2020 Class AAA State Girls Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal Preview

2020 STATE CLASS AAA GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
  (Games played Wednesday, March 11 at Maturi Pavilion on University of Minnesota campus.)

10:00:  Hermantown vs. DeLaSalle (Seed 1)
12:00:  Holy Angels (Seed 5) vs. Simley (Seed 4)
 2:00:   Alexandria vs. Becker (Seed 2)
 4:00:   Waconia vs. Red Wing (Seed 3)

Examining the field:  What a week for anyone connected with Hermantown athletics.  First the boys hockey team advances to the Class A championship game, losing in overtime to the Mahtomedi Zephyrs.  Now the fans who were in attendance in St. Paul last Saturday can get the bitter loss out of their system as the Hawks head to the state girls basketball tournament for the first time since 2006.  But it will a tough road for the Hawks since they will face the top seeded and defending Class AAA champion DeLaSalle Islanders.  The Islanders shook off an 0-3 start to go 24-1 the remainder of the season.  There could be another celebration for the school located on the banks of the Mississippi River. 

In the second game, head coach Dan Woods brings the blue and gold clad Holy Angels Stars back to Minneapolis for their eight trip to the state tournament.  The Stars have an outstanding junior in Francesca Vascellaro, daughter of WCCO-TV news anchors Frank Vascellaro and Amelia Santinello.  Can she help bring good news for Stars fans?  But they have to face a red hot Simley Spartans who have won 24 straight games.  The Inver Grove Heights school is back at state for the first time since 2014.  Looking for something to do on your lunch break.  Head over to Maturi Pavilion.  It should be an outstanding quarterfinal game. 

For the 10th time in school history, head coach Wendy Kohler brings her Alexandria Cardinals down I-94 to Minneapolis in an attempt to win the school's first Class AAA title since 1997.  But it won't be easy because the Cardinals take on the second seeded Becker Bulldogs who lost to DeLaSalle in last year's title game.  The Bulldogs have been playing great basketball throughout Sherburne County, not losing a game since they were beaten by the Hutchinson Tigers December 27.  Head coach Dan Baird has a young and talented team on the rise with two seniors, six juniors and three freshman.  This is a team hat could bring the championship trophy up Highway 10 Saturday night. 

Wrapping up the Class AAA quarterfinals is the Waconia Wildcats, who defeated the unbeaten Marshall Tigers to earn their first state tournament berth.  The Wildcats have gone 17-8 since they started the season 0-2.  Can they spring another upset?  This time they will go against the third seeded Red Wing Wingers, who are in their first state tournament since 2013.  The Wingers have won 12 straight games and could force a showdown with Becker if they are victorious over Alexandria. 

Next.  The Class AA preview.