Having run past most of its opponents this season, Sauk Centre wasn’t accustomed to being muscled. But state tournament basketball is often more about fight than flash and the Mainstreeters showed they could win playing just about any style, outlasting Minnehaha Academy 54-49 to advance to the Class 2A championship game

Minnehaha Academy wasn’t about to race up-and-down the court with the athletic Mainstreeters but they could push them around. At least, that was the assumption. With guards Sarah Kaminski and Gracia Gilreath attacking the lane, Minnehaha’s best chance for victory would be to wear down their smaller opponent.

“Their two guards are the most physical we’ve played against,” said Sauk Centre coach Scott Bergman.

It worked early, as Sauk Centre, seeded No. 1, struggled to establish an inside presence and made just 8 of 28 shots from the field in the first half. Physical play comes with a downside, however, and Sauk Centre made up ground from the free throw line, hitting 10 of 12 from the line to take a 31-29 halftime lead.

Minnehaha Academy (26-5) started the second half with five straight points from Kaminski, but Sauk Centre answered immediately with five of its own. The second half remained close through its entirety, with neither team able to generate a lead greater than five points.

And in the end, it was Minnehaha’s physicality that doomed the Redhawks. Sauk Centre (31-1) closed out the game at the line, making six of seven free throws. Guard Madison Moritz made four of them, finishing a perfect eight-for-eight from the free throw line despite making just one of 11 field goal attempts.

“That was the most physical game I’ve ever been in,” Moritz said. “I couldn’t hit a shot. Luckily, we made our free throws.”

Sauk Centre was led in scoring by sisters Mauren and Maesyn Thiesen. The Thiesens moved to Sauk Centre from Becker over the summer, an addition that helped turn the Mainstreeters from very good team into a potential state champion. Mauren, a senior, scored a team-high 14 points and Maesyn, a freshman, added 12.

“It took awhile for us to get used to playing with each other,” said Moritz, a senior. “But I’m glad they’re here now and I’m glad they’re on our team.”

Sauk Centre, a team used to running circles around its opponents, answered every possible question about its toughness Friday night, surviving Minnehaha Academy’s physical style to emerge with a 54-49 victory in the Class 2A semifinals.

Mauren Theisen scored 14 points and sisted Maesyn Theisen added 12 for the top-seeded Mainstreeters (31-1), who closed out the victory by making six of seven free throws down the stretch.