Adeline Kent’s senior leadership was a big key in helping the Becker girls basketball team make a return trip to the Section 5AAA championship game, as she scored 19 points and gave the team a needed spark in last Saturday’s 80-43 semifinal win over the Princeton Tigers.

“Addy Kent scored 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting and she also had five rebounds and four assists,” Coach Dan Baird said.  “Addy played excellent for us, especially when we as a team were struggling. She hit some timely shots for us.”

With the win, the Bulldogs earned the right to travel Thursday night to Forest Lake to take on the Monticello Magic, who won in overtime 59-57 over Chisago Lakes in the other semifinal game. Look for complete details of the Bulldogs’ quest for a return trip to state in next week’s Patriot.

In the semifinal win, Baird felt his team wasn’t on the top of their game against the 10-17 Tigers, but the final margin was still comfortable. Becker led 40-28 at halftime and it was Kent’s scoring (team high 10 first half points) and team rebounding that led to the advantage. In the second half, Kent hit three shots from beyond the three-point line to pace the team.

Overall, the Bulldogs out-rebounded the Tigers 41-26 and Becker also led in the turnover category, giving the ball away just 10 times to the Tigers’ 18.

Becker also maintained a slight edge on points in the paint, 26-20.

The win improved the Bulldogs to 22-4 on the season and the team is just one win away from yet another state tournament appearance.

The state tournament kicks off Wednesday, March 16, with the Class AAA games being played at Maturi Pavilion.  Should the Bulldogs down the Magic, complete tournament brackets can be found on the MSHSL website.

Becker scoring: Dani Nuest, 10 (eight rebounds); Maren Westin, 15; Hannah Dierkes, two; Ayla Brown, 12 (five assist); Kent, 19; Alexa Voller, five; Alexis Rose, 12; Liz Mackedanz, five.