Depth can help win championships, and it was Eden Prairie’s depth that helped it to a second consecutive Section 2 title, a 67-57 victory over Chaska.

Four players scored in double figures, led by 15 from senior guard Jack Klukas, a team effort that boosted the Eagles past Chaska’s impressive two-headed monster consisting of senior big men Jake White and Ross Travis.

“The number one objective was to limit offensive rebounds,” Eden Prairie coach David Flom said. “The big thing was to keep them out of the paint and keep them off the offensive boards.”

That’s easier said than done against Chaska. White did his best Kevin Love impression with 22 points and 20 rebounds, including six on the offensive end, while Travis led all scorers with 25 points.

But the rest of the Hawks squad could only muster 10 points for the entire game.

The score was tied 32-32 with about 12 minutes to play, but the Eagles poured in 12 of the game’s next 15 points to wrestle away control. They maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the game.

“We came in last year to win the section,” Flom said. “This year it’s to win the state championship.”

-- Diego Vasquez

Class 4A, Section 4: Cretin-Derham Hall 47, Tartan 46

Cortez Tillman’s putback with 20 seconds left lifted Cretin-Derham Hall to a 47-46 victory over Tartan and the Raiders’ first state tournament appearance since 2001.

Tartan, the No. 1 seed in section, had the chance to win the game, but a last second shot was off the mark.

Raijon Kelly scored 19 points to lead the Raiders, and Shaye Fields added 11.

Xavier Hall had 12 points and Joel Awich 11 for Tartan.

Class 4A, Section 7: Duluth East 56, Blaine 54

Duluth East 56, Blaine 54: Johnny Woodard scored a game-high 24 points, 19 in the first half, for Duluth East in a victory over the Bengals. Woodard’s backcourt mate, fellow junior Taylor Safford, added 19 points.

Blaine turned the ball over in the final seconds with a chance to tie.

Class 1A, Section 1: Maranatha 52, Minnesota Transitions 50

Maranatha guard SaVaughn Jordan picked a great time to score his first points of the game.  His putback with less than one second to play lifted the Mustangs over the 2010 Class 1A state champs.

Transitions, averaging 92 points per game, tried to play slowdown in the final three minutes of the game but turned the ball over with five seconds to play, leading to Jordan’s game-winning backet.

-- Staff