The Farmington girls basketball team earned its first state tournament berth Friday night, beating Rochester Mayo 62-60 at Mayo Civic Center in the Section 1AAAA final. The Tigers trailed early then had to hold off a Spartans' rally late. The Tigers (27-2) are No. 2 rated in the state.

Farmington ended the first half on a 15-6 run to pull within 26-24. The Tigers also went on a 24-11 second half run and led by 11 points with about six-and-a-half minutes remaining. Mayo fought back, but the No. 14-ranked Spartans fell just short.

The game featured a match up of two of the best centers in the state as Mayo's 6-foot-3 Anna Miller battled the Tigers' 6-foot-4 Sophie Hart. Both are juniors. Farmington just missed the state tournament last year, falling to Lakeville North in the finals. Ironically enough, the No. 11 Panthers are in a different section this season and are also advancing to state after an upset of No. 9 Rosemount in a section championship game this week.

No. 6 Red Wing dominated the Section 1AAA final, holding No. 19 Kasson-Mantorville to seven first half points. The Wingers led 34-7 at the break and won 57-24. Red Wing last appeared in the state tournament in 2013, finishing as the runner-up. It's their sixth state girls basketball trip.

Back on Thursday, Fillmore Central topped Blooming Prairie for the Section 1A title and Rochester Lourdes out-muscled Goodhue for the 1AA crown.

The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown girls won their first-ever girls basketball section title Friday night 79-68 over Sleepy Eye St. Mary's in the 2A final. Waseca captured the 2AA championship 32-28 over Jordan. In 2AAA on Thursday, Waconia won their first girls basketball section title 61-50 over top-seed Marshall.

The girls state basketball tournament is March 11-14.

 

 

 

 

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