Shakopee girls hoops earns State trip with half-court buzzer-beater
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March Madness, indeed. Tied at 47 in the final seconds with a trip to the State Girls Basketball Tournament on the line, Shakopee’s Kate Cordes nailed a 60-foot, buzzer-beater to beat Eden Prairie 50-47 in the Section 2AAAA Championship game.
Click the video box on this page to watch KSTP Sports’ extended highlights of Shakopee vs Eden Prairie in the Section 2AAAA Final, including postgame celebration and interviews
“I can’t believe it, I’m still in shock,” Cordes said after the game. “I had faith in my teammates and they had faith in me and I just tried my best to get the shot off and it went in, I’m so happy for my team.”
Shakopee’s senior guard was humble about making the biggest shot of her life – arguably the biggest in program history – but she was at the right place at the right time to make the shot that silenced a standing-room-only crowd at Eden Prairie High School Friday night.
Eden Prairie went on a 13-3 run to start the game before Shakopee’s three point shooting kicked into high gear. Cordes heated up from outside to power a 26-10 Shakopee that closed out the first half with the Sabers holding a 29-25 lead.
Eden Prairie grabbed momentum coming out of the locker room and had the game tied the game at 45 late setting the stage for the heroics.
Shakopee’s Maya Mitchell hit a layup to give her Sabers a 47-45 lead with :08 seconds remaining in regulation.
Eden Prairie, showing a ton of poise, worked a play to get Myra Moorjani driving the lane for the tying score with :02.6 seconds left in the game.
Tied 47-47, Shakopee called time out to set up the final play, and Cordes went to work.
“The play wasn’t designed to happen the way it did,” Cordes said. “I saw the clock and knew I needed to get rid of the ball.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m just so happy for our team to go to state and have a chance to win a state title.”
Shakopee improves to 26-3 on the season, while Eden Prairie ends its season at 23-5.