Several Class AA sections are already underway and others have not yet begun. Here's a look at the eight Class AA sections.
In Section 1, the top four seeds advanced into the semifinals. They will return to action March 11 with the top seeded Caledonia Warriors battling the Pine Island Panthers and the St. Charles Saints facing the Lake City Tigers. The Warriors are on a 13 game winning streak after routing Lewiston-Altura and are led by the Kings, Owen and Noah. If the name Owen King sounds familiar to high school sports fans, it's that he was the quarterback on the Warrior football team that one the Class AA title. Can he lead Caledonia to a state tournament berth in basketball?
It's down to four teams in the Section 2 subsections. The West Subsection semifinals are at New Prague on March 9 with the "Battle of Highway 169" feature the Belle Plaine Tigers and the Jordan Hubmen. Both teams looking for a return trip to Minneapolis with Belle Plaine's last trip in 2005 and Jordan's in 2010. The Hubmen swept the Tigers in their regular season series. The winner faces either Glencoe-Silver Lake or Tri City United. The East subsection semifinal are also on the 9th at Mankato East as the top seeded Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers take on the Fairmont Cardinals, followed by the Maple River Eagles and the NRHEG Panthers. Last year, Maple River lost to eventual Class AA champion Braham in the quarterfinals. Who will emerge to play for a state tournament berth?
A wide open North Subsection in Section 3 features Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City and Morris/Chokio-Alberta followed by the New London-Spicer Wildcats and the Montevideo Thunderhawks. The East subsection features the Minneota Vikings and the top seeded Jackson County Central Huskies, who lost to Braham in last year's Class AA final. The winner faces the winner between the Pipestone Arrows and the Redwood Valley Cardinals. Head coach Trent Sukalski has built a power in southwestern Minnesota that has the talent to return to Target Center.
One section that has not yet started is Section 4, where the top seed is the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks. It could be your first chance to see one of Minnesota's top freshmen, Jalen Suggs. He has been the key to the Redhawks success this season that also included a 13 game winning streak. First Minnehaha has to get past the second seeded Minneapolis Roosevelt teddies, who are looking for their first trip to state since 1997 and the third seeded New Life Academy Eagles.
In Section 5, the top seed is the Brooklyn Center Centaurs, who are three wins away from their first trip to Target Center since 1983. They have won nine of their last ten games but can they hold off the second seeded Watertown-Mayer royals, the third seeded Annandale Cardinals and the fourth seeded Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles. Keep an eye on this section. There could be some great basketball on St. Patrick's Day in St. Cloud.
Now to Section 6, with several teams that could play for a trip down I-94 to Minneapolis. In the East Subsection, the top seeded St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders have won seven in a row. Also in contention are the second seeded Milaca Wolves and the third seeded Pine City Dragons, whose last trip to state was in 1980. In the West Subsection, the top seeded Melrose Dutchmen are unbeaten and looking to return to state since winning the 2015 Class AA title. But first they have to hold off the second seeded Sauk Centre Mainstreeters, the third seeded Holdingford Huskers and the fourth seeded Osakis Silverstreaks.
Section 7 has the Esko Eskomos the top seed in Subsection 1. The Eskomos could have the tallest player in state tournament history if they advance for the fourth straight year in 7'3" center Adam Trapp. But it won't be easy for Esko since there are two other teams that could keep Esko in their igloo. They are the second seeded Crosby-Ironton-Rangers and the third seeded Hinckley-Finlayson Jaguars. In Subsection 2, the top seed is the Virginia Blue Devils. They played Esko on March 2 and lost 68-48. A rematch is possible in the section final.
Wrapping up the Class AA preview is Section 8. A pair of hot teams are the top two seeds. The top seeded Perham Yellowjackets have won 13 in a row and the second seeded Breckenridge Cowboys are on a nine game winning streak. The Cowboys faced the Yellowjackets December 9 and beat them 65-62. Last time Breckenridge played in a state tournament final was 1978 when they lost to Lake City with the tournament's first seven footer, Randy Breuer. Can the Cowboys and Yellowjackets battle again for a trip to Target Center?
The Class A previews are next.
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