The celebration of 100 years of state basketball tournaments continues with the announcement of the top shots in the history of the girls' state tourney. As with past and upcoming announcements of the best of 100 years of state basketball tournaments, these lists have been compiled with the assistance of a committee of basketball historians and experts from around Minnesota.
In the coming weeks, similar listings of the best boys' shots, best games and best finishes in state tournament history will be announced. These announcements and other activities related to 100 years of state tourneys will lead into this year's tournaments; the girls will play at Williams Arena and Target Center March 14-17 and the boys will do the same March 21-24.
TOP GIRLS' SHOTS
 | Rey Robinson, Becker 2007
Becker and DeLaSalle were tied 13 times in the 2007 Class AAA title game. Finally, Rey Robinson settled things with a 10-foot jumper in the lane with just two seconds remaining on the clock. It was just her second bucket of the night, but it was a shot that won a state championship. The Becker Bulldogs won their first state championship 41-39 in their first state tournament appearance and justified the No. 1 seed given them by the coaches in the tournament. |
Kyana Johnson, St. Paul Central 2008
St. Paul Central (27-4) was the defending state champion, but 29-1 Minneapolis South was a heavy favorite to beat the 2008 Minutemen. Instead, the game was tied at 44-all with just over a minute left to play with Central guard Kyana Johnson bringing the ball up the middle of the court. She decided to take the ball to the rim and the ball stuck to her hip for just a tantalizing second. She regained control, put the ball up toward the basket, and watched as it rattled around and in at exactly 1:00. South was unable to score again and Central won 49-44. So Johnson made the shot that won a repeat state title for St. Paul Central. |  |
 | Martha Macken, Rochester Lourdes 1987
The first of Lourdes' eight state championships almost didn't happen. With two of its starting five out of action with leg injuries sustained in the tournament itself, Wheaton was tied with the Eagles at 31-31 with time running out. A shot by Lourdes' center Kim Rowenkamp with five seconds left bounced off to the left. The ball skittered through Catherine Restovich's hands. “I just grabbed it and shot,” Martha Macken said later. “It kind of went around. I mean, it didn't swish or anything.” But it went through as time expired, giving the Eagles a 33-31 win and their first title. |
Erin Ditty, Hastings 1996
Osseo was a prohibitive favorite to win the 1996 Class AA championship. Hastings missed its first 10 shots of the game and first 11 of the second half. So, the Raiders trailed by nine with 2:37 left to play. Miraculously, they came back to lead 53-51 on an Erin Ditty baseline jumper with just under a minute to play. Osseo was able to add one point to its total but never caught up. Hastings won 54-52 and it was Ditty's shot that was the difference. |  |
 | Megan Erlandson, Minnehaha Academy 2008
Minnehaha Academy, the No. 4 seed, trailed Fergus Falls, the No. 5 seed, 41-38 as the clock ticked down in their 2008 Class AAA quarterfinal game. Megan Erlandson threw up a desperation three-pointer, and the buzzer sounded as the ball kissed off the backboard and cleanly through the hoop. Erlandson went on to score six points in OT and Minnehaha Academy prevailed 49-44. |
Carol Oehrlein, Albany 1983
Albany rallied from a 10-point deficit in the closing minutes of the 1983 Class AA final against Edina to force overtime. In the extra period, with Albany trailing again 39-37, Carol Oehrlein made a three-point play at 0:07 to put the Huskies up by a point. She added a free throw at 0:01 for a final score of 41-39. |  |
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Other "Bests"
Girls:
Top Coaches
Top Players
Top Teams
Top Shots
Top Finishes
Top Games
Boys:
Top Coaches
Top Players
Top Teams
Top Shots
Top Finishes
Top Games
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