2021 Class AA State Boys Basketball Tournament Preview

 2021 CLASS AA STATE BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                                           Game Played Tuesday, March 30

8:00:  Fergus Falls (Seed North 3) vs. Annandale (Seed North 2) at Alexandria

                                           Games Played Wednesday, March 31

1:00:  Moose Lake/Willow River (Seed North 4) vs. Minneapolis North (Seed North 1) at Osseo

7:30:  St. Croix Prep (Seed South 3) vs. Caledonia (Seed South 2) at Rochester Mayo

4:00:  Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta (Seed South 4) vs. Waseca (Seed South 1) at Chanhassen

Examining the Field:  When you add up the records of the eight Class AA teams, you get a combined 145-17.  There are a number of outstanding teams in the field, beginning with the lone Tuesday game featuring the Fergus Falls Otters and the Annandale Cardinals.  The Otters are in their 11th trip to state and enter the tournament on an eight game winning streak.  The Cardinals are in their seventh state tournament and looking for their first championship berth since finishing second in 2014.  

Wednesday's games begin with an early 1 PM game featuring the Moose Lake/Willow River Rebels, in their second state tournament but their first since 2005.  The Rebels were the third seed in Section 7 and beat the Pequot Lakes Patriots in the title game.  They face the Mpls. North Polars, in their 23rd trip to state and in the hunt for their first Class AA title since winning the 2016 & 2017 Class A championships.  Mpls. North is led by Marcus Owens and Javon Townley. Can the Polars achieve success at the next level?  

The first of two first time teams in Class AA is the Morris Area/Chokio Alberta Tigers.  Both of their losses were to the Melrose Dutchmen and they enter the tournament on a seven game winning streak.  They face the top ranked team in Class AA, the Waseca Blue Jays.  It's the 10th trip to state for the blue and gold who lost to DeLaSalle in the Class AAA championship game.  Can Waseca bring home their first title trophy since 1918?  

Concluding quarterfinal Wednesday is the other first time team, the St. Croix Prep Lions.  Where is St. Croix Prep, might you ask?  It's located in Stillwater.  The Lions only defeat this season was to the Blake Bears.  They will face the Caledonia Warriors, in their ninth state tournament and looking for their first championship trophy since 1997.  A quarterfinal win could force a showdown with a team that has played against them in football, Minneapolis North.  Can Caledonia's football success continue on the basketball court?