Who's Left in Class AA Boys Basketball Sections?

 Some sections are underway in Class AA boys basketball and some have yet to start.  Here's what's happening in the eight Class AA sections.  

The top four teams are still alive in Section 1.  They are the top seeded Lake City Tigers, who have lost only to Stewartville in the regular season, followed by the second seeded Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs, the third seeded Caledonia Warriors and the fourth seeded Cannon Falls Bombers.  

Section 2 has not yet begun but in the North Subsection, it could be a three team race with the top seeded Norwood-Young America Raiders, the second seeded Belle Plaine Tigers and the third seeded Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers, winners on 17 straight games.  The South Subsection could be a two team race with the top seeded Maple River Eagles and second seeded Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial.  QWho will head up Highway 169 to The Barn?  A great section to watch.  

The North Subsection in Section 3 has three teams that could make it to the finals.  They are top seeded Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta, the second seeded Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles and the third seeded Paynesville Area Bulldogs.  As for the South Subsection, the top seed is the Jackson County Central Huskies.  

Section 4 begins this week and once again, the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks are the top seed.  But two other academies could pose a threat to the Redhawks section dominance, the second seeded Concordia Academy Beacons and the third seeded St. Paul Academy Spartans.  Can Minnehaha Academy continue their run of section titles?  

If there's one section in Class AA that is very tough, it's Section 5.  The top seed has been the top ranked team in Class AA most of the season, the Holy Family Catholic Fire.  Looking to put out the fFre's chances of heading to The Barn are the second seeded Minneapolis North Polars and the third seeded Maranatha Christian Academy Mustangs.  But wait, there are some other teams that could contend, including three with identical 18-8 records, the fourth seeded Minneapolis Edison Tommies, the fifth seeded Watertown-Mayer Royals and the sixth seeded Breck Mustangs.  Add the seventh seeded Hiawatha Academy Wolves and the eighth seeded Dassel-Cokato Chargers.  Who will emerge as the team that will hoist the title trophy on St. Patrick's Day?  

Another tough section is Section 6.  You have the top seeded Albany Huskies who have won 22 games in a row, followed by the second seeded Mora Mustangs, the third seeded Milaca Wolves and the fourth seeded Sauk Centre Mainstreeters who haven't been to state since 1998.  Some outstanding basketball to come in central Minnesota.  

Up north in Section 7, it's a five team race as the top seeded Pequot Lakes Patriots, the second seeded Esko Eskomos, the third seeded Rock Ridge Wolverines, the fourth seeded Crosby-Ironton Rangers and the fifth seeded Two Harbors Agates.  The last time Two Harbors played in the state tournament was the first year of two class play 1971.  Who will come out of this section?  

Finally, in Section 8, Thief River Falls is best known for hockey but their boys basketball team is the top seed and hopng to head to Minneapolis for the first time since 1974.  They will have to get past the second seeded Perham Yellowjackets and the third seeded Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Rebels.  

Next:  What's happening in Class A?  

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.

2023 Class AAAA Boys Basketball Section Preview

 As girls basketball heads into section final action the boys begin their Road to The Barn.  Here's a preview of the eight Class AAAA sections.  

The top seed in Section 1 is the Lakeville North Panthers who have gone 16-1 since an overtime loss to the Eastview Lightning January 10.  Can they get past the second seeded Farmington Tigers who enter sections on a five game winning streak?  

It's been a great winter sports season for Minnetonka as both the boys and girls hockey teams advanced to the state tournament.  Now it's the boys basketball team's turn to hold a top seed in Section 2.  They swept the second seeded Edina Hornets in the regular season.  Is a third meeting possible in the section final?  

The top two seeds in Section 3 come from the South Suburban Conference, the Eastview Lightning and the Eagan Wildcats.  The Wildcats look to end a four game losing streak.  Don't count out the third seeded Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars, led by one of the state's top juniors Dan Freitag.  

Over in Section 4, the top seeded East Ridge Raptors could head to state for the first time since 2019.  But a couple of their Suburban East Conference foes could keep the Raptor fan buses from heading down I-94.  They are the second seeded White Bear Lake Bears and the third seeded Stillwater Ponies.  Who will win, place and show in the section?  

The top seed in Section 5 is the defending Class AAAA champion Park Center Pirates.  The Pirates hope to bounce back after losing their regular season finale to the second seeded Maple Grove Crimson.  Can the Pirates steer their ship into a section final rematch with the Crimson?  

Section 6's top seed the Wayzata Trojans lost in last years Class AAAA final to Park Center and look to return to The Barn.  They swept the season series with their Lake Conference rival, the second seeded Hopkins Royals.  But there a couple of teams that could spoil the Lake's dominance, the third seeded Cooper Hawks and the fourth seeded Minneapolis Southwest Lakers.  It has the makings of a great section.  

Heading to Section 7 where the top two seeds have identical 19-7 records, the Andover Huskies and the Duluth East Greyhounds.  Also in the mix is the third seeded Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets.  

