Hopkins defeats Eastview in Minnesota high school girls basketball state tournament semifinal: Live score recap

Get real-time game updates from the 2025 MSHSL girls basketball state tournament Class 4A semifinal

Hopkins plays Eastview in the 2025 MSHSL girls basketball Class 4A semifinal / Jon Namyst

MINNEAPOLIS — The No. 3 Hopkins Royals (26-5) defeated the No. 2 Eastview Lightning (26-4) 68-48 in the 2025 Minnesota (MSHSL) high school girls basketball state tournament Class 4A semifinals on Thursday at Williams Arena.

Hopkins took a 22-8 lead eight minutes into the game. The Royals started fast and knocked down shots, and they needed to hit shots early to put pressure on the Eastview defense. 

“Eastview throws multiple different defenses out of it, so if you don’t score, they stay in,” Hopkins head coach Tara Starks said. “We like to play against person-to-person, so we had to knock down shots against the zone.”

The Royals continued to push the pace, and they built a 20-point lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. 

“They’re physical, and they’re tenacious,” Eastview head coach Molly Kasper said. “That benefits them. They can do that, and if a team can’t manage through that it becomes very difficult.”

The Lightning pushed back and cut the lead to nine points in the second half. Senior guard Bra ja Torry led Eastview on its comeback, and she finished with 16 points. 

But then came the culmination of Hopkins’ work this season. The Royals implement running into every drill to condition and be ready for March. Late in the game, and with the lead now in single digits, sophomore forward Erma Walker and went to the free throw line multiple possessions in a row. She scored six consecutive points to break the Lightning’s momentum. 

Tired, she still hit her free throws thanks to how the Royals practiced. They practice free-throw streaks, which is as simple as it sounds. 

“You’ve got to shoot until you miss,” Starks said. “While we’re running [throughout practice], and then you go do free throw streaks for 12 minutes, you get used to shooting free throws.”

Walker finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. 

The Royals lead grew from there, and they won to advance to their fourth-straight Class 4A title game, which makes all the running and free-throw shooting worth it. 

“It pays off in the end,” senior Lauren Hillesheim said. “As much as we don’t want to during—these big games, that’s where it shows.”

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Hopkins defeats Eastview in Minnesota high school girls basketball state tournament semifinal: Live score recap

Teams are on the court for introductions.

FIRST HALF UPDATES

Hopkins wins the opening tip and we're underway.

With 13 minutes remaining in the first half, Hopkins leads 11-8. Bra ja Torry has five points for the Lightning so far.

Hopkins has three offensive rebounds through the opening seven minutes. That's contributed to an 18-8 lead with 11 minutes remaining.

Hopkins on a 14-3 run, which now gives it a 22-10 lead with nine minutes remaining. Maliyah White leads Hopkins with seven points.

Hopkins' Liv Bell hits two 3-point shots to give the Royals a 31-14 lead with 6:57 remaining in the first half.

Two minutes remain and Hopkins has a 36-24 lead. Eastview's 8-0 run gives them the momentum.

HALFTIME: Hopkins 39, Eastview 28

Hopkins' lead was at 20, but the Lightning finished the final four minutes and 20 seconds on a 12-3 run. Torry leads the Lightning with 11 points.

Bell and London Harris each have 11 points for the Royals. Jaliyah Diggs has nine assists.

SECOND HALF UPDATES

The second half is underway.

Hopkins with a 45-35 lead with 12:30 remaining. The Royals have done a good job of slowing Eastview's momentum coming out of halftime.

Hopkins leads 49-37 with 10:40 remaining.

Eight minutes remain and Hopkins' lead is up to 15. Hopkins' Erma Walker leads it with eight points so far in this half. She's grown into the game as its progressed.

Hopkins with a run to pull away and lead 62-46 with 4:25 remaining.

FINAL: Hopkins 68, Eastview 48

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