After a one-year hiatus, Hopkins’ talented band of juniors helped the Royals return to Target Center.

Hopkins, which won three consecutive state titles between 2011 and 2013, routed Minnetonka 81-55 in the Class 4A, Section 6 championship Wednesday at Minneapolis Roosevelt. The victory qualified the Royals for their ninth state tournament. Last year, Hopkins fell 51-46 to Eden Prairie in the section semifinal.

“It feels really good to be back,” junior guard Ashley Bates said. “We’re sending a message. We’re winning state.”

Leading 39-21 at the half, No. 1-ranked Hopkins (27-1) used a 6-0 run to start the second half and led by as many as 29 points as it held fourth-ranked Minnetonka (22-6) at bay for much of the game. 

“We were really hungry,” Bates said. “We wanted to make it last year. It motivated us to do it this year.”

Bates and fellow juniors Nia Hollie and Evelyn Knox combined for 48 points. Bates led all scorers in the game with 22 points.

Hopkins senior guard TT Starks, who will be making her fourth trip to state, scored 16 points, including a first-half best 12.

“We didn’t want a replay of last year,” Starks said “We definitely used that as motivation. Definitely.”

Hopkins came out hard and went up 5-0 before Minnetonka could respond. The Skippers made it a seven-point game with 8:10 left in the first half when Hannah Hedstrom made a nice fast-break pass to Caroline Shelquist for a layup to make it 23-16. But Hopkins didn't let up and pulled away.

Junior forward Courtney Fredrickson led Minnetonka with 10 points. 

The Royals have five state championship titles under current Hopkins coach Brian Cosgriff, who has led the Royals to state each time. MInnetonka has one state tournament berth, in 1999.

“It’s a great feeling to know that we did it without the Nia Coffeys, without the great players we’ve had in the past,” Starks said. “It’s great to know we got there, but we can’t be satisfied. We have three games left.”