Hopkins Girls Basketball Beats Maple Grove to Return to Championship Game

The Hopkins girls basketball team is headed back to the state class AAAA title game after holding off Maple Grove 84-78 in the semifinals. Freshman Erma Walker had a career game, going 14-for-16 from the field and scoring 30 points to lead the Royals.

After trailing early, Maple Grove took a five-point lead in the latter part of the first half. Ava Cossette hit a buzzer beater at halftime for the Crimson to tie the score at 36-36 at halftime. Hopkins took charge in the second half, building a double digit lead before the Crimson rallied to make it close.

In addition to Walker’s big night, Liv McGill had 20 points and 8 assists for Hopkins. Jordan Ode had 21 points and Claire Stern 19 for Maple Grove. Hopkins meets Minnetonka, coached by former Hopkins coach Brian Cosgriff, in the class AAAA title game Saturday night.