Wright, Greenway took center stage on Sunday

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's difficult to win a championship, especially when you have just six players to do it. When the half dozen participants include a couple of truly elite talents bound for greatness at the next level, however, that certainly helps. Led by [player_tooltip player_id='252383' first='Lanelle' last='Wright'], <strong>Lee Lee Bell</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='478390' first='Sinae' last='Hill'], that was the formula for P.J. Hill's trophy-winning [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB who took home their fourth consecutive 2026 championship. We're here to recap exactly how the Hills pulled it off and how the great [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] nailed a key basket that enabled [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 2025 EYBL to capture 11th grade honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 2026 3SSB Hill takes home another title</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship Sunday is often a rollercoaster ride and the 2024 version of events was true to form. [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2026 UAA scored an impressive semifinal win over [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL to advance to the championship game in 10th grade competition. [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB Hill barely survived its final four contest, squeaking past the upstart [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Nilsen squad by a single basket. That set the stage for what looked to be a highly contested championship encounter. In the end, it was nothing of the sort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Fury held a 6-4 lead in the game's opening couple of minutes. It wasn't long, however, before the Stars seized control. By the time the players began to break a sweat, the Hill squad was already pulling away as the lead stretch to 5, then 10, then more. By the time Wright (pictured above) hit her second consecutive step-back jumper, the Fury trailed by double digits. When Bell, North Dakota's top-ranked prospect, completed an and-1 at the 6-minute mark, the Stars were ahead 23-8. Despite a spurt of scoring late in the first half, the Fury trailed 34-19 at the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second half, it was more of the same. Despite being without two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='567377' first='Sadie' last='Hall'] of Shakopee and versatile sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='502543' first='Lauren' last='Beyer'] of Alexandria, the Stars were hitting on all cylinders. Even the unexpected departure of forward [player_tooltip player_id='717663' first='Le'Sedra' last='Williams'] between the semifinal and final game, did not impede their remarkable progress. &nbsp;The Fury were ice cold throughout as the game reached running time in the second half and the Stars rolled on to a 58-29 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stars Hill are no stronger to the winner's circle, of course. Given the adversity involved this time around, however, it has to be considered their best win yet. Much of the credit goes to Wright, whose presence on this year's roster has changed the Stars' equation substantially. Lanelle controls tempo, sets the tone, distributes with the best of them, and just makes plays – one after the other after the other. As for all of these analytics-driven experts who say the mid-range game is dead? Lanelle says otherwise. The top three sophomore put on a clinic from that distance, knocking down one silky smooth rocket after another. She was in the zone and there was little the Fury could do about it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 8 finishers in Division 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB Hill</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Nilsen</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns'] S40</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] Elite</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Champion: [program_tooltip program_id='714562' first='FBC' last='North'] S40/Puma</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Runner-up: Southern [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2026</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Champion: Southwest [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Runner-up: [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Wendland</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:image {"id":908382,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/Maddyn-Greenway-state-tourney-crop-2704x1776-1715634219.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-908382" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] pulls out another 11th grade win</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The way the first half went in Sunday's 11th grade championship game, it looked like we were headed for a second consecutive blowout – this time in favor of [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s 2025 EYBL squad. With a loaded lineup that includes outstanding top 10 prospects like [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'], [player_tooltip player_id='262910' first='Tori' last='Schlagel'], [player_tooltip player_id='330743' first='Abby' last='Hoselton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='346165' first='Hadley' last='Thul'], the potential was always there for such an event. Beginning around the 10-minute mark, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] went on an impressive 18-0 run that lasted nearly seven minutes before [player_tooltip player_id='252379' first='Addison' last='Mack'] , an elite top 10 prospect in her own right, scored for the Fury to stop the bleeding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the break, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] continued to have things their way. The lead was steady at 15 or so until the last six minutes when the shots finally started to fall for the Fury's talented cast. A three-pointer by top 25 junior [player_tooltip player_id='296747' first='Anna' last='Greene'] was helpful, as was a triple from Michigan State commit [player_tooltip player_id='205298' first='Jordan' last='Ode'] at 5:50 that cut the lead to nine. At the 5:05 mark, newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='453753' first='Lauren' last='Hillesheim'] nailed a corner three for the Fury. Then North Dakota State commit [player_tooltip player_id='212489' first='Sophie' last='Hawkinson'] made a pair of free throws to narrow the gap to six. With 4 minutes remaining, Hillesheim struck again from distance and suddenly [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s lead was just three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's when Fury coach Tim Ellefsen of Benilde-St. Margaret's played the foul game in a big way. It almost worked. At the 1:17 mark, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s [player_tooltip player_id='471360' first='Mya' last='Moore'] cashed in on both ends of a one-and-one to give her team a 63-59 margin. That began a stretch that saw [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] go to the line five times and make 8 of 10 attempts. But the Fury kept making shots, too, with Hawkinson burying a three at the 52-second mark. [player_tooltip player_id='396435' first='Addison' last='Hoof'] scored two more points 12 seconds later with Mack cashing in 15 seconds after that. The Fury simply would not go away. When Hawkinson nailed another big triple at the 12-second mark the game was tied at 69 apiece. [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s once 17-point lead had evaporated entirely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] coach Gerard Coury took a time out help his girls regroup and set up a final attempt. When play resumed, Greenway did the same thing she did in this year's Class 2A high school state championship game – she made a play to win it. This time it was a jump shot at the top of the lane with just 4.5 seconds remaining. The Fury had one last time out before Hawkinson launched another big bomb, a quick strike three-point attempt that looked like it was heading for glory. Instead, the ball spun into the cylinder and out as time expired. [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] had escaped with a 71-69 win that capped an amazing weekend of basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 8 finishers in Division 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB Hersch</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns'] S40</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Peterson</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Champion: [program_tooltip program_id='712362' first='Legacy' last='Hoops'] Gold</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Runner-up: [program_tooltip program_id='779294' first='Northern' last='Lights'] Johnson</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Champion: MN Xtreme</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Runner-up: [program_tooltip program_id='712689' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] West</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->