Holy Angels (21-7) has just two seniors, Alex Walker and Emma Mastre. Vascellaro led the team in scoring this season with 19.9 points per game, with Mastre, juniors Isabelle and Emma Henry, and sophomore Rachel Kawiecki all averaging more than eight points per game.

It’s a young roster, sure. But an experienced one that trucked on even without two players who were expected to be big contributors after last season ended.

“I try to use that and tell them that as it gets closer and closer, that you’ve been there before,” Woods said. “It’s kind of like the pregame speech I gave them. We were talking about that and going through it. I said, some of you, you’ve been here two times, or you’ve been here three times. State’s your destiny. You’ve been there. So let’s just go out there and play.”

That the program just kept humming despite adversity was visible against the Crusaders (18-10). Four players scored at least 10 points, and all had a segment of the game they were able to take over. Vascellaro missed much of the first half with two early fouls, but Kawiecki had eight of her 10 points before the break, and Isabelle Henry added six of her 12 in the first. She also made four clutch free throws to seal the game at the end for the Stars.

Holy Angels missed Vascellaro and Kawiecki for extended periods of time this season due to injury, but still claimed the top seed in the section. The parts of the machine just filled in and did their jobs.

“I think it was really good for our team,” Vascellaro said. “Last year, even if they weren’t filling those roles, everyone knows what they can and can’t do. Woods knew and I knew that everyone on the team can step and play and really bring it. I’m just glad that now everyone has the opportunity to show their game.”

That’s the level the program seems to be at now, just plugging in players who know what to do.

“It’s about building them up to a level where the expectations don’t change, regardless of what’s taking place,” Woods said. “That’s the expectation. They don’t know any better, they don’t think any different; all they think about is this is the expectation, this is the standard, this is what we’re expected to do and this is what we will do.”

The opponent on the other end Thursday also featured a young roster, with most of the major contributors sophomores. Some of them played the last time St. Croix Lutheran was in a section final in 2017, but weren’t asked to carry the team like they were this year.

“I think we’re really fortunate to have this be our fourth time going, because everyone has experience,” Vascellaro said.

Vascellaro still isn’t fully recovered after missing time with an ankle injury, but managed to score 54 points in three section games. Even then, the Stars are back at state, thanks to everyone filling their roles. And if their leading scorer gets all the way back, the Stars will be a tough out.

“Frankie most definitely is the center of attention,” Woods said. “She’s pretty dang good. And she’s really just now getting close to being back in form, she was out a little bit. So you can still see a little bit of the rust.”

“But if she ever gets right,” he added with a laugh, “look out.”