Some Class AA sections are underway and some are about to begin. Here's what's happening in the eight Class AA sections.
The final four is taking shape in Section 1 with the top seeded Caledonia Warriors advancing to the semifinals with a win over the Triton Cobras. Lookout for the second seeded Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs, the third seeded Lake City Tigers and the fourth seeded La Crescent-Hokah Lancers. Head down Highway 52 to Rochester for some outstanding basketball at the Mayo Civic Arena.
The top seed in the Section 2 North Subsection is the Glencoe-Silver Lake Panthers. The South Subsection could be a three team race with the top seeded Maple River Eagles, second seeded Lake Crystal/Wellcome Memorial and the third seeded St. Clair Cyclones. Who will emerge from the South and likely face Glencoe-Silver Lake in the section final.
There are some hot teams to watch for in Section 3. In the North Subsection, it's the top seeded Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Tigers, the second seeded New London-Spicer Wildcats and the third seeded West Central Area Knights. The Tigers and Knights enter section play with six game winning streaks. In the South Subsection, the top seed is the Pipestone Arrows, followed by the second seeded Redwood Valley Cardinals.
Last year, the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks were the Class AAA champions but this year due to realignment, they have dropped to Class AA and Section 4 where they are the top seed. Led by Boston College bound Prince Aligbe, the Redhawks dominance is challenged by the St. Croix Prep Lions and the St. Paul Academy Spartans.
To Section 5, where the top seeded Minneapolis North Polars have been the dominant team in Class AA this season. Polars fans, beware of several challengers ready to usurp your section throne. They are the second seeded Rockford Rockets, the third seeded Maranatha Christian Academy Mustangs, the fourth seeded Providence Academy Lions and their IMAC rival the Blake Bears, the number five seed. The Bears enter section play on a nine game winning streak. Will the Polars prevail or will any of their opponents take home the section title trophy?
Think Section 5 was tough? Think again. Section 6 is perhaps the toughest section in any of the four classes. The top seeded Annandale Cardinals are on a 22 game winning streak and the second seed Mora Mustangs have won 10 in a row. The Mustangs qualified for the 2020 tournament but it was cancelled due to COVID-19, spoiling their first trip to state since 1958. There's also the third seeded Albany Huskies and the red hot Osakis Silverstreaks, winners of seven straight games. Add the fifth seeded Sauk Centre Mainstreeters and a team you probably haven't heard of, the Spectrum Sting from Elk River and it turns out to be a very competitive section. Who will make the trip down I-94 to The Barn? Head up to St. Cloud State on March 18 to find out the answer.
Over in Section 7, the top seeded Esko Eskomos have won six straight games but there's some serious competition in the second seeded Pequot Lakes Patriots, the third seeded Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels, the fourth seeded Crosby-Ironton Rangers and the fifth seeded Two Harbors Agates. The last time Two Harbors went to Minneapolis was the first year of the two class tournament 1971. Another great section to watch.
Finally in Section 8, the Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Rebels are the top seed but they have to get past the second seeded Pelican Rapids Vikings, the third seeded Perham Yellowjackets and the fourth seeded Thief River Falls Prowlers, who have not been to state since 1974.
Next will be who's left in Class A
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