Next we have the preview of the eight Class AAA sections.
In Section 1, the top seeded Red Wing Wingers are on a 10 game winning streak and need three more wins to reach the state tournament for the first time since 2013. They will have to get past the second seeded Austin Packers and the third seeded Kasson-Mantorville Komets.
The unbeaten Marshall Tigers are the top seed in Section 2 but four other teams have a shot at heading to The Barn. The second seeded Mankato West Scarlets are on a five game winning streak and lost to Marshall 67-54 on January 4. Two Wright County Conference schools are also in the hunt, the third seeded Waconia Wildcats and the fourth seeded Hutchinson Tigers. But wait. There's more. The fifth seeded St. Peter Saints enter section play on a three game winning streak. Can Marshall remain unbeaten or will any of the aforementioned contenders take home the section title hardware?
It could be a three team race for the Section 3 title. The top seeded Simley Spartans have won 21 consecutive games since starting the season 3-2 and looking for their first trip to state since 2014. But watch out for the second seeded St. Croix Lutheran Crusaders and the red hot third seeded St. Paul Como Park Cougars, winners of 13 straight games. It will be a horse race for the section title with no off track betting allowed.
To Section 4 as the defending Class AAA champion DeLaSalle Islanders have won 13 in a row and all of their by margins of 10 points or more. The second seeded Hill-Murray Pioneers, under the veteran leadership of Erin Herman have a shot at ending the Islanders championship reign and earn their first trip to state since 2013.
In Section 5, last year's Class AAA runner up the Becker Bulldogs are the top seed and enter sections with a 20 game winning streak. They could get into a third meeting with the second seeded Big Lake Hornets, a team they beat twice in the regular season.
There's been some outstanding girls basketball this season in Richfield as the Holy Angels Stars are the top seed and wrapped up the regular season on a seven game winning streak. The Stars public school rivals, the second seeded Richfield Spartans have hit a crowded roundabout as they have gone 3-10 after starting the season 13-0. Get ready for The Battle of Richfield in the section final.
Up north to Section 7 as Hermantown Hawks fans could be celebrating again if the boys hockey team heads back to the state tournament the preceding week. The hawks are the top seed and will battle the second seeded Princeton Tigers and the third seeded and defending section champion Hibbing Bluejackets.
And finally, in Section 8, veteran head coach Wendy Kohler leads the Alexandria Cardinals to the top and a possible rematch with the second seeded Bemidji Lumberjacks. They beat Bemidji 60-39 on January 27.
Who's left standing in Class AA? The answers are next.
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