Laker and Royal girls win playoff openers

The Section 5AA, South Sub-section playoffs opened Thursday with both the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted and the Watertown-Mayer Royals girls basketball teams advancing with wins.

The Lakers beat Glencoe-Silver Lake 62-41, while the Royals topped Norwood Young America 70-55.

Both teams now advance to the sub-section semifinals Saturday, March 6 at Dassel-Cokato. HLWW will face Providence Academy at 6 p.m. followed by W-M battling Rockford at 8 p.m.