The Sioux Falls Washington Warriors girls’ basketball team won the class ‘AA’ state championship over the Pierre Governors on Saturday night in Sioux Falls.
The Warriors defeated the Governors 54-36. This was their second title in three seasons and eighth title in program history.
Leading the Warriors in the game were their two all-tournament selectees: Brooklyn Harpe and Grace Peterson.
Harpe totaled 21 points to lead Washington in scoring, and Peterson tallied 13 points and 6 rebounds in the contest.
“I was talking to [assistant] coach Malchow the other day, and he said Grace Peterson is a rally killer,” Washington head coach Jamie Parish said. “Every time another team makes a run, she just comes up with a big play.”
Peterson made one such play where she scored a buzzer beater to give Washington an 11-point lead into halftime, capping off a quarter where the Warriors outscored Pierre 20-9.
Grace Peterson gets one to go at the buzzer. The Warriors lead at halftime. #SDHoops23 #SDPreps pic.twitter.com/UygGIsRCZx
— SDPB Sports (@SDPBSports) March 12, 2023
In the second half, the Warriors held the governors to just 16 points.
“Defensively we were outstanding,” Parish said. “Pierre’s a really good basketball team and they’ve been putting a lot of points on the board, and to keep them in the 30s is outstanding”
On offense, Harpe and her twin sister Hannah Harpe, combined for some give and go plays to boost Washington on the scoreboard.
It's a twin thing. Brooklyn and Hannah Harpe connect on the give and go. Warriors lead by 16 heading into the 4th quarter. #SDHoops23 #SDPreps pic.twitter.com/78ZYF77qAw
— SDPB Sports (@SDPBSports) March 12, 2023
“Offensively we were moving, cutting, passing,” Parish said. “Everybody sharing the basketball makes it really hard to guard.”
According to the Harpe twins, their connection on offense may be due to their twin status.
“People always ask us if we have telekinesis, and we kinda do,” Brooklyn Harpe said. “We just have that passing thing where we trust each other to go get the ball.”
“Sometimes I throw the ball and she doesn’t even know she’s open, but I know she’s open and can make that shot, so I always look for her first,” Hannah Harpe said.
Brooklyn Harpe credits her teams’ success to having multiple players who can take over at any time.
“We don’t have just one good player,” Brooklyn Harpe said. “Everyone on this team steps up and does their job and that’s how we just keep winning games.”
The Warriors will graduate six seniors, five of which played more than 10 minutes in the championship game.
