Shanelle Wright had done just about everything for Walther Lutheran but score.
The 5-foot 9-inch sophomore had seven rebounds and seven blocks, and she kept Latin from scoring inside.
But her biggest contribution might have come with 1 minute 52 seconds left Thursday in the Class A sectional final at St. Benedict. She calmly hit two free throws to break a 32-32 tie and send the Broncos to 37-33 victory for their first sectional title in 23 years.
The victory puts Walther Lutheran (24-6) into Monday’s supersectional at Loyola University against Dwight.
“My job this game was to play great defense,” Wright said. “And I got it in my head that no one was going to do any scoring in the paint.”
Walther Lutheran trailed 32-26 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter after Latin’s Elizabeth Hansen hit back-to-back three-pointers. But the Broncos got to the foul line in the fourth quarter and converted nine of 14 attempts.
Jazzmyn Harvey’s 13 points and freshman Dominique White’s 11 and four steals led the Broncos, who last reached the Elite Eight in 1983 when they finished third. Hansen led Latin with 12 points and Jasmine Jones added 10.
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asutton@tribune.com
