Another year, another state championship game for Wayzata.

But getting there wasn’t easy.

The second-seeded Trojans, who won Class 4A state titles in 2021 and ’23 and finished as state runners-up in 2022 and ’24, earned a fifth-straight ticket to the state title game by turning back a dogged challenge from No. 3 seed Shakopee on Thursday night, beating the Sabers 59-55 in a Class 4A semifinal at Williams Arena.

This, despite the fact Wayzata trailed by seven at halftime and by four points with 2:46 remaining.

Junior guard Christian Wiggins led the way with 18 points for the Trojans (27-4), who advance to meet Cretin-Derham Hall for the state championship at 8 p.m. Saturday at Williams Arena.

It was Shakopee that took control in the first half. The Sabers finished 8 for 15 (53.3%) from 3-point range to open a 31-24 halftime lead.

Senior forward Luke Wherley finished with 13 points and four rebounds to lead the way.

The Trojans, though, seized back the momentum to start the second half, jumping on top 36-35 with 13:48 to play after back-to-back 3-pointers by junior guard Nolen Anderson. A pair of 3s by Wiggins gave Wayzata a 42-39 lead with 11:20 remaining before Shakopee battled back to tie the game on a 3 by sophomore Blake Betton.

The Trojans scored the next seven points to go on top 49-42, but the Sabers didn’t fade from the challenge, surging back to jump on top 50-49 when Wherley hit a layup with 3:25 to go. A 3-pointer by senior Isaac Cordes expanded that margin to four.

But a pair of 3s by junior Isaac Olmstead regained the lead for Wayzata, igniting an 10-0 run in the final minutes that put the game away.

A layup by Cordes cut the gap to 59-55 with 20 seconds left, and the Trojans missed a free throw on the other end, giving Shakopee one more possession with 5.2 seconds to play, but a last-second 3 by Cordes wouldn’t fall.

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