The overriding theme of the Class 2A tournament during Wednesday’s quarterfinals was the abundance of star players.

Pequot Lakes’ Mattie Lueck hasn’t been mentioned in the same breath as New Richland's Carlie Wagner or Braham's Rebekah Dahlman, but, to the Patriots, she was just as important.

Lueck, a senior guard with more than 1,600 career points, scored 18 of her 20 points after halftime, leading Pequot Lakes (20-11) to its first state tournament victory since finishing as Class 2A runners-up in 2005.

Lueck played only six minutes in the first half, hitting one of six field goal attempts before going to the bench with three fouls.

In her absence, the Patriots struggled to find their shooting touch, making just seven of 29 field goal attempts. The second half told a different story as Pequot Lakes, with Lueck finding her range, shot 50-percent (11-of-22) from the field.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa, battling shooting woes of its own, could not take advantage of Lueck’s absence and trailed 20-17 at halftime. Cougars’ guard Ashley Hinsch, herself a 1,000-point scorer, only scored two points before halftime. Hinsch, a UMD volleyball recruit, finished with 12 points before fouling out in the second half.

Pequot Lakes took control of the game with a 9-2 run early in the second half  for a 29-21 lead. Zumbrota-Mazeppa never got closer than five points thereafter. Kayla Miller had five points during the spurt while Lueck had four. Miller finished with 18 points.

Laura Brunner scored 15 points to lead Zumbrota-Mazeppa (17-12).

JIM PAULSEN

Kayla Miller, Pequot Lakes

Miller had a stellar overall day for the Patriots. She netted 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting a perfect 10-10 from the line. Her efforts helped Pequot open up a comfortable lead early in the second half.

Mattie Lueck, Pequot Lakes

The Patriots point guard took over the game in the second half, scoring 18 of her 20 points in the second frame. She shot a solid 8-10 from the free throw line, chances that were well-deserved after numerous hard drives to the basket.

Laura Brunner, Zumbrota-Mazeppa

Brunner scored 15 points for the Cougars, who tried her best to keep her team in the game during the second half. Her aggressiveness allowed her to get to the line on numerous occasions in the second half, going 7-9.

-Alec Kinsky, MN Girls Basketball Hub Staff