Royals sunk by Skippers in class 4A State championship game

Noah Fogel, Staff Reporter
Mar 25, 2016

  • Dee Dee Winston, junior, calls out a play for her teammates during the state championship basketball game.

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  • Ashley Bates, senior, shoots a layup during the state championship basketball game.

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  • The HHS fan section watches as a Minnetonka player shoots free throws during the state championship game.

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  • Ashley Bates, Hampton University, Basketball- First year on Varsity: Freshman year, 2012. Favorite memory: Winning State in her junior season, 2015.

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  • Dominique Hart-McNeeley, senior, catches a pass during the state championship game.

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  • Dee Dee Winston, junior, jumps for a shot during the game.

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  • Ashley Bates, senior, looks for a pass during the state championship game.

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  • Nia Hollie, senior, shoots a layup in the state game.

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  • Dee Dee Winston, senior, plays defense during the state basketball game.

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  • Brian Cosgriff, coach, yells a play for the team during the state championship game.

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  • The HHS LMPM band performs during a time out in the state championship game.

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  • Dee Dee Winston, junior, dribbles the ball during the state championship game.

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  • Reana Suggs, sophomore, shoots a jump shot during the state championship game.

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  • Dee Dee Winston, junior, throws in a pass for an out-of-bounds play during the state championship game.

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  • Nia Hollie, senior, catches a pass during the state championship game.

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  • Ashley Bates, senior, goes in for a layup in the semifinal state game.

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  • The HHS girls basketball bench cheers for the team after a free throw.

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  • Paige Bueckers, eighth grade, shoots a free throw during the state championship basketball game.

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  • Paige Bueckers, eighth grade, jumps for a shot during the state championship game last year against the Minnetonka Skippers.

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  • Nia Hollie, senior, shoots a layup in the state championship game.

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“Our defense was not strong enough,” said Royals Head Coach Bill Cosgriff, after the 29-3 Royals girls basketball team was defeated by the 27-4 Minnetonka Skippers 52-61 in the State Championship Final Saturday Mar. 19.

Ashley Bates, senior, left everything out on the floor netting 28 points as she fouled out with five minutes to go. “What we have accomplished together is a great feeling and something that I will never forget,” said Bates on Nia Hollie, senior, and her careers at Hopkins.

The Royal’s gritty press defense abled them to keep them close with the Skippers throughout most of the game as Hollie struggled early in the first half.

The Skippers won the game by not only shooting a higher percentage than the Royals, but out-rebounding them as well. In the State Tournament this year, Minnetonka was the only team with a substantial height advantage over the Royals.

The future for the Royals girls basketball team is very bright. Paige Bueckers, eighth grade, 9.5 ppg, will be starting in the backcourt along with Dee Dee Winston, junior, next season.

Unfortunately the Royals now must say goodbye to two Miss Minnesota nominees, who both committed Division-1 for basketball. Nia Hollie, Michigan State University, and Ashley Bates, Hampton University.