St. Paul Johnson won their third straight state team title and seventh in the last eight years. It also is their eighth team title which now puts them in a tie with St. Paul Harding for most badminton team titles. By a coincidence Johnson faced Harding in the title game this year. The Governors swept the Knights 7-0.
I spent the day watching the 4/5, 1/4 and 1/3 match ups. The big story today was #1 Khao Nou Lor for Johnson lost her first match of the year. It happened in the semifinals to Como Park’s Tu Lor Paw. And we probably should rename Paw as the comeback kid. Just looking at the points after 11 (meaning the first player to get to 11) TLP beat Ashley Nelson of Eden Prairie 25-14. In the first set Nelson led 15-10; in the second Nelson led 15-13. It didn’t stop there.
In the first set of the semifinals against KNL, TLP trailed 18-14 and scored the last seven points. TLP trailed in the second set 11-6, closed the margin to 18-17 before falling 21-17. TLP did not have to rally in the third set as she started off with a 6-1 lead. She kept that margin out to 16-11. KNL came back with a run of three to slice the deficit to two. But at the end of the 25 minute contest TLP took advantage of her two stroke points. She won eight of them in this match. KNL won four of the quick points. TLP closed hard in this match too with a combined 35-28 total after 11 (14-11-10 to 7-10-11).
Now comes the individual portion of the state tournament. Thursday will be a killer/diller day. Everyone starts in the A bracket (92 singles, 69 doubles). By tomorrow night we should be down to a sweet 16. Thursday there will be four rounds to crown a state champ. Those matches could last a good 30 minutes. Victory will favor those that are prepared and motivated.
QUARTERFINALS
#1 JOHNSON 7, #9 BURNSVILLE 0
SINGLES
1 Khao Nou Lor, J def Megan Peterson 21-7, 21-11
2 Kasui Vang, J def Theresa Tourtillott 21-12, 21-14
3 Pa Nhia Thao, J def Makayla Haddorf 21-16, 21-17
4 Star Thao, J def Jaylin Wong 21-13, 21-12
DOUBLES
1 Nou Chee Yang/Bao Nhia Xiong, J def Thanh Nguyen/Elena Luu 21-9, 21-6
2 Nou Gee Xiong/Josapheena Thao, J def Greta Donnelly/Sara Leahy 21-19, 21-11
3 Lisa Lee/Jello Vue, J def Carly Dahl/Hana Handzija 21-1, 21-7
#4 COMO PARK 5, #5 EDEN PRAIRIE 2
SINGLES
1 Tu Lor Paw, CP def Ashley Nelson 21-18, 21-18
2 Avery Schu, EP def Taw Bee 13-21, 21-?, 21-19
3 Kabao Xiong, CP def Sanjana Seethamraju 18-21, 21-17, 21-17
4 Katie Terrance, EP def Mai Lee Yang 22-20, 21-??
DOUBLES
1 Yia Yang/Zoua Xiong, CP def Sydney Ruesink/Tracey Yang 21-13, 21-23, 21-15
2 Mariah Aye Meh/Ju Be Lee Thoo, CP def Nadia Shaarawi/Amanda Polanski 21-16, 21-11
3 Eh th Dah/Shar Too, CP def Cambria Lang/Halle Peterson 21-17, 21-9
| Category | PAW | NELSON |
| Side out | 9/18-.500 | 7/19-.368 |
| 3+ Runs | 5 | 7 |
| Longest point string | 7 | 4 |
| Service points | 24 | 18 |
| Overall points | 42 | 36 |
| Points after 11 | 25 | 14 |
| WINNERS | 21 | 16 |
| ERRORS | 20 | 21 |
| W:E Ratio | 1.05 | 0.762 |
| Margin | 3.000 | |
| Set Point % | 2/4-.500 | |
| Time | 17:44.68 |
#3 HARDING 4, #6 CENTRAL 3
SINGLES
1 May Garvey, C def Jumy Miko 21-9, 21-13
2 Hnubci Vang, H def Malee Yang 21-23, 21-13, 21-13
3 Blong Lor, H def Annika Tuma 21-19, 24-22
4 Ester Htoo, H def Ki Seng Xiong 21-17, 21-12
