Duluth Marshall overcame a five-point halftime deficit and a nine-point deficit almost halfway through the second half to defeat New London-Spicer 60-56.

Gianna Kneepkens had 26 points and Grace Kirk had 24 for the Hilltoppers (26-5), who are making their first state-tournament appearance since 2000 and won their first state-tournament game

Kneepkens, who averages over 30 points per game and who was battling injury, tied the game at 45-45 with 7:17 to go. She made a go-ahead layup 30 seconds later.

Coach CJ Osuchukwu said his team started setting harder screens in the second half, which benefited Kirk.

Duluth Marshall overcame a five-point halftime deficit and a nine-point deficit almost halfway through the second half to defeat New London-Spicer 60-56.

Gianna Kneepkens led the Hilltoppers (26-5) with 26 points and Grace Kirk had 24. Duluth Marshall is making its first state-tournament appearance since 2000.

Kneepkens, the team's leading scorer, tied the game 45-45 with 7:17 to go and hit a go-ahead layup 30 seconds later.

Third-seeded New London-Spicer (28-2) dominated the offensive boards for much of the game, led by a trio of players over 6 feet tall.

Senior Payton Mages gave the Wildcats a 41-32 lead with 10:55 to go on a breakaway layup, a lead that was their biggest of the half.

Mages finished with 10 points, while Emma Hanson had 12 and Mackenzie Rich had 11.

Ava Kraemer had a three-point play with less than a minute to go for New London-Spicer, but Kirk made two late free throws to seal the game.

The Wildcats were making their first state-tournament appearance in three years.

Check back later for more on the game.