Defending champion Barneveld and Assumption will be meeting in the Division 5 title game of the State Girls Basketball Tournament for the third consecutive year.

Each advanced with relative ease in their respective semifinal match-up.

Barneveld (26-1) never trailed in its 66-34 win over Fall River. The Golden Eagles bolted to a 23-6 lead to start the game, fueled by the hot shooting hand of Hannah Whitish. She set a State Tournament record for 3-pointers made a game by connecting on five-of-eight shots. The Golden Eagles set a State team record with eight 3-pointers in the game.

Barneveld shot 58 percent in the first half, including all eight of its 3-pointers. The Golden Eagle defensive pressure forced 24 Pirate turnovers.

Whitish led all scorers with 25 points. She also recorded a team-leading eight rebounds, six steals and four assists. Rachel Slaney added 15 points. The Pirates (24-4) were led by Kelly Tramburg with 10 points. In contrast to Barneveld’s prowess from beyond the arc, Fall River converted just 1-of-12 from long distance.

Assumption (26-2) used a tenacious defense to force 30 turnovers in a 57-43 win over South Shore (24-4).

The Royals used a 12-1 scoring run to put separation between them and the Cardinals in the first quarter.  Assumption built a 35-16 halftime lead by scoring on many of South Shore’s 18 first-half turnovers.

Assumption led by as many as 24 in the second half before the Cardinals battled back to pull within 10 points with just over four minutes to play in the game, but could get no closer.

Megan Gustafson did all she could the keep the Cardinals close, scoring 30 points to set a State Division 5 Tournament record for most points in a single game. She also pulled down 18 rebounds and blocked seven shots, which also set a Division 5 record.

The Royals’ balanced offensive attack had three players score in double figures. Macie Zurfluh led the way with 15 points. Gena Grundhoffer added 14 and Macyn Krings chipped in with 11. Zurfluh also led the Royals with eight steals, which ties a State Division 5 record for a single game.

Barneveld won the championship last year with a 38-34 win over the Royals. Assumption won the match-up between the two teams in the Division 5 title game in 2013, defeating the Golden Eagles 39-35. Earlier this year, the two teams met during the regular season with Assumption posting a 52-51 victory.