Vlad Ciubotaru scored 21 points and Jalen Cain 20 to help Minnetonka outlast host Hopkins 62-61 in overtime in a Lake Conference boys' basketball game Thursday.
The Skippers (4-7), who ended a four-game losing streak, rallied from a five-point halftime deficit for their second victory of the season over the Royals, ranked No. 3 in Class 4A.
The Skippers defeated the Royals at Minnetonka 63-61 on Jan. 26. It's the first time since the 2012-2013 season that the Skippers have won both regular-season meetings between the two.
Tristan Lee scored 21 points to lead the Royals (8-3).
Apple Valley 74, Prior Lake 64: Senior guard Kortland Johnsen scored 20 points — 18 in the second half — to pace the Eagles past the host Lakers. Malcom Jones scored 24 and Kellan Miller 18 to lead the Lakers. Prior Lake defeated the Eagles by 27 points on Jan. 22.
Cambridge-Isanti 55, North Branch 49: Jordan Sperl scored 26 points — 16 during an 18-1 run in the game's first five minutes — to help the host Bluejackets win over the Vikings. North Branch regrouped to pull within three points at halftime and took the lead early in the second half. Trevor Johnson scored 17 to lead the Vikings.
Lakeville North 80, Lakeville South 52: Will Blascziek and Cooper Laufenburger each scored 19 points as the Panthers, ranked No. 8 in Class 4A, pulled away from host Cougars. Blascziek scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half and Nolan Winter contributed 13 points — all in the second half — for the Panthers, who led 37-26 at halftime. Reid Patterson scored 17 and Tyrstan Ressler 16 for the Cougars.
Norwood Young America 41, Tri-City United 40: Tyler Smith's three-point basket with under 10 seconds remaining lifted the visiting Raiders to the Minnesota River Conference victory. Noah Strickfaden scored 15 points to lead the Raiders, who trailed by nine points at halftime.
Rosemount 55, Shakopee 49: Caleb Siwek scored 15 points and Sean Sullivan 14 to lead the Irish to their fifth consecutive victory. The Irish (7-3) led by 11 points at halftime. Nick Katona led the host Sabers, ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, with nine points.
Girls' basketball
Becker 93, Monticello 27: Adeline Kent scored 24 points and Maren Westin 21 to lead the host Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, to their 34th consecutive victory. Julia Bengston added 17 points for the Bulldogs (10-0).
Boys' hockey
Mahtomedi 2, St. Thomas Academy 2 [OT]: Mahtomedi, ranked No. 3 in Class 1A, and the host Cadets, No. 7 in Class 2A, skated to a tie in a Metro East Conference game. Nick Beiersdorf's goal midway through the first period gave the Zephyrs a 1-0 lead, but Jack Strobel and Tommy Cronin scored in the second period to give the Cadets a 2-1 lead. Carter Haycraft's goal with two minutes, 13 seconds remaining in the second period tied the score. Zephyrs goalie Ben Dardis had 34 saves, Cadets goalie Carsten Lardy 37. It was the third consecutive tie — and fourth consecutive overtime game — for the Cadets (7-1-3).
Edina 7, St. Michael-Albertville 0: Senior forward John Devoe had two goals and two assists to lead the visiting Hornets to the Lake Conference victory. Sophomore Robbie Clarkowski had 12 saves to earn his first shutout of the season. The Hornets outshot the Knights 44-12.
Girls' hockey
Hill-Murray 6, Breck 3: Allie Franco, a junior who has committed to the Gophers, had two goals and three assists to lead the Pioneers, ranked No. 3 in Class 2A, past the host Mustangs, No. 5 in Class 1A. Ellah Hause and Ava Stinnett each had a goal and two assists for the Pioneers. Stinnett and Kennedy Morris scored 77 seconds apart in the third period to give the Pioneers a 5-2 lead. Sadie Lindsay had a goal and an assist for the Mustangs. Hill-Murray defeated the Mustangs 3-1 on Jan. 26.
JOEL RIPPEL
