Sunday, February 26, 2023

2023 Class AAA Girls Basketball Section Preview

 Part two of this year's girls basketball section preview focuses on the eight Class AAA sections.  

Starting with Section 1, this could be the year the top seeded Stewartville Trojans make their first trip to The Barn.  They have won 21 straight games and have to get past the second seeded Red Wing Wingers and the third seeded Austin Packers, two teams the Trojans beat in the regular season.  

Section 2 looks like a jigsaw puzzle with several pieces that could fit into a title trophy.  The first is the top seeded Jordan Jaguars, who haven't made the trip to state since 2009.  The next piece of the puzzle is the second seeded Mankato East Cougars, heading into section play on a nine game winning streak.  The rest of the pieces include the third seeded St. Peter Saints, the fourth seeded Marshall Tigers and the fifth seeded New Ulm Eagles.  It's a tough puzzle to solve but only one team will head up Highway 169 to Minneapolis.  

Section 3 looks like a two team race between the top seeded DeLaSalle Islanders and the second seeded Visitation Blazers.  Visitation, based in Mendota Heights is looking for its first state tournament berth.  But wait.  Can the third seeded Como Park Cougars get back on track after ending the season with six straight losses?  

The red hot Mahtomedi Zephyrs are the top seed in Section 4, ending the regular season with 13 straight wins.  But can they hold off the second seeded Hill-Murray Pioneers and the third seeded North St. Paul Polars?  

The top seed in Section 5 is the perennial power Becker Bulldogs.  Dan Baird's bunch is a couple of wins away from their fifth straight trip to Minneapolis.  But standing in their way and hoping to end the Bulldogs run is the second seeded Monticello Magic, who has not been to state since 2014.  

A pair of powerhouses are the top two seeds in Section 6.  The top seeded Benilde-St. Maragret's Red Knights and the second seeded Holy Angels Stars.  The two teams met in December with the Red Knights, led by junior Olivia Olson victorious.  could their be a rematch in the section final?  

Up north to Section 7, where the top seeded Grand Rapids Thunderhawks have not lost a game since starting the season 0-2.  The only other section team with a winning record is the second seeded Cloquet Lumberjacks.  

The top two seeds in Section 8 have identical 22-4 records, the top seeded Alexandria Cardinals and the second seeded Detroit Lakes Cardinals.  The two teams split in the regular season.  Is a rematch possible in the section final|?  

Next;  What's happening in Class AA?

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