Sunday, March 13, 2022

2022 Class AAA State Girls Basketball Tournament Preview

 2022 MINNESOTA STATE CLASS AAA GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                                       (Games played Wednesday, March 16 at Maturi Pavilion on University of Minnesota campus)

10:00:  Austin vs. Becker (Seed 1)

12:00:  Mankato East (Seed 5) vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's (Seed 4)

 2:00:  Grand Rapids vs. St. Paul Como Park (Seed 2)

 4:00:  Detroit Lakes vs. Totino-Grace (Seed 3)

Examining the Field:  The Maturi Pavilion portion of the state tournament begins with the Austin Packers making their sixth trip to state and enter winning nine of their last 10 games.  They will face the defending Class AAA state champion Becker Bulldogs in their ninth tournament appearance.  Dan Baird's bunch hasn't missed a beat this season and hasn't lost since January 4 when they fell to the Willmar Cardinals 74-64.  Can Baird's bunch head back up Highway 10 with another championship trophy.  

It's been a big year so far for Mankato East with both hockey teams playing in the state tournament and now it's the girls basketball team's turn to make the trip up Highway 169 to the Twin Cities.  The Cougars are in their eighth state tournament and their first since 1998.  They face the Red Knights, in their seventh state tournament and led by sophomore sensation Olivia Olson.  If your live or work near the U, take your lunch hour at the Pavilion and you'll see an outstanding game.  

They're known as The Halloween Machine and it's no trick but a real treat for Grand Rapids fans as the Thunderhawks head to their ninth state tournament.  They have lost only one game since January 4, a 43-35 defeat in the season finale against the Esko Eskomos.  The St. Paul Como Park Cougars make their second trip across the river to Minneapolis and have one of the best players, regardless of size in 5'2" Ronnie Porter.  Porter has been the key to the Cougars success as they head to state on a 10 game winning streak.  Can she help lead Como Park to it first state title game berth?  

Closing the Class AAA quarterfinals is the Detroit Lake Lakers, in their fourth state tournament but their first since 2009.  They Lakers, seeded third in Section 8 beat Alexandria in double overtime and Willmar in the section final.  They face the Totino-Grace Eagles, in their sixth trip to state and first since 2009.  It's been a great year so far for basketball in the Highway 65 corridor with outstanding boys teams in Columbia Heights as well as Totino-Grace and now the girls get their moment in the spotlight after defeating the Hill-Murray Pioneers in the Section 4 final 59-50.  

Next is the Class AA preview.  


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