Top Ranked Lakeville North to Play for Title

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn—Most top teams have a game in tournament action that serves as a wake up call. One game that looked back upon could have gone the other way. One of three things are going to happen for Lakeville North. Either they already had their moment in the section championship game against Eastview when they escaped with a five point win, or they will have their moment in the state championship game Saturday night, or they won’t have the moment at all.

The latter seems the most realistic following the Panthers impressive 76-46 semi-final win over the Chaska Hawks. The teams met earlier in the year with Lakeville North taking a 17 point victory. The rematch answered any questions surrounding the pressure on the Panthers and their up to this point undefeated season.

Junior guard Rachel Banham, senior forward Cassie Rochel and junior post Apiew Ojulu all scored in double figures in limited action. Rochel worked a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in just 16 minutes of action. The senior sat for much of the first half with two fouls and all but six minutes in the second because of the huge lead. The Panthers worked a terrific defensive game plan, and took away the perimeter. The Hawks shot 5 for 19 from three-point range.

Fourteen different players scored for Lakeville North who moved to 31-0 with the win.

Chaska was led in scoring by Brooke Brown with 15 points. The senior went four-for-fourteen from the floor and really never looked comfortable against the Panthers defense. The top ranked and seeded Panthers will search for their first state championship since Lakeville split into two schools.

The Hawks will play for third place Saturday.