Class AAAA has already been examined so here's a preview of the eight Class AAA sections.
In Section 1, the top seeded Red Wing Wingers are the number on ranked team in Class AAA and are on a 16 game winning streak. Looking to keep Wingers fans from heading up Highway 61 to Minneapolis will be the second seeded Northfield Raiders, the third seeded Kasson-Mantorville KoMets and the fourth seeded Austin Packers.
The top seed in Section 2 is also on a 16 game win streak, the Waseca Bluejays. But it won't be easy for the Bluejays because the second seeded Mankato West Scarlets wrapped up the regular season winning four games in a row. The third seeded Marshall Tigers have a chance to defending their section title and appear in their 10th state tournament. One team that could be a surprise and challenge Waseca for a berth in the section final is the fourth seeded New Ulm Eagles. Can they pull the upset en route to their first state tournament appearance?
Section 3 has the top seeded Holy Angels Stars, led by veteran coach Dan Woods to a possible fourth consecutive trip to state. They will have to contend with the second seeded Simley Spartans, who finished the regular season with six straight wins. Don't count out the third seeded St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders.
Heading to Section 4, where head coach Erin Herman has a chance to lead the Hill-Murray Pioneers to their 12th state tournament and first since 2013. It won't be an easy task for the green, white and black because there are several outstanding teams in this section. The second seeded DeLaSalle Islanders are on a nine game winning streak, the third seeded St. Paul Como Park Cougars lost only two games to Holy Angels and Becker and the fourth seeded Totino-Grace Eagles won five of six games heading into sections. Who will come out of this section? A tough question to answer.
Going to Section 5 and the top seeded Willmar Cardinals await the Monticello-St. Cloud Apollo winner. Two other teams to watch are the second seeded Becker Bulldogs and the third seeded Big Lake Hornets who could make their first trip on the Northstar Commuter Rail to Minneapolis.
The defending Class AAA state champion Cooper Hawks are the top seed in Section 6. Can former Gopher Kiara Buford lead the Hawks to their second straight trip to state? First they will have to contend with the second seeded Waconia Wildcats and the third seeded Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights, who they beat twice in Metro West Conference play.
A couple of teams from the Iron Range are the top two seeds in Section 7. The top seeded Grand Rapids Thunderhawks are on a quest for their fourth consecutive trip to Minneapolis. But it's likely to be a rematch with the hot Hibbing Bluejackets, who beat the Thunderhawks 58-54 on January 8 and have not been defeated since then. Grand Rapids or Hibbing? Hockey may be big in those two cities but girls basketball is now the focus.
Great news for girls basketball fans in Alexandria! The Cardinals are the number one seed with two wins to go before making their 10th trip down I-94 to state. They are led by head coach Wendy Kohler, who picked up her 600th career win in the regular season finale against the Sartell-St. Stephan Sabers. In order to increase the number of wins, there could be a rematch with the Sabers or the fourth seeded Detroit Lakes Lakers. Who's next? the second seeded Fergus Falls Otters or the third seeded Bemidji Lumberjacks.
Next up. Who's left in Class AA
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