DOUBLES
1 Xiong Vang/Wamee Vang, C def Kushel Paw/Chunjai Xiong21-16, 6-21, 22-20
2 Jaiab Yang/Ratsamee Thossaengsiri, H def Jada Brown/Julia Schultz 21-13, 21-13
3 Claudia Feilmeyer/Xia Xiong, C def Abby Vang/Angelyne Lor 21-18, 21-14
#2 WASHINGTON 5, #7 HUMBOLDT 2
SINGLES
1 Htee Moo Chaw, H def Kalia Xiong 21-13, 21-16
2 Eh Ni Mor, W def Alliah Firman 21-7, 12-21, 21-16
3 Be Be Say, W def Bao Vang 12-21, 21-16, 21-13
4 Jansaree Na, W def Kaoyer Lee 25-23, 21-13
DOUBLES
1 Juliana Maw/Eh Hser Nay Taw, H def Enna Say/Wah Lah Paw 11-21, 21-19, 21-19
2 Chloe Yang/Karia Chang, W def Houa Feng Yang/El Der 21-4, 21-10
3 Nyo Nyo Sein/Pa Shia Vang, W def Sue Muey/Nxthee Vang 21-11, 21-13
SEMIFINALS
#1 JOHNSON 5, #4 COMO PARK 2
SINGLES
1 Tu Lor Paw, CP def Khao Nou Lor 21-18, 17-21, 21-18
2 Kasumi Vang, J def Taw Bee 21-16, 21-19
3 Pa Nhia Thao, J def Ka Bao Xiong 21-4, 21-10
4 Star Thao, J def Mai Lee Yang 21-7, 21-5
DOUBLES
1 Nou Chee Yang/Bao Nhia Thao, J def Yia Yang/Zoua Xiong 21-3, 21-18
2 Mariah Aye Meh/Ju Be Lee Thoo, CP def Nou Gee Xiong/Josapheena Thao 21-18, 8-21, 21-12
3 Lisa Lee/Jello Vue, J def Eh Th Dah/Shar Too 25-23, 18-21, 21-17
| Category | PAW | LOR |
| Side out | 16/31-.516 | 15/31-.484 |
| 3+ Runs | 8 | 8 |
| Longest point string | 7 | 4 |
| Service points | 34 | 28 |
| Overall points | 59 | 56 |
| Points after 11 | 35 | 28 |
| WINNERS | 38 | 27 |
| ERRORS | 28 | 21 |
| W:E Ratio | 1.357 | 1.286 |
| Margin | 1.000 | |
| Set Point % | 2/2-1.000 | 1/1-1.000 |
| Time | 25:28.94 |
#3 HARDING 4, #2 WASHINGTON 3
SINGLES
1 Jumy Miko, H def KaLia Xiong 25-23, 21-19
2 Eh Ni Mor, W def Hnubci Vang 21-19, 23-21
3 Be Be Say, W def Blong Lor 21-15, 21-16
4 Ester Htoo, H def Jansaree Na 9-21, 21-17, 21-13
DOUBLES
1 Kushel Paw/Chunjai Xiong, H def Enna Say/Wah Lah Paw 21-17, 21-9
2 Jaiab Yang/Ratsamee Thossaengsiri, H def Chloe Yang/Karia Chang 21-9, 21-12
3 Nyo Nyo Sein/Pa Shia Vang, W def Abby Vang/Angelyne Lor 21-12, 21-14
THIRD
#4 COMO PARK 4, #2 WASHINGTON 3
SINGLES
1 Tu Lor Paw, CP def Kalia Xiong 21-9, 21-9
2 Eh Ni Mor, W def Taw Bee 10-21, 21-15, 21-12
3 Be Be Say, W def KaBao Xiong 21-12 21-12
4 Xe Yang, W def Mai Lee Yang 18-21, 21-15, 26-24
DOUBLES
1 Yia Yang/Zoua Xiong, CP def Enna Say/Wah Lah Paw 21-13, 14-21, 21-14
2 Mariah Aye Meh/Ju Be Lee Thoo, CP def Chloe Yang/Karia Chang 21-12, 17-21 21-19
3 Eh Th Dah/Shar Too, CP def Nyo Nyo Sein/Pa Shia Vang 21-17, 21-16
CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 JOHNSON 7, #3 HARDING 0
SINGLES
1 Khao Nou Lor, J def Jumy Miko 21-9, 21-12
2 Kasumi Vang, J def Hnubci Vang 21-18, 21-12
3 Pa Nhia Her, J def Blong Lor 21-14, 21-10
4 Star Thao, J def Ester Htoo 21-13, 21-9
DOUBLES
1 Nou Chee Yang/Bao Nhia Thao, J def Kushel Paw/Chunjai Xiong 21-12, 21-13
2 Nou Gee Xiong/Josapheena Thao, J def Jaiab Yang/Ratsamee Thossaengsiri 21-9, 21-13
3 Lisa Lee/Jello Vue, J def Abby Vang/Angelyne Lor 21-5, 21-13
| Category | LOR | MIKO |
| Side out | 9/14-.642 | 6/14-.429 |
| 3+ Runs | 7 | 2 |
| Longest point string | 12 | 7 |
| Service points | 28 | 8 |
| Overall points | 42 | 21 |
| Points after 11 | 20 | 10 |
| WINNERS | 23 | 8 |
| ERRORS | 13 | 19 |
| W:E Ratio | 1.769 | 0.421 |
| Margin | 10.500 | |
| Set Point % | 2/3-.667 | |
| Time | 13:18.36 |