Holy Angels Wins First State Title In Over 40 Years

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Laura Bagwell-Katalinich has an Ivy League scholarship waiting for her, but she was in no rush to leave Williams Arena on Saturday night.

The Academy of Holy Angels won its first state title in more than 40 years, with Bagwell-Katalinich scoring 25 points to lead the fifth-seeded Stars (27-5) over the Winona Winhawks in the Class 3A girls' final.

"I haven't had the highest accolades thrown at me through my career," Bagwell-Katalinich said. "And honestly, I don't care.We go out to win. And so, that's what my goal was this year."

Bagwell-Katalinich, the Stars' leading scorer who is committed to play at Pennsylvania University next fall, scored 15 of her team's 22 points in the first half. She posted a double-double, doing just as much damage on the Winhawks' boards with 16 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass.

"What makes her so difficult is she's long enough so she can find ways that, even if she's even with you, she's kind of by you," Winhawks coach Tim Gleason said. "She's real effective scoring."

It was close early, as the Stars couldn't pull away from the Winhawks' pesky defense in the first half. Hallee Hoeppner's fastbreak layup just before half cut the Stars' lead to 22-18 at the break.

After halftime, the Stars put some distance on Winona as Bagwell-Katalinich, Destinee Oberg and Megan Meyer fueled a push that would produce the Academy's biggest lead at 45-30 late in the second half.

The Stars controlled the boards with a 42-29 advantage rebounding, and they were even more effective in the paint with a 24-10 edge in scoring down low. Oberg chipped in nine points, and Meyer had eight.

It's the Stars' first state title since 1975, and coach Dan Woods said he hopes a championship will propel the Academy of Holy Angels into annual contention. "This is the kind of athletes we have," Woods said.

"Walked into a program winning five games per year," Bagwell-Katalinich said. "Four short years later, here we are."

The second-seeded Winhawks (25-7) fell in its first-ever championship appearance.

Hoeppner had 15 points to lead the Winhawks.