As the state boys hockey gets underway Wednesday and the girls basketball section finals determine who will go to next weeks's state tournament, it's the start of boys basketball section action throughout Minnesota. First up are the eight Class AAAA sections.
If there's any guarantee about Section 1, the road to the state tournament will go through Rochester. The section final is at the Mayo Civic Arena and the top seed is the Lakeville North Cougars. But wait. There are a couple of Rochester schools that could keep the Cougars from heading up I-35 to Target Center, the second seeded Rochester Mayo Spartans, looking for the first berth since 2008 and the third seeded Rochester Century Panthers, who have not made the trip to state since 2002. It should be an interesting section.
In Section 2, the top seeded Eden Prairie Eagles are unbeaten, even beating the Hopkins Royals twice in the regular season. However, David Flom's bunch has tough competition in the hot second seeded Chaska Hawks who have won 13 straight games. Who was the last team Chaska lost to? The answer, Eden Prairie 81-68 on January 3. There could be a rematch in the section final. Don't count out the third seeded Shakopee Sabers or the fourth seeded Prior Lake Lakers, winner of eight straight games.
The top seed in Section 3 is the Eastview Lightning, led by Steven Crowl who will play next season at Wisconsin. The only other section team with a winning record is the second seeded Lakeville North Panthers, under the veteran leadership of John Oxton. The Panthers have made the tournament seven straight years when they were in Section 1. The State High School League moved Lakeville North into Section 3 so could that streak end or will the pull the upset on the Lightning.
Section 4 looks like a toughie with five teams that could head to downtown Minneapolis. First is the top seeded East Ridge Raptors, featuring another future Wisconsin Badger Ben Carlson. But look out for the second seeded Cretin Derham-Hall Raiders, the third seeded Woodbury Royals, the fourth seeded North St. Paul Polars, who played in the first two class tournament in 1971 and lost in the Class AA final to the Duluth Central Trojans and the fifth seeded Tartan Titans. Who will make the trip down I-94? There's plenty of competition in the east metro.
Another tough section is Section 5, with the top seeded Park Center Pirates, led by Dain Dainja, who will head south to Baylor next season. Looking to scuttle the Pirates state tournament plans are the second seeded Spring Lake Park Panthers, the third seeded Champlin Park Panthers and a pair of schools from the Mounds View school district that will meet in the quarterfinals, the fourth seeded Mounds View Mustangs and the fifth seeded Irondale Knights. Can the Pirates sail their ship to state or will any of the other four teams put them in drydock?
What an outstanding year for Hopkins basketball. The girls team is one win away from defending their state Class AAAA championship and the boys team is the top seed in Section 6. The Royals are led by Kerwin Walton who has not decided where he will play next season. Come on Richard Pitino, head to Target Center and recruit him hard, you'll need him to get the Gophers back in the NCAA tournament next season. They will have to get past the second seeded Cooper Hawks who have won four straight games.
Heading north to Section 7 where the top seeded Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets made their first trip to state last season since 2008. But there could be a rematch with the second seeded Duluth East Greyhounds who they beat in the Hibbing Holiday Tournament December 27 83-77.
There's been outstanding basketball this season in the Northwest Suburban Conference and one team that's be playing some really good basketball is the top seeded Maple Grove Crimson. But looking to keep the Crimson fan buses from heading down I-94 is the second seeded Moorhead Spuds, winners of 12 straight games. Can they earn their 24th trip to state or will the Crimson receive the gold medals following the section final?
Next the eight Class AAA sections.
No comments:
Post a Comment