State GBB: #1 DeLaSalle handles Hermantown in AAA Quarters
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Top seed DeLaSalle (25-4) used a 28-5 run spanning nearly seven minutes from late in the first half through the opening minutes of the second to pull away from Hermantown (26-4) with an 85-52 victory in the Class AAA Girls Basketball State Quarterfinals.
Click the video box on this page to see extended highlights of DeLaSalle and Hermantown in the Class AAA State Girls Basketball Quarterfinals
Hermantown played DeLaSalle close throughout the first half, narrowing what was a 12-point DLS lead (29-17, 6:49) down to just two, 29-27 (2:43).
The Islanders closed out the first half strong, carrying a nine point lead into the break (38-29).
The defending state champions stepped on the gas in the second half, searching for their fifth state crown and led by as many 33 down the stretch.
DeLaSalle vs Hermantown - Class AAA Girls Basketball State Quarterfinal[KSTP]
DeLaSalle was led by Nurjei Weems with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 11 rebounds while Sydney Runsewe was sharp from the arc, making 6-of-11 from three-point range and matching Weems’ 20 points.
Kiani Lockett added 19 points and eight assists.
The Islanders registered 22 assists on 27 field goals made, shooting 54.0 percent and hitting 13-of-23 (.565) from the arc.
Hermantown was led by Elly Schmitz with 16 points including perfect 10-of-10 free throw shooting while Ava Asgaard added 15 points and was 7-of-8 at the stripe.
Bryton Kukowski led Hermantown on the glass with 12 rebounds and added seven points on 5-of-6 free throw shooting.
The Hawks were 25-of-31 (.806) as a team from the foul line, but were unable to keep up with DeLaSalle’s shooting, making 1-of-7 from behind the arc and shooting 31.0 percent (13-42) from the floor.
The Islanders, competing in their 11th state tournament, head to the state semifinals on Thursday, March 12 with a noon matchup against No. 4 Simley.
Hermantown will take on Holy Angels in the consolation semifinals played at Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia-St. Paul on Thursday at 2 p.m.
Content from the Minnesota State High School League was used in this report