Sports
SLIDESHOW: Red Knights Ready to Defend Crown
Benilde-St. Margaret's defeated Orono 45-37 Thursday to advance to the state tournament.
Last year's champs earned the right to defend their crown, as Benilde-St. Margaret's advanced to the Class 3A girls basketball state tournament with a 45-37 win over the Orono Spartans on Thursday night at Minnetonka High School.
Orono made the Red Knights work hard for the win. The Spartans led 22-20 at halftime on the strength of sharp-shooting guards knocking down three-point baskets.
As the game wore on, the Red Knights' size advantage and superior post play wore down Orono. Forward Olivia Antilla led BSM with 16 points, while fellow post player Khadijah Shumpert added 11 of her own.
Find out what's happening in St. Louis Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Orono came as close as three points with 35 seconds remaining in the game, but Antilla and company iced the game from the free-throw line.
The Class 3A girls basketball state tournament begins on Wednesday at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
