2030 AAU State Champions: West Central United

Earning the top seed in D1 for the first time in program history, [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United']'s 2030 Blue squad were certainly one of the favorites to bring home the championship on Sunday afternoon. But with so much talent in the 14U division, [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] "The North" 3SSB, [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA, and reigning champions [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL were definitely part of the conversation, as well.   After sailing past the 16th seed [program_tooltip program_id='779294' first='Northern' last='Lights'] with a 70-20 victory, coach Brett Smith's 8th grade squad hit some rough seas in the quarterfinals. [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA came out strong in Saturday's matchup, with [player_tooltip player_id='1095049' first='Collins' last='Bergenheier'] leading the team with 16 points, and [player_tooltip player_id='1345919' first='Alyse' last='Denne'] contributing 12. Despite a catch-and-shoot 3 by Reagan Dooley to close the gap in the final seconds, [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] was able to squeak by, coming away with the 61-60 win. [player_tooltip player_id='1110548' first='Elin' last='Retzlaff'] led the team with 13 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1273699' first='Scarlett' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1239229' first='Ehlin' last='Youngberg'] each added 11.    There wasn't much drama for West Central in the semifinals. After coming out hot, they maintained a large lead all game, defeating [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Johnson 46-17. On the other side of the bracket, however, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL and The North 3SSB were battling it out until the final buzzer sounded. The [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] squad held a 3-point lead at half time, but with the defensive efforts of [player_tooltip player_id='1559037' first='Kali' last='Schultz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1256277' first='Tenlee' last='Egan'] at their disposal, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] eked out a 37-35 win to advance to the championship game.   Both teams got off to a slow start in Sunday's final matchup, but an 8-0 run put West Central up 30-18 at the half. From that point on, coach Jake Kuppe's [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] group tried to close the gap, but were always kept at arms length. The contest finished with a final score of 52-37. [player_tooltip player_id='1110548' first='Elin' last='Retzlaff'] led the way for [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] with 17 points, and [player_tooltip player_id='1243302' first='Lily' last='Wesen'] provided a major spark in the second half with 15. Both were equally instrumental in securing the program's first ever AAU State Tournament championship. We'll highlight them further, as well as the weekend's other top performers in another article.    Championship team members (left to right in banner photo): [player_tooltip player_id='1827221' first='Londyn' last='Dahl'], [player_tooltip player_id='1239229' first='Ehlin' last='Youngberg'], [player_tooltip player_id='1268760' first='Lauren' last='Gess'], [player_tooltip player_id='1802883' first='Paycen' last='Rutgers'], [player_tooltip player_id='1273699' first='Scarlett' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1243300' first='Aliyah' last='Okeson'], Halle Price, [player_tooltip player_id='1243302' first='Lily' last='Wesen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1110548' first='Elin' last='Retzlaff'], [player_tooltip player_id='1239705' first='Brielle' last='Streed']    TOP FINISHERS   1st – [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] Blue   2nd – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL   3rd – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] "The North" 3SSB   4th – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Johnson   5th – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA   6th – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Bjorgaard   SCORING LEADERS   55 – [player_tooltip player_id='1110548' first='Elin' last='Retzlaff'], [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] Blue   53 – Jaya Taylor, [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] The North 3SSB   49 – Harper Mortensen, [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Johnson   46 – [player_tooltip player_id='1418505' first='Marianna' last='Davis'], The North 3SSB   44 – [player_tooltip player_id='1353703' first='Kendall' last='Malmgren'], [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Wright   44 – Cambree Phillips, [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Johnson   42 – [player_tooltip player_id='1325878' first='Eve' last='Schupp'], [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Bjorgaard   41 – Elaine Cooper, [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA   41 – [player_tooltip player_id='1243302' first='Lily' last='Wesen'], [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] Blue   39 – [player_tooltip player_id='1623342' first='Hayden' last='Tyler'], [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL

Earning the top seed in D1 for the first time in program history, West Central United 's 2030 Blue squad were certainly one of the favorites to bring home the championship on Sunday afternoon. But with so much talent in the 14U division, Metro Stars "The North" 3SSB, Minnesota Fury UAA, and reigning champions North Tartan EYBL were definitely part of the conversation, as well.