DeLaSalle starters Tyseanna Johnson and Allina Starr were making their fourth consecutive state tournament appearance. Monticello was playing in the state tournament for the first time in team history.

The result? The defending Class 3A champion Islanders out-everythinged the Magic, running out to a 19-point halftime lead en route to 79-50 victory Wednesday in the final Class 3A quarterfinal of the day at Williams Arena.

“We wanted to take advantage of the fact that they were [inexperienced],”said Allina Starr. “But at the same time, we knew we had to play hard and stay humble. Every team that gets here is good and plays their hardest.”

Monticello, a .500 team going into the final week of the regular season before getting hot in the playoffs, was unnerved by DeLaSalle’s athleticism and aggressiveness from the outset. The Islanders forced five turnovers on Monticello’s first six possessions, taking a 15-4 lead before the game was five minutes old.

The rest of the first half became a showcase for Johnson and Starr. Johnson had 22 of her game-high 32 points before the break on an array of slashing drives and easy lay-ups courtesy of Starr’s ability to penetrate and find the open player. Starr had eight assists in the first half and finished with a double-double, 18 points and 13 assists.

“That chemistry started in eighth-grade,” said DeLaSalle coach Faith Johnson Patterson. “They have found a natural niche together. They always seem to know where the other is.”

Things get much tougher for the Islanders, who were curiously seeded third despite being ranked No. 1 in the final AP State Poll, when they face No. 2-seeded Fergus Falls. Comfortable on the big stage, however, Starr welcomed the next step on the ladder.

“I get butterflies, but I don’t get nervous,” she said “We just have to buckle down and play good defense. It will be fun.”

JIM PAULSEN

Tyseanna Johnson, DeLaSalle

Johnson came out on fire for the Islanders, netting 20 points in the opening frame. She finished the game with an impressive line; 32 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.

Allina Starr, DeLaSalle

Starr was an absolute floor general for DeLaSalle. Her lightning-quick first step allowed her to get in the lane at will against Monticello's defense. She played a team-high 30 minutes, contributing 18 points and 13 assists.

2-1-2 press, DeLaSalle

The press unleashed by DeLaSalle in the opening eighteen minutes was the deciding factor in the game. They never allowed the Magic to find any offensive rhythm, resuliting in numerous turnovers and fast-break opportunities for the Islanders.

-Alec Kinsky, MN Girls Basketball Hub Staff