Duluth Marshall Advances to Class 2A Girls Basketball Championship

Sophomore Chloe Johnson's double-double powers Hilltoppers to victory over New London-Spicer

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:48am

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Sophomore guard Chloe Johnson scored 36 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the No. 2-seeded Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers to a 71-56 victory over the No. 3 New London-Spicer Wildcats in the Class 2A girls basketball state semifinal. The win sends Duluth Marshall to the championship game where they will face four-time defending champion Providence Academy.

Why it matters

This marks Duluth Marshall's return to the state championship game for the first time since 2020, when the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hilltoppers are looking to capture their first state title since 2015, while Providence Academy is aiming for a record-setting fifth consecutive championship.

The details

Duluth Marshall built a 7-point lead at halftime and then extended it in the second half, going on a 16-6 run midway through the period to take a 15-point advantage. Ninth-grade forward Korbin Tanner led New London-Spicer with 20 points and 13 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Hilltoppers' balanced attack led by Johnson's dominant performance.

  • The 2020 girls basketball state tournament was cancelled on March 13, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The 2026 Class 2A girls basketball state championship game will be played on Saturday, March 15.

The players

Chloe Johnson

A sophomore guard for the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers who scored 36 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the semifinal victory.

Korbin Tanner

A ninth-grade forward for the New London-Spicer Wildcats who led her team with 20 points and 13 rebounds in the losing effort.

Providence Academy

The four-time defending champion girls basketball program that Duluth Marshall will face in the Class 2A state championship game.

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What they’re saying

“We've been working hard all season for this moment, and I'm so proud of how our team stepped up today. We're ready to take on Providence Academy and bring home the title.”

— Chloe Johnson, Sophomore Guard, Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers (kstp.com)

What’s next

The Class 2A girls basketball state championship game between Duluth Marshall and Providence Academy will be played on Saturday, March 15 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.

The takeaway

Duluth Marshall's return to the state championship game after the 2020 tournament cancellation is a testament to the resilience and determination of the team. Their balanced attack and standout performance from Chloe Johnson have them poised to dethrone the four-time defending champions and capture their first state title in over a decade.