2023 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS AAA BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
(Games played Tuesday, March 21 at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus)
10:00: St. Francis vs. Totino-Grace (Seed 1)
12:00: Alexandria (Seed 5) vs. Mankato East (Seed 4)
2:00: Hermantown vs. Orono (Seed 2)
4:00: Stewartville vs. DeLaSalle (Seed 3)
EXAMINING THE FIELD
The Williams Arena portion of the 2023 State Boys Basketball Tournament as the St. Francis Fighting Saints fought their way in the Section 7 final with a one point win over the top seeded Princeton Tigers. St. Francis, in their 6th state tournament and first since 2015 have a tougher battle ahead in the top seeded and defending Class AAA champion Totino-Grace Eagles. The Eagles, in their seventh state tournament have put a lot of miles on their team bus with games in South Dakota and Wisconsin. They also played a tough in-state schedule against Class AAAA powers Lakeville North and Hopkins. They are the favorites to bring a second state title trophy back to Fridley.
Another state tournament, another trip down I-94 for Alexandria Cardinal fans as they head back to The Barn to see the fifth seeded Cardinals battle the fourth seeded Mankato East Cougars. Alexandria, in their eight trip to state is on a 12 game winning streak and hopes to up grade the progress of their female counterparts under Wendy Kohler, who took fourth place in the girls basketball tournament. They will face the fourth seeded Mankato East Cougars, in their 11th state tournament. The Cougars have not lost since they were defeated by their Key City rivals, the Mankato West Scarlets on February 17. Is this the tournament the Cardinals finally bring home a title trophy to the Lakes Area or will the Cougars wreck another title opportunity that also occurred with boys & girls hockey and girls basketball?
Now this matchup sounds familiar. The two teams that battle for the Class A third place trophy in boys hockey, the Hermantown Hawks and the second seeded Orono Spartans switch from the ice to the court but with different personnel. The Hawks in their fourth state tournament faced the Spartans on February 9 and lost 76-60. Orono, in their fifth trip to state, has not lost a game since they got beat by the team they won against in the Section 6 final, the Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights. Can the Spartans stay hot and possibly face Totino-Grace for the Class AAA title?
Stewartville buses will be ready to head up Highway 52 for the second straight week as the Tiger make their maiden voyage to The Barn. They hope to have the same success the girls team had and play for a state title.It won't be easy as the third seeded DeLaSalle Islander play in their 12th tournament in a row and 28th overall. Coincidentally, the Islanders played in the same tournament as Totino-Grace but they did not face each other. Is a possible championship meeting in the works?
Next: The Class AA preview
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