Johnson's Dominant Second Half Lifts No. 2 Hilltoppers to First Class AA Title Game

Chloe Johnson's double-double powers Duluth Marshall past New London-Spicer to secure historic championship appearance.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:49am

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Chloe Johnson recorded another impressive double-double, scoring 36 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, to lead two-seeded Duluth Marshall past No. 3 New London-Spicer 71-56 and secure the Hilltoppers' first-ever appearance in the Class AA Championship game. Despite a slow start, Marshall pulled away in the second half behind Johnson's dominant performance, overcoming foul trouble for teammate Candice Ndomb to punch their ticket to the title game.

Why it matters

This marks a historic milestone for the Duluth Marshall program, which had only reached the Class AA Semifinals once before in 2020 before having that game cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hilltoppers will now have a chance to capture their first-ever Class AA championship against top-seeded Providence Academy.

The details

Duluth Marshall jumped out to an 18-3 lead, but only held a 30-23 advantage at halftime despite New London-Spicer shooting just 21% from the field and 13% from three-point range in the opening half. Morgan Lucero hit four three-pointers to keep the Hilltoppers in front. In the second half, Johnson took over, finishing with 36 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Foul trouble for Candice Ndomb, who fouled out with under 6 minutes left, was offset by Johnson's dominant performance.

  • The Class AA Championship game will be played on Saturday, March 14 at 4:30 p.m.

The players

Chloe Johnson

The standout junior forward for Duluth Marshall, who recorded a dominant double-double with 36 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Hilltoppers to their first-ever Class AA Championship game appearance.

Candice Ndomb

The Duluth Marshall forward who was hampered by foul trouble, fouling out with under 6 minutes remaining in the game.

Morgan Lucero

The Duluth Marshall guard who hit four three-pointers in the first half to keep the Hilltoppers in front.

Maddyn Greenway

The star player for top-seeded Providence Academy, who the Hilltoppers will face in the Class AA Championship game.

New London-Spicer

The No. 3 seed that Duluth Marshall defeated 71-56 to advance to the Class AA title game.

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What they’re saying

“Chloe Johnson was unstoppable in the second half. Her performance really lifted our team to this historic win.”

— Head Coach, Duluth Marshall (wdio.com)

What’s next

The Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers will face off against Maddyn Greenway and the top-seeded Providence Academy Lions in the Class AA Championship Game on Saturday, March 14 at 4:30 p.m.

The takeaway

Duluth Marshall's first-ever appearance in the Class AA Championship game is a landmark achievement for the program, showcasing the team's resilience and the standout play of junior Chloe Johnson. The Hilltoppers will now have the opportunity to capture their first state title against a formidable Providence Academy squad.