Sunday, March 5, 2023

2023 Class AAA Boys Basketball Section Preview

 Eight Class AAAA sections have been examined and here's a preview of the eight Class AAA sections.  

What a season for basketball in Stewartville.  The girls team is a win away from heading to Minneapolis and the Trojan boys are the top seed in Section 1.  They are three wins away from their first trip up Highway 52 to state but can they hold off the second seeded Austin Packers?  

It's a two team race in Section 2 with the top seeded Mankato East Cougars looking to get back to the tournament and the second seeded New Ulm Eagles trying to head to the first state tournament since 1975.  Will they break the drought or will the Cougars ground the Eagles?  

A perennial power is the top seed in Section 3, the DeLaSalle Islanders.  Their trip across the Hennepin Ave. Bridge could be derailed by the red hot second seed the St. Thomas Academy Cadets.  The Cadets have not lost a game since they were blown out by Mahtomedi on January 10.  However, the third seeded South St. Paul Packers could end a tournament drought that's lasted since the end of the once class tournament in 1970.  

In Section 4, the defending Class AAA champion Totino-Grace Eagles need to get past the second seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs, who enter section play on an eight game winning streak.  Hoping to return to state for the first time since 2015 is the third seeded St. Paul Johnson Governors.  

The Princeton Tigers are the top seed in Section 5, having won 11 of their last 13 games.  Can they hold of the sting of the second seeded Big Lake Hornets?  

To Section 6 where the top seeded Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights have a very athletic team.  But in their path is the second seeded Orono Spartans who are on an 11 game winning streak and the third seeded Delano Tigers.  BSM and Orono split their season series.  Who will win the rubber game if they meet in the section final?  

While the boys hockey team is battling for their second straight Class A title, the Hermantown Hawks boys basketball team is the top seed in Section 7.  They enter section play on a five game winning streak but can they get past the second seeded North Branch Vikings and the third seeded Duluth Denfeld Hunters?  

Get ready to make your hotel reservations Cardinal fans, Alexandria is the top seed in Section 8 and could make its fourth trip down I-94 if the boys basketball team can survive the second seeded St. Cloud Tech Tigers and the third seeded Detroit Lakes Lakers.  Both Cardinal hockey teams have qualified for the state tournament and the girls basketball team led by veteran coach Wendy Kohler is one win away from heading to The Barn.  Can the boys be next?  

Next"  The eight Class AA sections.

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