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EspañolMar. 3—PRINSBURG — Head coach Brian Nelson has been pleased with how his
girls basketball team has played in big games this season.
CMCS (25-3) has had many of them, and in its most recent one, it toppled MACCRAY (20-8), the Class A state runner-up and Section 3A defending champion, in the Section 3A-North final on Friday at Yellow Medicine East High School in Granite Falls.
Now, Bluejays face their biggest test to date.
CMCS, the North's top seed, plays the South's top-seeded Hills-Beaver Creek (26-3) for the Section 3A title at 5 p.m. Thursday at Southwest Minnesota State University's R/A Facility in Marshall.
"They're savoring every moment and trying to take it as long as they can," Nelson said.
Friday was redemption for the sixth-ranked Bluejays, who were knocked off by MACCRAY in the sub-section final last season after they beat the Wolverines twice in the regular season.
Nelson's squad swept MACCRAY this season and its 74-70 win against Sleepy Eye St. Mary's on Jan. 31 at SMSU was arguably its best of the season.
Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, third in Class A with a 28-1 record, faces BOLD (24-5) in the Section 2A championship at 6 p.m. Friday at Minnesota State University-Mankato's Brennan Arena located inside the Taylor Center in Mankato.
"Not only did we have the disappointment at the end of last year, but we also didn't have a lot of success in any of our big games," Nelson said. "As of late, the last couple of weeks, we're seeing what a special group we have because of their maturity."
Sienna Duininck leads one of the most experienced rotations in Class A.
Duininck, a junior guard who is a two-time All-Area First Team selection, showed out against the Wolverines on Friday. She scored 34 points with 10 steals and nine rebounds.
"Sienna was due that night for the work that she puts in and I was happy she played the way she did," Nelson said of his fifth-year starter. "We have a lot of other girls who are capable of playing well and stepping into roles, but Sienna will be leading the charge."
Carrie Mulder, a forward who is a four-year starter, is one of the three senior starters for the Bluejays, including forwards Emmi Braem and Addie Taatjes.
Duininck and junior guard Maddy Vander Ark facilitate play for one of Class A's top producing offenses with a section-high 72.6 points per game.
"I know (Hills-Beaver Creek) is going to try to take Sienna away," Nelson said. "We're going to have to have our supporting cast step up and the girls understand that."
Hills-Beaver Creek, which lost to the Wolverines in the Section 3A championship last season, vies for its first state berth Thursday.
Hailey Moser caught fire off the bench to help the Patriots earn a 48-40 win over third-seeded Murray County Central in the 3A-South final Friday at Worthington.
Hills-Beaver Creek is led upfront by forwards Brynn Bakken, who scored a team-high 17 points in Friday's win, and Ella Rheault. Bakken is a junior and Rheault is a sophomore.
Claire Knobloch and Ella Sammons are key senior guards in Hills-Beaver Creek's backcourt, as is junior guard Olivia Deelstra.
On a points-allowed-per-game basis, the Patriots are one of the top Class A teams at a 41.1 average. CMCS is nearby, allowing 44.0 points per contest.
"Hills-Beaver Creek is a very skilled team with multiple threats," Nelson said. "I anticipate a knock-down, drag-out, maybe first to 50 type game.
"(The Patriots) have some experience being there last year, so that's going to be key for them. But, I like the mindset we're in. I like the vibe we got going — I think we're going to feed off it — and our community is going to bring some energy for us as well."
CMCS,
, is searching for its third state berth, and first in 25 years, after it had back-to-back appearances in 2000 and '01.
"I couldn't be more proud of them, whether it goes either way, but a state trip would be icing on the cake," Nelson said. "I know the community would be so proud of the girls and how they have represented our school these last few years, so it would mean a lot."
Nelson was an assistant coach for the CMCS boys basketball team when it made state appearances in 2015, '16, '17 and 2021 under long-time head coach Ted Taatjes.
Taatjes' group, which is ranked second in Class A with a 26-1 record, is the North's top seed in the Section 3A playoffs and is hoping to make its sixth state appearance.
"It's fun to see both programs doing so well and that's been a really prideful thing for both of us to see each other succeed," Nelson said. "I'd like to get a little more hardware in that case — Ted's got quite a bit in there — so that's my goal, to try and catch him."