Girls Basketball: Class A quarterfinal recap

Eight teams in the Class A field began play in the Minnesota State High School League’s Girls Basketball State Tournament on Thursday, March 16 at Maturi Pavilion on the University of Minnesota campus. Here is a look at what happened in the quarterfinals:

• No. 1 Mountain Iron-Buhl 65, Goodhue 50: The top-seeded Rangers knocked off Goodhue, their state tournament nemesis with an early-round victory. Junior guard Jordan Zubich led Mountain Iron-Buhl (28-3) with 25 points as she and her teammates combined to defeat the Vikings (21-9) for the first time in five state tournament meetings. Zubich, who has committed to play collegiately at the University of North Carolina, also had five steals. Senior forward Ireland Stassen paced Minneota with 18 points.
• No. 5 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 60, No. 4 Underwood 44: Senior guard Abby Berge scored 18 points, including 10 on free throws, and junior guard Brooklyn Fischer chipped in 14 to send the Jaguars (26-4) past the Rockets (26-4). Junior guard Elizabeth Luken had 16 points for Underwood.
• No. 2 Hayfield 63, Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 58, OT: Eighth-grade guard Jenna Christopherson made a three-pointer, her third of the game, with 2:37 remaining in overtime to help send the Vikings (29-3) into the semifinals with a victory over the Gators (26-4). Junior forward Natalie Beaver powered the Vikings with 31 points and 14 rebounds. Senior forward Kinsley Hanson led Badger/Greenbush-Middle River with 16 points.
• No. 3 BOLD 67, United Christian Academy 29: The No. 3-seeded Warriors (25-5) built a 21-point advantage at the break and kept the momentum en route to a victory over the Thunder (14-12). Senior guard Mari Ryberg paced the Warriors’ attack with 26 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Sophomore guard Lainey Braulick added 15. Junior Olivia Hauloos had nine points for the Thunder.