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D5 Semi-Final Notes: Three Lakes and Assumption advance to the state title game

02/25/2021, 5:30pm CST
By Norbert Durst

Three Lakes pulled off one of the biggest upsets in state history, defeating Black Hawk in a Division 5 state semifinal. 

The Bluejays earned a 51-48 victory, ending Black Hawk's 75-game winning streak, which dated back to the 2018 Division 5 state championship game. 

Junior Sara Gruszynski, a 6-foot forward, came up big for Three Lakes down the stretch. She hit two big free throws with 2:02 left to push the Bluejays' lead to 47-42, and then made an incredible fall away go-ahead basket with 37 seconds remaining after Black Hawk tied the game just 11 seconds earlier. 

Black Hawk had chances at the end, including senior standout Bailey Butler, a UW-Green Bay signee, missing a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left.

Butler fouled out after her second miss and Three Lakes senior Taylor Kolling hitting one of two free throws and the Bluejays got a steal to seal the victory. 

Three Lakes was led by senior Sydney Lurvey, a 5-foot-7 guard, who finished with a game-high 18 points, including going 6-for-11 on 3-pointers. 

Kolling added 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting, while Gruszynski tallied eight points for coach George Lurvey and the Bluejays. 

Black Hawk got a game-high 23 points from Butler, who also added six rebounds, five assists and five steals in the loss. 

Fellow senior Kaylee Marty added 14 points for coach Mike Flanagan and the Warriors. 

The Warriors finish the season with a 21-1 record. Black Hawk posted a 103-2 record in over the past four years, but took home just one gold ball in that span (last season was wiped out due to COVID-19).

Three Lakes improves to 20-5 on the season and advance to its first state championship game in program history. 

The Bluejays will play Assumption at 7:05 tonight in the Division 5 state championship game. 

Assumption is headed to the Division 5 state championship game. 

The Royals held off a late push by McDonell Central to earn the 46-43 victory. 

Assumption, which appeared in four consecutive state championship game (2013-16), will try to take home their third gold ball in program history later tonight. 

The Royals led 19-16 at the half and pushed their lead to 14 (33-19) with 10:14 left before McDonell Central made a comeback to get within one (38-37) with 2:09 left but that's as close as the Macks would get. 

Assumption was led by 5-foot-5 junior guard Ainara Sainz de Rozas, who finished with a team-high 16 points. She shot 4-for-6 from the floor, 1-for-1 from three, and made all seven of her free throws. 

Seniors Emily Bohn, a 6-foot-4 forward, and Jessie Grundhoffer, a 5-foot-11 forward, tallied 13 and 11 points, respectively, for coach Ryan Klein and the Royals. 

Grundhoffer also added a team-high six rebounds. 

McDonell Central was led by Lauryn Deetz, a 5-foot-5 guard, who tallied 11 points and seven rebounds. 

Senior Anna Geissler, a 5-foot-7 guard, added eight points for coach Don Cooper and the Macks. 

McDonell Central, which made its first state tournament appearance in program history, finishes the year with a 12-4 record. 

Assumption improves to 15-8 on the season and will play Three Lakes for the Division 5 state title at 7:05 tonight at the La Crosse Center. 

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

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