MEGAN WALSTAD
Eastview • basketball
It has always been about the team for Eastview's impressive forward.
Ask her about what she contributed to the Lightning's run to the Class 4A state championship — a significant 51 points, 24 rebounds, eight assists and immeasurable leadership — and she always will direct the focus back to her teammates.
She won't mention that she hit back-to-back jumpers to halt a Hopkins first-half run that had put the Lightning in a 13-point hole in the championship game. Or that it was her three-pointer early in the second half that tied the score 35-35, followed by a short shot in the lane that gave Eastview its first lead shortly after.
"We just had to stay composed," she said when asked about her role in the title run. "We knew we could fight back. We knew we'd go on a run. We just had to stay calm and composed and not do anything too crazy."
Walstad, who will bring her talents to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee next season, has played a lot of basketball in her life. She asserted with no hesitation her appreciation for her current team.
"We've been working for this for so long. For it to finally be real, it's an amazing feeling," she said. "Just to share the moment with these teammates. This is the greatest team I've ever been on. We're all so selfless in the way we play. It's so fun to be around them."
JACOB BEENINGA
Wayzata • basketball
The Trojans' 63-61 victory over Hopkins in the Class 4A, Section 6 final Wednesday was a high point of the season for the junior guard. He scored a game-high 30 points in leading Wayzata to its second consecutive state tournament berth and topped 1,000 points for his career.
PAIGE BUECKERS
Hopkins • basketball
The Royals fell a game short of the Class 4A state title for the third consecutive season, but the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year made the championship game her public coming out party. She wowed Target Center and a televsion audience with 37 points in the 68-63 loss to Eastview.
SETH HALVORSEN
Heritage Christian • basketball
Baseball is Halvorsen's sport of choice — he signed with Missouri — but he can ball a bit, too. He scored 26 points to lead the Lions to their first state tournament with a 64-56 victory over Mounds Park Academy in the Class 1A, Section 5 final.
JIM PAULSEN
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