Section 8 could be a three team race with the top seeded Buffalo Bison, the second seeded Moorhead Spuds and the third seeded Brainerd Warriors.  The Bison's only section defeat was to the Warriors.  Is a rematch possible for a state tournament berth?  

Next the eight Class AAA sections.  

2023 Class AA State Boys Hockey Tournament Preview

 2023 MINNESOTA STATE CLASS AA BOYS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                        (Games played Thursday, March 9 at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul)

11:00:  Cretin-Derham Hall vs. Maple Grove (Seed 2)

1:00:    Moorhead vs. Edina (Seed 3)

6:00:    Hill-Murray vs. Minnetonka (Seed 1) 

8:00:    Lakeville South (Seed 5) vs. Andover (Seed 4)

                                        EXAMINING THE FIELD

Get ready for a packed house as the Class AA teams take their turn in the X spotlight.  First up is the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders facing the second seeded Maple Grove Crimson.  CDH is in their fifth state tournament and second straight as they beat the top seeded St. Thomas Academy Cadets in the Section 3 final.  They will face last year's Class AA runner up, the second seeded Maple Grove Crimson, playing in their sixth state tournament.  The Crimson, seeded second in Section 5, routed the Rogers Royals 7-3 in the Section 5 final.  Is another Championship Saturday in the works for Maple Grove?  

Wrapping up the afternoon session will be the Moorhead Spuds, playing in their 20th and fifth consecutive state tournament.  They have never taken home the championship trophy and if they can still be in the race for the title they will have to get past the third seeded Edina Hornets, in their 35th state tournament.  The Hornets earned the trip to St. Paul with a victory over the top seeded Wayzata Trojans in the Section 6 final.  You can bet it will look like St. Patrick's Day with many green clad fans in the green seats.  

Opening the evening session will be another team with the wearing of the green as the Hill-Murray Pioneers, playing in their 33rd state tournament and fourth straight face the top seeded Minnetonka Skippers, in their seventh trip to state.  Bill Lechner's bunch battled illnesses and injuries as well as a three game losing streak to close out the regular season.  The Skippers, the second Lake Conference team in the Class AA field ended the Chanhassen Storm's hopes of their first trip to state with a double overtime win in the Section 2 final.  Minnetonka shutout Edina twice in the regular season.  Could there be a third meeting in the section final?  

Quarterfinal Thursday closes as the fifth seeded Lakeville South Cougars, in their eighth state tournament battle the fourth seeded and defending state Class AA champion Andover Huskies.  Lakeville South has won nine of their last 10 games.  The Huskies are playing in their fourth consecutive state tournament and have gone 17-2 since the calendar changed from 2022 to 2023.  

A caveat:  If you don't have tickets for the Class AA tournament, it's sold out.  To quote Ed Norton in the classic sitcom The Honeymooners, tickets "are scarcer than hen's teeth."  The entire tournament, except for consolation and third place games will air on 45TV and at kstp.com

2023 Class AA Hockey State Tournament Preview

2023 MINNESOTA STATE CLASS A BOYS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
                       (Games played Wednesday, Mary 8 at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul)

11:00:  Luverne vs. Hermantown (Seed 2)

1:00:    Alexandria vs. Mahtomedi (Seed 3)

6:00:    St. Cloud Cathedral vs. Warroad (Seed 1)

8:00:    Northfield (Seed 5) vs. Orono (Seed 4)

                                     EXAMINING THE FIELD

It will be a North vs. South battle to open the State Boys Hockey Tournament as the Luverne Cardinals face the second seeded and defending Class A champion Hermantown Hawks.  The Cardinals are playing in their third tournament and first since 2017 and will play their first game against a northern Minnesota school.  Luverne enters state tournament play on an 11 game winning streak but they have a very difficult task in the defending Class A champion Hawks, who are playing in their 19th state tournament.  They outscored their section opponents 21-4.  One of their two losses was to the Warroad Warriors.  Is a rematch possible in Saturday's Class A final?  

Another flock of Cardinal fans will enter the X as the afternoon session concludes with the Alexandria Cardinals and the third seeded Mahtomedi Zephyrs.  The Cardinals, in their seventh trip to state are red hot and on a six game winning streak as they face the Zephyrs who are playing in their 14th state tournament and have bounced back after a four game losing streak to win their last nine games.  Can they make it 10?  

Opening up the evening session will be the perennial Granite City power the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders, in their 11th state tournament and the top seeded Warroad Warriors.  The Crusaders overcame an 0-3 start that included a 4-0 season opening shutout against the Warriors to go 13-9 the rest of the way.  Warroad, playing in its 23rd state tournament is unbeaten, including a 1-1 tie against Sartell-St. Stephen.  Two weeks ago, their female counterparts brought home a state championship trophy.  Can the boys duplicate the feat bring another celebration to the sit of next year's Hockey Day Minnesota?  

Wrapping up the day's festivities will be the fifth seeded Northfield Raiders and the fourth seeded Orono Spartans.  The Raiders head up Highway 3 for the first time since 2017 and enter tournament play on a six game winning streak.  They face Orono, playing in their 10th state tournament and in the hunt for their first Class A title since 2018.  Will the Raiders advance toward a showdown with Warroad or will Orono battle for a chance to take home the title trophy down Highway 12 Saturday afternoon?  

