Flogging a state finalist

The Laconia High School girls’ basketball team finished 25-5 and was the runner-up in Division 4 this season, losing to undefeated Mineral Point, 53-42, in the title game last Saturday.

Another of those five blemishes — the Spartans’ worst of their season — came at the hands of visiting Grafton on Dec. 18.

The game was over in one half of play, thanks to Black Hawk guard Savannah James.

The sophomore went Steph Curry on the Spartans, draining seven of eight three-pointers (87.5%) on the way to a 46-24 halftime edge and a 68-39 demolition.

James later sustained a concussion but still finished with a game-high 25 points. She went 7-for-10 on three-pointers and shot 9-for-14 overall (64%).

Fellow sophomore guard Sarah Aleknavicius scored 16 points and had nine rebounds, and senior Ashley Weir had 15 points and nine rebounds.

Laconia had better luck against Cedar Grove-Belgium at the start of its playoff run. The Spartans downed the young Rockets, 67-19, then won their next four games to reach the state championship.