Simply put I enjoyed the State Class AA girls basketball tournament in Brookings at Frost Arena at SDSU. This spring it moves to Rapid City.

Last March, a great crowd saw Sioux Falls Washington miss a shot at the buzzer as the Mitchell Kernels escaped with a 56-54 win to claim the title and put an exclamation point on a 24-1 season.

The only loss last year for Mitchell came in Sioux Falls nearly one year ago as all-state point guard Macy Miller returned for her first game after knee surgery as the Lincoln Patriots upset the Kernels last January in the LHS gym.

Friday night at the Washington gym, the Warriors host the Kernels.

Last March, Mitchell had leads of 12 points in the third quarter and nine points in the fourth quarter, but the game still came down to the final minute. Washington pulled within 52-51 with 1:21 to play, but Mitchell’s Kristin Sabers knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner and Macy Miller hit one of two free throws that set up the Kernels’ final two-point advantage.

Washington’s Kelsey Knecht missed a 15-foot jumper at the final buzzer.

The Mitchell girls’ basketball team won its first state championship since 2003. It was the school’s fifth state girls’ basketball title.

These two clubs could be a collision course to meet in the Black Hills this spring for a state title rematch.

"We are looking forward to this game and seeing where we are at as a basketball team," said Washington coach Nate Malchow. "This is a big game and we love playing in these type of games and atmospheres.  Our schedule is loaded for the remainder of the year and that is the way we like it--big games prepare you for the post-season and that is when we will look to be playing our best."

In the last five seasons WHS has made the finals three times claiming two titles.

2008 SF Washington 44 Pierre-Riggs 41
2009 Watertown 69 Brandon Valley 51
2010 SF Washington 60 RC Stevens 43
2011 Brandon Valley 49 SF O’Gorman 45
2012 Mitchell 56 SF Washington 54

Hear the game on 1140 KSOO at 7:30 Friday night.

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