Hopkins Girls Basketball Edges Wayzata in Section Final Thriller
The Hopkins girls basketball team is headed back to the state tournament for a ninth straight year, but getting there wasn’t easy.
The Royals beat Wayzata 70-68 in overtime in an epic battle in the Section 6AAAA championship game.
The teams had split two close regular season meetings.
Wayzata had a four-point halftime lead and led by eight with about 14 minutes to play.
Hopkins went on a 16-2 run, and they built a six-point lead with 40 seconds left in regulation.
It was Wayzata’s turn to rally, and Sophie Hawkinson’s three-pointer with less than ten seconds to play tied the game at 62-62 to force overtime.
Taylor Woodson’s driving hoop with just under thirty seconds left in overtime proved to be the game-winner as Hopkins earned a chance to defend its state title.
Woodson scored 21 to lead Hopkins. Liv McGill (18), Kelly Boyle (12) and NuNu Agara (11) also scored in double figures for Hopkins.
Abby Krzewisnki had 16 to lead Wayzata, followed by Shannon Fornshell (15), Kate Amelotte (14) and Brynn Senden (12).
Hopkins enters the state class AAAA tournament with a 26-2 record. Wayzata finishes 23-5.
Seeding for the state tournament takes place Saturday, with quarterfinal games in class AAAA set for Wednesday at Williams Arena.
Hopkins High School
Wayzata High School
