Boys Basketball, Class AAA semifinal: DeLaSalle 67, Orono 61
Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2023 - 4:31 PM
DeLaSalle, making its 12th consecutive state tournament appearance, forged its way into a familiar place: The Class AAA championship game.
The Islanders, the No. 3 seed in the Class AAA field, earned a return trip to the title game for the second consecutive year following a 67-61 victory over No. 2 Orono in the semifinals on Thursday, March 23 at Target Center. Senior guard Nasir Whitlock scored 27 points and had five assists to send the Islanders (25-5) into a Class AAA championship game for the 10th time since 2006. In 2022, DeLaSalle, an eight-time Class AAA champion in that span, finished as the runner-up to Totino-Grace. That is who the Islanders will meet again a year later.
DeLaSalle is 19-1 in its past 20 games, since a setback to Minneapolis North on Jan. 12. The only loss is that span was to Wayzata in the regular-season finale. Wayzata is playing in the Class AAAA semifinals later Thursday evening.
Senior Israel Moses V had 10 points and six rebounds in a supporting role for DeLaSalle.
Senior guard Isaiah Hagen powered the Spartans (24-6) with 23 points and sophomore guard Nolan Groves had 13. Orono was seeking its first berth in a Class AAA championship game since 2011 when it won the title.