NL-S boys basketball returns to state - NL-S girls get pounded by Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted in AA semi's 46-31

The NL-S boys basketball team defeated Morris Area 82-75 to win the Section 6AA championship for the second straight year. It was Morris Area's first section final appearance since 2004, when they won Section 3AA.

Meanwhile, at the Class AA state tournament, the HL-W-W Lakers (29-3) girls basketball team earned their first-ever State Championship berth with a convincing 46-31 win over state-ranked NL-S. (That was great news to hear!)

With 12 minutes left in the second half, the Wildcats (30-2) came back from a 27-20 halftime deficit to force a 29-29 tie. After that it was all Lakers.

In Section 5AA boys basketball action: Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 64, Norwood-Young America 62, OT. The Lakers (22-7) earned their first state tournament berth since 2002.

Just to get into overtime, the Lakers' star senior guard Nash Faulk hit two FT's with 4 seconds left in regulation to tie it. Then in the waning moments of the extra session, 6'7" center Jeff Hammer hit a 15 footer with 2 seconds left in overtime for the win. What a game.