2017 Class A Girls Basketball Section Preview

The final part of the 2017 girls basketball section preview focuses on the eight Class A sections.

In Section 1, the East Subsection final has the fifth seeded Fillmore Central Falcons, who upset the top seeded Rushford-Peterson Trojans taking on the third seeded Kingsland Knights.  Semifinal action in the West Subsection pits the defending Class A champion Goodhue Wildcats against the Bethlehem Academy Cardinals.  The Grand Meadow Superlarks and the Lyle/Pacelli Athletics play in the bottom bracket.  Can head coach Josh Wieme lead the Wildcats to a return trip up Highway 52 to play for another state title?

Going to Section 2, the top seed in the North Subsection is the Cedar Mountain/Comfrey Cougars and the Sleepy Eye Indians have the number two seed.  The South Subsection has one of the state's top teams in Class A, the Mankato Loyola Crusaders as the top seed.  Occupying the second seed is Granada Huntley-East Chain-Truman and Martin Luther. from New Ulm.  There are going to be a lot of happy people in those communities if they clinch a state tournament berth.

Section 3 has the Central Minnesota Christian Blue Jays go up against the top seeded Canby Lancers in the North Subsection with the winner taking on the winner between the Wabasso Rabbits and the Lac Qui Parle Valley Eagles.  In the South Subsection, the top seeded Red Rock Central Falcons try to slay the fifth seeded Adrian Dragons.  The defending section champion Southwest Minnesota Christian face the Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots in the second semifinal game.

The Maranatha Christian Academy Mustangs have been to every state tournament in the 2010s and this year could be the eighth straight year for the top seeded Brooklyn Park school in Section 4.  But it won't be easy for Maranatha since there are seven other schools that could dethrone the Mustangs section dominance.  The eighth seeded Christian Life Academy are on a 19 game winning streak.  Never heard of Christian Life Academy?  The school is based in Farmington and plays in the Twin Cities Athletic Conference.  Then there are a couple of teams that could meet in the quarterfinals the fourth seeded Heritage Christian Academy Eagles and the fifth seeded Mayer Lutheran Crusaders.  Also in the hunt are the sixth seeded Christ's Household of Faith Lions and the West Lutheran Warriors.  Look out for the second seeded Minneapolis North Polars and the third seeded Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity Bulldogs, they could face the Mustangs in the Section 4A final.  Keep an eye on this section.  Can Maranatha bring home another trophy or will someone end their reign as section champs.

Another interesting race can be found in the Section 5 North Subsection.  The Cromwell-Wright Cardinals are the top seed and there are three other teams with identical 21-5 records.  They are the second seeded Menagha Braves, the third seeded Pine River-Backus Tigers and the fourth seeded Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Wolves.  In the South Subsection, the top seed is the Kimball Cubs.  Their closest competitor is the second seed Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars.  It could be a five team race for a trip to Minneapolis.

Now to Section 6, where the top seed in the North Subsection is a familiar one, the Ada-Borup Cougars.  Head coach David smart has built a powerhouse in northwestern Minnesota that also includes one of the most unique pepbands in the state under the direction of Richard Tuttle since the members perform original material.  The Cougars have not lost a game since the season opener to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.  Their biggest threat can be found in the South Subsection in the top seeded and unbeaten Wheaton/Herman-Norcross Warriors.  They have had only two close games all season with a seven point win over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and a six point victory over the second seeded Parkers Prairie Bulldogs in December.  Don't count out the third seeded Underwood Rockets, winners of 11 straight games.

Head north to Section 7 where the Floodwood Polar Bears are the top seed in Subsection 1.  Over in Subsection 2, the top seed is the top ranked team in Class A, the Mountain Iron-Buhl Rangers.  Jeff Buffeta's bunch has only lost one game this season, losing to the Roseau Rams 80-67 on February 3.  This could be the year the Rangers have a great shot at bringing the championship trophy to the Iron Range but first they have to get past the second seeded Bigfork Huskies.

Here's the final section to be examined, Section 8.  The East subsection's top seed is the Red Lake Warriors.  It could be a big month for the Red Lake Indian Reservation since both the boys and girls team are having outstanding seasons.  The Warriors are vying for their first trip to Minneapolis but first they have to get past the second seeded Fosston Greyhounds.  In the West Subsection, the top seed is the Stephen-Argyle Storm.  Can the girls bring success to the the two towns just like their nine man football counterparts who have won seven state titles?  First they have to get past the second seeded Sacred Heart Eagles and the third seeded team that's also nicknamed the Eagles, Red Lake Falls.  The Eagles made four trips to state from 1996 to 1999 under Kris Kennett. Interesting note.  Her husband Brad is the high school principal.   Now Brian Remick is at the helm and can he lead Red Lake Falls back to the state tournament.

There you have it.  There four section previews for each class.  Get ready for the plot to thicken in each section.