Making program history wasn’t expected of this Orono girls’ basketball team. In fact, preseason projections for the Spartans were less than flattering.

But here they are. No. 1 seed Orono defeated No. 5 seed Alexandria 50-34 in the Class 3A semifinals, earning its first championship game appearance.

Orono plays No. 3 seed Winona at 6 p.m. Saturday at Williams Arena.

“It’s absolutely amazing to be here,” senior forward Natalie Smaron said. “It’s kind of funny because last year we were supposed to have this championship team and this year we weren’t even supposed to be here. We were supposed to have a losing record. Our new coach took us under her wing, taught us new plays and has just been great to us.”

“I do have a 6-foot-6 wingspan so that’s easy,” Orono coach Lavesa Glover joked.

A relaxed mentality served the Spartans well all season, and they didn’t change a thing Thursday.

“We don’t have anything to lose,” senior guard Tori Andrew said. “Have fun. Play your game. Even this game, we still don’t have anything to lose, even though we’re the No. 1 seed.”

Andrew, Smaron and the additional Orono starters did not leave the game until the final minute. The tireless Spartans beat Alexandria in various phases, whether scoring in the paint (20-10), off turnovers (12-7) or second-chance points (11-5).

Leading 24-20 at halftime, Orono outscored the Cardinals 16-5 through the first 8:19 of the second half. A “slow death,” as Alexandria coach Wendy Kohler called it. 

“They kind of wore us down and we weren’t answering offensively,” Kohler said. “But I think defensively we were tough and we gave everything we had.”

Orono (26-4) got a game-high 18 points from Andrew.

Alexandria (26-5) saw its shooting percentage plummet from 40 percent in the first half to less than 20 percent in the second half.

The Orono girls’ basketball team defeated Alexandria 50-34 in the Class 3A semifinals Thursday at Williams Arena.

The top-seed Spartans (25-5) advance to play at 6 p.m. Saturday at Williams Arena in their historic first state championship game.

Orono led 24-20 at halftime against No. 5 seed Alexandria (26-5), getting all of its points from two players: Tori Andrew (14) and Natalie Smaron (10). Alexandria’s Kara Thomson went a perfect 3-for-3 from the three-point arc for nine first-half points.

Check back later for more on the game.