One year ago, the Hopkins Royals crushed Osseo in the championship game 77-55 capturing their second straight title. Fast forward one year and the two teams met again this time in the semi-finals. It may have been a year later and a round earlier, but the result was still the same, a 73-50 win that propelled the Royals into their third straight AAAA championship game.
In the quarterfinal win over Anoka, the Royals turned the ball over 27 times, but also forced the Tornadoes into 27 of their own. The turned up their defensive pressure in the second half forcing 17 turnovers, 27 in total.
Senior Nia Coffee struggled in the first half shooting 2-for-12 from the field. Like her Royals, she turned things up in the second scoring 13 points to lead all scorers with 20. Senior post Erin O'Toole pulled down eight rebounds and scored 16 points in the win.
Janay Morton and Phillis Webb led the Orioles with 14 and 13 points each.
The Royals will play Kennedy in the championship on Saturday night at 8PM.
