State Champions 2004 and 2006

“We never said, ‘Let’s be state champions.’

We said, ‘Let’s work hard every day,’

Every day in the summer at 7 a.m.,

open gym three nights a week in the fall,

every practice during the season.

One possession at a time, all 19 of us.”

 

Aimee Enzler

Senior Captain of the 2004 Hopkins Basketball Team

2006 CLASS AAAA

MINNESOTA STATE CHAMPIONS

The Hopkins Royals returned to the top of the Minnesota girls basketball world in convincing fashion with a 65-48 victory over Bloomington Kennedy in the Class AAAA final. The victory — the team's 31st of the season — was sweet revenge for a loss to the Eagles in the 2005 title game. It also gives Hopkins its second state championship in the past three years.

 

The Royals trailed 27-24 at the half but shot a blistering 57 percent from the field after the break while holding Kennedy to just 31 percent shooting. Jillian Schurle was sensational, scoring 29 points and grabbing six rebounds to lead the way. Jackie Hiebert also finished in double figures with 12 points. Abby Greene chipped in with nine points, six assists and five rebounds. Caitlyn Rowland had eight points and Stephanie Sension came off the bench to contribute five points. A gem of a defensive effort was led by senior Tiana Wilkinson as she held Kennedy’s Smith to 13 points below her season average. Kennedy’s Steinbauer, who averaged 15 points per game, was held to just four. Much of the credit for stopping Kennedy’s big three goes to starting forwards Wilkinson and Hiebert, along with reserve forward Stephanie Sension.

 

Hopkins advanced to the final with a 58-53 triumph over Roseville in the semis.  A 20-5 run during a seven-minute stretch of the first half gave the Royals a 17-point lead and they cruised to the win from there. Four Hopkins players finished in double figures. Hiebert and Rowland had 13 points apiece while Schurle added 12 and Greene had 10. Heibert dominated the lane collecting 17 rebounds. The Royals opened up state tournament play by knocking out Rochester Mayo by a score of 58-51. Schurle had 24 points and 10 rebounds.