MINNEAPOLIS — The Hancock boys basketball team moved a step closer to its first state championship since 1997 by beating Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 65-53 on Wednesday.
The Owls advance to the state Class A final at 1 p.m. Saturday at Target Center. There, they’ll play Hayfield, a 79-53 winner over Badger/Greenbush-Middle River in Wednesday’s other Class A semifinal.
Matt Thompson led Hancock with 20 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks. Kody Berget had 18 points and Preston Rohloff had 14 points and six assists.
For SESM, Kaleb Wait had 19 points and four steals and Trent Steffensmeier for 17 points.
The Owls also have made state tournament appearances in 1922, ‘23, ‘98 and 2003.
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St. Mary’s was making its first state appearance since 2006, also making state in 2005 and 1998. The Knights beat Central Minnesota Christian 86-73 in the quarterfinals March 31 to advance to the semifinals.
Hancock 65,
SESM 53
Hancock (19-5) 29 36 — 65
SESM (20-4) 34 19 — 53
HANCOCK - Scoring: Kody Berget 18, Brandon Kellenberger 8, Preston Rohloff 14, Adam Shaw 3, Matt Thompson 20, Luke Joos 2 … 3-point shots: Berget 6-11, Rohloff 2-5, Shaw 1-2 … Rebound leader: Thompson 19 … Assist leaders: Rohloff 6, Kellenberger 4 … Steal leader: Kellenberger 3 ... Block leader: Thompson 3
SESM - Scoring: Jacob Lux 6, Carson Domeier 5, Kyle Goblirsch 6, Kaleb Wait 19, Trent Steffensmeier 17 … 3-point shots: Domeier 1-5, Wait 4-9, Steffensmeier 2-4 … Rebound leaders: Goblirsch 7, Lux 6 … Assist leader: Domeier 3 … Steal leader: Wait 4 ... Block leader: none.
Boys State Pairings
(at Target Center, Minneapolis)
Class A
Semifinals Wednesday
Hancock 65, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 53
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Hayfield 79, Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 53
Final Saturday
Hancock (18-5) vs. Hayfield (20-4), 1 p.m.
Class AA
Semifinals Wednesday
Caledonia 60, Minneapolis North 55
Waseca 72, Fergus Falls 58
Final Saturday
Caledonia (23-1) vs. Waseca (22-1, 3 p.m.
Class AAA
Semifinals Thursday
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Alexandria (21-1) vs. Richfield (16-4), 1 p.m.
Minnehaha Academy (18-1) vs. DeLaSalle (15-5), 3 p.m.
Final Saturday
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.
Class AAAA
Semifinals Thursday
Maple Grove (13-9) vs. Cretin-Derham Hall (17-5), 6 p.m.
Shakopee (17-5) vs. Wayzata (17-2), 8 p.m.
Final Saturday
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.
Girls State Pairings
(at Target Center, Minneapolis)
Class A
Semifinals Tuesday
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 51, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 50
Minneota 54, Mountain Iron-Buhl 53
Final Friday
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (23-1) vs. Minneota (24-0), 1 p.m.
Class AA
Semifinals Tuesday
Albany 72, Glencoe-Silver Lake 49
Providence Academy 58, New London-Spicer 54
Final Friday
Albany (23-1) vs. Providence Academy (22-1), 3 p.m.
Class AAA
Semifinals Tuesday
Marshall 75, Holy Angels 58
Becker 84, Hill-Murray 51
Final Friday
Marshall (22-0) vs. Becker (18-3), 6 p.m.
Class AAAA
Semifinals Wednesday
Chaska 67, Hopkins 62
Rosemount 40, Centennial 33
Rosemount (19-3) vs. Centennial (21-1), late
Final Friday
Chaska (17-0) vs. Rosemount (20-3), 9 p.m.
