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Roseville coach Jeff Crosby has seen his share of talented tandems who can take over the game.

Crosby attests this year’s team doesn’t have that star power, but is instead thriving off its tenacity and chemistry.

“A team’s a lot like a family — and families are dysfunctional at times — so we make sure to understand no matter what happens it’s together,” Crosby said. “We always break (from a huddle) with ‘together.’”

The third-seeded Raiders came together to knock off No. 2-seeded Champlin Park 62-58 Saturday in a Class 4A, Section 5 semifinal at Anoka High School.

Both teams shared small runs throughout the game before Roseville, ranked No. 10 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, went on a 9-2 run midway through the final half where the Raiders (21-7) held the No. 8-4A Rebels scoreless for nearly six minutes.

“I was proud of the excitement and energy they showed in playing together,” Crosby said. “They shook hands — kind of business as usual — and then they went nuts in the locker room. It was fun for me to see because it meant so much for them to do it together.”

Kaylee Nelson hit a pair of second-half three-pointers that kept the Raiders afloat before Jayda Johnston and Jada Hood combined for seven points of Roseville’s game-clinching run. The duo finished with 17 points each.

“On (the Raiders’) runs we did a lot of things we’re not accustomed to doing,” Champlin Park (23-5) coach Josh Steck said. “Usually we’re up defending and pressing but we let them get in the flow of their offense.”

Hood’s deft dribbling helped her carve through the Rebels' defensive front and garnered added attention in the paint where she passed the ball off to her teammates to capitalize.

“She’s vocal, energetic, and a physical and aggressive kid overall,” Crosby said, adding that any Raiders player can take over the game. “But she’s definitely a catalyst for us and gets us going.”

Hood, one of three members of last year’s team that fell in the section semifinals to Park Center, will be looking to avenge the loss in the section championship next Thursday against the Pirates.

She said this year’s group affinity and communication sets them apart from the team a season ago.

“All of us weren’t working as a team,” Hood added. “We were all trying to do too much. Thursday we’re going to play a great team, but as long as we play together and lessen our mistakes we can be a great team.”

Jayda Johnston and Jada Hood led third-seeded Roseville with 17 points apiece, pushing the Raiders past No. 2-seeded Champlin Park 62-58 in a Class 4A, Section 5 semifinal at Anoka High School on Saturday.

Ranked No. 10 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, the Raiders (21-7) went on a 9-2 run midway through the final half to take the lead and ultimately upend the No. 8-4A Rebels.

Champlin Park (23-5) seniors Amanda Pollard and Erica Hicks scored 17 and 12 points, respectively.

Roseville will play in its first section final since 2015 against Park Center on Thursday.

The MN Girls' Basketball Hub poll is for entertainment purposes only.