2017 Class AA State Girls Basketball Tournament Preview

                     2017 CLASS AA STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
                                  Games played Wednesday, March 15 at Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis

2:00:  New Richland-H-E-G vs. Roseau (Seed 1)
4:00:  Esko (Seed 5) vs. New London-Spicer (Seed 4)
6:00:  Minnehaha Academy vs. Sauk Centre (Seed 2)
8:00:  Rochester Lourdes vs. Watertown-Mayer (Seed 3)

Examining the Field:  Opening the Class AA quarterfinals is the NRHEG Panthers, who return to state since they won two Class AA titles in 2013 and 2014.  But times have have changed for the southern Minnesota school since they have a new coach in Onika Peterson, who replaced John Schultz and Carlie Wagner is now wearing a maroon and gold uniform at Minnesota. Carlie's sisters Maddie and Marnie Wagner are seniors and the Panthers have a tough task ahead against the top seeded and unbeaten Roseau Rams.  The Rams have their version of the Anton Chekov play Three Sisters, starring Kacey, Katie and Kiley Borowicz.  Add an outstanding supporting cast and head coach Kelsey Didrikson and you get a team that could bring a championship trophy to the northwest Minnesota community that's best known for hockey.

The fifth seeded Esko Eskomos return to Minneapolis to play in their 12th state tournament.  They don't have a lot of height since 6'5" Molly Trapp graduated but they do have a returning guard in Mandi Dincau.  Dincau is one of six seniors for veteran head coach Scott Antonutti.  The Eskomos face the fourth seeded New London-Spicer Wildcats, who lost in last year's Class AA final to Plainview-Elgin-Millville.  The Wildcats are under the leadership of Mike Dreier, who is in his 39th season at New London-Spicer and in their 16th state tournament appearance.  They are on a 12 game winning streak since they lost to the Watertown-Mayer royals in double overtime 71-68 on January 27.

For the ninth time in ten years, head coach Josh Thurow has led the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks to the state tournament.  This year, he has a young team with only one senior in Olivia DuBois and a quarterfinal battle with the second seeded Sauk Centre Mainstreeters.  The Mainstreeters have not lost a game since they lost to the Anoka Tornadoes December 3.  Scott Bergman has built a solid program in the home of Sinclair Lewis but he has yet to win a state title, finishing second in 2012 and 2015.  They have an experienced team that could lead them to a return trip to the Class AA final.

Concluding Quarterfinal Wednesday is the Rochester Lourdes Eagles and the third seeded Watertown-Mayer Royals.  The Eagles make their 18th trip up Highway 52 and their first under Aaron Berg, who replaced retired head coach Myron Glass.  The last time Rochester Lourdes won a state title was 2005.  In order to end their championship drought, they will have to beat the third seeded Royals, who last played in the tournament since 2010, when they had one of the great girls basketball players of all-time Marissa Janning, who later played for the Creighton Bluejays.  They are the third team to come out of the Wright County Conference along with Orono in Class AAA and Class AA rival New London-Spicer.  Can the Royals get past the quarterfinals and possibly set up a showdown with Sauk Centre?