The second semifinal of the afternoon featured a program that's been here a few times before in recent years - with great success - Ada-Borup against relative newcomer Win-E-Mac which is located in Erskine. Both squads are incredibly young; with each team having only one senior on the roster so naturally both hope this semifinal appearance is a precursor of things to come. One thing favoring Ada-Borup in this one was that the Cougars defeated Win-E-Mac twice in the regular season and if the Patriots wanted to turn the tables in Target Center, they'd have to bring their "A" game.
Ada-Borup would hold the advantage in a low-scoring affair early on; up 9-4 with 10:46 left and would up the ante slightly at 15-8 by the 6:50 mark as the Patriots couldn't get a lot of shots to fall early on. Finally, at the 4:05 mark, Win-E-Mac was able to get to within three of the Cougars thanks to an unlikely source - 8th grader Alayna Espeseth as she put down a short jumper off the glass to make it an 18-15 game. With just over three minutes remaining, a "3" by junior Korbyn Ross put the Patriots up for the first time in this one at 20-18 but a lay-up by Ada-Borup senior Megan Kollness and a "3" by junior guard Monica Vega enabled the Cougars to take a slim 25-22 lead into the locker room at the half. Ada-Borup was paced by Vega's 9 points while Win-E-Mac was led by Ross' 7 points.
Ada-Borup looked to be on its way again after diminutive point guard Shaina Stevenson slipped through the Patriot defense for a drive and lay-up that had the Cougars up 35-30 early on in the second half but again Win-E-Mac came right back and tied things at 37-all. Now it was Ada-Borup's turn to put on a show and, once again, it was the blonde-haired Stevenson stealing the spotlight as she drained a "3" from the top of the key that had the Cougars back up 45-39 with 9:27 mark. Oh, but right back came Win-E-Mac as they sliced the deficit down to a scant single point when Ross took a cue from Stevenson and drilled her own three-pointer from the top with just over 8:00 left. Win-E-Mac would then grab its second lead of the day at 49-47. Ada-Borup would tie things up at 51-all just under the 4:00 mark and you just had a feeling that this one would likely come down to a few critical late possessions and which team could make the most of them. With 1:01 left, it LOOKED as if it would be Ada-Borup that would be that team as they clung to a precarious 55-53 lead. Ross fouled out for Win-E-Mac with 47.5 left as Ada-Borup extended their lead to 58-53. The Patriots had chances to whittle things down late once more but never could get the shots to fall when they needed them as Head Coach David Smart's Ada-Borup squad claimed a tough 62-55 win to advance to Saturday afternoon's Class A Championship Game against Minneota. Vega led the way for Ada-Borup with 18 points but she was not the only one scoring in double figures as Stevenson netted 15 points, Heidi Eggen tallied 14 points and Megan Kollness finished with 12 points. Win-E-Mac was led by Korbyn Ross' 18 points while Shelby Kaster was right behind with 17 points. Ada-Borup had a slight edge in total rebounds but Win-E-Mac had 21 turnovers compared to Ada-Borup's 17 turnovers and some of those turnovers cost Win-E-Mac late.
Afterward, Smart felt that his team has to prepare for the press that Minneota will bring in Saturday's championship game. "We have to take care of the ball and handle their pressure; no doubt about it." Stevenson, the diminutive and shy point guard off the court has the heart of a lion while on it and she showed how bold and daring she can be at times in this game. "I'm not afraid out there and I like to get into the thick of things" she stated. She'll get another chance to do just that tomorrow afternoon.
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