Late Game Rally Came Too Late For Kenyon-Wanamingo

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Carlie Wagner scored 36 points as top-ranked New Richland-H-E-G best Kenyon-Wanamingo, 71-61, in the Class 2A girls' basketball championship.

Saturday's win marked back-to-back championships for the Panthers.

The Panthers led 56-32 with just over 11 minutes to go after Wagner scored 21 consecutive points to start the second half. The Knights surged back with a 17-5 run to cut the Panthers' lead to 61-49 with over five minutes to play.

The Knights (31-2) made a late push that drew them within eight points with under two minutes to go. The Panthers (31-0) struggled from the free-throw line, shooting 17-of-31, which helped keep the Knights within arm's reach until time ran out.

The Panthers set a state tournament record for points, with 258 points over three games.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Madison McKeever scored 27 points and Korbyn Ross added 17 to lead Win-E-Mac past defending-champion Minneota, 61-53, in the Class 1A championship.

The Patriots (31-2) were up 47-32 with 12:21 left in the game when the Vikings (32-2) pulled within 52-50 with three minutes left.

A pair of layups extended the Patriots' lead to 56-50 as Minneota committed their 17th turnover with just over a minute remaining.

McKeever forced the Vikings' 18th turnover with under a minute left, got fouled, and made a pair of free throws to extend the Patriots' lead to nine with 55 seconds left.

A three-pointer from Ross gave Win-E-Mac their first lead at 18-17 with seven minutes before halftime, kicking off an 11-0 run to push the Patriots ahead by nine at the half.

Goodhue took the third place trophy, defeating Mankato Loyola 74-56