Providence Academy rolls by Crosby-Ironton for Class 2A girls basketball championship

Maddyn Greenway is driven to win, turbocharged to succeed.

The electric junior guard scored 14 unanswered points in a four-minute stretch, leading Providence Academy to an 81-63 victory over Crosby-Ironton for the Class 2A girls basketball state championship Saturday night at Williams Arena. The Lions (32-0) became the first girls basketball team in state history to win four consecutive state titles.

“This game was really personal for me,” Greenway said, acknowledging derogatory social media posts.

Greenway, committed to Kentucky and the Star Tribune’s All-Minnesota Player of the Year, finished with 40 points on 16-for-27 shooting, with six steals and five assists.

“I couldn’t be better, honestly,” she said.

The Lions trailed 24-23 with six minutes remaining the first half when Greenway put it in overdrive. She made three layups, two midrange jumpers, a three-pointer and a free throw during the run. She had three of the Lions’ four steals during the spurt and took off for a bucket following a long rebound.

“I was excited to get our crowd into it,” Greenway said.

The spurt gave Providence Academy a 13-point lead, 37-24, with two minutes remaining in the first half.

Senior forward Hope Counts provided Greenway with plenty of help as the Lions rolled to their 43rd consecutive win. The Lipscomb recruit added 23 points on 10-for-18 shooting and 15 rebounds.

“The growth and maturity she has shown through the years, I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Lions coach Conner Goetz said.

The Lions defense also kept Gophers commit Tori Oehrlein in check. She finished with a double-double (17 points and 15 rebounds) but was 5-for-17 from the floor with nine turnovers while being blanketed by sophomore defensive stopper Emma Millerbernd.

“Emma was incredible,” Goetz said. “An admirable effort.”

The Rangers (32-1) also were unable to get out and run when Oehrlein reeled in a defensive rebound. It was their trademark to success all season.

“Once we put a shot up, we wanted two girls [Millerbernd and eighth-grader Beckett Greenway] sprinting back so they couldn’t leak out,” Goetz said.

“We didn’t want them getting any run-outs. It was something we went through this morning.”

Beckett Greenway held Rangers second-leading scorer Regan Juenemann to 11 points.

Rangers coach Pete Vukelich acknowledged his standout Oehrlein wasn’t playing at 100 percent.

“Tori was really hurting coming into tonight,” Vukelich said. “People didn’t get to see the real Tori. Minnehaha Academy really beat Tori up last night, and it took a toll on her.”

Vukelich was disappointed about not leaving with the championship trophy.

“I wanted to get one for our community,” Vukelich said. “I felt like I let them down.”

The Lions were out to prove they are the state’s best no matter the classification. They are ranked first in the Star Tribune’s statewide Top 25.

“Obviously, there is pressure on us every year,” Counts said. “Every single one of us has worked hard for this.”