2031 AAU State Champions: North Tartan Nike

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early Sunday morning at Jefferson High School in Bloomington, the scrappy 7th graders from the [program_tooltip program_id='718403' first='Minnesota' last='Freeze'] played the game of their lives, delivering a performance that enabled them to knock off a perennial power in AAU basketball. Just two hours after dispatching [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Blue by a score of 60-51, the tables were turned and the Freeze received a harsh reality check. Ouch. The result was another state championship for a team from [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'], the 2031 Nike crew who cruised to a 62-19 victory. It was the kind of rollercoaster ride that makes the AAU State Championships – I guess all of sports – so compelling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everyone who knows me knows I love a good underdog. I'm always cheering for the little guy, the David vs Goliath, the undersized squad with big dreams. Although I try to be Switzerland and maintain my neutrality at all times when covering AAU basketball, it was hard not to pull for the upstart Freeze against one of the most successful AAU clubs we've covered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a top-four finish last year, the Freeze entered the weekend seeded #6. Led by forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1851536' first='Anna' last='Tibesar'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1234970' first='Annie' last='Setterstrom']</strong>, the squad was impressive, particularly on the defensive end. Despite trailing 31-18 at the half, however, it seemed inevitable that a loaded Fury group led by coach Tim Ellefson would mount a comeback to scuttle the Cinderella story. They certainly tried. When athletic guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1849578' first='Maggie' last='Bramwell']</strong> stole the ball and scored in transition with just over five minutes remaining, the Fury had narrowed the gap to just 5 points. That's as close as it would get. The Freeze responded with a couple of quick buckets of their own and held off severe defensive pressure. They certainly bent and bobbled, but they never did break, going on to a 9-point win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By the time they got to the championship game, however, it was obvious the Herculean effort in the semifinal had squeezed every ounce of energy the Freeze youngsters had on board. [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead in the game's first four minutes. Pretty soon the margin had stretched to 10 then 20, then more. By halftime the score was 37-12 in favor of the top seed in the 2031 Division. It was all over but the counting. The well-oiled [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] machine, coached by Jay Jahnke, went about its business in the second half in workmanlike fashion to forge a 42-point win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] defeated [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] Gold (47-38), [program_tooltip program_id='774605' first='Southern' last='MN Fury'] Blue (52-35), [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] Blue (65-45) and the Freeze to capture the title. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598893' first='Harper' last='Bigalke']</strong> of St. Michael-Albertville scored in double figures in three of four games, totaling 42 points including 13 in the championship game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1354631' first='Kendra' last='Lynch']</strong> of Northfield had an outstanding tournament at point guard. We'll have more on the top 2031 performers in a separate article.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship team members: [player_tooltip player_id='1598893' first='Harper' last='Bigalke'], [player_tooltip player_id='1354631' first='Kendra' last='Lynch'], Riley Staloch, [player_tooltip player_id='1246119' first='Erlande' last='Lonsdale'], Mira Nelson, Layna Schuler, Sophia Glynn, Brynn Swedberg, [player_tooltip player_id='1345998' first='Hope' last='Jahnke'], Kaidence Reif-Edwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TOP FINISHERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1^st – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Nike</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2^nd – [program_tooltip program_id='718403' first='Minnesota' last='Freeze']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3^rd – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4^th – [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5^th – [program_tooltip program_id='774605' first='Southern' last='MN Fury'] Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6^th – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Braziel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SCORING LEADERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>61 – Jacelynn Mulder, [program_tooltip program_id='774605' first='Southern' last='MN Fury'] Blue </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>51 – Laina Donnelly, [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>50 – [player_tooltip player_id='1417807' first='Sumaiyah' last='Kunert'], [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Fleming</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>50 – [player_tooltip player_id='1243759' first='Adriana' last='Barsky'], [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>47 – Ashlynne Max, [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>44 – [player_tooltip player_id='1612422' first='Claire' last='Pilgrim'], [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>42 – Annie McNeff, [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Bell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>42 – [player_tooltip player_id='1598893' first='Harper' last='Bigalke'], [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Nike</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>41 – Chyles Schwenzfeier, [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] Blue </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>41 – Harper Wolf, [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Fleming</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->