Eastview played well for large segments of Thursday’s Class 4A semifinal at Williams Arena. But the beginning and end of the game? Well, those two segments belonged to the Royals. A

Heavy is the head that wears the crown for the Hopkins Royals. The eight-time state champs have been to the Class 4A state title game 12 times in the past 14 years and will return again Saturday, thanks to their 68-48 semifinal victory over Eastview on Thursday at Williams Arena.

After upsetting undefeated Monticello in the quarterfinals, however, Cretin-Derham Hall bowed out with a 57-48 loss to Marshall in the semifinals on Thursday afternoon at Williams Arena. Not that the Raiders have any reason to hang their head about after the playoff run they put together.

The No. 2 Eastview Lightning (26-3) play the No. 3 Hopkins Royals (25-5) in the 2025 Minnesota (MSHSL) high school girls basketball state tournam