Next up are the eight Class AAA sections.
If there is a clear favorite in Section 1 it's the top seeded Austin Packers. Head coach Kris Fadness has brought a wave of success in Spamtown as they look to head up I-35 to Minneapolis for the third straight year. The rest of the section isn't much but could the Packers Big Nine Conference rival the second seeded Albert Lea Tigers spring an upset?
Another Big Nine team is the top seed in Section 2, the Mankato East Cougars. Last season's second the Waseca Bluejays dropped down to Class AA so it could be the Cougars turn to head to their 10th state tournament. They have not lost a game since December 7 when they lost to the DeLaSalle Islanders 67-63. There's some outstanding boys basketball in southern Minnesota with the second seeded Marshall Tigers, the third seeded St. Peter Saints who have won five in a row and the fourth seeded Hutchinson Tigers. Can the Cougars conquer this competitive field?
It could be The Battle of Richfield in Section 3 with the top seeded Richfield Spartans and the second seeded Holy Angels. Looking to end any hopes of an All Richfield section final is the third seeded South St. Paul Packers who could advance to their first state tournament since the end of the one class era in 1970. Can the Packers prove that South St. Paul is not just a hockey town and earn a trip to The Barn or will there be a celebration in the city of Richfield?
You'll need only four words to describe the top seed in Section 4. The Minnehaha Academy Redhawks. The author of this blog has followed Minnesota high school basketball since 1973 after living in New Jersey and there has never been a dominant team like the Redhawks. They have Gonzaga signee Jalen Suggs who also played in two Prep Bowls and one of the best juniors in the nation in 7'0" center Chet Holmgren. This is a team that is a very strong favorite to headback to state but first they have to beat the second seeded Totino-Grace Eagles.
In Section 5, the top seeded Delano Tigers hope to return to Minneapolis since they took home the Class AAA title trophy in 2018. The only other section team with a winning record is the second seeded Monticello Magic.
The defending Class AAA champion DeLaSalle Islanders are the top seeded team in Section 6. Before a sea of black and gold fans descend on Williams Arena the Minneapolis school has serious competition in their midst. The second seeded Waconia Wildcats have won 13 straight games and their Wright County Conference rival, the third seeded Mound-Westonka Whitehawks have won eight in a row. The Islanders road to state this year isn't an easy one but the seedings are intriguing.
The top seed in Section 7, the Princeton Tigers ended an 87 year state tournament drought last season. But before Tiger fans make the trip down Highway 169, there's three other schools up north that could end the Tigers section title reign. They are the second seeded Hermantown Hawks, the third seeded Hibbing Bluejackets and the fourth seeded Grand Rapids Thunderhawks. Who will come out of this section? It has the makings of a toughie?
Another tough section is Section 8, where the top three seeded ended the regular season with 18 wins. It's a three team race between the top seeded St. Cloud Apollo Eagles, the second seeded Bemidji Lumberjacks who have won five consecutive games and the third seeded Alexandria Cardinals. Which one of these teams will take home the championship hardware? The answer comes in the section final March 12.
Next: Some sections are underway in Class AA. So who will be left and who are the top seeds in the others who haven't started yet.
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