2019 Class AAAA Girls Basketball Section Preview

With the girls hockey season ended, another girls sport is entering section play and it's basketball.  First up is a preview of the eight Class AAAA sections.

The top seed in Section 1 is the Farmington Tigers who are looking for their first trip to Minneapolis.  But the second seeded Lakeville North Panthers hope to extend their state tourney run to four.  Don't count out the third seeded Rochester John Marshall Rockets who enter section play on  a six game winning streak.

It could be a three team race in Section 2 with the top seeded Eden Prairie Eagles, the second seeded Chaska Hawks and the third seeded Shakopee Sabers.  The Sabers had a tough finish, losing three straight games to Apple Valley, Farmington and Eastview.  Which team will head to The Barn?  A toughie.

The road to the Section 3 finals will likely go through Apple Valley as the top seeded and defending Class AAAA Eastview Lightning could face their city rivals the second seeded Apple Valley Eagles.  The Lightning swept the season series with the Eagles. But hold everything Apple Valley fans, there's a team that could crash the city showdown, the third seeded Rosemount Irish, winners of eight straight games.  Can they pull the upset or will it be an All-Apple Valley section final.

Now to Section 4 where the top seed is the Stillwater Ponies.  It may be a golden opportunity to see future Golden Gopher Sara Scalia in action at The Barn.  But the second seeded Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders has another hot player, Frannie Hottinger.  It has the making of an outstanding section between two Suburban East Conference teams.

In Section 5, the top seed is the Park Center Pirates are in the hunt for their fifth trip to state in six years.  But there's another hot Northwest Suburban Conference team on their trail, the second seeded Centennial Cougars.  The Cougars have won 14 straight games following a 75-61 loss on January 4 to the Pirates.  Also in the hust is the third seeded Roseville Raiders.

Section 6 has the top seeded and top ranked team in Class AAAA the Hopkins Royals. One team they beat twice in Lake Conference play is the second seeded Wayzata Trojans.  There's also the third seeded Armstrong Falcons and the fourth seeded St. Louis Park Orioles.

Head north to Section 7 as the top seeded Forest Lake Rangers hope to make a return trip to the state tournament.  Looking to keep the maroon and gold fan buses in the garage are the second seeded Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets and the third seeded Andover Huskies.

Wrapping up the Class AAAA preview is Section 8,where the top seeded St. Michael-Albertville Knights are on a quest for their 10th state tournament.  But it won't be easy as the second seeded Maple Grove Crimson look to defend their section crown.  Also in the hunt are the third seeded Elk River Elks, the fourth seeded Buffalo Bison and the fifth seeded Moorhead Spuds.

Next up, the eight Class AAA sections.