The Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s Knights have clinched their first-ever state championship in program history, defeating Mountain Iron-Buhl 80-63 in a thrilling Class 1A girls’ basketball final. After a dominant 29-1 regular season, the Knights finally hoisted the coveted trophy at Williams Arena, marking a culmination of years of dedication and effort. This victory comes after four previous appearances in the state tournament, finally bringing home the title they had long strived for.
Coach Bruce Woitas attributed the team’s success to their consistent strong performances, particularly in the first half of games. “We’ve had a lot of strong first halves all year, so I think once that gets going, it’s a benefit to us,” Woitas explained. He praised his players for their love of the game, their passion, and their unselfish approach to play, always seeking out the best shot.
The Knights entered the championship game expecting Mountain Iron-Buhl to come out firing with their renowned three-point prowess. However, the Rangers experienced an uncharacteristically slow start on the championship stage. By halftime, they had failed to connect on a single three-pointer in 13 attempts. In stark contrast, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s had already built a commanding 42-16 lead. Junior guard Morgan Mathiowetz was instrumental in this early advantage, pouring in 18 points and sinking three from beyond the arc.
Mountain Iron-Buhl’s coach, Jeff Buffetta, acknowledged the team’s difficult first half. “I don’t think things could have gone any more south in the first half if we tried,” he admitted. “We just couldn’t get anything to go right. We were trying. I think sometimes you start to try too hard to get things to go right when it doesn’t start right.”
Despite the deficit, the Rangers showed resilience in the second half. Junior guard Anna Neyens ignited a comeback, her sharp shooting from three-point range narrowing the gap to 56-43. While Mountain Iron-Buhl ultimately outshot Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s from three-point range, making 24 to the Knights’ 15, the Knights’ overall shooting efficiency proved decisive. Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s converted 33.3% of their shots, compared to the Rangers’ 20.8%.
The offensive firepower of Morgan Mathiowetz was undeniable throughout the tournament, and she continued her stellar performance in the championship. A contender for one of the state’s top scorers, Mathiowetz, who had already scored 41 points in the quarterfinals, delivered 27 points in the final. She shot an efficient 9-of-20 from the field, including 3-of-9 from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Olivia Schieffert also provided a significant scoring punch, adding 25 points on an impressive 10-of-16 shooting.
As the final seconds ticked away, the Knights’ bench erupted with joy. Players embraced and celebrated, their hard work and dedication finally translating into a championship title. For Coach Woitas, this victory was particularly sweet, capping off 37 years of coaching the Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s girls’ basketball team. The sight of his players, who had committed themselves to practice day in and day out, lifting the trophy with the squeak of their pink sneakers on the court, was a moment of profound satisfaction.
“It just means absolutely everything,” Mathiowetz shared, reflecting on a season where she surpassed 3,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. “When you work so hard at that for so long, and you come and show up to practice every single day and work hard, just, it’s so rewarding at the end knowing that you get to take home the title. So many other people here are challenging for the same goal, and we did it.”
Game Summary:
- Final Score: Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 80, Mountain Iron-Buhl 63
- Key Players for Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s:
- Morgan Mathiowetz: 27 points, 9-of-20 FG, 3-of-9 3PT
- Olivia Schieffert: 25 points, 10-of-16 FG
- Key Trends:
- Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s strong first-half performance established a significant lead.
- Mountain Iron-Buhl’s initial struggles with three-point shooting contrasted with their second-half resurgence.
- Despite fewer three-pointers made, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s had a higher overall shooting percentage.
- Significance: This marks the first state championship for the Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s girls’ basketball program.
