Stillwater guard Sara Scalia (14) hit a 3-pointer against White Bear Lake in the second half. Photo: Aaron Lavinsky ¥ aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com
After two double-digit losses to Stillwater in the regular season, White Bear Lake looked like the better team in the first half and led 30-28.
But No. 1-seeded Stillwater (26-2) outscored the Bears 33-17 in the second half en route to a 61-47 victory in the Class 4A, Section 4 final Thursday at Hastings High School.
“My girls were playing cautious the first half,” Stillwater coach Willie Taylor said. “Came out second half more aggressive, and pushed the tempo of the game.”
The Ponies took a 31-30 lead in the first 1:30 played in the second half. Then senior guard Sara Scalia hit back-to-back three-pointers, and the Ponies never let the Bears regain the lead. It will be Stillwater’s first trip to the state tournament since 1988.
Photo gallery: White Bear Lake vs. Stillwater
“I just knew we had to step it up a little bit, and I started knocking down my shots,” said Scalia, who led Stillwater with 26 points. Scalia was the first commitment of Lindsay Whalen’s when she was named Gophers coach.
White Bear Lake (16-13) held a 21-13 lead midway through the first half. Stillwater struggled shooting early on, and the Bears held a lead for most of the first half. Bears senior guard Courtney Crouch ended with a team-high 16 points.
“Holding them to 60 was kind of our goal, we just kind of stopped scoring at the end,” White Bear Lake coach Jeremy Post said. “They got really aggressive on defense, and played really hard, and that’s a good team.”
JACK WARRICK
First report
After two double-digit losses to Stillwater in the regular season, White Bear Lake looked like the better team in the first half Thursday, taking a 30-28 lead into halftime.
But the Ponies (26-2) outscored the Bears 33-17 in the second half rolled to a 61-47 victory in the Class 4A, Section 4 championship at Hastings High School.
The Ponies took their first lead since the first six minutes of the game when Stillwater sophomore guard Alexis Pratt scored one of two free throws and gave her team a 31-30 lead. Then senior guard Sara Scalia hit back-to-back three-pointers and the Ponies never looked back.
White Bear Lake (16-13) started strong and held a 21-13 lead midway through the first half. The Ponies missed their first few shots and the Bears capitalized with four quick points from senior guard Courtney Crouch.
Check back later for more on the game.
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