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Columbia Heights upsets DeLaSalle

By Elliot Fifer, Star Tribune, 03/18/11, 11:27PM CDT

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Highlanders make it to state tournament for first time since 1930

The third time was the charm for Columbia Heights.

After making it to the section final for the third consecutive year, Columbia Heights is headed to the state tournament for the first time since 1930 after upsetting DeLaSalle 61-57 in the Class 3A, Section 3 championship Friday night at Blaine High School.

It wasn’t a prolific scoring night for Hylanders guard Zach Lofton, but his game-high 25 points made the difference.

Lofton, the metro area’s leading scorer, entered the game scoring over 30 points per game. Columbia Heights led for much of the game and every time DeLaSalle cut the lead to one basket, the senior had an answer. His biggest shot was a pull-up three-pointer with under five minutes to go, which gave the Hylanders a 51-45 advantage.

“It feels good, of course,” the senior guard said after cutting down a piece of the net in the postgame celebration. “This being my senior season, I had to go [to state].”

An intense defensive effort by Columbia Heights harassed forward Jonah Travis all night, limiting the Islanders’ leading scorer to just eight points.

The Hylanders led 25-24 at halftime and used timely baskets from Lofton to maintain their slim lead.

Travis converted on a three-point play to cut the lead to 40-39 with just under eight minutes left, but that was as close as the Islanders would get.

“It’s hard to describe. These kids have gone through quite a bit this year,” Hylanders coach Willie Braziel said. “They’ve worked so hard in practice, and it’s a huge weight off our shoulders.”

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