AA Semifinal Recap: Melrose Area 55, St. Croix Lutheran 40

The Dutchmen from Melrose Area are back in the state championship game in their first tournament appearance since winning it all in 1974.

Melrose Area shot 50 percent and knocked out top-rated and top-seeded St. Croix Lutheran 55-40 at Target Center in the AA semifinals. Reserve sophomore guard Dillon Haider poured in 19 points, including three of six on three-point tries. Junior Colton Meyer scored 12 and dished out three assists. Junior Tyler Braegelmann had 10 points and eight rebounds.

No. 1-ranked St. Croix Lutheran struggled shooting in both games at Target Center. The Crusaders escaped the quarterfinals with a 37-35 win, but could not find their shot on Friday. St. Croix Lutheran shot 33 percent and missed 11 of 13 three-point tries.

Melrose won a pair of state titles in the 1970s and have finished as a section runner-up in a number of seasons since then. The fans from Melrose showed their desire for state tournament action by packing the arena. Melrose Area includes Melrose, Freeport, Greenwald, Miere Grove, New Munich, St. Rosa and Spring Hill.

The title game is at 1 p.m. Saturday. Coverage can be heard on KDHL radio and at kdhlradio.com.