Chanhassen Storm girls basketball defeated 2024 State Champ Minnetonka 79-68 to win the Section 2AAAA Championship, punching first-ever ticket to State Tournament
The 17th season of girls basketball at Chanhassen High School has been the best in school history. Might as well make it last one more week.
Behind a breakout 30-point performance from freshman Lucy Hilgert and balanced contributions from their three Division I-committed juniors, the Storm defeated Minnetonka 79-68 in the Section 2AAAA championship game Wednesday night at Minnetonka High School.
It was Chanhassen’s first section championship in either girls or boys basketball, and the first time a Storm hoops team will play in the State Tournament, which starts on Wednesday at Williams Arena.
The victory capped a season full of firsts for a program that has spent years building toward this moment.
“We have exceeded our wildest expectations with some of the ‘firsts’ we have accomplished this season,” said Chanhassen Head Coach Bart Inniger, who years ago coached at Minnetonka. “First time being ranked as high as 7th. Beating Chaska three times in a season for the first time. Winning two section games for the first time. Being in the section final for the first time. Going to State for the first time in program history.”
Standing in the way were the Minnetonka Skippers, the 2024 state champions, who were one of the state’s top ranked teams all season.
“Our message was that we deserved to be in the section final and if we play together we have enough of a balanced attack and athleticism to score on them,” Inniger said.
The Storm came out firing, jumping to an 11-0 lead behind 9 early points from Hilgert. The freshman continued her torrid start through the first half, as Chanhassen would take a 22-point lead — 38-16.
“Once we came out hot — or should I say Lucy came out hot — the rest of the team started believing we could compete and it seemed to build our confidence,” he said.
Chanhassen led 43-28 at halftime, but Minnetonka wasn’t finished. The Skippers mounted a second-half rally, cutting the Storm’s lead to 7 points.
But Chanhassen’s depth and poise proved too much. South Dakota commit Kate Arnold finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three assists. St. Thomas commits Lyla Hentges and Skyler Mancini added 14 and 9 points respectively, with Hentges hitting 3 three-pointers and Mancini contributing 7 rebounds.
Hilgert’s 30-point eruption — the game-high — served as a coming-out party for the freshman, who also grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory.
The Storm’s backcourt duo of sophomore Reese Keating and senior captain Grace Seubert provided steady leadership at point guard while playing exceptional defense. For Keating, who grew up playing in the Minnetonka youth program, the victory carried extra significance. For Seubert, being the captain on this history making team was incredibly special.
“It feels surreal,” Seubert said. “Being a part of the first-ever Storm girls basketball team to go to State is such a special feeling. We have worked so hard all season and it’s so rewarding seeing our work being shown off. It’s amazing to know we are making history and it is something we will all remember forever.”
Seubert credited the Storm’s energy and attention to detail as keys to the victory.
“Going into the game we knew Minnetonka was a very talented team, so we had to focus on playing our game,” she said. “We focused on the little things like boxing out and taking care of the ball, but I think our energy is what made the difference.”
Next up
Chanhassen was given the 7th seed in Class AAAA in a tournament filled with impressive teams and gaudy resumes.
“There are eight great teams left, and we are one of them,” Inniger said. “Our focus is, no matter which team we match up with, we play with the determination and resilience and confidence we have all season.”
The Storm will face off against Rosemount at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11. The Irish come into the game with a 26-3 record, ranked No. 2 behind the defending state champion Hopkins.
The Irish are led by the Ramlall sisters — junior twins Amisha (a Minnesota Gophers commit) and Arshia, and sophomore Ashna. All three sisters play for the Guyana national team and have had phenomenal seasons for Rosemount.
For Seubert and her teammates, the mindset heading to Williams Arena is the same one that carried them through this season of firsts.
“Our mindset going into State is believing,” Seubert said. “Believing in ourselves and our teammates. We have believed in each other all season and that is what has gotten us this far. We want to keep that same mindset, trusting the work we have put in and playing for each other. Rosemount is a very strong and talented team, and we know they are going to bring a lot of intensity. We want to stay confident while playing together, believe in each other and have fun!”
Inniger echoed that sentiment, emphasizing his team’s goal to continue making history.
“Our mentality is to continue being a team of firsts,” he said. “To go out and just compete at as high a level as we can. To be our best when our best is asked of us.”
Inniger knows that Rosemount will be a huge challenge — but a challenge that his team is ready for.
“They can shoot the 3 and attack the basket with how athletic they are, and they are very aggressive,” he said. “That said, we are very excited about the matchup.
We know we are capable of being competitive by staying grounded and playing fearlessly and aggressively. We will have to do what we have done to be successful, which is take care of the ball, rebound well and find the open player by moving the ball and attacking the lane.”
Minnesota State Basketball Tournament – Class AAAA
#7 Chanhassen (21-7) vs #2 Rosemount (26-3)
Wednesday, March 11th at 2 p.m.
Williams Arena (University of Minnesota)
Livestream available on NSPN.tv
