2021 Class AAAA State Girls Basketball Tournament Preview

 2021 CLASS AAAA STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                             GAMES PLAYED AT EAST RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL WOODBURY

5:00:  Rosemount (Seed 4 South) vs. Farmington (Seed 1 South)

7:30:  Forest Lake (Seed 4 North) vs. Hopkins (Seed 1 North)

                              GAMES PLAYED AT OSSEO HIGH SCHOOL

4:00:  Stillwater (Seed 3 South) vs. Chaska (Seed 2 South) 

7:00:  Centennial (Seed 3 North) vs. Elk River (Seed 2 North)

Examining the Field:  Since long-time head coach Brian Cosgriff retired and the pandemic put the rest of their regular season on pause, the Hopkins Royals have not missed a beat under new the new leadership of Tara Starks.  The Royals have increased their winning streak to 77 games and could surpass the early 21th century run of Fosston if they win two more.  First they have to get past the hot Forest Lake Rangers who are playing in their fifth state tournament and have won nine consecutive games. Can Hopkins make history?  First they have to beat the Rangers.  

It's a battle of the unbeatens as the Stillwater Ponies face the Chaska Hawks.  The Ponies are in their fifth trip to state and led by Alexis Pratt and Amber Scalia, sister of current Gopher Sara.  Another future Gopher will be playing in the tournament as junior Mallory Heyer leads the Hawks into their seventh state tournament, their first since 2010.  It should be an outstanding game.  Winner will likely battle Hopkins.  

Two South Suburban Conference teams square off with the Rosemount Irish facing the unbeaten Farmington Tigers.  It's the fourth state tournament for the Irish and their first since 2002.  Rosemount got in due to COVID 19 issues with Lakeville North, causing the Panthers to forfeit.  It's the second straight trip to state for the Tigers, led by Sophie Hart, who will play next season at North Carolina State.  Unbeaten Farmington had a chance to play Hopkins last year for the Class AAAA title but the remainder of the tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic.  Could the matchup become reality in 2021?  

Another conference battle is brewing in the lower bracket as two Northwest Suburban teams battle for the third time, the Centennial Cougars and the Elk River Elks.  The Cougars are in their eight state tournament while the Elks who won the Class AAAA title in 2017 are playing in their ninth.  The two teams split their regular season series.  Who will win the rubber game?