Jaycie Gerding is the heart and soul of the Centennial girls’ basketball team, and the Cougars go as she goes.

The senior guard put too much pressure on herself, and as a result Centennial fell behind Wayzata in the Class 4A, Section 5 championship game at Anoka High School on Thursday.

“Jayice Gerding has been our leader all year long,” Cougars coach Greg Amundson said. “She wanted (to win) so bad, she was trying too hard. We told her to calm down, let things come. And when she calmed down, we were fine.”

Gerding finished with 14 points and guided the top-seeded Cougars back to the Class 4A state tournament with a 58-53 victory over the sixth-seeded Trojans. 

Amundson said the team takes its emotional cues from Gerding, who leads the team in scoring at 16.1 points per game, and getting her to settle down was key to winning the game. 

“She got all the other kids calmed down,” Amundson added.

Making a second consecutive trip to the state tournament is the result of the effort put forth by the Cougars all season, Gerding said. 

“We worked so hard,” said Gerding, who averaged a team-leading 18.3 ppg in the postseason. “It’s like a dream come true.”

Last season’s state tournament run ended in a 69-52 loss to Lakeville North in the quarterfinals.

To avoid another early exit, Centennial must follow its game plan - one that doesn't rely on rainbow three-pointers or stunning spin moves to the hoop. Instead, the Cougars grind for their points, make their free throws and play tough under the basket.

It’s how sophomore center Sarah Grow scored a game-high 18 points against Wayzata and is a style she doesn’t mind playing. 

“As long as we get the win, we get the win,” Grow said with a smile. “It’s OK to win ugly, too.”

Amundson said he is not surprised No. 6 seed Wayzata made it to the section finals, upsetting No. 3 seed Maple Grove and No. 2 seed Osseo along the way. 

“They’re a nice team,” Amundson said. “I told (Wayzata coach) Mike (Schumacher) before the game started that he’s got my vote for coach of the year. What he’s done with his kids is amazing.”

Sophomore center Sarah Grow scored 18 points, helping top-seeded Centennial return to the Class 4A state tournament with a 58-53 victory over sixth-seeded upstart Wayzata in the Section 5 championship Thursday at Anoka High School.

Senior guard Jaycie Gerding and freshman forward Sydney Stapleton each finished with 14 points for the Cougars (21-8), who were upset by Lakeville North 69-52 in the state quarterfinals last year.

Centennial trailed Wayzata by four points several times in the section final, but rallied to take the lead for good late in the second half when sophomore guard Paige Comer made her first basket of the game.

The Cougars then hit their free throws to hold off the surprising Trojans (13-16), who upended No. 3 seed Maple Grove and No. 2 seed Osseo in the section tournament to reach the final. 

Junior guards Annie Robertson (13 points) and Hannah Heiring (11) led Wayzata.

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