MINNEAPOLIS — It was tense. It was physical. And it was exactly what you’d expect in a state semifinal.
But when the dust settled Thursday night at Williams Arena, one truth remained: the Wayzata Trojans are championship-bound — again.
Behind a gritty second-half comeback and big-time performances from its core, No. 2-seeded Wayzata defeated No. 3 Shakopee 59-55 to earn a spot in the Class AAAA state championship game for the fifth consecutive season. With the win, Wayzata (27-4) continues its historic run of excellence and will battle No. 1 Cretin-Derham Hall on Saturday for the program’s fourth state title.
And they earned every bit of it.
A Game of Runs — and Grit
Wayzata trailed 31-24 at halftime, having struggled to string together stops while Shakopee found a rhythm behind 38.5% shooting from deep. The Sabers, led by senior forward Luke Wherley’s 15 points and 10 rebounds, held the largest lead of the game at 30-19 late in the first half.
But the second half told a different story.
Wayzata outscored Shakopee 35-24 after the break, fueled by timely three-point shooting and a defense that locked in during crunch time. The Trojans allowed just two turnovers all game and held Shakopee to 5-of-15 at the free throw line — a number that loomed large late.
Olmstead Ignites the Rally
With just under three minutes remaining, Wayzata trailed 53-49 after an 11-0 Sabers run. That’s when junior guard Isaac Olmstead stepped up with the poise of a veteran.
Olmstead drilled back-to-back three-pointers — both from the right wing — to flip the scoreboard and give the Trojans a 55-53 lead with under two minutes to play. He finished with 14 points, shooting 4-of-7 from long range, and dished out three assists to go with a steal.
Wiggins Steady, McBeth Relentless
While Olmstead hit the big shots, Christian Wiggins led the offensive charge all night. The junior guard poured in 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also hit the final free throw of the game with 25 seconds remaining — the last of his points — giving Wayzata a 59-53 cushion before a late Shakopee layup.
Wiggins added 4 rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal, delivering a complete two-way performance.
Senior guard Wyatt McBeth, playing in his third straight semifinal, brought the toughness that’s become his trademark. He racked up 10 points, a team-high 9 rebounds, 2 assists, a block, and a steal — doing a bit of everything in his signature physical style.
Anderson on the Glass, Defense Turns the Tide
Nolen Anderson added 11 points and 8 rebounds, while Samuel Mohs cleaned up 5 defensive boards off the bench.
Wayzata’s defense came up big in key moments, recording 4 steals, and more importantly, forcing tough looks down the stretch. Shakopee turned it over six times, and Wayzata converted those into six points off turnovers.
Fastbreak production also favored the Trojans, who led that category 12-4 — a credit to their ability to capitalize off defensive rebounds and long misses.
Fifth Straight, Sixth Overall
Wayzata now advances to the program’s sixth-ever state championship appearance, having claimed titles in 1959, 2021, and 2023. They finished runner-up in 2022 (to Park Center) and 2024 (to Minnetonka).
This era of Trojans basketball has firmly established itself as a dynasty — not just by making it to the big game, but by the way they do it: with composure, balance, and trust in each other.
Saturday night at Williams Arena, they’ll get a shot at their third title in five years, and another chance to etch their names into the record books.
Tipoff against Cretin-Derham Hall is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Stay tuned — history might just be calling again.
