Defending champion Algoma (25-2) returns to the championship game in Division 4 with a 42-37 overtime triumph over St. Mary’s Springs (23-4) in the semifinals Thursday at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
Anna Dier connected on a rebound to give Algoma the lead at the 2:16 mark in overtime, and the Wolves converted three free throws down the stretch to seal the their return to the title game.
The Ledgers took their first lead of the game at 5:37 in the third quarter. They led by as many a four points before the Wolves got back to even at 31-31 to begin the fourth quarter.
With the score knotted and 37-37, each team failed to score in the final 5:20 of regulation. Any chances for the Ledgers to dethrone the champions were eliminated with a 10:03 scoring drought that extended through the overtime period.
The Wolves scored the first seven points of the game, but the Ledgers recovered to narrow the score to 11-9 at the end of the period. Algoma maintained a lead through the second quarter and went into the locker room with a 23-21 advantage.
Baleigh Delorit scored 14 points and Kennedy Blahnik contributed 12 points to lead the Wolves scoring attack. Kelli Schrauth netted 17 points for the Ledgers
Cuba City (26-1) will play for its membership-leading 10th State championship Saturday after downing Regis (21-6) 52-39 in their Division 4 semifinal Thursday.
Regis scored first with a lay-up off the opening tip, but Jessi Marti hit a three-pointer 20 seconds later to give the Cubans a lead they would not relinquish. The Cubans rode their hot hand from the perimeter in the first half, hitting 6-of-8 from beyond the arc to take a 26-21 lead into the locker room at the half.
Chloe Pustina led the 3-point brigade by hitting 4-of-4 in the first half and tied a Division 5 record with five three pointers in the game. She also tied the State mark for 3-point accuracy, going 5-of-5.
The Cubans erased any doubt of the game’s outcome by expanding their lead to 17 points with 5:46 remaining in the game and cruised to the victory.
Pustina led the Cubans and all scorers with 18 points, and Mollie Wedige tossed in 11 points. The Lady Ramblers were paced in scoring by Shae Brey and Amanda Giguere with 11 points apiece.
Algoma will play for its second straight championship Saturday at 12:45 p.m. against Cuba City, which goes for its 10th title.