Hopkins defeats Maple Grove in Minnesota high school girls basketball Class 4A championship: Live score recap

Get real-time score updates from the 2025 MSHSL girls basketball Class 4A championship between the Crimson and the Royals

Hopkins plays Maple Grove in the 2025 MSHSL girls basketball Class 4A championship. / Jon Namyst

MINNEAPOLIS — The No. 3 Hopkins Royals (27-5) defeated the No. 1 Maple Grove Crimson (28-3) defeated 81-67 in the 2025 Minnesota (MSHSL) high school girls basketball Class 4A championship on Saturday at Williams Arena.

This Hopkins team wasn’t the star-laden team that the Royals have won titles with in seasons past. Even some of the star heavy teams for Hopkins didn’t win a state title. The Royals did not have anyone who averaged over 15 points per game this season, and they lost two prominent players, Tatum Woodson and Ava Cupito, to injury during the season. 

“Every single game, we’ve had at least four double-digit scorers,” Hopkins head coach Tara Starks said. “Everybody just contributes. Everybody has something to offer. […] When you can get them to play together, everybody helps everybody play to their strength.”

Strength was a strength for Hopkins. Sophomore center Erma Walker punished a smaller Maple Grove team. In 2024, Walker had 30 points against the Crimson in the semifinals, and on Saturday she finished with 28 points on 13-of-15 shooting and eight rebounds. 

“They didn’t have an answer for her,” Sparks said. “[Walker] is strong. You’ve got to put a physical body on her. I guess when the lights shine and the game is on the line, the kid steps up.”

Walker was surrounded by a team that stepped up. The Royals entered the game as a defense-first team. They don’t rely on the 3-point shot, but they shot 57 percent from the field and 9-of-18 from the 3-point line against Maple Grove. 

“I feel like every time we made a run, they hit a big shot when they needed to,” Maple Grove head coach Mark Cook said. “That speaks volumes to them. I thought our kids played really, really hard. They just made plays when they had to make plays.”

Senior Maliyah White hit two 3-point shots around the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter to push Hopkins’ lead from 10 to 16. She went 3-for-5 from 3-point range in the game even after air-balling her second shot. 

“My teammates didn’t let me get too down, and I knew that the next ones would go in,” White said. 

 For Maple Grove, this was the best season in program history. The Crimson made a state title game, and senior Jordan Ode broke the school record for points scored in a career.

“I will never ever, ever be able to express my gratitude to what these girls have meant,” Cook said. “Everything that they’ve given to this program has been selfless. It’s been amazing.”

Hopkins will move to next season with another championship—its ninth—and a goal to win another. 

“This is the expectation for us,” Starks said. “Whether everybody else believes in us or not, it’s our expectation to be in this game every single year.”

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Hopkins defeats Maple Grove in Minnesota high school girls basketball Class 4A championship: Live score recap

FIRST HALF UPDATES

Hopkins wins the opening tip and we're underway.

Hopkins' Erma Walkers is off to a great start. She has seven points, and the Royals lead 17-10 with 11:58 remaining.

Eight minutes remain in the first half and Hopkins lead 21-18. Maple Grove's Jordan Ode has eight points to lead the Crimson.

Five minutes remain in the first half, and Maple Grove responded to a Crimson run with a run of their own. Hopkins leads 26-25.

HALFTIME: Hopkins 35, Maple Grove 31

A very close first half ends that way. Ode leads all scorers with 14 points, and Walker leads Hopkins with 13 points.

SECOND HALF UPDATES

The second half is underway.

Thirteen minutes remain in the game, and Maple Grove has tied the game at 46. The Crimson are 6-of-8 to start this half.

Hopkins answers with a 5-0 run to take a 51-46 lead. London Harris hit a 3-point shot and Lauren Hillesheim hit a layup to hold off the Crimson's momentum.

Eight minutes remain, and Maple Grove's Addie Hanna hits a 3-point shot to end Hopkins' run. The Royals lead 56-49.

Hopkins' Maliyah White hits two 3-point shots to give the Royals a 67-51 lead with 4:35 remaining.

The Royals are keeping the Crimson at bay with a 76-63 lead with 1:33 remaining in the game.

FINAL: Hopkins 81, Maple Grove 67

Hopkins shot 57.9 percent from the field in an impressive offensive game. The Royals shot 9-of-18 from 3-point, and Maple Grove, typically a good 3-point shooting team shot 1-of-7 from 3-point range.

Walker led Hopkins with 28 points and eight rebounds.

Ode finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds for Maple Grove.

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