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Recap of Regional Finals: Upsets, buzzer beaters, and scoring milestones

03/02/2020, 4:15pm CST
By Norbert Durst

WIAA Regional play wrapped up on Saturday across the state. The following are upsets from regional finals, buzzer beaters, and scoring milestones. 

For the full list of scores from regional finals, click here

Notable Upsets from Regional Finals

Division 1

Five-seed Stevens Point defeated four-seed Hudson in overtime, 58-56. Not a huge upset, but the only D1 regional final contest that the lower seed won. Senior Leah Earnest, a Valparaiso signee, finished with a game-best 28 points. Earnest is averaging 28.2 points game this season and has compiled 2,065 in her career. 

Division 2

Four-seed New Richmond knocked off top-seed River Falls, 41-38. Freshman Brooke Blaszczyk scored a team-high 10 points for the Tigers. River Falls was led by senior Kylie Strop, a North Dakota State signee, who scored a game-high 20 points. 

Four-seed Waukesha West edged top-seed Union Grove in overtime, 51-45. Freshman Lily Hanke and Madeline Andersen, led the Wolverines with 18 and 12 points, respectively. Senior Megan Barber led Union Grove with 17 points. 

Division 3

Four-seed Sheboygan Falls beat top-seed Valders, 61-49. The Falcons lost to Valders twice in the regular season, but by just two points in each meeting, and get their revenge in the playoffs. 

Three-seed Kewaskum defeated two-seed Kewaunee, 49-34. Freshman Madilyn Dogs scored a game-high 15 points and sophomore Annie Christenson added 10 points for the Indians. Kewaunee was led by senior Mackenzie Tlachac, who scored 10 points. The loss was just the second of the season for the Storm.

Three-seed Laconia beat two-seed Waupun, 56-49. Juniors Lexy Smit and Haley Rens finished with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Rens added eight rebounds and six assists in the victory. Waupun was led by senior Peyton McGinnis, who scored a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds. 

Four-seed Turner knocked off top-seed Clinton, 43-41. Senior Jenn Njoo hit a three-pointer with three seconds left to send the Trojans to sectional play for the first time since 1982. (video below) Senior Olivia Tinder scored a game-high 15 points for Turner. Njoo finished with nine points. 

Division 4

Five-seed Pacelli knocked off top-seed Auburndale, 48-46. Senior Sarah Mueller, a UW-Platteville commit, scored a game-high 24 points, and junior Sami Miller added 11 points for the Cardinals. 

Division 5

Three-seed Niagara defeated two-seed Gillett, 58-54. The Badgers lost both regular season meetings against Gillett (58-46 and 57-40), but win when it matters the most. 

Buzzer Beaters

Jenn Njoo game-winner for Turner 

Turner defeated Clinton, 43-41


Alyah Garcia game-winner for DSHA 

DSHA defeated Watertown in double overtime, 57-56


Caroline Strande, Racine Lutheran

Strande scores 37, surpasses 2,500 for her career

Racine Lutheran senior Caroline Strande scored a game-high 37 points and went over 2,500 points in her career in Saturday's 84-66 win over Milwaukee Academy of Science. 

Strande, a Minnesota signee, is averaging 35.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 5.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game for the unbeaten Crusaders. 

Racine Lutheran advances to play Brookfield Academy in a Division 4 sectional semifinal on Thursday at Cudahy High School. 


Lexi Donarski, Aquinas

Donarski joins 2,000-point club

Aquinas senior Lexi Donarski scored 22 points and went over 2,000 for her career in Friday's 94-44 win over Darlington. 

In a 77-44 win over Luther in a Division 4 regional final, Donarski finished with 28 points, eight assists and nine steals. 

The Iowa State signee is averaging 24 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 5.7 steals per game for the 22-1 Blugolds, 

Aquinas plays Mineral Point in a sectional semifinal on Thursday at Baraboo High School. 

For the latest and most up to date girls' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Norbert on Twitter @NorbertDurst. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Norbert by clicking here.

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