2018 Class AAA Girls Basketball Section Preview

After examining the eight Class AAAA sections, here's a preview of the eight Class AAA sections.

The top seed in Section 1 is the Northfield Raiders who have gone 15-1 since losing to Beaver Dam, WI in the St. Olaf Invitational December 30.  Their Big Nine Conference rival the Red Wing Wingers are the second seed.

Over in Section 2, six of the seven teams have a winning record and this looks like the toughest section in Class AAA  The top seed and a first round bye goes to the Mankato West Scarlets.  Also vying for a trip to Minneapolis is the second seeded Hutchinson Tigers, the third seeded Waseca Blue Jays, the fourth seeded New Ulm Eagles, the fifth seeded Worthington Trojans and the sixth seeded Marshall Tigers.  Who will come out of this section?  Take a drive down Highway 169 to Mankato for the semifinals and to St. Peter for the championship to find out if the Scarlets make their first trip to state or one of the other five teams that could bring home the section title trophy.

There could be a two team race in Section 3 between the top seeded Holy Angels Stars, led by Destinee Oberg, who has committed to Arkansas and Kaylie VanDerWerf and the third seeded St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders who have moved up from Class AA to AAA.  The Crusaders are looking for their first state tournament berth.  Who will it be?  There's also the second seeded Simley Spartans.

In Section 4, the top seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs have gone 16-1 since they lost to Chisago Lakes December 19.  The second seeded DeLaSalle Islanders have rebounded from an 0-4 start to go 15-4 and could be a threat to foil the Zephyrs first trip to state.  The third seeded Hill-Murray Pioneers are in the hunt for their 14th state tournament appearance, their first in five years.

Now to Section 5 as the top seeded Willmar Cardinals rebounded from a two game losing streak in January to finish the season 8-0.  The red hot Cardinals have to contend with the second seeded Big Lake Hornets and the third seeded Zimmerman Thunder, who is looking for their first trip down Highway 169 to The Barn.

History could be in the making in Section 6 where the top ranked team in Class AAA and the number one seeded Cooper Hawks are two wins away from their first state tournament.  There are on a 17 game winning streak and haven't lost since they fell to the Centennial Cougars December 29 in the Roseville Tournament.  Can they get past the second seeded Waconia Wildcats and the thrid seeded Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights?

Up in section 7, the top seeded Grand Rapids Thunderhawks are on a five game winning streak.  One team they beat in that run is the second seeded Hermantown Hawks, who have lost three in a row.  They will need to get back on track against the seventh seed North Branch Vikings or they won't be in the hunt to make the trip down I-35 to the Twin Cities.

And in Section 8, the top seeded Alexandria Cardinals look to return to state after they lost in last year's Class AAA semifinals to the eventual state champion Orono Spartans.  But first they have to get past the second seeded Fergus Falls Otters and the third seeded Sartell-St. Stephen Sabres.  Cardinal head coach Wendy Kohler has led eight teams to the state tournament.  could this year be number nine?

The eight Class AA sections are next.