GREEN BAY, Wis. – Defending champion and top-seeded Marshall (26-2) won the Division 3 championship of the State Girls Basketball Tournament with a 64-56 win over previously undefeated Laconia at the Resch Center Saturday afternoon.

The game was closely contested throughout the first half and into the second half. The Cardinals led 29-24 at halftime and built a nine-point lead with a 11-2 run during a five-minute period of the second half. The Spartans could get no closer than six points the remainder of the game.

Marshall Head Coach Alex Koeller commented on the second-half run. “We got into what we wanted to play, both in transition and on offense, making sure we got the best shot possible.” said Koeller. “We just locked in and got focused on coming out of that timeout when we were tied to make sure that we got the lead and kept that lead.”

Anna Lutz led the Cardinals in scoring with 26 points and on defense with three blocked shots and two steals. Mia Morel and Laura Nickel also scored in double figures with 12 points apiece. Nickel led all rebounders with eight boards. Marshall shot 57 percent from the floor in the second half and 50 percent for the game.

Laconia was led by Kiarra Otto with 27 points, and Haley Rens added 11 points. Alissa Dins contributed with nine points, a team-high seven rebounds and a game-high six assists.

Laconia (27-1) finishes runner-up in its first State Tournament appearance, and Marshall wins back-to-back titles for the second time. They also accomplished the feat in Class C in 1976 and 1977.

Marshall (26-2) 64, Laconia (27-1) 56 - Stats