2021 Class AAAA Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview

 2021 CLASS AAAA STATE BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                                       Games played Wednesday, March 31

                              GAMES PLAYED AT OSSEO HIGH SCHOOL

4:00:  Duluth East (Seed North 3) vs. Wayzata (Seed North 2)

7:00:  Maple Grove (Seed North 4) vs. Champlin Park (Seed North 1)

7:00:  Rosemount (South Seed 3) vs. Cretin-Derham Hall (South Seed 2) at East Ridge

7:00:  Owatonna (South Seed 4) vs. Shakopee (South Seed 1) at Hastings

Examining the field:  Looking at the Class AAAA bracket, the first game features a Northwest Suburban Conference battle between the Maple Grove Crimson and the unbeaten Champlin Park Rebels.  The Crimson is in their eighth state tournament and have not played in a title game since 2000.  The Rebels, the top ranked team most of the season make their fifth appearance and beat Maple Grove twice in the regular season.  Can they make it three in a row?  

Irish eyes are smiling in Rosemount as the Irish plays in their fourth state tournament but first since 1987.  Rosemount, the third seed in Section 3 is on a six game winning streak and faces the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders, in their 12th state tournament.  The Raiders have one of Minnesota's top junior guards, Tre Holloman.  He has helped CDH's road to state as they enter with a five game winning streak.  

For the first time in 10 years, the Owatonna Huskies are in the state tournament as they make their seventh appearance.  The third seed in Section 1, they are on a roll, winning seven straight games.  They will face the Shakopee Sabers, in their ninth trip to state.  The Sabers took home the Class AAA trophy in 2005 under the guidance of long-time head coach Bruce Kugath.  Now Jake Dammann is heading Shakopee.  Can he lead the Sabers to their first state title in 16 years, the first in Class AAAA.

Wrapping up the Class AAAA quarterfinals is the Duluth East Greyhounds, who are playing in their 14th state tournament and have not taken the championship hardware up I-35 in three championship games.  They face the Wayzata Trojans, in their sixth state tournament and on a quest for the school's first state title since 1959.