Shakopee senior forward Haley Zerr noticed her stomach turning before the game, nerves owing to the Sabers’ first state tournament trip since 1997.

The sick feeling persisted as teammate Taylor Koenen, the Sabers’ all-time leading scorer, limped off the court five seconds into the game.

“She’s a big player on the team so that was a shocker for us,” Zerr said.

Koenen wasn’t gone long. She put a brace on her tender ankle, returned to the game and dominated. She led all scorers with 26 points in a 62-56 Shakopee victory.

No. 5 seed Shakopee (22-8) upset No. 4 seed White Bear Lake (22-8), which won 11 of its past 12 games. The Sabers did their most damage inside, outscoring the Bears 18-9 on second chance points.

“The difference in the game was their offensive rebounding,” White Bear Lake coach Jeremy Post said. “They are big, strong, physical, tall and athletic.”

Koenen, a 6-2 junior guard who verbally committed to North Carolina, embodies all those attributes. She scored from various spots on the floor and played solid defense on White Bear Lake leading scorer Alison Hinck.

“Once you get thinking about the game, the pain kind of goes away,” Koenen said. “You have more to worry about here than an ankle.”