Sacred Heart pulls ahead late to beat Kittson County Central, advance to section championship

The Eagles will play Kelliher/Northome for the Section 8A title this Friday.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a close playoff matchup, the East Grand Forks Sacred Heart girls basketball team came from behind in the final minutes to defeat Kittson County Central 67-63 and advance to the Section 8A championship game. Junior center Lexi Lawrence hit a key basket in the final minute to give Sacred Heart the lead, and the Eagles held on for the victory.

Why it matters

This win keeps Sacred Heart's season alive as they look to defend their Section 8A title from last year. The Eagles have been dominant for most of the season, but faced a tough challenge from Kittson County Central, who led for much of the second half before Sacred Heart rallied late.

The details

Sacred Heart led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Kittson County Central fought back and took a 48-41 lead midway through the second half. Junior Leah Sundby hit a big 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 2 points, and then Lawrence scored the go-ahead basket with just over a minute left to put Sacred Heart up for good. Sophomore Kate Bernhoft added a late layup to seal the victory for the Eagles.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 4, 2026 in Thief River Falls.
  • Sacred Heart will play Kelliher/Northome in the Section 8A championship game this Friday, March 7, 2026.

The players

Lexi Lawrence

A 6-foot junior center for East Grand Forks Sacred Heart who scored the go-ahead basket in the final minute to lift the Eagles to victory.

Greta Kuznia

A senior for Kittson County Central who finished with a team-high 29 points in the losing effort, displaying a "fierce mentality" according to her coach.

Leah Sundby

A junior who led Sacred Heart with 18 points, 15 of which came in the first half.

Kate Bernhoft

A sophomore who scored a key layup in the final seconds to give Sacred Heart a two-possession lead.

Finley Horken

A junior who scored 13 points and played a key role in Sacred Heart's second-half comeback.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I definitely got a little mad in the locker room. I was like, 'I'm better than this, so I've gotta lock in here.' But my coaches told me (the defender) is going to be straight up, so just make my moves.”

— Lexi Lawrence, Junior Center, East Grand Forks Sacred Heart (grandforksherald.com)

“Greta is a phenomenal basketball player. I don't know if I've ever met a young player with a fiercer mentality than her. She refuses to accept failure or less than her best. ... Really proud of her, but proud of the whole group.”

— Mark Johnson, Head Coach, Kittson County Central (grandforksherald.com)

“I was like, 'Slow it down!' and then it goes in. It was good, I was happy for her. She had a good game.”

— Lexi Lawrence, Junior Center, East Grand Forks Sacred Heart (grandforksherald.com)

“These girls have played a lot of basketball together. Even though we've been in control of most games for the last 15 or so, when they're in that moment, they're still ready for it and keep their composure.”

— Brian Loe, Head Coach, East Grand Forks Sacred Heart (grandforksherald.com)

“I'm so happy. That was definitely a good fight. I'm happy we pulled that one off in the end.”

— Lexi Lawrence, Junior Center, East Grand Forks Sacred Heart (grandforksherald.com)

What’s next

The Eagles will take on Kelliher/Northome in the Section 8A championship game this Friday, March 7, 2026 at 7 p.m. at the Ralph Engelstad Arena. This is a rematch of last year's section title game, which Sacred Heart won 70-56.

The takeaway

This nail-biting victory showcases the resilience and composure of the East Grand Forks Sacred Heart girls basketball team, who were able to overcome a late deficit and make the necessary plays down the stretch to advance to the Section 8A championship game for the second consecutive year.