Maddyn GreenwayMaddynGreenway
5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026StateMN
nailed a 3-point shot at the 6:55 mark, the score was 33-31 in favor of Albany. That’s when Meyer stepped up, either scoring or setting up pretty much every Albany basket the rest of the way home. She finished the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. The South Dakota State commit was also 10-for-10 at the free throw line. Sisters Grace CountsGraceCounts
6'1" | PF Providence | 2023StateMN
and Maria CountsMariaCounts
5'11" | PF Providence | 2022StateMN
were once again excellent for Providence, combining for 21 points, 22 rebounds and 11 blocks. Greenway finished with 18 points, 4 rebound and 4 assists.
First Team