MANKATO — AnnMarie Brown’s length-of-the-court, driving 8-footer with 2.6 seconds remaining in overtime lifted St. Peter to a thrilling 53-52 win over Blue Earth Area Friday night in the Section 2AA girls basketball championship game at Bresnan Arena.
Brown, a versatile 6-foot junior guard, forced the extra session by converting three foul shots with 37 seconds left in regulation to tie things at 47.
“My free throws have been off but I knew how big these were and knew I could make them,” Brown said of the points that enabled her to reach the 1,000-point mark for her career.
After the Bucs (20-6) received two foul shots from 5-foot-8 senior post Hayley Pirsig to begin the overtime, Saints’’ sophomore guard Katy Kuiper’s off-the-glass bullet tied things.
BEA looked liked it would take a lead when Ashley Olson was in the clear for a layup, but defensive ace Danielle Larson’s block glanced off a prone Olson and gave the Saints possession.
Olson made a foul shot with 36.4 seconds left to give the Bucs a 50-49 lead. Brown’s spin move and 8-footer from in the paint put the Saints in front before senior Kate Hassing hit a pair of free throws with 8.8 to go.
“We had a long play set up but they stayed back,” St. Peter coach Cyndi Raymond said of the Saints’ final chance. “We wanted to get AnnMarie the ball and then get a double pick set for her.
“I don’t think we got that but she just went to the hole. We wanted to put the ball in our best player’s hands and she made the play.”
Brown weaved through traffic before twisting in midair and softly kissing the ball off the glass for the game-winner. Brown ended up with 21 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
“I just knew I had to get to the rim,” Brown said. “I was praying I could find an open lane.
“I still can’t believe the shot went in. ... This is crazy and unbelievable. I am the happiest person in the world right now.”
St. Peter (21-6) fell behind early 13-2 as Hassing hit a pair of jumpers and Meghan Mittlestadt nailed a baseline 3-pointer. Hassing, the Section 2AA Triple-A award winner, ended her prep career with 10 points and six rebounds.
“We just needed to get over the jitters and get into it,” said Kuiper, who finished with 16 points, six assists and two steals. “Our defense picked up a lot and we started running more.”
Brown’s top-of-the-key 3-pointer triggered a 12-0 Saints’ burst that produced a 14-13 lead on junior Alissa Lager’s 10-footer with 6:58 left in the half.
Freshman Tailor Raymond then hit a pair of baskets and Brown buried a 3-pointer to help the Saints maintain a 21-20 edge at the break.
Kuiper’s seven-point flurry early in the second half helped St. Peter build a 34-24 lead with 12:20 to go. Pirsig then worked the interior for four baskets as the Bucs tied things with a 10-0 surge.
“There were great runs both ways,” Bucs’ coach Al Cue said. “We got off to a quick start but then they came right back at us. Then we battled back and got up by five late but they persevered.”
Trailing 43-38 with just over two minutes remaining, Kuiper’s layup and two inside hoops from Brown rallied the Saints, setting up Brown’s three free throws.
Pirsig led the Bucs with 16 points and Olson scored 15. Both teams grabbed 29 rebounds while the Bucs had more turnovers 16-12.
St. Peter will be making its fifth trip to the state tournament and first since 1997. The Saints play a 6 p.m. game Wednesday at Target Center against Rochester Lourdes.
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Related Photos
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St. Peter's Sidney Dirks (20) tries to drive to the basket past Blue Earth Area's Ashley Olson during the first half Friday at Bresnan Arena. Pat Christman
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St. Peter's Katy Kuiper shoots over Blue Earth Area's Morgan Dickman (13) during the first half Friday at Bresnan Arena. Pat Christman
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Blue Earth Area's Hayley Pirsig (33) is defended by St. Peter's Alissa Lager (left) and Katy Kuiper during the first half Friday at Bresnan Arena. Pat Christman
AnnMarie Brown leads St. Peter girls to state tournament
Saints' guard goes end-to-end for overtime victory
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