Next:  The Class AA preview

Class A Girls Basketball Section Update

 Section play is underway in Class A with some sections down to the Final Four.  

Section 1 has three of the four remaining teams with 20+ wins.  They are the top seeded Hayfield Vikings, the second seeded Grand Meadow Superlarks and the third seeded Randolph Rockets.  The fourth seeded team and the only one with less than 20 wins is the Lanesboro Burros.  

Over in Section 2, it's the top seeded Mayer Lutheran Crusaders battling the BOLD Warriors in the North subsection and in the South subsection it will be The Battle of Sleepy Eye as the Sleepy Eye Indians face the Sleepy Eye St. Mary's Saints.  It's likely the town will be empty that night as fans head to St. Peter for this section showdown.  

In Section 3, the North subsection features the top seeded Lac Qui Parle Valley Eagles, winners of 13 straight games against the perennial power Minneota Vikings.  But in the South subsection, it's an All Edgerton final as the Edgerton Dutchman face the SW MN Eagles.  Is an All Eagles final in the works?  

Section 4 has just started and the top seeded Heritage Christian Eagles and the second seeded United Christian Academy Thunder could meet in the finals of a wide open section.  

A good place to give the hyphen key a workout is the West Subsection in Section 5.  There's Pine River-Backus facing top seeded Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa followed by Walker-Hackensack-Akeley vs. Nevis.  No hyphens in the East subsections as the Ogilvie Lions face the Barnum Bombers and the Upsala-Swanville Patriots battle the top seeded Braham Bombers.  Will the subsection final be The Battle of the Bombers?  

To Section 6 as the top four seeds are still alive in the North subsection as the fourth seeded New York Mills Eagles face the top seeded Underwood Rockets and the Breckenridge Cowboys face the Henning Hornets.  It's Hyphen City in the East Subsection as the top seeded and defending Class A champion Hancock Owls face Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley and Wheaton/Herman-Norcross faces Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg.  

It's been a great year for head coach Jeff Buffetta and the top seeded Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers as the look toward returning to Minneapolis.  But there seems to be a logjam of outstanding teams that include the section seeded Cromwell-Wright Cardinals, the third seeded Ely Timberwolves and the fourth seeded South Ridge Panthers.  Add the fifth seeded Chisholm Bluestreaks and it shows the Iron Range is loaded with top girls basketball talent.  

Finally, in Section 8, the East subsection has top seeded Kelliher/Northome, the second seeded Fossdton Greyhounds and the third seeded Fertile-Beltrami Falcons.  The West subsection top seed is Badger/Greenbush-Middle River.

Plenty of outstanding girls basketball section play ccoming up.  

Who's Still Alive in Class AA Girls Basketball Sections?

 Several Class AA sections are already underway and some have yet to start.  Here'swhat's happening in the eight Class AA sections.  

It's down to the Final Four in Section 1 as Goodhue battles Winona Cotter asnd Caledonia faces Rochester Lourdes.  

Over in Section 2, the North Bracket has the top seeded Southwest Christian Stars, the second seeded Glencoe-Silver Lake Panthers, the third seeded Norwood-Young America Raiders and the fourth seeded Belle Plaine Tigers.  The top four seeds still remain in the South Bracket.  Red hot Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial is going for their 20th straight win and they will have to get past the second seeded Waseca Bluejays, third seeded NRHEG and the fourth seeded Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers.  

Four teams remain in Section 3 as the top seeded New London-Spicer Wildcats battle the Montevideo Thunderhawks in the North Subsection finals and in the South Subsection final, it will be a Battle of the Cardinals as Fairmont, who upset Pipestone will face Luverne.  

It could be a three team race in Section 4 as the top seeded St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders, the second seeded Minnehaha Academy Redhawks and the third seeded Minneapolis Roosevelt Teddies lead a tough field.  Could this be the year the Teddies make their first trip to The Barn?  

In Section 5, the top seeded Providence Academy Lions are the heavy favorites to return to state but the second seeded Maranatha Christian Academy Mustangs and the third seeded Holy Family Catholic Fire look to keep the Lions in their cages.  

Section 6 has the makings of a tough section as the top seeded Albany Huskies enter section play on a 19 game winning streak.  Look out for the second seeded Sauk Centre Mainstreeters, the third seeded Holdingford Tigers and the fourth seeded Pine city Dragons.  don't count out the fifth seeded Kimball Area Cubs.  

Heading north to Section 7, It's a four team race that included the top seeded Pequot Lakes Patriota, the second seeded Proctor Rails, the third seeded Crosby-Ironton Rangers with nine straight wins and the fourth seeded Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers.  

Finally in Section 8, there are three teams with at least 20 wins.  They are the top seeded Perham Yellowjackets, the second seeded Thief River Falls Prowlers and the third seeded Pelican Rapids Vikings.  

Who's left in Class A?  That's in the next post.