Photo by Sam Thiel Members of the Minneota girls basketball team celebrate after defeating TMB in the Section 3A championship game on Friday. Minneota won 44-33 to advance to the state tournament.

MARSHALL — After splitting its season series in the regular season, the No. 1N Minneota and No. 1S Tracy-Milroy-Balaton girls basketball teams squared off again on Friday, this time with seasons on the line and a trip to the state tournament at stake. The Vikings were looking to continue their streak of four consecutive state tournament trips while the Panthers were hoping to reach the state tournament for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

It was a low-scoring affair, but a strong second-half push helped Minneota break a halftime tie and earn a 44-33 victory at the R/A Facility on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University and advance to the Class A tournament for the fifth straight time.

Both teams came out with stifling defensive play and forced each other into multiple turnovers, with the Panthers and Vikings recording more turnovers in the first half than field goals made combined. It was a 17-all score at halftime.

Then the Vikings went on an 11-3 run creating some distance behind impeccable free-throw shooting. The Vikings had a 34-6 advantage in attempts at the free-throw line, making 24 of them, while the Panthers made just three. The Panthers made more field goals (14) than the Vikings (nine) but ultimately the lack of rebounds and free-throw attempts doomed the Panthers.

Final stats were not available at press time.

Minneota head coach Chad Johnston credited his team for getting back to state in a gritty win.

“Two teams that rely on defense, we just couldn’t function in the half-court because of Tracy’s defense,” Johnston said. “Credit to our girls, we played good man-to-man defense on a night we weren’t clicking offensively and we did a great job.”

 TMB head coach Derek Ashbaugh reflected on his team’s performance in the game.

“It was gonna be a slugfest the entire way through, everything was kind of a grind and credit them to that,” Ashbaugh said. “Neither team was able to get a rhythm going but they were able to get a little momentum to get the lead and credit to them.”

Ashbaugh elaborated on talking about his seniors on the team as well.

“Between the nine seniors and two managers on the roster, that’s 11 kids we’re going to lose which is a big part of our program,” Ashbaugh said. “They have been a huge part of the rebuilding process the past couple of years. Seven of these seniors are all-academic state and the amount of talent between them has been fantastic.”

Saluting the nine Panther seniors who played their final game Friday: Madison Timmerman, Maddi Langerock, Sheridan Ludeman, Jasmine Timmerman, Camille Dolan, Kiarra Danielson, Lauren Zick, Margaret Dolan and Jaysa Davis.

The Vikings will head to state and play their opening game against an opponent to be determined next Thursday.